It All Started in A Jeepney : The Sign

Smile came out of her face. I immediately looked for positive signs. Was she blushing? Was she giggling? Well, I was very focused on her facial expression. I was very eagerly waiting for her reaction.

Then I asked her, “can I court you?”

Her answer?

Of course, it was a resounding yes.

I heard the heavens were screaming after that answer. The whole universe conspired with the happiness I felt. They were glad that I made that brave move to ask Edel that question.

The courtship stage has now officially begun.

Since that day, here are some of the errands I did for her, rather with her.

I accompanied her. I fixed her internet connection. I fixed her computer when it crashed. I fetch her after classes. I dated her. I accompanied her to attend Sunday mass. I met with her friends. I surprised her. I stayed with her. I watched movies with her and her friends. I laughed with her. I listened to her stories. The list goes on and on.

One December afternoon (a couple of days before the end of December classes), I thought of surprising Edel with a flower. So I rushed to a nearby flower shop (Fresh Blossoms – so far this flower shop has the best flowers I’ve seen at a lower cost) and looked for a flower. That time, I was thinking what would Edel like? Red Rose? White Rose? Gerbera? Carnation? There were so many flowers to choose from.

It took a couple of minutes for me to decide the perfect flower for her. The store owner said that carnation will not wither for the next 30 days. Hmmm. I was convinced with what she said. So, I chose a pink carnation.

I gave Edel the flower and she was surprised. Woohoo! That made my day!

By the way, here’s a photo of the pink carnation I gave her. The store owner was right, it took sometime before the carnation withered.

After that, she said that she’ll say something special on the eve of December 28. I was in high spirits when I heard this. I was very sure that Edel will answer me on that day. Call that confidence!

December 27, 2005, 15 minutes before midnight, I was waiting for her call. I could not sleep. So I created another entry on my journal describing that I was nervous but excited at the same time.
 

Then she called me up. She said that she was happy that God gave her the sign she’s been waiting for. So she said that she’s ready to take our friendship to the next level.

WOW! That was one of the greatest and happiest moments of my life.

I didn’t know that Edel was waiting for a sign. If I give her the sign she’s waiting for, I will be her boyfriend and she’ll answer me midnight of the 28th day of the month. But there’s a deadline for this sign, December 28.

Thank God I gave her a flower before the 28th or else.

Anyway, it happened. I thanked God for making it happen.

After four years and two months, I’m proud to say that I still court her up to this day. I still do those stuffs I mentioned earlier but I’m pleased to tell you that I was promoted. I was promoted to be her life/business partner and her driver/math tutor/computer technician/personal assistant and more job posts at the same time.

I’m blessed that I shared those fun-filled years with her.

I’m ready to face more fun-filled days, months and years with her.

I wanted to write another “…to be continued” on this third installment of the story but I think it is just right to give an end for this chapter but I believe there’s a lot more Edel and Elvin stories to tell.

Thank you for reading and inspiring me to finish every part of our love story. It’s been fun doing this. I hope our love story inspires you.

February is indeed a love month. Imagine the season made me share our love story.

By the way, due to public demand, Hopefully Edel will release her version of how our love story started written in her point of view soon.

One more thing, I hope I can hear your love stories as well. 

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It All Started in A Jeepney : The Proposal

I went home that night with a smile on my face. That smile easily washed the feeling of failing in ES13. I remembered greeting my parents. I told them that I met Edel on my way home. I felt their happiness.

The next day, I immediately opened my friendster account (take note that I still don't have internet access that time). I smiled after reading her message.

From : edel
Subject : hi.. c”,)
hey, efren..c",)
i'd like to thank you lang po for the very big favor
you did for me last night..c",)
for carrying my umbrella..c",)
joke lang! c",)
seriously, thanks for staying up with me, dear..c",)
i appreciate it a lot..c",)
kahit na yung pinagsamahan natin is oh so
inaamag na, you still care to share some help.c",)
i hope time and distance won't change you po..c",)
take care of yourself..c",)
May the FORCE be with you..c",)
til again..c",)

Days later, she invited me to join her in a studio. She said that she will be printing some photos for a school project. The studio is located in Calamba. We just decided to meet there. So I went there excited to see her again.

She was already there when I came. That time I assumed Edel likes me (more than a friend) because she keeps on asking me to accompany her. Little did I know that she was simply just like that to many other people she consider as her friend.

She always invites friends to do things with her.

That weekend, she asked me again to accompany her in UPLB to buy some charcoal. So I wore the fantastic outfit I could think of that time but unfortunately she saw otherwise. I felt sad that day but I realized back then that we really had different fashion sense and she was a lot better than me.

Well, it’s understandable, right? She loves telling me how well I could look like if I only choose the clothes that fit me and match my age and lifestyle.

In a span of 3 weeks, there were a lot more activities we did together. We shared more stories about our lives via mini dates, texts and emails. She tried to convince me that my fashion statement was old-fashioned (that time I was stubborn but now I realized she’s right) and other stuffs.

Deep inside the stories and the fashion sense is another story.

That time, I got very confused. I was actually waiting for someone else, another girl from our University, and yet God gave me a very special person in the person of Edel. I was confused on what to do. Should I wait for the other girl or should I show Edel how I feel about her.

I remember writing a story about my confusion in my journal (I wonder where I placed that journal).

I prayed so hard. I asked God for signs and upon careful contemplation that time, I believed that the greatest sign God gave me was the feelings I have for Edel. So I trusted Him.

November 6, 2005. Edel and I celebrated the Sunday mass with her mom. After that mass (2PM) Edel and I went (her mom said that she’ll not join us) to Crossing to return the movie VCDs we rented in Video City. After the VCDs were returned we went straight to Chowking for some afternoon snacks.

We ordered our food. We took a seat. We shared a couple of stories.

That time I sensed that I should tell her the feelings I have for her.

I took a deep breath and said “I think I‘m falling for you”.

Next>>

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It All Started in A Jeepney

Yesterday, Edel and I went to Pagsanjan to visit (surprise) our friend. His wife gave him a surprise party in a Thai Restaurant in Pagsanjan. We had a great time sharing stories, eating a lot of food and discussing our dreams.

On our way home, Edel and I reminisced how our relationship started. We even thought of recreating the events related to how our relationship began. Definitely, we’ll do that. We have our camera to re-capture those moments.

In the mean time, allow me to share it on this blog post.

It all started when I received my failing grade in my ES 13 (Strength of Materials) class. I was frustrated back then. I wanted to release all the negativities that night. My outlet? Computer game. A game with a character named Aiushtha, the Enchantress.

I can’t recall what happened with our game that night. But all the events after that game were definitely life changing.

I left the computer shop with a little happiness in my heart.

I rode a jeep going to Calamba and I met a schoolmate back in elementary. She was also on her way home.

She had her laptop, her bag and an umbrella with her that night. From the looks of it, she was having trouble holding on to her stuff.

That night we were the only passengers of that jeep.

She asked me a favor. I immediately answered yes. The favor? She wanted me to hold her umbrella.

We shared stories. We talked about our past relationship. We exchanged contact number as well as our email addresses (as far as I can remember she asked for my email address so that she could add me on her friendster list).

Since it was already late and it was dangerous to walk alone towards home, she contacted her cousin to fetch her in Halang. Luckily, her cousin was not there when we arrived.

Of course the gentleman writing this story (ahem) offered her a free walk towards her house.

That time, there was no tricycle. So we just walked towards her house while the gentleman writing this story carried her stuff.

When we arrived at their house, we were greeted by her father. She thanked me for accompanying her. I said “Wala yun, malakas ka sa kin eh”.

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Walk or Wait?

Last Wednesday, I was 2 blocks away form my destination when I was caught in a traffic jam. That time, I have two options: (1) get off the jeep and walk or (2) wait for the jeep to stop at my destination then get off.
 

Here are the risks of the first option

1. I’ll sweat by walking two blocks
2. I don’t know if I’ll arrive at my destination faster as compared to waiting for the jeep to go

Here are the risks of the second option

1. I’ll be waiting inside the jeep while doing nothing
2. I don’t know if I’ll arrive at my destination faster as compared to walking

Either way, I’ll reach my destination. But which option is faster? First or second? We’ll never know the right option unless we choose or until we get there.

If you were in that situation what will you do? Walk or wait?

Same goes in our lives. We’ll never know the future unless we try. We’ll never know the better option unless we choose. But one thing is for sure. Regret of doing nothing is much painful as compared to pain experienced when trying an option.

So which option did I choose?

I walked.

That time, it’s the right thing to do.

So, if you’re stuck and you have options to choose from, choose. You’ll never know which option will bring failure or success but at the end, trust me, you know better. 

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