My Illustrious Lover

II

You know how girls would tie up their hair in a braid or ponytail and leave their nape bare? Yeah, I was pretty much attracted about that. Whenever Harper would do that, I couldn't help but ogle at her. Sometimes I think that she knew I was looking and did it on purpose. She'd have this small smile on her face where the edge of her lips would pull up slightly in amusement. After several minutes of gaping at her, she'd finally turn to meet my eyes and give me a smirk. It was like a secret message saying 'I know that you've been looking' and I'd quickly avert my eyes and pretend that nothing happened.

We are currently in our Literature class. Naghihintay na dumating ang professor. Nakaupo ako sa harap ng prof ko. Which is fine, by the way. Since walang may gustong umupo dito, nag volunteer nalang ako.

Sa right side ko is my bestfriend, Audrey. Sa left side ko naman ay si Jc, the nerd in our class or that's what they call him. And of course Harper, sa hulihan siya nakaupo. Nasa right side corner. And Isabelle on her left.

Biglang tumahimik ang medyo maingay na room kanina nang bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok si prof dala-dala ang isang bag ng laptop at dire-diretsong naglakad sa gitna.

"Okay class, we will be discussing about poetry. Sinabihan ko naman kayo na mag advance reading diba? So, I guess may idea na kayo about sa topic natin today." Walang sumagot sa klase kaya napakunot ang noo ng prof namin. Nag advance study naman ako pero hindi ako sumagot. Hindi lang basta terror kundi napa-iksi rin ng pasensiya nitong prof namin sa lit. Matanda na kasi si Sir Jim, napaka mainitin ng ulo.

"So walang sasagot? Let me ask one of you then." Murmurs filled the room. Eto na nga bang sinasabi ko eh.

"Miss Williams, are you texting in my class?" May diin at galit na tanong ni prof kay 'my love'. Natawa nalang ako sa sarili ko. Lakas talaga ng tama eh.

"So what?" Sagot ni Harper na nakataas ang isang kilay kay sir Jim. See? Pati professor hindi pinalampas. Sungit talaga. Nakaka-inlove. Lol. Nasisiraan na talaga ako ng bait.

"Don't 'so what' me Miss Williams. Di porke't anak ka ng isa sa nagmamay-ari ng school na ito ganyan na ugali mo towards your teacher!" Galit na galit na talaga si sir Jim. Parang may lumalabas na ngang usok sa ilong nito eh. Napaka brat talaga nitong love ko.

"Whatever. What do you want then?" Malditang sagot nito at saka binulsa ang hawak na cellphone. Ang iba sa mga kaklase ko ay natatawa na sa sagutan ng dalawa pero bigla namang natigil ng nagsalita ulit si prof.

"All of you, quiet!" Nilibot ni prof ang tingin niya at napatahimik naman sila. Napabaling ang tingin nito kay Harper. "Since magaling ka namang makipagsagutan sa guro mo, sagutin mo nalang itong tanong ko at kapag di mo nasagot ng tama ay pwede ka nang lumabas sa klase ko." Nakangising sabi ni sir.

Harper just rolled her eyes. Nako minsan nakakainis talaga yung ganda ng love ko. Yung klaseng ganda na habang patagal ng patagal mas lalong gumaganda. Kahit ano sigurong expression nito, kahit wacky or nakanganga pang matulog ang ganda parin siguro niya. Hay ewan ko nalang talaga. Lakas ng tama mo Paris. Malala na yan. Patingin mo na.

"Miss Williams, what is poetry? Recite an example and give me your own meaning of poetry or what is poetry to you." Tanong ni sir Jim. Tumayo naman si Harper at diretsong tumingin kay sir at sumagot.

"Perhaps the best definition of poetry is that it is not prose. The poet employs devices such as rhythm, rhyme, meter and structure in creating something that is more than prose, prose+ perhaps. Poetry, like other fine arts, changes the reader or listener, the person who experiences the poem. In defining poetry, we need to examine elements and aspects of poetry such as line structure, economy of language, purpose and more." Mahabang sagot ni Harper sa unang tanong ni sir. At ako naman ay nakatulala lang at mas napapahanga sa kanya. Ang talino talaga nito kaya mahal ko eh.

"And here's my short example,

A Falling
The rains have their oceans
and the sun has its moon -
everything
needs a
reason for falling
and
I
have
you."

Para naman akong naestatwa sa inuupuan ko ng tumingin siya sa aking mga mata habang sinasabi ang huling mga salita sa example niya. Bago pa ako muling malunod sa mga titig na yon ay muli niyang binaling ang kanyang tingin kay sir.

"There are as many definitions of poetry as there are poets. Wordsworth defined poetry as 'the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings;' Emily Dickinson said 'If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry;' and Dylan Thomas define poetry this way: 'Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn. What makes my toenails twinkles. What makes me want to do this or that or nothing.' And as for your last question sir, what is poetry to me?" Binalik niyang muli ang kanyang tingin sakin at tiningnan akong mabuti sa mga mata like she can see my soul sa titig na yun. And parang magkaka heart attack ako sa huli niyang sinabi

"She. She is poetry." At mabilis nalang siyang lumabas ng walang paalam. Mabilis naman tumayo si Isabelle na dala-dala ang gamit niya at kay Harper at mabilis na sinundan ito.