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A new Internet surfing curfew has recently been placed on the residents of Building 203.

“We placed the curfew because these kids need to sleep early not just so they can wake up early, but also because it’s healthy for them,” says Dr. Mighty Layese, one of Building 203’s resident physicians. “Did you know, that the average teenager needs atleast nine hours of sleep? But most only get five to six hours especially during school days. Lately, our residents [not just the teenagers but also our resident surgeon] have been in front of the computer alot, so we decided to limit their computer time and also give more time for their pre-bedtime routines [like brushing their teeth and washing their faces] so that they can finish that early and hopefully sleep early.”

The residents have differing reactions to this new curfew.

“I don’t really care ’bout that new curfew thing. I’m not allowed to use the computer anyway; atleast until I get into highschool which’ll probably be this coming school year. I just passed the Agusan High entrance exam and, tomorrow, I’ll be taking another exam to see if I can make it to the Special Science High Class,” says thirteen-year-old Jean Rane Alicaya, who lives on the second floor of Building 203.

Another person who lives on the second floor, Ms. Angel Layese, exclaimed that the internet curfew, which was supposed to get the residents to sleep early, was unable to serve it’s purpose. “Even though I’m already in bed by 10 pm I still can’t sleep until before midnight ’cause my roomate often watches DVDs until daybreak. Before summer vacation, I used to get really frustrated ’cause my morning classes started at 6 am,” she had said while making a flyer for a then upcoming event at a local church.

 Therex Nacua, who lives on the Building 203’s ground floor and shares a room with two elder women, simply said, “Pareho ra mi ni Kuya.”

What will the residents make of this newly-installed Internet surfing curfew? Does Jean Rane have enough capability to get himself into the Special Science High Class? [Si Therex pud diay kay pareho ra man daw sila.] Will Angel ever be able to get over the fact that she messed up the date on her flyer and that someone [more like everyone] had actually noticed it? Will she ever be able to forgive Therex for not telling her that Sunday was on May 4 and not 3?

We may never know.