Author Note :
Hi everyone, i'm not a native English speaker, and it's my first story. so i hope you take that into consideration and have mercy on me haha.
In fact i appreciate any critics, errors, advice, in general any feedback.
without delaying you, i hope you enjoy my work.
------------------------------ A DAY TO REMEMBER --------------------------------
He woke up the next day fully rested, stretching his arms, yawning with a baby dinosaur sound, before a pleasing smile took place, he then seated on the bed, he make sure to stretch every muscle in his body making sure to benefit fully of the pleasant pain of the morning. Then he get out of bed embracing a new day. He headed to toilet with heavy eyes, scratching his head. He took a two stupid glances to his face before he slapped it with fresh water, awakening him. After he took breakfast, he come back to his room, grabbed his pad before jumping on his bed.
“It’s time know to take a look at it. What was it’s name again, zombie hmm, zombie apocl, ahh survive the zombie apocalypse.”
He commanded the pad, and soon the official web site headed the recherche results. Selecting it, it immediately show a video trailer of the game revealing its realistic graphics with an eyes view, displaying a zombies scenes, and giving some information along the way. It’s basically what his friend had told him.
“Wow hearing can’t compare to seeing it with my eyes, i can’t help be excited just imagining myself there not know that it’s fake, hahaha, it ganna sure scare the hell out of me. I hope i have some guts, cause i am gonna see damn a lot of them there haha.”
“I can’t wait, a week until graduation, and another one for the approval test, that’s damn too long man, shit. Maybe it was good if Fahd wasn't joking, as long as it’s in the afternoon it will be perfect. and who now when the game is gonna start, let’s see.”
He entered the info page, he go through it gathering information that interested him. The game was intended to be realistic with no game characteristics because they didn’t want the participants to somehow find out, for this the character development will be slow with normal training but they will allow muscles to grow more powerful, to give to participant the possibility to perform showy movement, but this will be after long training after convincing the people that the word is changing and so they are. Another strange thing is that the story will play with participants memories, it will temporarily disable their their memories to an unified time. And he found on online inscription that he didn’t hesitate to fill. Afterward he received the time and place of test.
“I didn’t think about yesterday but how are they going to make it real, there is a lot of problems, our acquaintances, private homes, properties, but the fact that they announced the game means that they have the answer to this”
“Ok three weeks until the game fair enough, that’s if i passed the strange test first, i don’t know how the hell are they gonna test us out. First things first, i have better to do now, that damn Fahd even when he's not here still distracting me, i can’t focus now thinking about the game.”
“Or maybe it’s not bad, excitement is good right!”
He already arranged with his friend the structure of the documents, with their scratch contents, and this gives him a whole lot of thing to say, so the challenge for him now is to choose a powerful words and performs them well while not exceeding the 15 min limit, but he was relaxed about this, as he has a whole week to work on his speech quietly. Surprisingly he received an email from his friend a day later.
“Damn he did a good job, what the hell got into him. He really can do wonders it if he wants to.”
His friend Fahd has practically finished the documents. reformulated his boring computer logic like expressions perfectly into a human appropriate language, and refined elegantly the text formatting, and his images of choice was impeccable.
Tree day from the presentation, they have gone to the university for the meeting with their supervisor to validate their work, and this time he was considerate enough to refrain his critics, instead he appreciated their work, along with some advices. He even throw some encouraging words, and wish for success along the way before letting them go, which surprised Mazen cause it was the first time. As they quit the university they made their last agreement before heading their ways.
Time goes by so fast and and a complex feeling started to surface his heart, he hated the school until the high school, as it was like nightmare to him as he was not brilliant neither in study nor his attire, his father was stingy so that caused him to feel a sense inferiority. sure this feeling changed when he matured entering the university, but it didn’t change that he wanted to finish study and gain some Independence. Facing reality along the training, expectations of his family, nearing the exit he have doubts now.
“I don’t really have the will to exit, study is not bad as it was, i was naive back then. I have confidence in my abilities now, but it seems the word is more complicated than i thought. I must thank Fahd though, he gave me something to do, it really helped my mood, otherwise, i fear that i was gonna beclouded. For now let’s just put off our worries until the test, who now it might be one of the life changing scarce chances that life offers, and one must not miss. Anyway either i succeed in the game or i fail, i have right of some rest.”
The three day pages turned one after the another, and the day come, walking through a corridor he stopped in front of a room, there was many groups of two setting next each other facing their notebooks or pads, they were verifying their issues, while a collection of expressions drawn on each of them, fear, excitement, confidence, while he also has one for himself.
Sami : “good morning Mazen, you look a kind of worried man”
Mazen : "good morning, well it’s a necessary rite, i though i will not have it this time, but here we are”
Sami : “have you passed by the main lecture hall”
Mazen : "why would i? …. Oh no”
Sami : “hahaha, how could you not now, it’s the graduation man, they want to send as, in an official manners”
Mazen : "why didn’t you tell me before man, but it will not make any difference anyway, who will bother come”
Sami : “haven’t you been present for the last year graduation presentations”
Mazen : "no, why would i !!.... Damn don’t tell me”
Sami : “hahaha, that’s why asked you in the first place, there is a damn hell of spectators, and a even a little special surprise for you”
Mazen : "what surprise?! no no don’t tell me my father is here”
Sami : “no, it’s not that”
Sami expression scowl a this.
Mazen : "what surprise man?! you freaked me out, i made sure that he will not know, otherwise there no way to convince him not, his as stubborn as a baby”
Sami : “actually there is a lot of girls, and even your sweetheart”
Mazen : "what sweetheart, i don’t know what are you talking about”
Mazen ‘The damn guy come at the right time.’
Fahd : "is it true sami! haha, it’s gonna be hard on you my friend, i gonna wait your rocky expressions there haha”
Mazen : "it’s not like i’m the only one glancing at her, you know, you both are my alarm of her presence, with your dumb stars”
Fahd : "but you are the only one that freeze haha”
Mazen ‘shit my confidence is flowing away a little by little, and here i am who was confident.’
Mazen : "i now seeing your face the first thing at the morning is bad sign Sami, why the hell is all you have is damn news”
Sami : “don’t blame it on me man, it’s just the way it should, be strong man”
Mazen : "Fahd did you sow the hall too,”
Sami : “of course man”
Mazen : "damn, of course you say!! i am going to take a look myself”
He walked off the classroom striding toward the main hall, as he get near it, he felt an aura of frustration around it, It’s not the building but the people in front, one after another they was getting in the hall, not a lot but in a continuous flow.
“Why all this bastard are here, it’s not like we are holding some entertaining show, or so they think.”
‘True under nervousness, especially that one must perform with foreign professional language, many presentation turn out into a farce. And there might be some interesting projects. see there is a lot to look for. plus there is even a buffet, on our account. it’s really a show, a free one, so why wouldn’t they come. I should only blame myself with my lack of curiosity.’
As he entered the room, many eyes gathered on him shattering his doubts, he thought that his friend was teasing him. the majestic hall full of people shocked him, along with the pressure from the eyes on him draw an ugly look on his face, there was no one to share the pressure with him, as he was the only one down there with on official suit revealing his identity as one of the entrant.
Seeing his expression many started to giggle knowing the reason for it, anticipating his performance.
This time he regained his mind instead of losing it when his eyes found her, it was also laughing witch make him take notice of his face that lost control, he flattened it coughing making his eyes kind of pop up a little making another funny mime, he immediately then take his leave letting the people giggling, looking after him until the exit.
‘Well this was not in my calculations, shit those bastards are really coming to laugh, as they aren’t paying for the show, they are generous, they didn’t mind laugh for nothing, but i need to thank Sami, facing this now is better. Let’s take another look without anyone noticing, maybe that’s gonna help me get used to it fast.’
He approached the hidden edge of the entrance and poked his head around it, to his surprise, he found many people looking at him as if they were awaiting for him. As many eyes remained in there after he left, while others by nature watched there for newcomers. So as one might imagine, the situation was more surprising. pushing his face to reveal an even uglier shocking face, which made many people break into laughter instantly, soon the whole hall was. So he took his head back slowly not even fixing his deteriorated face. And he headed back to the room, while the sounds of laughters stubbornly chased after him making him angrier and angrier.
‘This is nice, that’s just what l need!’
He get in the room straight, then seated next to his friend not saying a word.
Sami : “how is it?”
Mazen : "bad”
Sami : “what happened man, you look angry, that’s not what i expected you coming back with”
Just then he tried to relax, trying to keep what’s happened from them. Before he could say anything, a sound of laughters get closer as if they followed him. nevertheless, a Fido Dido like thin tall guy appeared next the door talking with another guy, his yellow face was like his body tall and thin, mounted with a black curly hair, he pointed at Mazen laughing before entering the room.
Badr : "Haha hello mr bean, that was hilarious man, and here i am who was worried about you finding problems to present your project as you are a silent one, rather you did a stand-up comedy without a hitch, or was it because it’s a silent one as well hahaha.”
Mazen faced him with a murderous look, but this last didn’t seem to care much.
Mazen : "Cut the crap Badr!! I wasn’t playing there.”
Badr : "So what was that act, you were able to make the whole hall bursting with laughers in seconds, even professionals will not be able to do that. See even this junior here is coming to see you, he wants your autograph.”
Junior : “don’t make things up, you invited me to see what’s you are doing, and that’s it”
Badr : "but you actually came to see him, aren’t you haha”
Mazen : "anyway enough of this, it’s not funny for me”
“What happened don’t let us in dark”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Both Sami and Fahd curiously got close to Badr waiting for his narration, overlooking the killing intent exuded from their friend. It wasn’t only them, curiosity found it’s way in the whole room, as they were all classmates. As soon as he finished the room broke into shatters of laughs scratching the already angry Mazen with a folded hands.
Mazen : "Damn you, are you even my friends!”
Fahd : "It’s not like you wouldn't do the same if you were in our shoes, look at the bright side, you aren't anxious anymore .”
Mazen : "Does anger any better, and who says anxiety is gone, there is a damn explosive mines waiting in the room just for me.”
Mazen ‘True if i was in their place, i should have been enjoying myself new, but being the victim, i just can’t gulp it down. But what angers me more is this damn Badr, he is not laughing for fun like others, rather he is sarcastic about it. Lets wait and see you beanpole, you aren’t any better with your awful french, laugh now cry later.’
After sometime someone came signaling that the panel members are ready, and that the first group must come to start their performance. it was Sami group.
Mazen : "i have nothing to prepare for so, i will go with Sami, what, about you”
Fahd : "same here, let’s encourage him”
Said Fahd with a mischievous smile.
Sami : “bastards, you are hoping to find something to laugh at, is that a revenge Mazen”
Mazen : "you are not the kind that would have problems man, and i don't have the time for that, our turn is just afterwards, but if you could make me laugh a little i will be thankful, i really need it man, please!”
Sami : “I know it. but In your dreams”
That’s what he said but an usual worries showed on his face. Which makes Mazen wonder.
Mazen : "did you see what i see, isn’t he looks worried, he was just fine before, ”
Fahd : "i didn’t, anyway i hope he make some jokes there, otherwise it will be bored man”
Sami : “i can hear you bastards”
It wasn’t in attention to tease his friend that he decided to to go, instead for showing early in the hall get used to the ambiance, and getting it used to him, so that if any damn one that hold some laughers for him, delivers them before his turn.
As they entered the hall, Sami got in the stage along with his teammate while the others found their place in the seating area. Many get excited seeing Mazen but soon lose interest seeing him joining their side.
‘There is no doubt he is, whom is he looking at!!’
He looked after his friend’s sight, only to find a small group of people, waving their hand to Sami, they seem together, A man and woman in the fifties of their age, a young girl, and a younger boy. They look like high class family.
Mazen : "Hahaha, hey Fahd look there, they are Sami’s family, that’s why he is sweating like a thief in stocking.”
Fahd : "where! Ah,.. look like thing are gonna be interesting”
Both eyed him with a malicious smiles, which makes him feel goosebumps. Nevertheless, soon as the presentation begin, his anxiety showed up, making thing fall, his voice betraying him from time to time, but this didn’t lasted long as he quickly regained his composure when he focused on the funny evil friends who is accustomed to. And so he finished his performance brilliantly, passing the good momentum to his teammate killing the fun for the two devils, boring them, but soon feeling anxious, counting down the seconds to their turn, especially Mazen who have his fears.
The presentation was brilliant, and sure it find admiration from both the panel and the audiences, thing that didn’t make his friend happy not because of envy, but due to the pressure he puts on them, who will like to perform after a good performance, people expectation naturally rise.
Sami approached his friend turning himself the devil now, eyeing the two baby lambs with an expectant smile.
Mazen : "Damn you Sami, was it necessary to make it brilliantly before us, i new you are a bad news man”
Sami : “hey, but i made some fun at the start, anyway don’t let me down guys, give me back some fun”
Fahd just smiled, before he got up the podium, while Mazen followed him fighting the ugly face trying to obsess him, he feared to light the fuse. The ones knowing him from before picked up the signal, And the hall started to take a fun ambiance.
‘Shit, and now i am a clown, i gave them whole damn half an hour to laugh at my face as much as they like, but no one gave a damn, as soon as i left my seat here they are ready to explode. Damn you, i will disappoint you. You just took me off guard this morning.’
While Fahd was taking the introduction, he was quietly but angrily swearing at people. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly noticed an air of silence, as he raised his sight he found all the people staring at him, some smiling, and some tittering.
Mazen 'Damn what now, what the hell is the problem with this people.'
hearing the whispers of his friend. he looked his way. he was gesturing to him something that he caught right away.
Mazen : "Shit! Already”
And he say it loud, giving them just what they need as they responded to call at the same time as if they were trained with a blasting laughers. Even the members of the panel were giggling.
Mazen ‘Well at least they are laughing it would be worse if they were angry.’
Ironically, he felt a kind of relief seeing the judges laughing, as it will be a problem if they take it seriously. when the hall calmed down he started his part with the anger overshadowing his feelings.
“Mr Mazen right, what’s the problem, are you angry at us because we had little bit laugh”
As the man said his word again the hall blasted, making him wanting to kill.
Mazen ‘Do they have a Diarrhea or what, this is too much for bad lack.’
The man was the head of the panel the director of the university. He was a reverent man over 60s of age, with a white hair and courteous smile. Looking at himself he realized what he means, he was in an angry stance, hand clenched, shoulders and arms broaden, while some vines protrude from his forearms, looking aggressive about to start a fight.
‘It’s good that he awakened me earlier otherwise i was going to continue my speech emotionless, no worse i don’t even know how it feels, a speech from an angry man. Ok man let them laugh if i focus on them any longer, i am gonna waste my efforts with my own hands.’
Mazen : "i am just a little anxious sir”
Mazen : "He is the one that caused the commotion that we heard this morning, and it seems that this got to him, otherwise he is good in his work”
Mazen ‘That’s greet even the panel know about what happened, but at least the supervisor put a good word for me. Let’s just think about the project and nothing else.’
Little by little he built his rhythm proceeding fluently, all he needed is calming himself otherwise he know the project like the back of his hand. So he passionately spoke about his achievement making the whole hall for the first time listening instead of anticipating fun, the technologies that he used, the problems that he faced, the solutions that he improvised, until the final product was ready in a functional state that he enjoyed demonstrating, it was a moment of passion that gathered all those months of hard work.
Only when he heard the judges’ views that he felt relief, they gave both of them good compliments, but they didn't just overlook his problem, they gave him some advice, and that he need to work on taking control of himself, as it’s a crucial factor in a job interview, Advice that he receive it nodding his head agreeing while ears closed as he was fed up of the matter.
‘It’s not like every interview i will be a clown in front of a girl i like. With a damn audience waiting for my fails, anyway i get it, today event made it clear that i have a serious problem, that i should fix it somehow, i know that i have some, but it never showed off this catastrophically’
They headed back afterwords and sat next to their friend, that welcomed them with a broad smile.
Sami : “wow man, you were amazing there”
Mazen : "yah yah, i am tired man, give me a rest”
Mazen ‘based on what sami said, it seems while i was blindfolded with my thoughts, that bastard of Fahd did well his part, if it wasn’t for the questions part that he struggled with, and the moment of brilliance that i had, i would have been judged as the leach that fed on the sweat of others, and that would be the worst ending for the worst day in my life’
‘Wait, her, i forget about her in my lost state. i avoided looking herway at first, but soon the anger won over me’
He found her in the similar place where he sow her the first time, it was talking to her friends, then she took a small glance at him before she return to her small talks.
‘Here she is, beautiful as ever, i wonder what was her thoughts about my comedy show earlier, well let's not think about this anymore, the answer is clear everyone enjoyed the show.’
‘Should i try getting her number or something today, this is my last chance man’
‘Even if i did what i am supposed to tell here, could i even have the guts to call her, let’s forget it, i will just end up adding an awkward situation to my today's list’
He tried to convince himself that there is no problem trying, that girls believe guys wants friendship with them, so there is nothing to worry about, but he couldn’t keep up this idea while approaching, he will just turn back or walk past her. he feel like she will see through him, sure he will be happy being her friend but there is no way he wouldn’t want more than that. But he still hoped for a miracle to happen in compensation for all the bad luck that he got this day. but good luck never was as generous as the bad one, so he just kept hoping there as it was the only thing that kept him from leaving the luckless hall.
Mazen ‘well it’s not like i love her or something, it’s just that she is beautiful’
Time flow along with groups one after another taking their turns, some were good, some were bad, and some even funny, Badr who’s he was waiting for, sure had problems with his accent, and expressions, but with his shameless character, he didn’t give off an humorous feeling about him, so he just go through without problems. Not to mention, Mazen was furious about it, feeling injustice.
Fahd : "yow, lovesick swain, you were quit right there, you break my heart man, should i talk to her for you”
Mazen : "talk for yourself if you are that confident”
Fahd : "don’t be shy man, let me help you”
Mazen : "instead of her, i am desperately in need of a fall guy to take my anger out on him, and it strangely look that you fit the description”
Fahd : "girls didn’t like aggressive guys man”
Mazen : "uffff”
Fahd : "ok, ok i will leave you alone lonely”
The last group finished along half a day, every one take a pose for lunch. At 2 pm, the hall was fall again and the activities carried on. The same way, there was all kind of groups this afternoon but nothing special really happened, so Mazen won the prize of the best show in the mind of the spectators. With the late afternoon the presentations finally was over, and a man invited people to come join the buffet in the restaurant, it was at the center of the university. This is the only thing that kept Mazen to the end of day. The girl kept him from leaving the hall while the buffet kept him from leaving for once, as they made them contribute for it, so he will surely not lift it behind. He fully but moderately filled himself up. Time never stop or rather the earth, it turned away from the sun rays, making the last of them mark the evening with a twilight, ending a long day to remember.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget some feedback :)