CHAPTER II: Our Poems

After everything was set, we chatted for a couple of minutes before Monika suddenly clapped her hands and started talking:

"Well, Reiya, now that you joined the club and got to know our members a little more, I'd like to start our activities!"

"That's alright! I'm ready for what comes!" I said confidently although I wasn't sure about what the club's activities were. "I just hope I don't have to read a book due tomorrow, right…?"

Everyone laughed as I got tomato red. The embarrassment made me frustrated and relieved as I realized that such things wouldn't happen. Also, I must admit that it was a dumb thing to ask…

"Hahahaha Reiya!" Sayori tried to speak while laughing. She had her hands on her belly and tears were coming down her eyes. "Hahaha… The face you made! Hahaha… It was priceless!"

It took all four of them some time to recover, but Monika was the first to look at me and give an answer to my dumb question:

"It was indeed funny, but no, Reiya, I won't ask for you to read a book in one day." She giggled and kept on. "It'd be too harsh on a new member, although there're some books even Yuri, our fastest reader, would have trouble doing so."

"President!" Yuri exclaimed and she blushed and hid her face behind her book. "Don't say such embarrassing things!"

"But it's how it is!" Monika replied in a singing tone. The others agreed with their head almost in synchronism.

"That's super true!" Sayori stated. "If she's serious enough, I think she can read three, no, five books a day!"

"Okay that's a bit of an exagger-" I tried to defend her.

"Oh, that's true! I remember it!" Monika began. "There was this one time when we were tight on schedule and Natsuki was sick, so we had to-"

"Please, everyone…" Yuri was still with her face buried on her book, but it was obvious that she was blushing.

"Okay, okay" Monika said after giggling. "Let's not lose more focus. Ahem! Well, Reiya, we all know that you're not that hyped about reading, but not everyone starts like that. Actually, my opinion, most people usually are a bit like you-"

"A bit like me?"

"And they often discover their interest on reading little by little." She kept on, ignoring me. "That's why we're all going for poems!" She gave more stress on the last word and she smiled and looked at everyone.

"Poems?!" we exclaimed in unison. The girls were blushing a little which gave away a feeling that it could be really embarrassing.

"C'mon!, guys!" Monika exclaimed and pouted. "It'll be a good way for us to know each other better!"

"Hold on!" I stood up and began. "The way you're saying it makes me think we're writing the poems, and not reading them. Hahaha" I joked as an attempt to see if she would buy it.

"That's right!" she looked at me and showed me a sweet grin. "Feeling a little bit embarrassed?"

"N-not really." I faced the other way, but it was obvious that I was blushing. Now I understand why the girls were like that. However, the actual reason would be me since there's no other male member. "I don't think it's a good idea…"

Everyone, but Monika, seemed to relax given their reaction. Of course, they would, as far as I know, poems are meant to show one's feelings and emotions and I don't think we are that close to be sharing things like that.

"Why you think so, Reiya?" Monika asked as she got closer to me. Her eyes met mine and stared at me which seemed like an eternity.

"W-well…" I stuttered. "I'm not as good as you guys on stuff like that and I think it'd be unfair with the other members and-"

"Look what we have here…" she giggled, walked away from me and got closer once again to pinch my cheeks. "What cute! Trying to get away with excuses." She nodded her index finger at me and kept on. "I can guarantee you that we're all embarrassed and that's why we're doing it, so can learn from us."

"(sigh) Okay…" I agreed, defeated.

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Soon after I got home, I let myself drop on my bed and let a sigh of relief. Somehow, I felt tired and sore, but maybe that would be my body under recover.

I must admit that it was a fun day and, strangely, it seemed surreal enough for me to believe it was all made just for me like there was no other choice. For some reason, even if it was made up, I was fine with it. Well, why wouldn't I accept something like that? A club full of funny, smart and cute girls. Each of them with their charms and good points. Not a bad deal, right?

"What should I write now?" I wondered as I stared at the ceiling of my room hoping for an idea to pop up. "I don't want to make it seems like I didn't give it much thought, but also I don't want to complicate things and mess it up… What a dilemma!"

I wondered about some minutes before I decided to sit at my desk to focus on my poem which was meant to be trial poem to see my skills. Without motivation, I grabbed my pen and some paper and hoped for some idea or inspiration to come, but easier said than done.

Time on the clock was going fast as I faced the black paper. I looked some poems on the internet to get some reference, but it didn't help. Slowly, the frustration and anxiety grew giving me a headache.

30 minutes later…

"That should do!" I thought confidently although I knew it wasn't a masterpiece.

I folded the paper sheet and put it on my bag so I wouldn't forget it home. Relieved and satisfied with my work I went to bed and tried to sleep…

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I woke up with the alarm from my phone ringing into my ears. As usual, followed my morning routine. Exercising, showering, eating, changing, waiting [the always late] Sayori… Everything went as normal as it could get.

Classes were the same. Boring and never-ending, but there were moments which made it easier like when Sayori dozed off and got yelled at by the teacher. It may seem as if I'm the bad guy – that's what she says –, however, her seat is the first in the row and I wasn't the only one who laughed because the jumped out of her desk when the teacher called her. After that, the time once again was slow and if it wasn't a sunny day, I would say that it was depressing.

The school bell rang, and everybody went to their clubs. I was no exception. Both me and Sayori walked to the club. Like in the previous day, all the club members were there doing what, I suppose, they usually do. It almost made me feel a déjà vu because everything was virtually the same as yesterday.

"So, you didn't run away, Reiya." I heard Monika while I was putting my stuff on a desk.

"Why would I?" I said turning around.

"Dunno." She smiled. "Maybe we scared you a bit…" She joked just before clearing her throat to make her announcement. "Since everyone is here, let's start by sharing our poems!"

I grabbed my poem and rushed to my "desk". To be more precise, I rushed to what is supposed to be my desk since each member had their "favorite spot".

"Choose a person then share your poem with them." Monika spoke and looked at me before going on. "Reiya, you're our newest member, so I think it'd be fair if you could choose first."

"Oh… I… er…" wordless I could feel everyone staring at me while I tried to find out how to begin, better saying, who I should pick up. "I… er… Yuri!" I uttered.

I said her name without thinking, but on second thought it wasn't a "bad" choice because she probably is the most experienced and she seems the type of person who wouldn't be harsh criticizing despite being sincere. The other girls' faces were almost like a kid who wasn't the first to get a present. It broke my heart, but it had to be done, else it would only make it more awkward as I took my time to choose.

We both sat at desks facing each other while the other three were sharing their poems. They seemed to be having a good time doing so, probably because they already know each other, and now that I put some thought on it, I realize that when Monika said "it'd be a good way to know each other" she meant me and the girls. I must admit that I feel dumb in a weird and uncomfortable way.

"Hmm… Reiya?" Yuri said as soon as she finished reading the poem, which didn't take long. "Is it the first time you write a poem?"

"You can tell?"

She scanned it briefly then answered:

"Well, I can say it's really good for your first time-"

"But"

"But there are some, -er, bad habits, you may say, that beginners tend to commit when writing a story or poems." She began speaking like a real professional, but then she got flustered when she looked at me as if she felt guilty and shame. "B-b-but it's really good, Reiya. Soon enough you'll be as good as anyone here, even better."

I blushed. Now it seemed like her shyness was transmitted to me. The fact she had that cute shy side of her in contrast with the mature nature makes me feel warm and able to rely on her.

"Ahem! It's my turn to read yours now, right?" I said trying to avoid any uncomfortable quiet moments.

"R-right." Clearly, she still was flustered and quickly handed me her poem.

Ghost under the moonlight

Reflections of my thoughts illuminated by the moon's glow.

Calm and tender. It oscillates.

I wander beneath the trails left by the moonlight.

Yet dimmed by the surrounding darkness.

The reverberating shadows of the night follows and whispers.

Straying from my path I stare.

And it stares back.

"Wow…" I was wordless, but somehow managed to utter a single sound, then I proceed to gather my thoughts and give her an appropriate answer. "This is great! A pro's work!"

"D-don't say such embarrassing things!" She said. Blushing, she faced the other way trying to hide it.

"Okay," I started as I was calming down. "I may have gotten a bit too much worked up, but I still mean it when I say that this is really, really good."

Before we could continue our little conversation, it was already time to share our poems with the other club members. In my case, the next on the line was Natsuki who came towards me as if it was an obligation – which I must agree up to certain point – and, surprisingly, she'd written it on a pinkish paper sheet.

I think everyone knows already that she's the type of girl who likes cute and adorable things but acts tough to hide it – the name for it was tsundere, I guess – and so far, I haven't figured out the reason. Maybe embarrassment? Fear of rejection? Well, whatever the reason, I'm sure that it won't be enough to make stop being her friend, that's if she considers me one.

"That's a good start, I guess." She promptly spoke while handing my poem to me.

For a moment I held myself up from laughing. Her attitude was exactly what I was expecting, although it hurt a little. Surely, she noticed it and handed her poem to me showing an angry expression mixed with flustering.

What do they know?

Fishes swim

and birds fly.

Dogs hunt

and cats chase mice.

They do what they know,

but people know only how to try.

"Er…" Once again, I was wordless, however, the reason wasn't the same as it was with Yuri. "I think it's kinda… Different…" I felt a chill go down my spine. It certainly wasn't the right choice of words. "I can't find the right words, you know, an amateur like me wouldn't know, but I can say it's really good!" Luckily, I made up for my previous mistake as fast as I could.

"O-of course it's good!" she blushed as she looked at me – she had bought it. "And yours isn't bad. In fact, it's well written for an amateur like you'd just said."

I wasn't sure if it was a compliment or not, however, I managed to not make things complicated between us. Weird enough, there're not any reasons why I should go to such lengths in order to make her happy. Maybe I know, deep down, or maybe I just don't want to get punched.

Next in the line was Sayori. The moment she sat before me I realized that I had no idea what kind of poem would come from her. I mean, supposedly we have been friends since long ago, thus I could be the best person to understand what she feels and thinks, if not the only person to do so. That thought made me grin (on the inside) while my blood rushed for the new. Questions popped up in my mind. What if she's the kind of deep and abstract person like Yuri? What if she can make poems as good as a professional? What if she's a genius and I am the only one who doesn't know?

"Here you go!" she said as she quickly handed me her poem first.

Wake up, sleepyhead

The way you call my name in the morning…

Smiling as you rub my sleepy away.

Making me feel lively like a sunshine.

Sometimes you call me to play.

Even when there is a rainy day,

You just wish it away.

You make me smiley.

You make me lively.

That's our secret, at last.

Now, it's time for breakfast.

"Okay…" I said. This time I wasn't wordless, rather astonished about how Sayori was just like her. "Don't get me wrong, but you did it this morning, the poem? And skipped breakfast, I'm sure…"

"Boo! I was expecting you to at least compliment me!" her tone and behavior was just like a kid's. "That's why I was late today."

"Just today?" I mocked.

"Meanie." She pouted and grabbed my poem when I let my guard down. "Let me see yours." It took her a moment before finishing it with a smile. "Wow! That's your poem! It's really, really, really good!"

"I'm grateful for the compliment, but I think you're exaggerating."

"Hehehe It may be true, but it's still your poem!"

She smiled at me as if she was having the best time of her life. For once, I thought that seeing how other girls behave might give me a hint on how they think and today I got my conclusions set in stone. That is: I will never understand girls…

Finally, it was Monika's turn. For some reason, I felt anxious and could feel her gaze at me almost as if she was expecting something to happen. Maybe she was just like Yuri, shy and self-conscious about her writing? Or maybe she's afraid that I might get unmotivated by great poems and drop out of the club? Those are reasonable worries, but still there's something more to it.

"Let's see what you did." She took my poem from my hands, which I wasn't holding tightly. It took her just some moments to read then she began. "It's good for starters."

"But there are a lot of amateur mistakes, right?" I said, disappointed.

She giggled and answered:

"Of course, there'll be mistakes. Even us make mistakes, but the important is o learn from them." She put the poem on the table and kept on. "Look, Reiya, the secret for a good poem is to try, and try, and try… Just write whatever comes to your your mind. If it's not good, do it again. Eventually, you'll go with the flow and let your heart do the job" She said while reaching for my chest and placing her hand where it was supposed to be then took her hand off me. "Another way to put it is staying in the same place for too long will make you sink so just go with the flow!"

I was astonished. That's a club president for you, not only that, but one of the best students in our year.

"You're right… uh, I could read your poem now…" those were the only words I managed to say.

She handed it to me and went silent, waiting for me to finish.

A new world!

It was lonely and colorless.

An empty place amidst nowhere.

Suddenly, sparkles and noises reverberating.

Something new had emerged.

Creating me anew as I perceived,

I was there.

Fresh sensations were carved in me.

Burned in my memory as a curse.

Fascinated and stunned I sought for more,

but found better.

It was a window to a world.

Deep and whole, stretching eternally into the infinity.

Curious, I peered and realized.

I looked outside.

But the world looked inside.

"What about it, Reiya?" Monika asked as she realized I had finished reading.

"It's good! Really good!" I answered. "It's abstract just like Yuri's, even more, I dare saying."

"Really?" she giggled again. It never tires me. "Well, I wrote it when I had a, uh, epiphany… Something like that."

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After those words from Monika, I felt an echoing sensation inside me. It was like a crowd screaming in a cave, but I couldn't grasp it's meaning. Strangely, at the same time, all those noises were almost silent. Because of that I spend the remaining time attempting to figure out what it was, and when I got back to myself, I already was in my room.

My day passed fast and I could only recall a few fragments. I remember that after everyone finished the poem sharing, we discussed about something then it was called a day off. If I'm not wrong, Monika gave us another assignment, but this time it was supposed to have a theme which I don't remember.

"Give me a break already!" I screamed in my head as I threw my head into the pillow.

My whole body was heavy and tired. All that echoing voices made it hard to relax or even accomplish the most basic things. So, it was expected to be fatigated…

Reiya… Reiya… D y u re ber me… Pl se...

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Where am I?

?

?

?

?

It echoes...

. . .