We met through the internet (yup, we’re products of technology!). How it really started seems hazy but I remember my sister giving my graduation picture to one of her classmates who in turn gave it to his friend/neighbour, Jeff. We started talking on the phone. Nothing serious, just friendly chit chats. Then Jeff’s bestfriend, Sherwin, sent me an email. I replied to that email and apparently, Sherwin used his cousin’s email account. So obviously, I replied to someone else, who turned out to be TanTan. Soon, we found ourselves constantly exchanging emails and eventually ended up chatting until the wee hours of the morning.
 
It took some months before we saw each other in person. We’ve exchanged pictures (to give us both an idea of what the other looks like) but we’ve somehow put off meeting each other in person. Probably at that time, it was because I was busy with my thesis and there was just no opportunity. Until one day, he said he wanted us to meet. I reluctantly agreed. I was a bit scared because I haven’t been in a relationship for so long (not that you can call them relationships; more or less just a fling back in high school!) and everything is kind of new. Plus, what if he turns out completely different from what he tries to project over the net! Anyway, it has been set; he’ll come to UST where I was studying and at that time, proctoring for incoming college freshmen. I was with my friends so I’ve nothing to worry about. As we were going back to our ‘base’, I passed by him and instantly recognized his face. But what a shock! He’s got this beard and moustache and he really looked dishevelled! I told him we’ll just go to the office and will come back for him. When out of earshot, I remember telling my friend, Kat, that I was not going back to meet him! It was really a bad first impression, so scary! Hahaha! But Kat, being nice, she said she’ll come with me and I should be polite. He came all the way from Taytay, Rizal (where he lives) and I should be nice even just for the effort. Oh well… We went back and since it was lunch time, we decided to eat somewhere. We ended up in KFC in Dapitan. Nothing romantic but somewhere I could get away (or run away from!) easily! But the bad impression did not last long. I mean, it was just skin deep. He was a really nice person. He has got a good sense of humour and admittedly, behind the beard and moustache, he doesn’t look bad at all. I love his eyes and also, he’s got a really warm smile (which melted my heart away – eventually that is!). He’s also sweet. He made me 3 flowers out of the tissues lying on our table. He also brought me something, I think it was a figurine (?) – sorry, it was a long time ago! Then Kat had to leave so she left us alone together. It wasn’t bad at all! He brought me home, exchanged numbers and ended up chatting over the phone as well.
 
The next time we met, he came over to UST again and he surprised me! He was all clean and tidy (no more of the ugly beard and moustache!). He really smelt good (I remember him wearing aqua di gio perfume! =p). He was a completely different person from the first one I met (I mean, physically). He said he just wanted to see how I would react on his being scruffy! Good thing Kat forced me to go back! Hahaha!
 
We eventually ended up going out every Monday afternoon, after our physics class (Kat and I took this extra class for med). He would come after his classes (in UP Diliman) which is quite smacked right with my schedule. At that time, I wasn’t sure if he’s courting me or not. I mean, I enjoy his company (a lot!) but I wasn’t expecting anything more. He hasn’t expressed his intentions yet, let alone how he feels for me. Then one day, after putting the phone down, our phone rang again. When I picked it up I heard his cousin (I think) said, “bakit hindi mo pa sinabi na mahal mo sya?”. Apparently, they have an extension phone and when Tantan placed the phone down, his cousin (who was listening) did not put hers down so I got a call back. And I heard everything (or was it just his way of telling me? Like a ploy or something =p)! I remember blushing and getting those shivers up and down my spine. Feels good but I wasn’t sure back then if I wanted to be in a relationship.
 
After thinking long and hard, I decided to give ‘us’ a chance. It was the 8th of December 1998. And the rest, as they say is history….BUT….
 
It was not all bed of roses for both of us. The first few years were good…still getting to know each other, on the ‘honeymoon’ stage as you would expect. Then in 2002 came the biggest trial in our relationship. He failed. I failed. We both failed. (But I guess he failed me more than I did him!). I’m not going to go through the details as I’m still a bit sensitive about it. I blamed myself. Stoop down to the lowest level just to save the relationship but to no avail. Good thing I have really good friends around me. And my sister was really good, an angel. I remember her holding my hand when I feel like ending my life! Not that I’m going to but I really felt helpless. I thought I was strong, I thought nothing can keep us apart, nothing can break us. But as he said, he was weak, he cracked up! We got separated for 6 months. It was definitely the worst but admittedly, also one of the best chapters of my life. Worst, because I felt so much pain. I lost my best friend. I felt the 3 years we had together, the love and life that we built and the future we planned together just all went to waste. But come to think of it, it wasn’t all bad. I learned more about myself, learned to love myself more. I found out there’s more to life, more to learn and more to explore. But of course, I still feel my life won’t be complete without him by my side. God is so good because He brought him back to me; God answered my prayers (much to my friends’ dismay! =p).
 
He came back to me. And that is all that matters. Once in a while I still get the odd feeling of remembrance but it takes a while to heal. But I think I’m almost there…almost there…So now, we’re back in each other’s arms =p. I know there will be more humps and bumps but I believe we’ll surpass them all. Anyway, what could be worse than what we’ve endured? No relationship is perfect, nobody is perfect but the lessons we’ve learned will forever guide us in making the right decisions, in taking the right path. And I’m sure we’ve taken the right path, the path to spending eternity together… =p