The tale of the lost poet

CHAPTER 1

(To avoid confusions, Poet is a person who composes poetry. A person who has the gift of poetic thought, imagination, and creation, together with eloquence of expression. Poem on the otherhand is an arrangement of words written or spoken: traditionally a rhythmical composition, sometimes rhymed, expressing experiences, ideas, or emotions in a style more concentrated, imaginative, and powerful than that of ordinary speech or prose: some poems are in meter, some in free verse. Dont be confused between the two^^)

CHAPTER 1: First time

"Hoy! Nakikinig kaba? Kanina pa kita kinakausap tapos yung utak mo parang lumilipad."

Sighs. There she is again. She's Xiamira, my best friend. Madalas akong bungangaan niyan, diko nga alam kung pano koba siya natiis sa limang taong pagiging mag kaibigan namin.

"Sorry, Xia, marami lang talaga kong iniisip ngayon. Ano nga ulit yung sinabi mo?" Hindi naman talaga, naiirita lang talaga ko sakanya dahil ang sakit nanga ng ulo ko, daldal pa ng daldal.

"Hay nako! Yung sikat na manunulat, si Aurora, pupunta mamaya dito sa school! Exciting diba?!"

Seriously? How is that even exciting? Hindi konga yun kilala 'e. Saka wala naman akong hilig sa mga ganyan, ma bo- boringan lang ako.

"Never heard of her. Famous ba?"

"Aba'y oo naman! Ano kaba? Masyado kanang late sa mga happenings here sa ating earth ha!"

"Then how come I never heard of her? Wala ba siyang socials? What's her instagram? Titignan ko." - I replied. Wala naman talaga kong plano na tignan, di nga ako curious 'e. Why is she even excited? Poets are boring.

"Ay yun lang wala siyang socials."

Seriously?

"Seriously? Who doesn't have socials nowadays? Kahit 6 years old nga meron na 'e. Boring siguro buhay niyan." I said with a scoff that made Xia's expression frown. She's really a fan of this Aurora, isn't she? Gosh.

"Hindi mopa nga siya nakikita or naririnig yung mga poems niya tapos ganyan kana. Kutusan kita jan 'e."

I chuckled. "Sorry na. Alam mo naman kasing hindi ako mahilig sa mga ganyan tapos panay kwento kapa."

"Whatever." She stands up and picks up her bag before turning her gaze at me once again. "In case na mag bago isip mo at ma curious ka, i think dadating siya dito ng 4pm and sa theatre room gaganapin yung poetry performance niya." With that said, she takes a few steps away and leaves the classroom.

I dont even plan on going. Mukha ngang walang makikinig don 'e. Poetries are nothing but a dramatic combination of words. It's a load of crap, honestly.

I looked at my watch to check the time. 3:22 pm na pala, I should grab a lunch at the cafeteria.

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I sat down on a empty table to eat my lunch. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko talaga sa mga tula, pero na bo- boringan talaga ako.

I've heard alot of poems, hindi naman sila ganon ka entertaining. Although I've never heard someone perform poetry live. Madalas kolang silang napapanood sa mga tiktok and youtube. Pero yung mga videos nayon are enough to convince me that poetry is boring.

I took a bite of my sandwich when a thought came to me.

Hindi naman siguro masama kung susubukan kong tignan. Although I'm more looking forward on seeing if meron ba talagang makikinig.
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I made my way to the theater, my mind is now filled with curiosity.

Ano kayang itsura nung poet? Who is this person? Xia said that she's famous, how come I've never heard of her? Is she good in writing poems? Hm, I think so kasi nga famous siya.

As my thoughts wandered, I accidentally bumped into a woman. Damn she's tall. A teacher perhaps?

"Ay, pasensya napo, ma'am." I bowed my head slightly, sounding apologetic.

She didn't seem to mind it though. She only looked at me for several seconds before walking past. Hm, I thought I was about to get scolded. Mukha pa namang mataray. Hays, di bale nanga.

Soon I reached the theater, and I'm honestly surprised to see a lot of students gathered here. Halos malapit na mapuno yung mga seats. Honestly, who is this woman?

The more na iniisip ko, mas lalo akong kinakain ng curiosity ko. I quickly took an empty seat bago pako maunahan. Medyo malayo yung stage sa upuan ko pero nakikita kopa naman ng malinaw. It's almost 4 pm, it's about to start.

With that said, the doors of the theatre closed and the lights turned off, leaving the stage the only place with light. There is a single chair and a mic stand on stage, i guess this person doesn't like any unnecessary decorations.

After ng ilang minuto, may babaeng lumabas ng backstage at naupo doon sa upuan. She looks familliar... wait.
I was more than surprised when I recognized her face. Siya yung babaeng nabangga ko kanina sa hallway.

Oh damn. That was so embarassing! Only if I knew na siya pala yon! Bwisit talaga!

I pushed my thoughts away as I stared at her even more intently. She's wearing a beige colored coat with a white turtle neck underneath. Her wavy hair is on loose, her body posture shows a high level of professionalism. Sa mga hakbang niya palang kanina sa hallway, pati narin nung lumabas siya galing backstage hanggang sa maka upo siya.. all of her actions are filled with professionalism and it's intriguing me.

Wala siyang imik simula nung siya'y makaupo. Hindi rin nag cheer yung mga students nung nakita nila itong lumabas galing backstage. The entire threatre is filled with a loud silence. Not until she finally speaks.

"Ang tulang ito ay aking pinamagatang 'Luha sa Dilim: Isang Tula ng Pagkalumbay'"

My heart started to pound as soon as I heard her voice. Ang hinhin ng tono ng boses niya, pero medyo malalim at walang timpla. The plain low voice along with a sweet soothing tone.. she's something, that's for sure.

"Sa dilim ng gabi, walang liwanag, diwa'y puno ng lungkot,
walang pag-asa, puso'y nababalot ng dilim at lumbay, pag-asa'y nawawala,
sa mundong walang saysay."

Mahinhin ang boses niya, mabagal ang pag bigkas niya. Kada salita, kada hininga, hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapa tulala. "Ang ganda niya." Marahan kong ibinulong sa aking sarili.

"Narito ako, naghahanap ng lihim na pag-asa,
ngunit ang langit ay abot-langit na gabi,
sa kadiliman ng aking damdamin,
patuloy akong nababalisa,
dama ang bigat ng paghihirap,
sa pagtahak ng landas na walang hudyat."

While she speaks, her face remains emotionless, and her hands make no gestures, unlike the other poets I've watched on YouTube. This is my first time seeing something like this. She's sitting still, only her mouth moves to deliver her poem. She's something else.

I'm... intrigued.