The tale of the lost poet

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 11: POETIC JOURNEY

The days that followed the poetry reading seemed to blur together in a pleasant haze of anticipation and newfound camaraderie. Aurora and I exchanged messages regularly, discussing poetry, books, and occasionally sharing snippets of our day. Each conversation left me feeling more connected to her, as if we were unraveling the threads of each other's thoughts one word at a time.

Nung sinabi saakin ni Ms. Aurora na meron siyang poetry performance, siyempre hindi nako nag dalawang isip sabihin na pupunta ako. It was an opportunity not just to support her but also to immerse myself further in the world of poetry she so effortlessly inhabited.

The evening of the performance arrived, and I found myself once again in the midst of an audience captivated by Aurora's words. Her poetry seemed to resonate even deeper this time, weaving tales of heartache and hope with a raw honesty that left the room spellbound.

After the performance, I waited until the crowd had dispersed before approaching Aurora, who was gathering her belongings near the stage. She looked up, a smile brightening her face when she saw me.

"Emrys, I'm glad you came," she greeted warmly, her voice carrying a hint of genuine pleasure.

To be honest, mas charming siya kapag hindi emotionless yung mukha niya. Kadalasan kasi ang sungit ng tingin. Akala mo yung parang nalipasan ng gutom kaya mukhang badtrip? Ganun. 

"I wouldn't miss it," I replied sincerely. "You were amazing up there, as always."

I hesitated for a moment, gathering my courage before speaking. "Aurora, can I borrow some of your time?" I asked tentatively. "I... I was hoping you could teach me how to write poetry. Hindi ako fan ng poetries, not until I heard your poems. Tutal ikaw naman ang inspirasyon ko, baka pwedeng ikaw rin yung mag turo sakin kung paano gawin."

Her eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering in their depths before a soft smile curved her lips. "Of course, Emrys," she replied warmly. "I'd be happy to teach you."

Relief flooded through me, mingled with excitement at the prospect of learning from her. "Thank you," I said sincerely. "I really appreciate it."

****

We agreed to meet the following weekend at a quiet café where we could discuss poetry in more detail. As we walked out of the venue together, I noticed a small Stitch cartoon keychain dangling from Aurora's purse.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask," I began, nodding towards the keychain. "Is that Stitch?"

Aurora's face lit up with a fond smile as she nodded. "Yeah, Stitch is my favorite cartoon character. I've always loved his mischief and his heartwarming journey in the movies."

Emrys chuckled softly, finding himself drawn to this new side of Aurora—the girl who found joy in a quirky blue alien. "That's cool. I never knew."

We spent the afternoon immersed in poetry and laughter, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they discovered shared interests and exchanged stories. I felt a growing connection with Aurora, a sense of comfort and familiarity that he cherished.

*****

When the weekend arrived, I looked forward to our next meeting with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I arrived at the café early, my mind buzzing with anticipation. Aurora greeted me with her trademark warmth, her presence instantly putting me at ease.

Over steaming cups of coffee and a slice of cake, they delved deeper into the intricacies of poetry. Aurora patiently guided Emrys through the nuances of rhythm and imagery, encouraging him to explore his own voice and emotions.