Am I that bad?

Today is D-day. Everyone has to present their selected journals on teaching and learning English. Just before class started, everyone was busy memorizing their points and practicing repeatedly, hoping to earn as many marks as possible.

When my group presented, I was told to present first. With much confidence, I spoke. However, I started noticing people are laughing. Even the lecturer was giggling. I didn't know why. Suddenly, she cut my speech. I pleaded to finished it but she rejected without mercy. I DIDN'T LIKE THAT. Anyway, I didn't care. I made sure I read the quote. But somehow, it became meaningless.

Later, while the lecturer gave us some feedback, she said I was good, but something's missing. The FLAIR. She also said I could have gotten the audiences' attention by using intonations. Well, if only my speech were not cut abruptly, and if only the class chose to listen attentively, I believe I would have done that. I would.

Or perhaps she's right. I always thought that I spoke with intonation, but what people hear, was different. All they could hear was a speech with flat tone. AM I THAT BAD? Then I recalled my roommate who was just 'crowned' as the best speaker in the Monday class. I was like... how the h*ll did he do it? He has bad grammar. I know that very well. But then, I think it boiled down to the intonation factor. It's not a foreign thing to him. He's a music student.

Just now we had dinner together at Secret Recipe. Before that, downpours and drizzles came alternatively. He's trapped in his faculty without an umbrella. Poor thing. Since I asked him out for dinner, I went to his faculty to meet him and to pass him an umbrella. I didn't cycle because the rain was just too heavy and I can't carry umbrellas with one hand and steer my bicycle with only another hand. And so we went to that infamous cafe-by foot.

Anyway, I wished we could talk more. He's rushing back for a class, so he quickly finished his meal and left. Me and myself, alone in the cafe. But it's okay. At least we spent some time together. Better than having a meal alone.