Unforgettable

Chapter 1: Paris

𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓪

"Leona! Gising na!" Nagising ako sa sigaw ng ate Lisette ko; Liz for short. 

"Eto na!" Sigaw ko pabalik sakanya. Lumabas na ako sa kwarto ng apartment namin, nag tooth brush at naligo. After ko magdamit for today, sinalubong ako ni ate Liz; na may kasamang lalaking nakaupo sa sofa. He has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. He wore a striped loose polo and shorts. Summer na kasi sa France.

Napansin siguro ni ate yung pagtataka ko at tumayo siya pati yung lalaki.

"Leona this is Pierre. Pierre, Leona; my sister." She spoke in French. She's really fluent in French since 10 years na siya nandito, ever since dad took her and left me with my mom.

"Ravi de vous rencontrer, mademoiselle Leona," he said. "you speak French, right?"

"Oui, monsieur." I answered back. I've only been here for 2 years pero I speak almost as fluent as my sister. This is one of my strengths I learn fast, although up until now hindi parin ako nakak adapt sa Paris.

I looked at my sister as if asking what Pierre is doing here. She caught me eye. "Ah, Pierre is actually half Filipino, Leona. I met him last week and thought both of you should meet." She's still speaking in French. I looked at Pierre, he did not have the Filipino look but then again hindi din ako mukhang pilipina. I fit in well with the French girls here. I have natural golden brown hair just like my sister, light brown eyes and soft features.

"Oh, do you speak Filipino then?' I asked. "No, i don't." I thought so .

"Well, Pierre is the same age as you, Leona. Why don't you go out a bit?" tanong ni ate Liz, in French.

Nagkatinginan kami saglit. UGH! May pinaplano nanaman si Lisette.

"Ate, can I talk to you," I looked at Pierre's curious look on me. "privately?"

Lumabas kami sa balcony ng apartment. "Ano nanaman itong sinet-up mo, ate? Last time it was a 25 year old Italian."

"Uh, eh.." Kinamot niya yung leeg niya.

"Ate, I told you na hindi pa ako handa sa mga ganyang relasyon or dates." Ever since I got here, yes two years straight, she's been pestering me to go out more and date. have fun kuno.

"I know, Leona. I just thought you need to go out more. You changed, sis. Ever since you broke up withー" Pinutol ko yung sasabihin niya bago pa niya sabihin yung panagaln niya.

"Enough. I'm leaving in two days for the Philippines anyways." kahit siya yung nakakatanda, minsan parang siya pa yung bata. She was pouting now.

"I just miss my old sister. You know, yung masayahin. Yung malakas yung boses, malakas kumain. Now you barely even eat more than a salad." sabi niya habang hinihila ako papalapit sakanya. Niayakap niya ako.

"Ate naman eh. This is why I'm going back to the Philippines nga, diba? To retrieve my old self."

---

A week later

I was going back to the Philippines for good. Don't get me wrong, mahal ko ang Paris. I mean, there's no better place to find love other than Paris. But why can't I find love? For myself?

"I'll miss you, baby sis!" nangingiyak ngiyak akong niyakap ni ate Liz. The last time I saw her, before I moved here, was when I was 8. Though, yung bond namin as sisters has never been so close at lalo lang lumabong noong tumira akong kasama siya.

"Au revoir, my dear Leona." Shit! Naalala ko nanaman. That was my father. He's French and decided to leave me and my mom when I was 8. Ngayon ay bago na siyang pamilya dito din sa Paris. I don't hate him but I also don't love him. I like my half brother, Niko better. He's 8, the same age I was when my father left me and my ate Liz has been with him his entire life.

"Au revoir, ate!" Tumakbo si Niko saakin. Hindi nag tatagalog si Niko dahil parehas na French ang nanay at tatay niya. Tumingin ako kay ate. "Did you teach him?" tanong ko. Umiling siya at tinuro niya si dad. "You?" Tanong kong tumango naman siya.

Kaagad ako tumakbo papunta sakanya at niyakap siya; something I've never done before. "Merci, papa." Humiwalay ako sakanya, sakanila. I left for the airport gate and looked back them once more. Niko was crying; 'wag ka na umiyak, Niko.

This is it. I'm going to get my old self back...

And possibly forget my dear Alexander.