Daybreak

What Is Love?

NIGEL

“Hey bro!” My friend hopped on me on my way to school. “Hey” I greet him back. “So, what’s your plan after graduation?” He asked again. He is Tim Anderson my best friend here in our school. “My mom wants me to go to my grandparents, so I think that’s my plan.” I answered “How about you?” “Hmmm, lemme see, I think I’ll find some worthy things to do. I don’t know, maybe summer job?” He said unsurely. “That’s nice, earn some money during the summer and treat me when I come back.” I said teasing him. We proceed to our building and to our room. Everyone in the room was planning their vacations after graduation.

“Okay class, back to your seats now.” Mr. Peters is our adviser and also our teacher in Understanding the Self subject.

“Mr. Peters, what’s your plan this vacation?” Beth asked, we all know she has a little crush on Mr. Peters. “Why Beth? You’ll invite him over your house?” One of our classmates asked and they started teasing her as we just laugh. “Okay, okay, stop it. I have my plans already I’m sorry. I plan to…”  He paused in between his sentence and looked at our reactions. “…propose to my girlfriend.” He said that made all the boys including me cheer for him while others are like puzzled. “You have a girlfriend, sir?” they asked him because we didn’t really know that he has a girlfriend. “Yep, we are 4 years in relationship. That means, we’ve been dating since you’re first year.” He said with a big smile. “Hear that Beth? It means, you don’t have any chance at all.” They teased her again and she just rolled her eyes on them.

“Okay, enough of it. Let’s start our lesson.” Oh, I thought he already forgot it. “This will be your last task in our subject and I am sure you’ll love this lesson.” He said and wrote something on the board. “LOVE” we all read aloud. “Love is very broad topic isn’t it. We all have our own definitions of it. Love for our parents, friends, love for ourselves, and of course, love to our special someone.” He again paused and looked at us carefully. “Mr. Nigel James Ventura, what is your own definition of love?” And I was caught off guard on that. I’ve never been in love before. “Sir, Love is uhhmmm…” I don’t know what should I answer, argh! Never mind just answer anything. “Sir, Love is…blind?” As I said those the whole class was silent and started laughing. Mr. Peters also laughed and signaled me to sit down. “Bro, you’re so old fashioned.” Tim said and laughed with the whole class. “What? I don’t know anything about it, you know I’ve never been in love before.” I just said but he just kept on laughing.

“Okay. I didn’t expect that answer Mr. Ventura.” Sir said while wiping his tears due to laughing. “Maybe, after this lesson I’ll ask you again and you’ll be able to answer with something, you know, into this generation or something.” He said, whatever.

“Sir, but what is this task all about?” Tim asked. “Well, it is simple. You’ll just have to find out what love really is.” He said. “That’s it? We can answer that now.” One of my classmates said and we agreed. Even an elementary student can answer that now. “Yes, of course you can. Because you’ll just simply write that ‘love is something that makes us feel alive’ or maybe ‘love is the emotion we feel towards other people’ but if I were to ask you again, what does love look like? What can it do? If we all feel love, then why is there still chaos in our world?” everyone was quiet and full attention was on him. “You see, we all know how to love, but not all of us knows what it really is.” Everyone stopped as he continued talking. “Find out what TRUE love really is.” He said emphasizing the TRUE. He was about to speak again when someone knocked.

“Excuse me sir, the principal wants to talk to you.” That is our next school council president from the lower year. “Okay, I’ll go. Think about it thoroughly class. Good bye.” Mr. Peters said and left the room as we say good bye.

“I heard our next teacher isn’t coming, wanna sneak out?” Tim whispered. I stared at him and smiled. “Hell yeah”.

We sneaked through the back gate of the school and now we are outside the campus. “So, where should we go?” I asked him. “Oh, there is a new café opened near the park, wanna check it?” He said and I nodded. We rode a bus going there and on the bus we saw three of our classmates. “Ryu?” Tim approached them. “Oh, hey Tim. What are you doing here?” They asked and sit near them. “Ditching class obviously.” Shelly said sarcastically and softly but loud enough for us to hear. “Yes, and as if you’re not doing it also.” Tim answered back. “Okay guys, cut it now. Don’t start a fight will you.” Ryu blocked herself in between to stop them. Those two always bicker every time they are in the same place. I noticed Ysa silently sleeping near the window. I must say, she has the beauty even when asleep. Despite of the noise around her, she’s just sleeping peacefully.

“Anyways, where are you guys going?” Ryu asked. “In the newly opened café near the park. You want to come.” I asked. “Oh really, is this fate or coincidence because we are also heading there.” Said Ryu. “Nigel, why don’t we invite Ej and Aubrey, their school is also near the place, isn’t it?” Now that Tim mentioned them, I suddenly miss those two. “Okay, I’ll text them.”

“Who are they?” Shelly asked. “They are our friends outside the school. They are a classmate of Nigel in elementary and I met them when we are in the first year. So, we quiet have fun together.” Tim answered. “Don’t worry, you’ll like them. They have the humor and vibe.” I assured them and they just smiled. After about 30 minutes we arrived in the café.