Told Me That You Love Me

“Tell me that you love me.”

“No,” I refused him bluntly.

Adrian Jimenez – dyed hair, pierced ear, slacker, and a regular in detention. He’s just
your typical good-for-nothing high school student. I never expected him to say those
things to me yesterday.

“Ria.”

A call from my friends has interrupted me from staring at a vase of white flower at the
top of an empty desk.

“Umm… are you okay?” they asked.

“What?” I replied in abrupt.

“No… that…” they answered. “…you like him, didn’t you?”

“I’m fine.” I emphatically replied as I stood.

I faked a smile and said, “Sorry for making you worried.”

“The teacher called me just now, I’m going first.” I added.

I lefted to escape ‘that’ conversation.

As I walked down the hallway,

“Hey!” Adrian called and came running up to me.

“What do you want?” I replied coldly.

“I was thinking of confessing to you again.” He responded eagerly.

“I won’t say yes no matter how much you try though” I answered back.

He sighed. Then he smiled.

“Rather than that, dyed hair, ear piercing, and that slacking habit of yours, haven’t I told
you to fix that since forever?” I reprimanded him.

“Oh! That’s the Student Council President for you!” He replied jokingly

“Do you still have anything more to say? Please listened to me seriously.” He added.

He proceeded to talked.

“You’ve actually been paying attention to me, don’t you, Ms. Pres?”

“Up until now, I don’t have anyone like that around me.” He continued.

“I think that’s the reason why I like you.”

I was stumped and responded, “Sorry... I can’t really answer that.”

“But, no matter how much you say it to me, my feelings still won’t change.” I continued.

“I see.” He sighed and shouted, “But I won’t give up!”

“Until you tell me you love me, I won’t stop confessing to you.” He added.

The days of Adrian chasing me around have begun since that day.

He kept on bothering me. From the time I walk to school, in our classroom, in the
hallway, at the cafeteria, and even on my way home, he is always there, smiling and
waving at me. But I kept on ignoring him. He always appeared out of nowhere and tries
to speak with me.

Like the other days, I’m still staring blankly at the vase of white flower at the top of an
empty desk.
“Ria”

Adrian interrupted my gaze.

“What?” I replied caught off-guard.

“Do you play poker?” he said.

“No, I don’t”

“Well, life is a giant poker game. Sometimes you’re the dealer, and you’re in control.
Other times you’re dealt to. Like poker, life is about luck. Either way, you only live once,
so just keep shuffling your deck.”

He then smiled and lefted.

On my way home, I stopped by a familiar sidewalk to pay respect. I left a bouquet of

white flowers on that pavement.

“You can’t forget after all?” Adrian said when he showed up.

“Of course.” I replied.

“You should just forget that dead guy. Find a new love, and look forward to the –”

“Don’t screw with me!” I exclaimed. “There’s no way I can forgot that easily.”

I cried and after I finished crying, Adrian is gone.

A day has passed, Adrian stopped bothering me.

“Is it because of yesterday’s?” I said in my mind.

I looked for him everywhere. I ran, and ran, and ran. Looking for that good-for-nothing
student.

“Why… Why did he disappear all of a sudden?!” I said in my mind.

“After chasing around someone like that, don’t go disappearing as you like!” I added.

Then I heard a familiar voice saying, “Hey, are you finally going to say it?”

“No.” I replied as tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Because if I said that, you’ll ascend to the afterlife, right?” I added.

I tried to contained my tears as I thought back on the times Adrian and I had spent
together.

“You’re skipping class again!”

“Also your hair, and piercing too!”

“Go fix those already!” I reprimanded him.

“Thanks for the advice, Ms. Pres.” He replied while patting the top of my head.

Later that night, Adrian Jimenez is hit by a runaway car while waiting for green light and
died instantly.

I grieved when I heard the news. The whole class paid respect by placing a vase of
white flower on Adrian’s desk.

“Ria.”

All of a sudden, he came backed. The same dyed hair and pierced ear. The slacker and
good-for-nothing student. I saw him again. He called my name.

“I think my regrets is not being able to confess to you before I died.” Adrian said.

“If I can get you say that you love me, I can go to heaven. That’s why, please. Tell me
that you love me.” He added.

At the back of my mind, I still want Adrian to stay by my side. So I rejected him every
time he confessed to me.
“Hey, are you finally going to say it?” He said.

“No, because if I said that, you’ll ascend to the afterlife, right?” I replied.

“That’s not fair. Calling me out like this, and dying before you could confess to me.” I
added.

“Sorry.” Adrian kept his head down and apologized.

“Do you think I’m going to say it this time just because you want to go to the afterlife?” I
shouted.

“Everything are easy for you!” I proceeded.

“I’m really sorry.” Adrian apologized one more time.

“If you want to apologize… If you want to apologize, stay by my side from now on…
Don’t go elsewhere!” I cried out.

“I can’t.” He stopped me and said, “Today is the 40 th day after my death.”

“If I don’t ascend to the afterlife after 40 days, then my soul will have to wander in this
word for eternity.”

I was too stunned to speak. The truth is, I know everything. I knew it all along but still, I
don’t want to say it. Even when I know that you are suffering because you want to go to
the afterlife. But me and my selfish reasons keep stopping you to do so.

“I’m sorry.” I apologized to him.

The most unfair one is me.

“Ria, come visit me in my anniversary! As long as you haven’t forgotten about me, you
definitely have to visit me every year.” His words comforted me.

“So please, can you tell me you love me?”

“I love you! And from now on, I will keep on loving you!” I exclaimed.
I smiled as I saw him ascend to the afterlife.

I cried as I heard his sweet voice slowly saying, “Thank you, Ria.”

“Oh my, you came too this year.” Adrian’s mom greeted me.

I didn’t notice. 7 years have passed. I haven't stopped showing up to see you for the
past seven years.

“I’m looking forward to it, every year.” I replied and added, “Because on his
anniversary, I get to meet him.”

The days that followed were filled with a bittersweet mixture of grief and love. I visited
Adrian's resting place on his anniversary, just as he had requested. Each year, I brought
a bouquet of white flower, symbolizing the purity and sincerity of our love. I sat by his
grave, sharing stories of my life, knowing that he was listening from beyond.

Life moved on, but the memory of Adrian remained etched in my heart. I found solace in
the love we had shared, even though it was cut short. It became a guiding light,
reminding me to cherish every moment and to express my feelings without hesitation.

As the years passed, I carried Adrian's love with me, finding the strength to pursue my
dreams and overcome the challenges that life threw my way. The pain of losing him
never completely faded, but it transformed into a tender ache—a reminder of a love that
had transcended time and space.
I dedicated myself to making a difference in the world, inspired by Adrian's unwavering
spirit. I channeled my grief into compassion, helping those in need, just as he had
helped me see the beauty in the most unexpected places.