A Love Story: An Essay
By Neki Soriano
Somebody once told me that "you’ll never meet your future wife in a bar or disco but in the church". Maybe just another food for thought, I said, since most of my friends met their special someone in school, neighborhood, thru common friends or even blind dates. Well, sometimes you do get to meet someone in the church, like my Grace.
It was my last Sunday in Iloilo before I'll go home for the semestral break. I went to church not expecting any guest but the same people in the congregation, but then I noticed a new face present. As church tradition, she was called in front and was introduced to us as we welcomed her to our church. We usually have fellowship lunch after the service so I got to know our visitor more. She was then a college student in UP Miag-ao but she hails from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. She’s been in Iloilo for 3 years but she only knew of our church last week when she saw the church signboard along the road. Well, a new youth is always welcome to our small group (specially if she is pretty). Not that it’s my nature to ask for phone numbers of acquintances, but with girls who catches my attention I do approach them and pretend it's just a gesture of getting to know more about a new friend (or maybe more, I thought).
So I started to text her and call almost everyday. Man, she was so sweet, polite and very courteous. I thought I could be falling for her already; but I had a problem, she seems to see me only as a big brother or barkada. I had to give her a hint so I started texting her sweet messages about admiration, special care and love. I was so nervous that she would be disappointed for what I did or she may think that I'm taking advantage of her. Then, when I felt she was getting the message I was trying to convey and she did not react neagatively, I know it was my cue to get to the next level so I bravely asked her out.
When the 2nd semester opened and we were both in Iloilo again, I started to invite her every after Church services to join me and my sister for lunch and to see some movie. Of course, I was using my sister to be discreet but actually it’s a date. Until such time that I thought I got her trust then I asked her to still eat lunch together and even see movies even without my sister. We dated almost every weekend that I was always looking forward for the weekend. Still we texted often; when I wake up, during the day, at school, when I arrive home, at night until the early mornings.
Then, one night I texted her that I already have a girlfriend..... and that it’s her. When she did not react violently I knew she also has feelings for me. But when she texted back that she also has a boyfriend, and said it was me, I didn’t know how to react. I was asking myself if we were already a "WE" item or am I just assuming. I had to confirm again. I had to see her. I had to seal it with a kiss.
Our first date after that day, happened a week later. I was planning how to greet her. I had to kiss her to confirm and seal our relationship. I had to have proof or she might dismiss it as a joke. So when we met I welcomed her with a kiss in the cheek that caught her by surprise. Now it’s official.
That was the start of 3 beautiful and memorable years of our relationship. After three years, I felt it’s time to move to the next level. For a relationship to grow, you just have to keep moving forward. So on our 3rd anniversary, I prepared a special dinner for her. That night, I proposed to her. She gladly accepted it. As we hugged and danced that night, I said to myself, "I met my wife in the church".
The end.
