A love story

Believe me when I say this is going to be loooonnngggg... But it is a beautiful read, too! (It is my love story after all hehehe)

I was such an early bloomer in the romance department. I had boys right and left all throughout my high school, college, and post-college life (shucks, too confident? Naks! Just being honest, am not all too proud of it, really. If I could turn back time, I would patiently wait for THE chooboy. Hehehe). I was always such an anxious person when it came to my love life. At such a young teener, I wanted to have a steady boyfriend soon because if I didn't get one, I felt as if I was never going to get married na! Imagine such shallow logic! Then again, I was a kid. What do you expect?

But after four failed relationships, I grew up, woke up! Realized that man, after depending too much on guys to "complete me" (too Jerry Maguire, eh?) and worrying too much that I don't get married, I overlooked the better things in life - my family, my work, my God, relationships with friends and other people around me. 

Being an active part of my faith community guided and molded me to be the most appreciative, least anxious, most independent (only dependent on my faithful God) person that I ever could be. True enough, I started to live, as in truly live, in the light, inspired by God's faithfulness and unconditional love. 

So the past two years or so, I committed myself to service to God thru Lingkod, I committed myself to my family, work, business, and building relationships with friends, brothers and sisters in community. I finally spent a good amount of time for myself and for serving others. I put romance and love aside for the mean time. I was always confident naman that God would bless me in that aspect of my life when I was ready to. I just didn't expect HE would bless me so soon - not that I'm complaining; I definitely am not. :)

Choobs and I talk a lot about everything that's unfolded for us - all the unexpected events, little and big surprises along the way - and we keep telling ourselves we wouldn't want it any other way, we wouldn't even want a single detail changed in our love story. We thank God every single day for each other and for the beautiful love story HE created for us...

Date: Early January 2007

I get a text message from high school chum, Dianne, telling me she was getting married and that she wanted me to be part of her wedding entourage. I was of course delighted. I lovvveeee weddings! Although Yang2 (as we fondly called her since high school) and I belonged to a pretty close, tight batch of 42 graduates in high school, she and I were not THAT close. She's a great person, really, but she was really one of the shy ones (sometimes, anyhow!) and I, on the other hand, belonged to the noisy bunch! Fast forward to a month or two after, she texted me again telling me she wanted me to be her maid of honor. Whoaaa! I repeat, we were not that close in high school, so as much as I was honored to be maid of honor, I just felt I shouldn't, couldn't be. Shouldn't any of her sisters or her bestfriend play that role? Nonetheless, I simply couldn't say no to Yang2. She's one of the sweetest persons I know. Our families were friendly, so I didn't have a reason really to beg off. So there, I was her maid of honor on her June wedding... 

Date: Early June 2007

I just came from a trip to Singapore and arrived about two weeks before her wedding, when I got home and got her wedding invitation. It was only then thateverything made complete sense. Yang2 and her matchmaking ploy!

Saw my name alright, right next to a Pancho Boy Larrazabal. Hmmm, the name quite rang a bell.

Pancho Boy. 

Date: flashback to about October 2006

About a year before "everything made complete sense", my mom came home from a party and was giddily telling me about wanting to set me up with "this guy". Apparently, she got to chat with Pancho Boy's mom at the party, they were both sharing about having single kids blah blah blah blah blah. My response was of course, "Ma! Stop setting me up!" Knowing my mom, she just laughed and said, "sige na gud dai!" Of course that was just it. The next day, his name came up again. Surprisingly, I got a call from a very good friend, Lyra. THe conversation went (almost verbatim!)...

*Lyra: Dai, haguy si manang brau di jud muhunong ug pangutana about nimo dai. Mangayo syag email address nimo kay ihatag nya sa mama ni Pancho Boy.

*Maica: Ha? My gosh tita ly, mao gihapon na gi ingun ni mama ipares nya nako!

*Lyra: Lagi dai, excited kaayo ang mama pud ni pancho boy. Ako bitaw gi-ingnan si manang brau mananghid pa ko nimo.

*Maica: Tita ly uy, weird mana muhatag ko. I don't mind if I meet him but not that way. Hahaha (laughter on both ends)

--- to translate it simply: Lyra's older sister, Tita Brau, is very good friends with Pancho BOy's mom. Tita Brau was asking Lyra for my email address so she can give it to Pancho Boy's mom so they could set us up blah blah. Obviously, I said no, it would be too weird. So there.

Date: back to early June 2007

So upon seeing Yang2's wedding invitation and seeing both our names on the entourage (he, a best man at that), of course I immediately saw it was all a set-up, subtly and uniquely arranged! Brilliantly arranged, I'd have to add.

Like I could do anything about it, I put the thought aside, but not without texting Yang2 that I knew what she was trying to do. She just laughed at me!

Date: June 18, 2007

The night before her wedding, she asked me to come to her grandparents' house to discuss last minute assignments for the big day. I saw a set-up playing again but I couldn't say no, so I showed up instead a bit later than usual... 

I arrived with funny, teasing faces in Yang2, her hubby-to-be Lito (who I just met that evening), and her sisters. I shrugged off the thought. I just kept smiling and smiling. I greeted everyone - Yang's mom, their friends, and last but definitely not the least her Lola Rosie. What followed was a conversation that would be most unforgettable...

*Me: Good evening, tita!

*Lola Rosie: Huy dai, ngano karon paman ka? Nakalakaw na nuon ako manok!

*Me, in my puzzled look, "manok???" I asked myself.

*Lola Rosie to her friends: Sus, mao ni ako ipares sa ako apo. Si Pancho boy bah.

*Everyone else: Haguy, ka bagay jud! 

*Everyone else to me: Dai uy, angay kaayo mu ni pancho boy!

Then I fainted...

Nahhh, too dramatic! But I wished I did!!! I could feel myself blush to the nth level. 

Pancho boy, that name again. Where was he? Why was everyone setting us up? 

Who is he anyway? How did he look like?

So obviously he wasn't there anymore, like his Lola said, "nakalakaw na nuon ako manok!"

I'd have to admit that by now, the curiosity was growing in on me! 

Date: June 19, 2007 - THE day

On Yang's wedding day, we had our make up done and all the necessary preparations at their hotel. Still no sign of Pancho boy. Yang's sister, Darol, would ask me nonstop if Pancho boy and I finally met... The eternal question.

Fast forward to the church...

Waiting in line, I notice a bunch of guys here and there, I have to admit again I was curious. My sister, Iana, was getting more curious and impatient than I was. Every guy we didn't know who would pass by us she'd point at and identify as "uyyy mao na guro nah!" We'd laugh our hearts out at every guy we'd identify as THE pancho boy. Our only clue was what our cousin Rica (who's cousins with pancho boy too) said, that he was "chubby".

I finally spotted him at the altar or near it, whatever. There were three best men, just like there were three of us, maids of honor, me and two of Yang's sisters. Amongst the best men, I knew one since he was a cousin, the other two I wasn't familiar with. One was chubby, the other short, to say the least (lurve yah, JD, wherever you are!). So I figured, I finally identified him. I could finally put a face to a name I've been hearing for the past year since...

Little did I know that that name would mean more in the coming months...

During the wedding mass I caught Darol (yang's sister and my brother tingtong's good friend) pointing to me, as if directing "those guys across us" to me... Of course I knew she was telling pancho boy that I was Maica... Duh, not so subtle, Da! ;)

On to the reception, I was the recipient of the eternal question, "so, have you and pancho finally met?" too many times I was too tired to count. Of course I was all smiling and laughing about it. I've never been set up with anyone ever before so this was all new to me.

So, we finally met.

My cousin (and his, too) Igoy brought him to our table, casually went, "Bai, meet my cousin, Maica. Maica, this is Panchoboy." He was all smiling and nice, "Hey, pleasure to meet you." or something to that effect, can't remember exactly. I was, like, "hey, nice to meet you too" or something again to that effect. Believe me when I say, all eyes were on us... We didn't chat or anything after that but he sat beside me and chatted with everyone else on our table (his cousins, some mine, too, on the other side of the family, of course). I can't remember what we did chat about when we had the chance to, little somethings, I guess. Just about it. The wedding reception went on, with all the traditional achoo-choo (aka stuff, thingies I have no idea what they're called exactly, thus the reference), of course, the unending set up came with it. The bouquet was literally "given" to me. Pancho boy did get the garter, he put the garter on me, so and so and so. Everyone cheered on, obviously, as expected.

That was basically it. After the wedding reception, Igoy arranged the night out after. We went karaoke-ing. Of course with Igoy, being the trying hard matchmaker, brought me and Pancho Boy along. It was awkward really, we just met that night, and we knew we were being set up. But then, the "super game" people that we were, we played along.

The karaoke night was lots of fun, actually. He seemed to be a pretty fun guy. I sang. He sang. It was crazy, we both sounded horrible! But like I told him thereafter, hearing him sang so horribly actually inspired me to sing! At the end of the night, I said "So, see ya around then!" And I honestly thought that was it. Despite the fact that Ormoc was a pretty small city, I didn't expect that I'd "see him around".

Fate wouldn't stop there though. Neither would eager cousins.

The following night, we all ended up seeing each other at Pardis (a resto, favorite hang-out of cousins since it's owned by three of our cousins - 3 of my fave people in the world, Kito, Igoy, and Monic). I was with friends, he was with cousins. He joined our table and we chatted for a bit. No big talk, really. Just little chitchats. 

Just about it.

Three days after, he FINALLY gave me a call. Not FINALLY in the context that I wanted him to so badly. Nothing of that sort. I simply didn't expect much from the meeting really. True, I thought about it, but just that. I didn't expect much from it. Period. But he did call (apparently, he got my number from Igoy).

*Me: Hello?

*Panch: Hi Maica, it's Panch.

*Me: I'm sorry. Who?

*Panch: It's Panch.

*Me: Panch?

*Panch: Panch...Um, Pancho boy bah.

*Me: Oh. Panch. Hey, what's up?

I'm serious there. He hates his "Pancho boy" nickname. He's no longer a little "boy" daw. 

When we both look back on that first call he made, we laugh. Sweet.

That first conversation was short. But sweet. We laughed a lot. I thought to myself, hey, he seems like a pretty cool guy. Funny, too. I liked funny.

He called again a few days later. And then again. And again. We met up a couple of times after too, but usually with the same group of his cousins and some of our common cousins, too. The setup and teasing were unending. But as in always, we were both cool about everything.

The night before he left, his cousins organized a little despedida at his family's hotel. It was kinda awkward again, what with all the teasing even the night before he was leaving. Hellooo, what did these guys expect from a two-week meeting? Nonetheless, we chatted almost the entire evening. He sat beside me (it took him a while to do that, no thanks to his "torpe" blood) and we just chatted. It was something, I'd have to say. Yes, it was too soon to say (duh!) but it sure was one memorable evening...

Again, I thought that was it. Thought I'd never hear from him again. Of course, he did ask for my email address, he had my mobile number and all. But still, there's no guarantee in anything and I simply just didn't expect much from meeting him. 

The following day, he called me from the airport. That I didn't expect... again. But he did call. We chatted again. He made me laugh again. It was fun... again.

He finally left. And again (!!!) I thought that was it. Again (I should stop saying this!).

The same evening he arrived in LA, he sent me a short but SWEET text, just telling me he was back home, and that he'd call me soon. Awww.

He did call me about two days later. And again a couple of days after. And again. 

And again. And again. It soon became nonstop. He'd call more often. Always, always, we'd talk about anything and everything under the sun. We shared so much - stories about our lives, views on things, outlook on life; we talked funny stuff, deep thoughts, brilliant ideas; literally, anything and everything...

As much as I didn't expect much from it, every single conversation we had, every laughter we shared, I'd realize how much joy he was bringing to my every day. I started to really really look forward to his every call...

Even so, romance was not expected (I speak for myself on this or so I convinced myself this). Although he'd say sweet nothings every once in a while - missing me and stuff but there was not a mention on feelings, emotions, and the like.

Date: Early September 2007

 

A couple of months after he went back home, I was surprised one morning when I got to the office and there sat a package on my desk. There were LBC USA stickers all over the box. Then there I saw his name: Pantaleon Larrazabal Jr. 

Oh my gosh. A package from him. Hmmmm...

Trust me, opening the box slowly (which irked my sister, she wanted me to tear it apart as soon as possible, she was way more emotional than I was, believe me!) brought out the kid in me, uber excited to see what was in store for me. I could have jumped up and down with excitement - but of course I had to stop myself; I could see my secretaries' eyes on me, watching my every reaction - so I had to look "cool" and "composed".

Alas, it was open...

*drum rolls please*

First, out came a stuffed pug puppy! Soooooo cute, looked exactly like my pug pups (my then 3 year old pug - may she rest in peace - just gave birth to 3 lovely pups about a month before the package came)!

Then came out all the "pop corns" (tubelike styro thingies serving as cushion for the stuff in the box). Hmmm what else could be there?

Then his card. Super the sweetest one I've ever gotten my entire life! (front: a fish bowl with moving fish-looking creatures; inside he wrote - in his ugly handwriting - still love you for it, choobs - "Dear Maica, Just wanted you to know that I'm swimming around in circles thinking of you... Talk to you soon. - Panch"

There.

But there was one more. The best ever surprise. (This was when I knew, hey, this guy must really like me!)

Last but definitely not the least: He sent me a beautifully framed black and white photo of both him and me the night before he left, at his despedida party. (say with me now, awwww.)

My sister Iana actually got teary-eyed. She goes, "awww, I never even had to train him yet to be this sweet." (a bit of history: Iana used to help out my ex-boyfriends to surprise me; she'd help them in figuring out what to give me, etc.)

It was just the sweetest thing, to say the least.

Choobs is very fond of surprises. He knows how much I love them. Although I know how he loves to surprise me, I still am amazed and still gets surprised (!) every time he pulls a new one on me...

Date: Last week of September 2007

Despite his little surprises and regular calls, he never expressed much. Sweet nothings that I didn't take too seriously. Up until one late September day when he said it all... Even during his first few calls when he was still here in Ormoc, he seemed to really be the shy, "torpe" guy ("torpe": tagalog, adjective; "usually" a guy having too much difficulty to express how he feels). Obviously, I had quite a feeling that this guy likes me, after all, why in the world would he call me that often and talk to me that long? But he never once "said" something really.

So that particular September day, he finally blurted out how he felt: that he liked me, missed me like crazy, and was looking forward to seeing me again. He said he wanted to tell me all those things in person but he couldn't wait any longer... He added how he felt that everything about our meeting was so "fateful"; he said "the stars just aligned perfectly" when we met. Apparently, that trip he took to attend Yang's wedding (and met me) was only his 2nd trip/visit (the last was a year before and for only a couple of days at that) ever since he and his family migrated to the US about 17-18 years ago... He'd always say, "what were the chances I'd meet you?" But we did. Awww.

It was the way he said it, it was just the cutest thing. I didn't say much really. That was it. I can't remember what I said next. But I know I didn't say anything significant. (He would tell me later on how bummed out he was.)

Date: Mid-October 2007

I was on my way to Manila for a seminar. A day before, we got into the whole "serious talk" mode and he told me again how he felt, how I never responded, how he didn't really know anything from my end, that he was willing to wait anyhow... I couldn't say anything back again. I was dumbfounded. Of course I'm sure it was quite obvious how I liked him back - why in the world would I set aside my 2-4pms for him almost every single day??? Then again, I couldn't say it that way. He continued to tell me how he wanted "that light at the end of the tunnel", he was wondering if I wanted the same thing. I was quiet still.

That got me thinking all day. Obviously I wanted "that light", too. So I told him that. But I added, "Let's talk and deal with it when you come back here." After all, this was all long-distance, what would we expect from it, really? Would it work out? 

If yes, how???

Date: Mid-December 2007

Meant for each other. He said this when one December day, I got to the office and got a package from him again. His Christmas present. A Hermes perfume. Sweet. Am not much of a perfume kind of girl but I loooovvvveeeddd it nonetheless, he chose it after all. There's always something to it. But the beauty to that day did not end there... After I opened the package and read the card, I texted him and thanked him for it. I knew he was still at work then. He got my message when he was on the way to dinner with his colleagues. After dinner, he immediately went home, hoping to call me. But he got the biggest surprise when he got a package from me, too. Yes, technically, on the "same day". He was just amazed and couldn't help it. I had sent him a week before that day a couple of books (funny, comic booklets) and a table calendar (with the sweetest message, I'd like to think hehehe: "am counting the days till you come home" - yes, thus the calendar). He was just aaaamazed. He sounded like a kid when he called me. "What are the chances, kiddo?" (We called each other that during that time. Hohum.)

Date: Early January 2007

Surprises didn't end there. (I'd like to think they never will.)

I knew his parents were coming home this month for his lolo's 80th birthday. All his dad's siblings and their spouses were coming home for this big event. Of course, I wished more than anything for him to come, too. But it was tough at work...

It was one lazy Sunday afternoon and I was working at Tita Rina's, checking stocks from the previous year, doing inventory, and all those stuff.

A white Strada pick-up arrives. Unfamiliar. A driver came down, looking for me. I was like, "Ngano man ta, noy?" Then the now-known Noy Bastian said, "Aw dai, diay gipadala si Panchoboy. Nangabot man gud ang mga taga-America."

I know, another AWWWW moment.

He sent one paper bag of goodies (chocolates, yankee candles, and other assorted stuff - he would explain each goodie for whatever they meant); the sweetest of which? A gold-globe-like-thingie. He said: "My world revolves around you." Enough said.

A week after, I eventually ran into his mom at a cousin's wedding (a common cousin). It was such a funny meeting, with all eyes on us, excited for us, to say the least. It was something again, and I still can't help but laugh when I remember the very moment we met, introduced to each other, and when she gave me such a big, warm hug. Super. I always knew how excited Tita Evelyn was for us to meet but Choobs kept telling her that he would prefer that he be the one to introduce us to each other. Sorry baby, we beat you to it. :)

Date: A day before Hearts Day

I was supposed to leave for Cebu on Valentine's Day to "chaperone" my sister and her boyfriend. Alas, I chose to savor the event with other "single" cousins here in Ormoc. But I failed to inform my Choobs (not mine yet back then hehehe) about the change of plan, hence his surprise came a day before THE day. I was driving back to the office when I met along the way Dianne's car on the way to our house, or so I presumed. I drove along anyhow. Iana and Carlo (her beloved) dropped by the office on their way to the boat to bring Choobs' presents: a big bouquet of red roses, the romantic Pepe Le Pew (revealing too much, more than he ever did!), and a very "heartfelt" card, as he put it. 

Needless to say, I had the best Valentine's Day, despite the fact that I was "single" that day.

It was early, early January when he suddenly talked about visiting me. Finally. He told me how he wanted to surprise me but was scared that he'd travel all the way to visit me and I'd end up too busy to see him or worse, that I might not be around. Good points. But the surprise would've been something. (His sister, Meia, was bummed out that he told me, that he didn't surprise me! Trust me, I was pretty bummed out, too!) So we discusses things, as to when the best time was to visit me, how he planned his leave at work, and all.

I was sooo ecstatic, it was unimaginable! But then again, there was the whole "fear" issue - what if meeting him in person would be all too weird and different? What if we wouldn't click as much in person as we did over the long conversations we had on the phone? What if...? There were more what ifs really. It was crazy. But the best part about everything was being able to talk to him about everything - how we felt about the whole thing, how it was gonna be like for both of us, all the what ifs and other fears...

One of the too-many cute conversations we had:

Choobs: Are you as excited as I am?

Maica: I don't how excited you are, so I don't know. But I am excited.

Choobs: Are you as happy as I am?

Maica: I don't know how happy you are, so I don't know. So, how happy are you?

Choobs: Very, very happy. I can't really describe it in words.

Awww.

If he only knew how excited I was. Like a little child awaiting the best birthday present ever. Big difference is that I was an excited big girl, awaiting for her prince charming, hoping he is THE one she's been waiting and praying for...

Date: the most unforgettable March ever (March 2-17, 2008)

So my long-awaited prince charming came.

All those fears and what ifs? Gone. They were all gone (as if they never existed at all) the moment he stepped into my home and gave me the biggest hug. We talked all night, just as excitedly, interestingly as we did on the phone. It was just amazing! We did so till about midnight.

The days that followed were a blur of too many good moments all rolled into just two whole weeks. We spent almost every waking moment together. And if it wasn't enough, we'd still chat on the phone after spending the entire day together. Ahh, pure bliss. I can actually make a rundown of every single detail of every single day of his trip (I've practically memorized them by heart - yeah yeah), but I'd rather put them in a list of some sort...

Like, the top ten most memorable, most awwwww moments:

1) That first giant hug we shared the night he arrived - that evening erased every single fear, every single worry that we had; because that first night, we chatted and connected as much as we did on the phone the past nine months!

2) Seeing my parents' excited faces, my brother Tingtong cooking for that first dinner at home with him; Choobs and Poppy just hit it off - they talked the whole evening!

3) Our lunch dates at Agalon - the first lunch date we ever had was at Agalon; we spent the morning just hanging out at the now memorable treehouse, where we just chatted the whole morning, talking about us...

It was during this day at Agalon at the treehouse when he first held my hand. It was the sweetest, most awwwww moment. 

Our second lunch date there was exactly a week after the first lunch date. We had a mini-picnic, bought some barbecue and puso, and just spent a simple, quiet lunch still at the treehouse.

The treehouse.

4) Spending time with him, his cousins, and mine. All those karaoke nights, drinks here and there, food tripping. Cousins made the trip all the more memorable.

5) His birthday surprise/s.

It was a happy one - happy as happy can get.

He came in the morning with a plastic bag in hand. He then started to pull out gift after gift.

First was a present from his mom, a beautiful white bag. Sooo sweet and thoughtful!

Next was from Mayette, his cousin. A box of Godiva chocolates! It was just sooo thoughtful!

Lastly, he pulled out a birthday card and a blue Tiffany box with a quaint white ribbon.

I read the card first. Ohhh so typically sweet Panchoboy.

I slowly opened the box and saw it. A cute silver chain bracelet, with my initial and hearts engraved on the charm pendant.

Simply the sweetest.

Again, the surprise didn't end there.

He brought me to one of his family's restaurants, we ordered in food, sat down, and had a sumptuous lunch.

Right after lunch, I saw the waiter come along with a cake of Strawberry Shortcake! My birthday cake! 

Apparently, he arranged the whole thing. He ordered a cake, asked help from his cousin Julia. 

It was just the sweetest. Him lighting all 26 candles (coz the darn waiter didn't! Choobs got all sweaty after lighting those candles), "singing" for me a happy birthday song, me blowing all my candles... Ahhhh. Pure birthday bliss.

Trust me, it was the best birthday EVER.

6) Meeting families.

He met my family, had dinner with them; he met the big Rodriguez clan, met my mom's sisters... 

The same way, I met his lola and lola from his dad's side, and his "mommy" from his mom's side.

Those were memorable moments. Nerve-wracking, yes. But more so, they were most memorable.

 Meeting his Lolo and Lola was something - of course I've technically met them a couple of times already before but this was different, this was somehow in the context of me with Panchoboy. Me and Panchoboy. I'll never forget the look on Lola Rosie's face when he and I had dinner at their hotel one evening, Panchoboy brought me to greet them, his Lola excitedly said: "Hi dai! Sige, go, kiss saimu Lolo Sabin!" Imu. Choobs and I had to contain our giggling! That was really something! That didn't even end there. We ended up having lunch at their house the day Choobs and I left for Cebu a few days before he was to leave for California. Again, she goes on showing me the pictures of Choobs' uncles and aunts (his dad's siblings) and their families, saying, "Dai, mao ni imu Tito, Tita..."

 I should stop. Hahaha. I was blushing like anything! To the nth level, believe me. Choobs stood there, just giggling like a little kid. He enjoyed that scenario and would tease me endlessly about it. Lunch with his family was fun, I got to know how they were as a family, his Lolo is such a sweet old man. 

 In Cebu, I met his "Mommy" who is actually his mom's mother. A very sweet, funny Ilongga, Choobs is his favorite apo (technically, there's just Choobs and his younger sister Meia; Choobs' mom is an only child), and I saw how doting she was! 

 Truly, those were memorable meals shared with both our families! Unforgettable first meals at that!

7) "Needle in a haystack."

That's how he defined me to his cousin, Igoy. Since Igoy is also my cousin from the other side of the family and we've known each other longer, he told me about how Choobs described me to be. Of course, another awwww moment. He never told me straight-out about it, although of course I know he loves me and cares so much for me. Those he'd say and show straight-out.

I remember confronting him about it, teasingly. Trust me, he blushed his own version of blushing! He couldn't believe Igoy would tell on him. I couldn't believe he was that cheesy. All 33 years of him. But it was the sweetest thing.

8) His singing!!!

 The first night we met, we hit it off albeit not so romantically just quite yet, but we sure had loads of fun singing the songs at Bistado.

 Hence, we relived that first night we met by spending quite a few nights karaoke-ing during his visit. Believe me, we are both not singers, not even close. We both sing horribly! But with the help of his singing coaches, Ida & Angela (not quite you, K, not quite! You sound as horrible as he does!), he belted out a couple of cheesy love songs for moi!

 His karaoke songs for me???

 Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore by Reo Speedwagon and Superstar by the Carpenters (although we both love the version of Sonic Youth from the movie Juno)

 Trust me, if our relationship didn't have much of a strong foundation, I would've been turned off by his singing or lack of it thereof. Hahaha. 

 But alas, I'm in this for the long haul.

 And it's been pure bliss, believe me.

 Ahhh. Pure love bliss. Blissful love.

9) Just chillin' with him...

The two weeks he was here, he and I both spent much time just relaxing, talking, being quiet, just enjoying each other's company... At home (while my mom would casually "pass by" - aka spy), at the beach (spent an afternoon at Plantation Bay, just enjoying the summer heat, the pool, the scenery, bliss!), at the spa, at the mall (just "malling" - he loves that coined term!), at the movies, at Bebidas (enjoying coffee with cousins or just by ourselves), at almost every nook and corner of Ormoc - driving around... Ahhh. Pure bliss. Truly. Madly. Deeply.

10) After missing him for almost two months now, we will finally see each other again in 111 days, come August 30th, his 34th birthday. God willing!

 

It's been almost two months since he left, yes. And it's been TOUGH - all caps at that. Don't get me wrong, everything's been super for us. We talk regularly, every single day at that - as soon as he gets home from work and before he goes to bed. We continue to share just about everything under the bright sun and through the rains. Oh what am I saying? We just feel sooo blessed to have each other. We truly can't thank God enough!!! The ONLY reason why it's been tough is the fact that he's there, and am here. 7,000+++ miles at that, if I'm not mistaken... Oh well. Life can't be that perfect, aight?

So with his next visit, we're both ecstatic, just sooo excited!!! Like little kids once again, awaiting each other's loves. Ahhh. Bliss. Blissful love. I just can't stop saying that. Thank God!

That said, I end the countdown. 

But not the love story. For it has only just begun. 

I believe in my heart that more than the "fateful meeting", more than "the stars that aligned perfectly when we met", more than the matchmaking scheme of family and cousins, God has much in store for both of us... And we continue to pray that one day, in His perfect time, that we not only be a match made by others but more so, that we be a match made by God in heaven...