To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To the Cool Kid from Fifth Grade

I was glad I got transferred to your section.
In the middle of the school year
my former teacher kicked me out of the ace class because I was too absent for her liking.
She said I was a daydreamer and I scribbled too much in my journals.
She emphasized those were major character flaws of mine
and questioned my presence in her ace class
then conveniently announced it to the whole campus.
I got kicked out and into a class a few ranks lower -
ah, yes another class of misfits.
How befitting for me.
Luckily I got to meet you.
It was honestly an upgrade because our classroom was close to the cafeteria.
We never really had a lot of memories together
but I do remember your Leonardo de Caprio hair.
You'd always run your fingers through it when you'd walk my way
as if doing it on cue or on purpose just to tug on my heart strings.
I also remember you smiling at me all the time.
Or maybe your eyes were always that sparkling and had nothing to do with me?
I think it's the latter.
I don't even remember having a decent conversation with you.
We only ever hardly exchanged a few words after class when we were left as "cleaners"
and that one time you told me "Congrats"
when we graduated the sixth grade.
I couldn't sleep that night.
Imagine having that power.
I also remember you being with her all the time especially during recess.
You were remarkably inseparable
that you even have two kids with her now.
No, I never stalked you on Facebook or anything.
Shut up. I'm innocent.
But it's not surprising, really.
Everyone knew and talked about it.
You married that girl, yes you did.
Good for you.
Some things last forever like that.
Like my nickname.
I got it from you, you know?
That thing we used to do as 90s kids,
combining your name and the name of your crush?
It was just a childish thing to do
but now
it's stuck.
For all eternity.
Thank you for giving me a cool nickname.