If You Tell Me You Love Me

Prologue

Rafael Francis Hidalgo Zamora

"WE'RE MOVING?! WHEN?!" sabi ko. What the hell? I can't believe this. I was just having fun with my friends last night. All those booze, smoke and don't get me started with the ladies. Damn they're hot! But I still can't believe we're moving. And in all places, PHILIPPINES. Where my parents and most of my relatives grew up. We're currently in Paris, France. We live here for 18 years, this is where I grew up.

"Yeah. Got a problem with that Francis? Mamaya, after dinner. " sabi ni Papa.

"But Pa, dito ang buhay ko. My friends, my SCHOOL." Katwiran ko. Why are we moving anyway? Okay naman kami dito ah. Unless...

"We're not bankrupt Francis, if that's what you're thinking. Anyway, we've been staying here for a very long time. It's time to go home. And you can make new friends and besides you're already enrolled to your new school." Sabi ni Mama. How come she always knows what I'm thinking? Tsk. And wait did she say "already enrolled"?!

"WHAT?! You already enrolled me?! To where? And without my consent? MA!!" I can't believe this. I really can't.

"Don't talk to me with that tone Rafael. Yes you're already enrolled. Don't worry it's a prestigious school, it's my alma mater. You'll be in good hands." Sabi ni Mama. Tinignan ko ang kapatid ko si Francine baka sakaling tulungan niya ko.

"What? I'm fine with moving kuya. I kind a like it" Fuck.

Hindi na ko kumibo sa sinabi ng kapatid ko. I grabbed my phone and my car keys. Dumaretso ako sa tamabayan namin ng mga kaibigan ko. My friends are also Filipino, parehas rin kaming mayayaman, half Spanish. Ako lang ang half French sa kanila.

When I got there, nakita ko ang mga kotse nila. So they're here. Pag pasok ko, ang kapal ng usok from my friends vape and cigarettes. It also smells like alcohol. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Henry Zaldua.

"Why the long face Francis?" tanong ni Dominic Lorenzo. Kinuwento ko sa kanila lahat and they couldn't utter a word.

"Damn Francis. When are you coming back here?" tanong ni Brian Fernandez.

"I'll make sure to visit you guys every month, I'll—Hello? What do you want Celestine?" Celestine Montes. This girl is crazy about me and I hate her. She gives me the creeps. Damn it. How did she know my number?

"Can you meet me right now? At the Chateau by the garden?" What does she want now? Damn this girl.

"Fine. I'll give you five minutes. FIVE MINUTES, Celestine." Binaba ko na ang tawag, I bid goodbye to my friends then I left.

Nakakarindi talaga tong babae na to eh. Napaka stalker talaga, creepy. Good thing about this moving shit is that I can't see her anymore. I will never see her again! And thank god for that. Hirap maging gwapo puta.

Pag dating ko sa parking lot ng Chateau dumaretso na ko agad sa garden. And I saw her there, sitting by the bench. Waiting.

"What is it Celestine?" tanong ko sakanya. I want this to be over real quick.

"I like you Francis. No. I love you. But as if you don't know right? Anyway I just want to say good bye." I stared at her blank face. No emotion. Good bye? Saan naman kaya pupunta ang isang to? Wait. I DON'T CARE. She can disappear if she wants.

"Thanks Celestine but I'm sorry I don't like you, you know that." Sabi ko. To be honest, she's beautiful. She has those killer smile, luscious lips, soulful eyes and that coca-cola shaped body is to die for. In short, she's hot! And you're thinking I actually like her, I don't! Observant kasi ako. But she's not my type in terms of personality. She's too quiet, killjoy!

"Alam ko. Can you close your eyes for a sec? May ibibigay lang ako sayo. Please?" ano na naman to?

"Alam mo bang sobra ka na sa five minutes mo Celestine? Pero sige pag bibigyan kita." I closed my eyes and waited for a signal.

Until I felt something soft pressed on my lips. I can feel my heart pounding the moment it left me. What is this? Pag bukas ko ng mga mata ko, wala na si Celestine.

"Celestine?" I called out her name but she didn't come out. What was that?

Pag bukas ko ng pinto, naka empake na sila Mama. Nakita ko rin yung bagahe ko ready na, sila na pala nag ayos. I left my car keys by the side table and went outside where our family car is waiting. When I entered, tulala lang ako. Thinking about what happened kanina. The soft "thing" that pressed on my lips. It keeps playing on my head pucha parang sirang plaka.

"Francis. You okay?" nawala ako bigla sa pag iisip ko when Mom asked me.

"Yeah mom. I'm fine." I answered my mom without looking at her. I was just starring at my window and still thinking about what happened.

Pag dating namin sa airport. Nakikita ko na talaga na nilalagay na mga gamit namin sa eroplano. We're really moving.

"Francis let's go. You'll be fine, I'm sure you'll like San Antonio." Dad said.

Before I entered the plane. I looked back and remembered every memory I had here.

"Kuya lika na" my sister said.

When I entered the plane. All I can think about are curses and what my life would be from now on. San Antonio huh? It better be good.

This is it then.