Love Me Now

Chapter 17

When I left for Paris I never planned to go back to Manila, at least not until I moved on.

During my first few weeks, lagi akong homesick. No family and no friends. May relatives si Papa pero sa Nice nakatira which is 1 1/2 hour flight or almost 9 hours drive kaya halos magisa rin ako dito.

I fell in love with the city pagkarating na pagkarating ko pa lang. Aside sa bagong environment, malaking challenge din living alone at a young age. I got used to it as years passed by.

I live near the school kaya naglalakad lang ako papasok and pauwe. I learned how to cook na rin.

I talked to my parents almost everyday except lang pag busy sa school. Lagi pa rin umiiyak si Mama everytime kausap ako at pinapauwi ako. Kahit nagpupunta rin naman sila dito once a year and nakikita niya na okay ako, worried pa rin siya pag nasa manila na siya.

First few months, lagi ako tinatawagan or minemessage ni Kiefer and Raf pero hindi ko sila sinasagot. Nagrereply ako pag alam kong tulog na sila and will not be able to call me again. Sinasabi ko lagi na busy ako. Raf stopped calling after a month but Kiefer he called me everyday for 3 years pero ni isa dun hindi ko sinagot.

Lagi kong gusto sagutin yung tawag niya pero pinipigilan ko knowing na pag narinig ko yung boses niya or makita ko siya, I will take the next flight to Manila.

Nagkaroon na rin ako ng friends, mga classmates ko sa art school. Different nationalities, different cultures. Okay naman sila pero iba pa rin pala talaga yung friends mo since childhood. May times kasi na di ko maintindihan mga friends ko dito tapos mga liberated pa yung iba pero marami ako natutunan sa kanila lalo na magayos. Biggest achievement ko yun, ang galing ko daw kasi magpaint pero mukha ko di ko malagyan ng kulay, kaya nagexperiment ako. Ginawa kong canvass yung mukha ko.

Natuto rin ako manamit ng hindi boring as what they usually say sa pananamit ko dati. I haven't changed inside pero physically nagbago ako to be more presentable. I graduated last year and I partnered with some of my friends at nagtayo kami ng gallery.

Nagkakape ako with one of my french friends, Simone bago kami mamili ng materials ng biglang tumawag si Kiefer.

Ly, décrocher le téléphone. (Ly pick up the phone.) Sabi ni Simone ng magring yung phone ko.

Il cessera de sonner. (It'll stop.) Sabi ko.

Qu'est-ce? (Who is it?) Tanong niya.

Je ne sais pas. (I don't know) Sabi ko ng bigla niyang kunin yung phone ko.

AlIô. Sabi niya.

Simone le redonner. (Simone give me my phone.) Mahina kong sabi sa kanya habang pilit kinukuha yung phone ko.

No english. Au revoir. Sabi ni Simone at inabot sa akin yung phone ko.

fou. (Crazy). Sabi ko at natawa siya.

est il ton petit ami? (Is that your boyfriend?) Tanong niya.

Non. Finir votre café afin que nous puissions aller. (No, finish your coffee so we can go.) Sabi ko.

Fine fine fine. Sabi niya kaya niyaya ko na siya dahil mamimili pa kami ng materials dahil magkakaroon kami ng exhibit next month.

Why dont you have a boyfriend? You've been here for 5 years, you finished school. What are you waiting for? Tanong niya.

I'm not waiting for anything or anybody. Why are you so concern about my lovelife? Tanong ko.

I'm just worried about you, Mon Amie. Sabi niya.