oRaNjE

I WAS HURRYING
UP THE STAIRCASE
LOSING EVERY OTHER
STEP OF MARBLE.
NOT WANTING TO BE
LATE FOR ART CLASS.

“PROCEED TO FILM CENTER.”
DARN! I HAD TO GO
BACK THREE LONG BLOCKS.
SO MUCH FOR MY
OLYMPIC STRIDES THAT HOUR.

YES, IT WAS IN THAT ART
EHXIBIT BY THOSE
SLIT-EYED SINGAPS
WHERE I FIRST CAUGHT
A GLIMPSE OF YOU.

NO, IT WASN’T LOVE
AT FIRST SIGHT.
EXHAUSTION GOT THE
BETTER OF ME.
I DIDN’T CARE.
YOU DIDN’T NOTICE.

TWO LONG DAYS
THREE SHORT NIGHTS BREEZED.
I WAS BACK
HURRYING UP
LOSING EVERY OTHER
STEP OF MARBLE WITH
COPPER OUTLINES.

“NO CLASSES TODAY.
PROCEED TO THE STREETS.
GET INVOVLED.
PN 1017 IBASURA,”
GREETED THE BOARD
GLUED ON TO THE
CLASSROOM DOOR.

I JOINED THE RALLY FOR
I WAS ON FIRE.
YOU JOINED THE RALLY.
I WAS ON FIRE.

PERHAPS, IT WAS LOVE
AT SECOND SIGHT.
PERHAPS, IT IS RIGHT THAT
LOVE IS SWEETER THE SECOND
YOU-KNOW-WHAT.

I SAT NEXT TO YOU.
I CARED.
YOU DIDN’T NOTICE.

“PN 1017 LABANAN
HUWAG PAHINTULUTAN!”
YOU YELLED BEHIND
ME ON THE CANVASS
OF A PAVEMENT
ACROSS THE HALL.

I TURNED BACK.
YOUR EYES SEARCHED MINE.
OH, THOSE EYES!
I’M ON FIRE.

MY PHONE
TICKED PAST SIX:
NO LAUNDRY, NO DINNER.
THERE WAS YOU AND YOUR
EYES THAT FOUND THEIR
WAY TO MINE LIKE
NORTH TO SOUTH OF
FRIDGE MAGNETS.

THE LIGHTS DENOUNCED THE
EVIL DWARF’S 1017 PLOY.
MY CANDLE BURNT EVEN
JUST FOR A SHADOW
OF YOU.
I WAS ON FIRE.

I SAW YOU ONLY
THRICE AFTER THOSE CANDLES,
PAVEMENT, REEBOK SHOES,
NECK-LENGTH HAIR, VIOLET
SHIRT, SLING BAG, ARMY
GREEN PANTS, CHINKY EYES.

OH, THOSE EYES!
THOSE EYES NEVER FAILED
TO SPEAK TO MINE
THREE TIMES AFTER
THAT DAWN OF FLAMES.

I’M ON FIRE.