Disclaimer: This much overdue brief recount of our love story is a bit long. Why? Because
it didn’t start with me falling in love with her at first sight, and me
sweeping her off her feet. Ours is a story built on a foundation of good
friendship, quality time together and a lot of joyful conversations.
It was her 1st day in the company in August 2008 when I met
her. Her manager introduced the new hire in his team – Kristine. We exchanged
names and smiles, before they continued on. I found her cute but no, it was not
love at first sight. It was on the 3rd time that we met, that Kristine actually
remembered me. We were in White Rock Subic for a company teambuilding. My
fellow new hire roommate Earl cajoled Mark (another new hire) and I to visit
our lady new hire friends Kristine and Cherie in their room. We spent the night
in the girls’ room playing cards and charades, and getting to know each other.
As we got back into our own room, Earl’s phone rang. It was Kristine telling
him that someone left his phone on her bed – it was mine. I told them that I’d
go and retrieve it. After they hung up, the boys started their teasing: “Woohoo,
Adrin! Style mo bulok!” After the teambuilding incident, I didn’t pursue
Tine any further. I had no plans then of having a girlfriend yet as I wanted to
focus on my career. There was even a time when I teased Mark into courting Tine
as they look good together, but he just shoved off the idea.
Over the months, Tine and I became really good friends.
Together with our other new hire friends, we would go out for lunches, practice
for new hire “talent shows,” organize team meetings and even prepare small
birthday surprises for each other. One time, we went to Laiya, Batangas for an
overnight trip. That night, we played Spin-The-Bottle-Truth-Or-Dare, and the
question for me was: “If you had to, who would you court in office?” I really
thought about it, and I answered “Tine.” She’s cute, nice and, best of all,
witty. I really enjoyed the conversations I had with her. After a few spins, it
was Tine’s turn to be asked: “If someone from the office were to court you, who
would you hope it would be?” She answered “Adrin.” I thought then that she was
just being courteous and funny. But it was one of those turning points in our
love lives.
It was almost habit that Tine and I walk together after
office towards Ayala MRT station to catch our ride home. It’s a 15-minute walk
but it always seemed like a breeze because the moments are filled with stories,
laughter and random joyful conversations. It was during one of our walks in
December 2008, 4 months after Tine and I met, that I decided to make the leap
and ask her out. Weeks before, I already had this uneasy feeling towards Tine.
“Hindi ko alam kung nasosobrahan lang ako sa kape. Pero minsan, bumibilis
ang tibok ng puso kapag nakikita ko si Tine.” This was an honest and
heartfelt statement that I confided to our female office friends. [I found out
later on, when Tine and I were already together, that apparently my confidants
were more loyal to Tine. And she knew about those things this even before. I
still can’t believe they did that to me. Hahaha.] We went ice skating for our
1st date. I knew how to skate, she didn’t. And yes, it was intentional. Our 1st
date was followed by more dates – movies, dinner dates, and “field trips” with
her kid cousin and my kid sister. Our friendship developed into something more
special.
It was January 21, 2009, after watching Jim Carrey’s “Yes
Man,” that Tine and I declared that it was officially US. The
conversation went something like this.
Adrin: “Tayo na ba?”
Tine: “Ewan ko.”
Adrin: “OK, tayo na nga. So, date
na lang ang kulang… Gusto mo i-set natin sa Feb 14?”
Tine: “Wag, cheesy masyado.”
Adrin: “Ok sige, ngayon na nga
lang.”
February 12 was the first time I told Tine I
loved her. February 14 was the time she said she loved me too. On our 3rd anniversary, I proposed to her. Now we're less than a year to our next big milestone!!! Wait, were you able to put up with the cheesiness? =P
Filled with kilig,
