It all began with a smile. (I wrote this for you)

We have been together for 212 days already, and I've posted a blog about us last December 10, 2009 Thursday but I haven't introduced him yet. He's name is Joey. He's already 28 years old and a Communication Arts student at De La Salle University-Canlubang.

This is how we met: It was June 27 2009, a Thursday. Due to the unfortunate event that has struck our school (AH1N1 virus), our school needed to be closed for one week for quarantine, so that meant I had a week's worth of vacation. My two cousins who were currently staying in Laguna, made me stay there since we had little time for one another. And that faithful day came. My cousin (Kuya) brought over his then girlfriend (Kylie) over to our place and since we had nothing to do there, he asked me if I wanted to come with them to go to his friends' dorm. Since I had nothing to do during that time, I came with them. Before this actual day, two of my cousins have met him and told me stories about him. They told me that his already 27 and still goes to school, that his pretty much a drinker and he sleeps with his jeans on. :) And so as we were approaching his friends' dorm we were stopped because my cousin recognized that the car from the other side of the street was his friend's car. We stopped in the middle of the street then agreed to pull over to a near by Rustans Grocery. As we were about to turn around my cousin told me "Yun si Joey" and I was thinking "Ahh okei" As we parked the car and walked going in Rustans, my cousin introduced me and I was greeted with a smile. They bought beers then went straight to 113.

Started to have a few bottles, shared stories he talked to me and kept asking questions. I thought they were just harmless question, just things he was curious about but I was wrong. He asked these questions because he was interested in me. Then suddenly when their friends came rushing in joining us for drinks, he suddenly he said: "Pag may nakita ka ng matino, at mabait seryosohin mo na." and he kept repeating it all the time. So I thought it was for my cousin so I agreed, not knowing that in the end (ako pala ang tinukoy niya. :D) And so the drinking went on until I felt tipsy already got the keys of the CRV from my cousin then slept until we got home. Then the following night which I thought was just a ordinary night but when my cousin fetched me from my tita's house to have dinner at ATC our conversation began:

Kuya: Hulaan mo sinong humihinge ng number mo?
*Napaisip naman ako*
Me: Sino nga?
Kuya: Si Joey..
Me: Talaga? Binigay mo naman?
Kuya: Hindi pa, tatanong ko muna sayo. Okei lang ba naibigay ko?
Me: Okei lang, bakit naman hindi?
Kuya: Sigurado ka? Matanda na yun..
Me: Ikaw magjudge, ikaw naman yung nakakakilala sakanya eh.. Mabait ba?
Kuya: Oo, ang bait bait nun eh. Super..
Me: O yun naman pala eh, eh d ibigay mo na :p
Kuya: O sige, ikaw magtext sakanya ng number mo.
*Text naman ako sakanya*
Kuya: Basahin mo na din yung mga text niya
*Basa naman ako, tawa tawa din*
Kuya: Kaya pala nagtetext sakin kagabi
Me: Bakit?Ano yung mga tinetext niya?
Kuya: "Mag iingat kayo ha? tapos nagtext ulit, "Kamusta na si Bea?
Me: hahaha, okei. :P

At that same night, he texted me and from then on we always text each other. The next day I went to with my cousin to his school but of course I can't stay in the school so I came with his now girlfriend, Ghec and Malai for a swim. After such we went back to 113 then went out for lunch, while going there we rode in one car (first time namin magkatabi sa car) then while having lunch, I had no change to pay for what I ate, then he offered to pay for me. I was surprised, but then I offered to pay him but he refused which was weird (Totoo nga yung sinasabi nila pag sa ibang tao nangyayari madali mong makita, maramdaman pero pag sayo na nangyayari hindi mo makita, hindi mo maramdaman). Then this really funny conversation happened on our way back to 113:

Kuya: Uwi na kami agad, manood pa kami ng Transformers sa ATC eh. Sama ko kay si Kylie?
Me: Kawawa naman ako, ako na naman ang third wheel. Wala akong kasama. *Tingin kay Joey*
Everyone at the back: Uy Joe, wala daw kasama.. Samahan mo nga.
*Everybody laughing except Joey, remained quiet*

And so that was it, after we parted ways we still texted and talked with one another. The next day, he invited me to our first date. It was last June 30, 2009 Tuesday at Mall of Asia. He fetched me at home, then went to Mall of Asia. We watched Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at IMAX (first time namin manood ng IMAX ever). Ate lunch/merienda at Abe (it was so beautiful, it was over-looking the Manila Bay), started to tell stories about our lives. He invited me to have a few beers at Marina, continued to share stories about ourselves while enjoying good music (first time ever na may mag-aya sakin mag-inum sa date). Too bad I have to go back to school the next day, and get my evaluation form for my practicum from my former boss at Podium. Surprised, he insisted that he'll accompany me the whole day. So July 1, 2009 Wednesday he once again fetched me at home to take me to school (again, first time ito sa buong buhay ko). After waiting for me to be dismissed from school, we went straight to Podium. While waiting for my former boss we went to Starbucks to have coffee, again we shared stories about ourselves. Then there was this one moment while we were laughing but I wasn't looking at him but I knew he was watching me. But when I turned around to look at him, we looked each other in the eye, stopped laughing and smiled. At that particular moment, time stood still, it was as if we were the only people around, it was sheer bliss. At that time I knew, what we have is something special. After all that, we were going around Podium then he saw Holland Tulips and bought me pink lilies (my absolute fave flowers!), to me this was a sign. (Long before Joey came into my life, I told myself that the first guy to give me lilies, he would be the one for me).

And the rest is history, after that we continued communicating with one another then that fateful day came. It was July 10, 2009 Friday 12:30am, when Joey and I became "us" =). Then on that same date, he introduced me to his family.

Being with him is just pure bliss, even when we encountered (and I know we'll still encounter) bumps along the way, there is no other person I would rather go through with but him. I absolutely couldn't ask for more: such a loving, caring, loyal, honest, understanding, patient, super super sweet (In his own words: "Sagutin mo lang ako habang buhay kita liligawan"), fun, open-minded person (ano pa ang hahanapin ko diba). I know we're not perfect, but we're just perfect for each other, just perfect for me.

I am on a high, there's nothing more to it.

December 15, 2009 Tuesday
2:16pm

Yesterday, I felt one of the greatest feelings ever. A absolutely great feeling one college student will ever experience! :)

Yesterday was our thesis defense, wherein you discuss your thesis in front of three panelists, report all the results of the study and after such the panelists will ask a series of questions regarding your works. Our thesis was all about the sexualization of women in the feature articles and images of women in Philippine tabloids. Me and my thesis mates really worked hard and placed so much effort into our work and it was judged yesterday.

And thank God, the results were great. Although I didn't get a grade that high but at least all of us were able to pass. After announcing to us our grades and after the panelists have left I felt so much happiness and as if a ton of weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was as if we were in a do or die game of an La Salle vs. Ateneo, the final game that will settle it all, and we won, haha! :) I really felt have and I truly appreciated all my friends who congratulated me especially when I was congratulated by the love of my life. But I felt so happy I almost cried when I told my parents that I was able to pass my thesis defense. All they had was words of praises for me- that they were so proud of me, they knew I could do it, that they were so grateful to have a daughter like me. I felt so loved by them, by all the people I love.

I'm such in a high right now, its as if anything is possible for me after conquering my thesis defense. Although, this is still not the end of it I will still go through a lot requirements to pass and to accomplish but I can see greener pastures already, I know I will graduate. :)

153 days and still counting.. still going strong.

December 10, 2009 Thursday

Today I had one of the most happiest days of my life. Despite my need to prepare and study for my thesis defense on Monday (Wish me much luck! :) ), writing my paper for Feature and Technical Writing class and my revision for the yearbook's article; I went to Enchanted Kingdom (EK) with Joey, my Love. :)

Today's the day we celebrate our 153th day together. At first I thought today was just going to be another day, I go to school; he goes to school and we celebrate our monthsary on the weekend but at 8am this morning he texted me, telling me if I really needed to go to school today, and the obvious answer would be no, hahaha! Then I called him and asked him why he asked then he told me to prepare already because we are going to Enchanted Kingdom today (and he planned it already days before)

10:30am he fetched me here at home then went to his school first because he needed to pass some requirements then went straight to EK, but since I didn't eat breakfast yet I was already hungry so we decided to eat at Mcdo at Waltermart, Sta.Rosa. After sharing stories and having a hearty meal we already headed to EK.

Upon arriving Enchanted Kingdom... apparently, we weren't informed that a HUGE amount of the student population from different schools will be having their field trip there and on that day but that didn't stop us from enjoying our day. The first thing we did was to try the 4D and The Journey to the Center of the Earth was being shown. I enjoyed the ride despite experiencing double-vision due to the goggles and poor eyesight. Since long lines were very evident on the rides I want to go to, we decided to go around first. As we were going around my Love was so excited in trying our new Nikkor 35mm lens, and took lots of pictures of me, hehe. :)

Then we decided to go to the Science Discovery Exhibit, as we were approaching the said exhibit we were curious as to why there were a lot of people gathering in front of the exhibit.. only to find out that a celebrity who is currently linked with the Pacman, hahaha! On the Science Discovery Exhibit, we just acted like kids who are seeing this inventions for the first time. We really had a fun time here and tried every invention that was present. After such, we continued to roam around until I got tried of roaming around and convinced Love to take risks and join the people who were lining up for the rides.

The first ride we rode was the Flying Fiesta, then went ahead to the Juggle Log Jam. Before heading to our next ride Anchors Away, we stood by, watched and took pictures of the "fire eaters" (I don't know what to call them sorry, hehe) Having a lot of laughs on the Anchors Away, we lined up on our last ride the Wheel of Fate. The lines were really exagge, but I really want to ride it, so we were really patient despite me being hungry already, and as we were nearing the gondola.. the actress who is currently linked to the Pacman and that boy who is friend's with Bro had a shoot on the Wheel of Fate. People (especially men) went gaga over that actress and the kids went gaga for that boy, hahaha! After all that trouble and me being so irritated by that matter... we were able to ride, finally! I really enjoyed the cool Christmas breeze and enjoyed the view over-looking the whole hectare of the Enchanted Kingdom. The whole place was filled with Christmas lights, which gave me a feeling of sadness. I don't know why, but every time I look at Christmas lights.. it really gives me a sense of sadness and melancholy.

After the rides are emptied, the lights start to go out and people start to leave what is left in me is a wonderful and blissful memory of today. A day spent with the most important person in my life, the person whom I really love and cherish, the person whom I can't imagine a life without him. A day where what mattered most was just the two of us, and making each other happy; and a day we just forgot the world. And you know what the truth is? For the past months, I really felt that.. I want to be near him everyday; I just can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him.