Will You Still Love Me?

Prologue | Wanted: A Long Time Friend!

This chapter was told from Ethan's perspective.

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"One typhoon would soon destroy the vicinities of Cebu and other nearby cities as it is fast approaching; residents are advised to evacuate to another place away from these cities."

I was buying junk food outside to make myself comfortable when I heard the news on the radio. I went home immediately when I heard the sound of the luggage, a sign of moving out, but to where?

I remembered something. It was us moving out to go to where my mom would later work.

My mom was very eager to move out. I was seventeen when we moved out of the Philippines. I thought moving out was temporary, but it became permanent when she told me why we were moving to Australia.

I was not even allowed to say goodbye to my friend Cherryl, who I'd heard was evacuating to the nearest evacuation centre.

Since moving to Australia, I've adapted to a more comfortable lifestyle. Despite the cold and unpredictable weather in Melbourne, I've found ways to stay warm and enjoy my time here. I've invested in cosy winter clothing, and I now have warm blankets and a hot drink ready whenever I'm at home. I've also discovered indoor activities to keep myself occupied during the colder months, such as visiting museums, trying out new recipes, and attending indoor events.

As I sat in my room, endlessly scrolling through social media and search engines, I couldn't shake the feeling of missing my friend. Despite all my efforts, I could not find any trace of her online. It had been years since we last saw each other, and the memories still lingered.

One night, I found myself lost in thoughts, unable to sleep. My mom interrupted my reverie, "Ethan, you're wide awake again." Her words reminded me of the present, snapping me out of nostalgia. It was at that moment that I realised how consumed I had become by my search for my friend.

I had realised it was already 10 PM at my side. In Australian weather, it is so cold and unpredictable.

Melbourne, screw you.

It dawned on me that perhaps I had been looking in all the wrong places. As I turned off my laptop and drifted off to sleep, I made a silent commitment to let go of my relentless online quest and, instead, focus on creating authentic and meaningful connections in my life.

Before I closed my eyes, I could only think how desperate I was to see her. I've had feelings for her since we met, and I wish I could have told her before we separated.

On how much I love Cherryl so much.

I played my favourite song for one last time before I completely shut my eyes, wondering about the future of me.

After three days of relentless searching, I finally found Cherryl on Facebook. My heart raced as I clicked on her profile, and I felt a glimmer of hope as I saw her familiar face.

I hesitated for a moment before sending her a message. "Hey, Cherryl. It's been a long time, but I've been trying to find you for years. How have you been?"

After what felt like an eternity, she replied, "Hi! I'm sorry, but I think you have the wrong person. I don't remember you."

My heart sank at her response. It had been five years, and maybe I had built up this image of us. Perhaps she had moved on and forgotten about me and our friendship.

I tried to keep the conversation going, hoping to spark a memory. "We used to live in the Philippines, and we were friends before I moved to Australia. Does any of this ring a bell?"

She responded, "I'm sorry, but I've known many people from the Philippines. I'm not sure who you are. How did you find me, anyway?"

I persisted, "I remember we used to attend the same private school together. We spent so much time together, and I considered you my long-time friend."

After a moment, she replied, "Wait a minute... Ethan? Is that you? Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's you! I've missed you so much. Things have been so dull since you left."

Relief washed over me as she finally recognised me. We chatted for hours, reminiscing about our time in the Philippines and catching up on each other's lives. It was an overwhelming feeling to reconnect with a dear friend and realise that our friendship could withstand the test of time and distance.

As we continued to talk, I couldn't help but feel grateful for technology for bringing us back together. Despite the physical distance between us, our bond remained strong, and I knew our friendship would continue to thrive no matter where life took us.

But I had to be honest with what I felt.

"Cherryl, I can't express how much I've missed you. It's been so difficult not having you around."

"I missed you too. It's been lonely without you," Cherryl answered.

"No, I don't think you understand. I didn't just miss our friendship. I missed you, Cherryl. I've always had feelings for you, feelings that go beyond mere friendship." At that point, I knew she had no feelings for me since I left her unintentionally.

"Oh. I didn't realise... I mean, I'm flattered, Ethan. But I never thought of us that way. I thought we were just excellent friends."

"I understand. I just had to be honest with you. I had feelings for you even back in the Philippines, and they've only grown stronger over the years. I couldn't keep it to myself any longer."

"I appreciate your honesty. I value our friendship so much, and I hope we can continue being great friends despite everything."

"Of course, Cherryl. I cherish our friendship more than anything. I just wanted to be upfront with you about how I feel. I understand if things need to change, but I hope we can remain close.

"I'd like that. You've always been an essential part of my life, and I don't want that to change. Let's continue to be there for each other, no matter what.

"Alright, Cherryl, thank you for spending time with me. I'm so happy I communicated with you."

"I'm so glad you are alive and well! It's dinner time. Take time, Ethan. I hope I can see you soon. I miss you."

"Take care too, Cherryl. I miss you too."

I left my table to open my window and get some fresh air. However, the cold air greeted me, so I closed the window again. I got a ring from my adviser, reminding me to enter his one-on-one consultation with me, which will start in 5 minutes.

And that's when I realised I had my school to deal with, and we weren't on good terms with the adviser I had.

So irritating.