Little Jackie, look at you!
A three-year-old in '92
I hear they love and care for you
But why are you crying?

No one's home and food's all gone
I'm waiting for someone to come

Little Jackie, look at you!
A little girl doin' great in school
I hear you sing the "Pussycat" good
But why the bruises all over you?

I stood on the swing and swung and fell
But nobody saw which was just as well

Little Jackie, look at you!
A businessgirl in 2002
I hear she left for all of you
But why are you so thin?

The money I have I earned so hard
And I ain't wasting it on some bread and tarts

Little Jackie, look at you!
A quiet young girl in middle school
I hear the others think you're cool
So why are you inside your room?

They never ask me to come and play
I think they prefer me to go away...

Little Jackie, look at you!
A pretty girl with brains to boot
I hear you'll go to college soon
But why the booze and boys in lust?

I like the warmth, the taste of breath
Of lips, of skin, of tongue, of sweat

Little Jackie, look at you!
A once smart girl in NYU
I hear you wanna be a doctor too
But why the dozen Fs in school?

I want a break, I want to be happy
They're miles away and they can't stop me

Little Jackie, look at you!
A girl who'll never turn twenty-two
I hear that everyone is looking for you
So won't you come out wherever you are?

......

Little Jackie? Please?

..

This red line is annoying.

Anyway, this is my Book of People---a collection of personality sketches of people I know, I once passed by on the street, sat with on a bus or even seen on a magazine. I might even add an imaginary character or two.

Yep, this red line is annoying.

This book is for future reference. I might cook up some awesome plot someday and I'll need characters to fill up the roles. But really, I made this book just so I won't get bored during days when I have absolutely nothing to do [or when procrastinating].

The inspiration began in the least likely of places---Pottermore.com, the official Potter role-laying game of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. The whole game was filled with background stories and information of the wizarding world, including the history of characters in the books.

I stumbled upon Prof. McGonagall's past and it seemed enlightening to know where my favorite character came from and how she became who she was in the novels.

J. K. Rowling explained how she had tons of background info concerning everything that is Harry Potter. Although a whole chunk of them just couldn't fit in the pages of her books, they still proved to be useful, helping the author visualize the world she was creating and describe it in good detail.

Then, right after Pottermore, I attended my BA 11 class and suddenly became fascinated by my business teacher. His hair was always parted ever so neatly at the middle and maintained undisturbed [and stayed shiny, too] 24 hours a day despite the summer heat. He also has a tendency to talk too fast and...well, he shall be my first entry so more of him later...

The hour spent with my teacher---observing his quirks and traits---made my hands itch. I wanted to eternalize who he was. I wanted people to care what I saw in him and I wanted to use his persona someday.

So, I left my Econ class [the class after BA], bought the cheapest but still cool-looking notebook I could find [am broke] and found an empty classroom next to The Crusader Publication office. Thus, the Book of People is born.

P.S.
Not every thing you read here is fact.

Someone took my heart away
And left me alone and cold
Should have kept it in a safer place
Should have did what I was told

A stranger came before me, see
And asked about my heart
Said he wanted us to be close friends
Promised not to part


So I showed and shared my heart to him
And bragged what it could do
"It's big and soft and warm," I said
"And great to keep with you!"

I let him play and touch my heart
Though he broke a little piece
But he fell in love, took it away
And now my heart's amiss


Now I'm lost and sad, I have no choice
But to find a heart as good as new
So when a stranger comes, I'll ask,
"May I take your heart away, too?"



*This is the first complete song I composed. I made it back when I was 15 for our music class. It started out as an introductory poem for a story I made titled "The Jewel Thief" which was about a thief who spent all his life looking for his heart [because he didn't have one]. Well, in the end, he found his heart all right but it was being used by a girl he just met during one of his escapes. Can't tell you how it ends though. :D I hate spoilers.

You'll notice it has a high school girl feel to it. I was a hopeless romantic back then, filled with daydreams of crushes who'll never be mine. Now, I ain't so hopeless anymore, am I? You know who you are.