Life Is Curious

What is a crush?

Year 7. Twelve years old. Health Science class. Topic? Puberty.

Well, none of my 12 female and 15 male classmates didn't anticipate on the lesson that was yet to be taught by our teacher.

Our twelve year old selves selves still thought life was all 'sunshine and rainbows' and that you are better off being happy with your own company. Parents would be your lifetime companions and that you won't have to impress those who matter to you with that that you're not interested in.

Back to reality...Thank you a lot train of thoughts... Victor throws a paper ball my way hitting me square on the forehead. All that came out of my mouth were some colorful words. Note the sarcasm.

Mr. Back begins his lesson by defining some word called adolescence.

Adolescence. What in the world. Lovely to dictate and yet, it has a delving definition to it. He further elaborates saying, "It is a period in human development where you reach a stage of developing into adulthood". Oh boy. I just couldn't forget the look on the boy's faces. Anything to do with body parts and they go nuts. What in the world.

The girls on the other hand seemed cool with it. Chilled actually. It was like they treated it as another explanation for an 'exam question'. So, here I am in my Health Science class thinking how to react in the most professional way possible to all the adolescence talk.

Mr. Back; being the most experienced and intelligent-minded teacher that he is, goes further into physical, chemical and behavior changes between guys and girls during adolescence. Did I forget to mention that there's a term given to a person that goes through adolescence? Oh wait, no. Well, let me enlighten you perhaps. You are labelled as an adolescent. Thanks English for the entitlement. You deserve a standing ovation.

Back to the lesson... So, the physical changes were the voice get deeper, body proportion widening/lengthening and all that. For chemical, hormones are developed and its effect was having an attraction to another person of your specific preference. Yeah well, half way into the lesson and there were no dramatic comments from my classmates. Mr. Back must be doing something right.

So, the part of the lesson where my mind pondered upon even to this day was the behavioral changes of an adolescent. My goodness. Mr. Back's examples on this were not false. They were so true and boy I can tell you, it has happened to me. He goes on about guys flirting with girls, girls dressing up naughtily and romance and shit and then there were people having crushes.

Crushes. Crushes. Crushes? Yeah crushes. I thought the only thing I'd be crushing were garlic cloves and ginger slices for meals. I had no idea that 'crushing' could involve a feeling of admiration? I'd say an obsession over a person that you think is 'the one' for you.

As much as it seems appealing to me, it just freaks me out to the core that you just can't predict who you're going to supposedly fall for. I mean, who orchestrates this? God? Fate? Destiny? Freaking Cupid?!? Unfortunately, Mr. Back didn't say anything more on Health Science's opinion to this. All he said was, "Once it happens, you'll know. So you'll know when you know".

Bell rings. Students exaggerate a long-awaited sigh. Mr. Back leaves. Noises of chairs dragging and people walking out of class. I'm just sitting there absorbing all that's discussed. All I was left asking was, What is a crush?