A LOVE STORY THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING...
This is our story...our love story...the story of jjs61805 and how it all began...
....four years ago in Intramuros. It was 2001 when John was in Manila and had gone to their agency to look for a job opening as a seaman. It so happened that his younger brother Ariel was working also in Intramuros, very near to John’s agency, and so John paid him a visit one lunch time. Ariel and I worked together in the same project…the Catanduanes Circumferential Road Improvement Project, where I was the Jr. Structural Engr. and Ariel was our assigned CAD Operator, but we worked for different companies then. The project group always went out for lunch together and it was one of those days that destiny started to take its course. Ariel met with his brother John while I was among our other project mates having some chit-chat before going back to work. According to John, he saw me that day…still vividly remembered what I was wearing…black slacks and lavender sleeveless knit blouse, with my hair in ponytail, as always. He thought I was beautiful and sexy…a real knockout…but I did not notice him talking to Ariel! Soon after, he asked Ariel for my number, but Ariel refused to give him because he thought I was so suplada and would not give his brother John the second look. Being his superior, Ariel thought that I am not the type of girl who would care…that I was masungit (I was strict with him during work)…he thought I would only make taray to his Kuya John. One of our project mates and Ariel’s officemate and friend Ruby, who also became one of my close friends, eagerly told me days after that one of Ariel’s brothers had a crush on me. I was surprised because I never met anyone of Ariel’s brothers. Ruby told that his elder brother John went to see Ariel and it was then that he saw me. Ruby even told me that John asked for my number. Ruby was so giddy with her story… told me to wait for someone’s call. I was a bit amused, but still was nonchalant about it all. After all, I was dating someone else that time. My project contract soon ended, but there was neither a call nor text from John. According to him, shyness got the better of him, and the thought of Ariel’s warning that I might snub him prevented him from introducing himself even only through text message. Three years passed…I went through two shortlived but nerve-wracking relationships...and John had a girlfriend for two years while he stayed with their tita in Novaliches. We lived in the same town for three years…he even helped his cousin’s husband in a project in the same barangay as ours…but we never bumped into each other...it was not the right time yet...
...fast forward to January 2004......John who was at that time an Architecture freshman in Dagupan, went to Manila for their school field trip. John called up Ariel in their office but he was no longer there. Crissa, Ariel’s girlfriend and happened to be my good friend also, talked to his Kuya John instead, as Ariel was already with our company and he was assigned in our main office in Makati. John remembered me and asked Crissa how I was. Crissa told him I was no longer in the project office, that I had also gone back to our main office in Makati. Crissa, who knew the story three years ago, gave me my new cellphone number, and told his Kuya John to text me…told him that I was not masungit (she really is a friend!!! Lol!!)....it was the perfect time!
It was a week after Valentine last year…February 21, 2004 to be exact, when I was in my bedroom...contemplating anew on my life as a single lady...getting sentimental and depressed because another Valentine had passed without having spent it with someone special. I have had three previous relationships, but sad to say, I did not get to celebrate happy hearts day with anyone of them. All three relationships were shortlived... and I, always so trusting and naïve did not to know beforehand that there was the other girlfriend ahead of me. Being a prayerful person, I always pray to God to guide me to the right man whom He has meant for me, and though I got heartbroken thrice because I asked God to let me know if I had made the right choice, I never had any regrets. He never failed because every time I prayed for a sign, something always happened which made me discover deceit early in the relationship..always after 2 months...when the feelings were not that deep to cause major heartaches. I know God is great…for He always shielded me from the snares of the devil! Lol!! After my last relationship got doomed just after the New Year, I was resigned to the fate that I, a hopeless romantic, will remain just that...hopeless...sigh!!!! Until my cellphone beeped for a message that day...
...It was a new number…and the text message was a romantic poetry line…something about love. I thought that it was sweet...but who could have sent that belated Valentine message? I usually do not ask who the texter was especially if no name registered in my phone, but that day was different, and I had the urge to know who the person was. So I replied “That was sweet…but do I know you?” The reply was “Hi! My name is John… someone gave me your number.” I texted all my friends if they know someone with that number….and it was Crissa who replied “Oo Ate Joy, kuya yan ni Ariel. Tumawag kasi siya minsan sa office, ako ang nakausap niya, tapos kinamusta ka niya. Eh sabi ko, wala ka na sa Intramuros, nasa Makati ka na. Kaya binigay ko number mo. Sabi ko text ka nya kasi mabait ka naman. Sabi ko wag siya maniwala kay Ariel na masungit ka. Guwapo si Kuya John, mabait pa; tsaka sigurado ako wala siyang girlfriend ngayon.” Crissa knew I already have a phobia with men who are attached, what three exes who turned out to have girlfriends all the while. “Ok thanks!”, I replied to Crissa. So I replied to John “Are you Ariel’s brother?” He replied “Ahuh!” I was intrigued, but I don’t why I became interested to reply to his messages. Soon after, we found ourselves texting everyday...we got to know each other better...our lives…our work…asked him why at his age he was still studying Archi...told me it was his first love…his passion...that being a seaman was just obeying his mother’s wish. Soon I started getting fond of him…missed him every time he did not text…and got excited every time my cellphone beeped. I knew it was sort of an online friendship (just like in W@W), but I cannot explain the feelings that I had. Could I be falling in love with someone I haven’t seen? We were textmates…and in the world of SMS...everything can be said…truth or lie...and you don’t have a way of knowing which is which. But I am a very trusting person, and John’s being Ariel’s brother somehow made me feel at ease.
One day he sent me a really romantic message which made me realize I really like this guy…and the following day, March 11, 2004 over the phone, we admitted our feelings for each other. Are we already officially a couple? Not quite…just MU…coz he was open to the fact that there is the chance I might change my mind when I eventually see him....but he was already sure of his feelings. That’s why 2 days after, he casually proposed marriage when we were texting, as I was attending a birthday party of a friend’s son. I told John that I envied my friends who already have their own kids. John told me “Wag ka mag-alala, magkakaron din tayo nyan, mas cute pa. Yun eh, kung gusto mo akong maging ama ng magiging anak mo.” I was amused, and chided him “Nagpo-propose ka ba?” And he replied “Bakit, may masama ba?” I replied “Seryoso ka ba o baka naman nanloloko ka lang. Madaling sabihin sa text yan noh!” But John answered back “Seryoso ako, kung gusto mo pupunta ako sa inyo kasama ko si Nanay. Sabihin mo lang kung kelan mo gusto tayo magpakasal.” And I believed him....I got excited and found myself browsing a calendar looking for a perfect Saturday, a date which had an 8 or 0….and there was June 18, 2005!! Thoughts ran in my mind….Wow!! If ever, I’d be a June bride. It was perfect because we were both born in June...John on June 3, and I on June 21.... and I managed to do some math with it: 21 – 3 = 18!!! Truly perfect!!! It seemed we were really destined to be together, but quite ironic because I vowed I will never get involved with a seaman because of their playboy record, and as a civil engineer, I have this silent “dislike” for architects simply because we clash in our work...architects are a pain in the neck especially for us structural engineers. Yet I had fallen for both…a seaman and an aspiring architect rolled into one!!! Seemed like fate played its game on me...
March 27, 2004...John invited me to come to their town fiesta in Mapandan, Pangasinan, and Ariel, through Crissa, also invited our barkada to come as well. So together with my friends Ruby & Justin, Arnel & Donna, and Ariel & Crissa, and Crissa’s nieces, off we went to Ariel’s hometown using our family Adventure. Ruby and Justin alternately did the driving….but somewhere in Tarlac, our car started to have some trouble. When we reached Binalonan, we had to stop by a Petron station to have the car checked. There was something wrong with the clutch….still Justin managed to start the car anew...we traveled literally at a snail’s pace...until the car won’t start anymore. I called John, told him the car stopped and won’t start anymore. He told me he’d look for a jeepney to tow us. We were almost in the boundary of Manaoag and Mapandan…and hungry and all sweaty (we turned off the aircon starting from Tarlac)...we waited for John to rescue us. Soon, a jeepney driven by their uncle arrived, together with John and his brother-in-law. Everyone teased me no end…and Crissa told me “Ayun si Kuya John…pumayat siya. Siguro sa kakapuyat dahil sa paggawa ng plates sa Archi.” We had to go down from the car, and the moment I saw him, I flashed my very irresistible smile. Dark-skinned, thin and long-haired and unshaven...honestly I thought he looked like an addict!! LOL!!! But I understand that being an Archi student meant sleepless nights...I have to admit though that I really liked his eyes, deep and soulful...and when I saw his profile, his nose was perfect!!! It was only after our wedding that he told me he really meant to look like that, to see if I will get scared of him…and was glad that I did not! And what did he think of me when he saw me again after 3 years? He was shy and scared the first few moments because I looked so strict and suplada, but when he saw me smile, all his fears melted away...
...and so we transferred to the jeepney while our car was being towed…and all the while Crissa and my other friends teased me again….no wonder John was not able to mutter a word…and chose to seat beside the driver. Finally, we reached their home…and a sumptuous lunch of shrimps (John knew these are my faves), the famous broiled bangus Bonuan, pinakbet and green mangoes with matching bagoong!!! John was really shy he did not join us for lunch. After a late lunch, we were supposed to hear mass first at Manaoag, before we go to San Fabian for a beach night out, but my friends thought of going to Baguio instead. My mom, after learning about this, warned us that we stick to our original plan ‘coz something had already happened along our way to Mapandan, and if we push through with Baguio, who knows what danger will happen to us. So we went to San Fabian instead to spend the night there. I convinced John to come with us, and even though he had not slept due to homework, he joined us. Had we gone to Baguio instead, John would not have been able to join us...and that would have made a great difference!!!
We stayed in Lazy A Beach Resort in San Fabian. My friends went out to have a night swim in a nearby pool, and they made me stay with John in the cottage. I envied them having fun in the pool, so I asked John if it’s okay to leave him and join my friends. As I dipped myself in the pool...gosh!!! The water was very cold I thought I am gonna freeze!! I started to shiver and decided to go back to the cottage before I get an asthma attack. I had to take shower instead, but when I got into the shower room there was a cockroach!!! I hurried back outside and called John…I told him there was a cockroach inside…and so he went to see and then got hold of the cockroach!!! Wow!!! Pa-impress!!!
After my shower, John and I just stayed outside the cottage talking while we watched my friends frolicking in the pool. They made sure they stayed there for quite sometime so that John and I can have more time to be alone with each other. I felt we were gauging each other, still very conscious of the presence of each other. It was only the following morning that John and I threw away our reservations and soon were holding each other’s hands. When we took the boat ride, my friends had that silent awe (and klilig!) in their faces…John and I were very sweet, kulang na lang daw langgamin kami!! We were inseparable…John’s arms were always around my shoulders...and I felt a sense of security as a laid my head in those shoulders.
Soon it was time for us to go, but my friends insisted that I be left behind because, after all, it was our car that needed major repair, and I had to be responsible for it....and of course, to have more time with John, they teased. It was a Sunday, so all car repair shops were closed. My cousin and his wife went home to her sister’s home in Bayambang to check on our car in John’s place Monday morning. So I really had to stay for another night, but decided to sleep in Bayambang so John’s family can not say anything about me sleeping in a man’s house. John suggested that we take our car to Bayambang using their truck. Their truck will tow our car, with John behind the wheel guiding it. But we had to wait until around 6pm to do that, so John and I went to Mangaldan first to buy extra clothes for me to wear.
Around 6pm, together with his youngest brother Jojo and other relatives in their truck, we started our journey to Bayambang. John was “driving” our Adventure, while I was seated beside him as we were towed by their truck. Twice, the rope connecting the truck and our car snapped, and eventually we had to stop in San Jacinto to borrow a larger and stronger rope. John and I went to his uncle to borrow one, and the road leading to the house was dark, yet I felt so safe with John holding my hand, leading the way as I blindly followed in good faith.
We continued our night journey along the dark silent roads of Pangasinan…with only the truck’s tail lights shining our way….and the sound of soft music over the car stereo lending a romantic background for us. Along the way we got to know each other a lot better, and felt more at ease with each other. John’s left hand was guiding the wheel, while his right hand held my hand. We moved so slowly…it was a funny scene, yet it was sort of magical to be there with him. It seemed that heaven and earth conspired with the events of the whole weekend...who would have expected our car would conk out during the trip, and I would get stuck in Pangasinan with the man destined to be my partner in life. To amuse ourselves I asked John if he could sing, though I already knew he sings as told to me by Crissa. He said he can sing a little, and so I asked him to sing for me..a song which eventually became our theme song, All My Life by America...and so John started to sing as I stared at him…”All my life, without a doubt I give you all my life...Now and forever till the day I die, You and I will share...” It was the sweetest voice I ever heard…very manly but soulful. I started to sing with him...but I felt a lump in my throat as tears started to well in my eyes…..and I had to turn away and look at the window. I had to fight back the tears…and I knew that fateful night...this is the man I am going to marry…and I thank God for giving him to me.
Soon we reached the town of Bayambang after almost 4 hours of being towed. My cousin was already waiting for us at the town plaza…and we had to part ways temporarily. John was a real gentleman because he did not dare kiss me even in the cheek. He just held my hands and squeezed them tightly…and we bid goodbye and goodnight to each other...promised to text and call everyday, and looked forward to the day that we’d soon be together again....
Our love story took three years in the making...as slowly as the trip John and I had in Pangasinan. It may have blossomed in such imperfect situations...but one thing is for sure, it did not happen just by pure coincidence. It was the way God has planned it...in His own perfect time.
