We were three, or four i can’t remember. But we’re classmates way back from preschool up until first grade. We never knew how to deal with life before, as our greatest suffering back then was not knowing how to tie a shoe.
I transferred to another school and continued our adventure separately. We never talked up until we were 17.
Friendster was still in, and we reminisce our simple lives that our mind can remember when we were kids. She was already in Canada, she trusted me with her life story, how they migrated and so on. We had a lovely talk and we clicked instantly. We’ve been friends. Good friends.
Then came facebook. Jumping into bandwagon, I immediately deleted friendster and switched to the new “in” thing of our generation. I even forgot to give her a heads up. Apologies. 😅
She created her own account as well, said our hellos again. We talked, we chat. Until she said IT. She’s gonna visit Philippines soon! Oh my, oh my i have to see her, what joy and excitement I felt. At least one day seeing her would be alright.
As one of her elementary friends, I was automatically included in her circle. We hang out, and I adored her from afar. Something about her is really interesting and I didn’t know what. That one day I hoped become weeks, months, years. I am in luck.
She’s very warm, clingy, super friendly to the point that I even mistake it for flirting. But I know I won’t have a chance. I don’t look so well, she’s amazingly beautiful. I have marks all over my face, I’m not so tall and I can’t think of anything special about me. So as much as possible, I don’t wanna miss every chance I could be with her, accompany her. I adore her, we can put it that way. You know the feeling when you meant someone that is too good to be yours? That's how I feel being a boring person myself.
It was so sudden when she came up with the idea of celebrating her debut here, and I was surprised to have been invited as one of his 18 roses. Lucky. However the date coincides with my girl bestfriend’s debut. But I can’t miss this chance. Good thing was, the venue of both debutants was only walking distance away. So I decided to be a ninja and attended both. Changing one motif to another in between.
Two celebrations in one night. I explicitly asked the emcee to put me on top of the list of her roses, because I know my bestfriend would be furious if I missed to give her last dance.
Faith, I think, messed everything up. Instead, on her debut I was accidentally put as her last. I did not play any shenanigans on this one, but it happened. I was happy. She was happy. The experience is awesome having two last dance in one night. It's something.
We dated, as friends unfortunately.
Every single day I grew so fond of her, I fall for her.
It was the night of November 13, 2007. We were at Subic, on one of the benches across Subic Bay Arts Center aka SUBAC, where I tried to use up all the courage I have in me to ask this gorgeous girl if I can be her boyfriend.
It didn’t go that well, I heard no yes, definitely not a no. There was a pinch of a chance, so I pursued her. We spent most days hanging out.
It was November 22 when she said YES, and we were officially a couple. Alcohol played an exemplary role, aside from emotions and love.
However the next few days would be dreadful. The girl I fell in love with, will soon take a plane ride back to a place she calls home.
Fuck long distance relationship, along with all the people who are greatly against of the idea. We tried our best in defying odds together.
She was a fighter. She fought her way back to me, she decided to study a college degree in a university here in the Philippines. Alas, we were together again.
Our relationship is not smoothly sailing. There were fights, arguments. Lots of it. My share of my mistakes that I truly am sorry for. It was really a roller coaster and it was not always good. But we managed. Forgive. Forget. Love.
What I admire in our relationship is the idea of not letting one issue unresolved. I owe that to her. We made a lot of good memories, and all are amazing.
More than five years and counting. That long have already passed and we managed. Bittersweet, maybe. I couldn’t ask for anyone else. I am lucky, hopefully she is too.
I planned to tie the knot, to make her mine. I snoop on her phone and I found out the kind of ring she dreams of to be hers. So I have to have that for her, what our relationship deserves. I went out to scout for a jewelry shop who can make her dream come to life. I had a good deal. I grabbed the opportunity.
I plan on how to propose. I can’t dance so I can’t do the flashmob thing. I can’t sing so I can’t serenade. I was really talentless and boring. So I went for something simple. I planned a dinner to a place we haven’t been before. Reviews say that it has a good ambiance overlooking the sky and sea. It seemed perfect so I ask her there at Vascos in Subic.
The plan was to propose on a Valentines day, as what cliché couples do. However we had a very rough start. I purchased the ring a day before Valentines in Manila from my loan and savings. She's looking for me, clueless as to my whereabouts that I cannot definitely tell. We argued and fought. I keep my alibis intact. So valentines was spoiled for us both. So that day is a no.
We agreed on a post-Valentine dinner instead, on the place where I planned to propose, Vasco’s in Subic.
We were there, having dinner. She complains about the dying mood of the place. Maybe because it was night time. The ambiance would have looked so awesome at sunset. She never liked it so I wasn’t able to pop the question there. All the signs was a NO. Kudos to the food though.
I can’t wait for another day. I need to ask her to be mine. So I ployed a way to be back where it started. The benches across SUBAC. Surprisingly, the benches are nowhere to be found. But we knew our spot beside a huge tree. We talked there for a while, how we started. Reminiscing the good memories.
It was already around 2am of February 16, I kneeled down, shaking, while she was looking away. She was surprised, not to see me on her eye level.
It was all so perfect. The place where it all started. Everything did not go as planned but it went amazingly well. I’m engaged!
However, our long distance relationship is just by the corner. On the 24th, she’ll be leaving the country.
Today things was a total struggle. Each day.
Root for us. Pray for us.
