Shakespeare

Sonnets

3: 00pm

The school bell rang signaling that the classes had already ended. The students started chatting as they went out of the classrooms. Some were walking in fast as they had made plans after their school ended and one of those is a young woman in her teens named Rose.

It wasn't that because she was meeting someone or excited to go home. She wanted to go to a Fully Booked and geek out over the fiction novel sections as she had just received her allowance but her plans changed as soon as the wind had sent shivers to her skin. She doesn't like cold weather, not when she is outside without anything to keep her warm.

She decided to go to Starbucks instead as it's perfect to have a cup of chocolate while reading Shakespeare's sonnets. She loved the classics, in fact, she'd rather have handwritten letters or poems as a serenade than expensive gifts.

"Hello, may I take your order?" Says the  cashier attendant in a bubbly tone and Rose didn't need to look at the menu as she had a fixed order in her mind.

"Signature Hot Chocolate, tall please and also s'mores." Rose replied and one thing about her, she's a sucker for sweets.

"Your name please?" The female cashier responded

"Rose" She then handed out the payment to the  cashier attendant and waited for her order before seating.

Rose was thankful that the café was not too crowded and was able to find a seat in a corner as she doesn't want to be bothered by the chatters of other people. She then grabbed a book from her bag and started turning the pages to Shakepeare's Sonnet 18.

It was her favorite out of all and not because its well-known but because it speaks about the beauty of the beloved. Just then, in the middle of her reading, her eyes moved towards a guy who sits in front of her table.

He was reading Sea of Strangers by Lang Leav and she couldn't take off her eyes as the cover of the book stands out but then her eyes went to the person reading it. The guy seems to be in the same age as her and from a nearby school. He has this curly hair and thick eyebrows.

'He got the looks' Rose thought.

She was surprised to see someone like him reading a poetry book as he didn't seem to be that kind of guy. Most guys like that would love sports or be involved in other activities.

'It's stereotyping' Rose said in her mind and she was surprised when the guy noticed her. She immediately looked to her book pretending to read.

She then lifted the book to cover her face a little bit because she was starting to blush since the guy was looking at her and as much as she wants to start a conversation, it would be impossible.

She wasn't the popular type of girl. She was one of the ordinary students who tries to pass her exams. Her hair just combed, not really fixed and she wears round eyeglasses because it's getting popular nowadays but mostly, she wears it to hide her freckled face.

Aside from that she's an introvert and hides herself comfortably in hoodies or over-sized t-shirt. She wanted it that way and probably it's one of the reasons why no one have asked her out yet. She's in her last year in College but it doesn't bother her not having a date. In fact, she'd be happy to just go with her girl friends.

Rose decided to leave when she finished her hot chocolate and was satisfied reading but the guy she saw earlier hurried and held the door for her. She shyly went out and just casually thought that he was in a hurry.

"Hey" The guy greeted her and she wasn't sure if he was talking to her or not.

She didn't respond immediately in fear of getting embarrassed that he may not be talking her.

"My name's Ren" He says with a smile and reached out his hand for Rose.

"Rose" She meekly replied as she accepted Ren's handshake.

"I am from a nearby school." He said, breaking the tension between them and Rose shyly smiled "I know."

They both started walking the same way.

"My dorm's in the same way." Ren shortly said and Rose was too embarrassed as she wasn't prepared to talk to anyone.

"oh"

"So Shakespeare huh?" Ren responded and Rose couldn't help but get excited upon hearing the name of her favorite poet.

"Yes, Sonnet 18 is my favorite. It's a statement of praise about the beloved's beauty but I know it's more than that." She cut the sentences as she doesn't want to sound like a nerd to Ren.

"A Romantic then." It wasn't a judgmental phrase. It was more of a compliment.

"What about you?" Rose asked

"Me? Sonnet 130. Shakespeare wrote it as opposed to the romanticism literature as I have read but I think it offers an alternative view of the beloved." Ren said and then they stopped at a building.

"But you know." Ren faced Rose as he said those words.

"It's the truth. Sometimes a person can be too ordinary or normal but when the right one comes that person will stand out." Rose's heart started beating fast as Ren said those words and she hated how transparent she can be.

He wasn't even confessing to her but it sure made her heart goes wild.

"As said by his last lines and I quote 'And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/As any she belied with false compare' I think that love as rare is what make a person unique in the beloved's eyes." He said with a smile.

Rose didn't know what to say as she was amazed by his statement or because no one really bothers reading Shakespeare's works unless it's required.

"I thought you aren't a Romantic." She commented.

"I was stating facts." He said

"Anyway, I have to go. Let's have coffee sometimes shall we?" He said with a smile and Rose happily agreed.

Rose thought that Ren was an attractive man with a deep insight with things but love is still far from her mind. She's happy that she made friends with him and if love is bound to them then she will accept it.