The Notebook

  "I'm a self-confessed chick flick junkie." I may be a little boyish, but believe me from "Pretty Woman" to "The Notebook," I've watched them all. And yes, at times a little tear escapes from my being so engrossed on the plot.

I would describe my birthday celebration this year as "momentous." Supposed to be we're going on a hike in Mt. Pico De Loro, but Junni and his new girlfriend asked us to just go to their farm in Bataan. We were so excited since we saw the pictures of the farm that Junni sent us. It has a pool, mango trees (which means fresh air), comfy house to stay in, and most of all we had the entire farm to ourselves. April's folks is very hospitable. They made lunch for us and since it was mango season that time, they gave us a sack of mangoes to take home.

M Farm - Balanga, Bataan

Where we stayed

The Pool

Chicken Kebab Ala Paulo

Grilled Liempo and Eggplant

Chicken Kebab Ala Paulo

Crab

Shrimps

Ripe Mangoes

A brief flashback, two or three years ago Paulo and I were already planning for our future. In fact, we've decided that on my 27th birthday we will get hitched. So now you know why I'm a bit elated to celebrate my birthday. Yes, I was expecting his proposal. All day I was thinking about it, how he would do it, where exactly he plan to do it, and the question that's been bugging me the most - if he's really planning to propose.

The day dragged on and still nothing. So that's when I thought to myself that maybe today's not "the day." I may have been a little disappointed that time and it showed when I tried to pick a fight with him. Harhar. He was acting a bit distant and so that's my cue to stir the pot. It's so petty, I know. After all that drama, I learned that he's acting all weird because he's jittery planning the proposal.

Time to himself

It was the most romantic moment in my entire life. He may not have planned it the way he wanted it to be, but whatever, for me it was perfect! I didn't thought I would cry, but when I saw his teary eyes I was lost. I clung to every word he said, he couldn't prepare a "written speech" that morning because he said I was with him all the time. That's also the reason why he couldn't set his entire plan, I wouldn't leave his side. Well at least what he said is spontaneous and real. It all made sense after, that's why he was tensed and distant. And of course our friends was his accomplices. Junni even hid the ring for him because they thought I might snoop around his things and see it. A round of applause for you guys!

Still a little teary

Right after the surreal moment

Engaged!

We're getting married!

As of today, we're almost done with the whole wedding preparation, from the Church reservation to the meeting of our parents or should I say "Pamamanhikan." I'm actually excited to share my wedding prep experience here. Believe me when I say that planning a wedding is not that hard as long as you have enough time to do all the work and patience to look for the cheapest suppliers, especially if you have a tight budget like us. It's fun and exciting, but with it comes the stress of budgeting and tedious work of searching for a reliable supplier.

Anyway, we're a month away from the big day. We've been receiving marriage advice from a lot of our married couple friends and relatives lately, and I think I agree with most of them. I specifically like Paulo's grandma's advise she said, "Kung anoman ang napagtalunan ng araw na iyon wag kayong matutulog sa gabi ng di naguusap at nagkakaayos, kung mainit ang ulo ng isa wag nang sabayan nung isa." I will try my best to always keep that in mind. The seminar conducted by the church was a good help too. It made us think more clearly about what we're getting into. Hopefully everything will work out fine, so we can start a happy "once upon a time" together with no uncertainties.

"Yes, this may sound cliché, but we met back in college circa 2004. I can still remember the first time I saw him..."

 

He was sitting alone in the middle of the crowd without anyone to talk to. I even asked my friend if maybe we can invite him to join our group, but of course being the "reserved" newly high school graduate that I was back then (Yes, you read it right. I see myself as a reserved college student. But only on my first year. *wink*) I didn't dared to do it. Maybe, just maybe, I was already a little attracted to him that time (O-oh this will get him to do the "ang gwapo ko talaga face"). 

 
So to cut the long story short, we became best of friends. It started with "libre mo ako, libre kita" every day. I would buy him a snack today, then the next day it's his turn, be it a biscuit, ice cream, or junk food. Then we started to hang out almost every day, one of us can't be seen without the other. People at school thought we were a couple, only to find out that we aren't. It came to a point where I was beginning to feel the pressure of others expecting us to be a couple. Although it didn't really bother me that much it still makes me feel a little awkward whenever someone says "Bakit di pa maging kayo?" or "Kayo ba?" Oh I really hate those questions because I was just happy to be with him and for me it doesn't really matter, we're having fun without any labels. 

 
Okay, maybe I lied a little on the "it really doesn't matter" part because c'mon I'm just a girl. Of course I don't want to be seen as a "friend" only (in short "friendzoned"), specially when I am starting to have feelings for him. I'm fine being the only girl in his life, the only one he talks to about stuff that he doesn't normally talk about with other girls. I'm fine being the girl that easily laughs with his silly jokes. I'm even fine doing all the girlfriend duties for him. But I don't want it to be "just" that. Of course I want the whole package, the commitment. 

I started to feel that way when we were about to graduate. A lot of things happened and it just made me want to badly know if he felt the same way towards me.On our last year in college, we had a long talk about "us." That's when we both poured out all our feelings for each other. We came to an agreement that once I receive my diploma we will be officially a couple. I think our professor knew about our deal because right after I went down the stage, they were all saying "Finally you two are a couple." It was very overwhelming and I was so touched. 

So yeah, a lot had happened in the past 6 or 10 years. But this blog will start documenting our life together right after he proposed. That would be a very exciting post for later. Our love story may be a little predictable, but whatever, I wouldn't change a thing, it was worth all the wait!