Our Story | 08may2015wedding

HOW IT ALL STARTED..

“She’s too high-maintenance and suplada!”

“He’s the flirt and counting-the-girlfriends type!”

First impressions sometimes never last. This is our love story – a God-authored love story filled with faithfulness, admiration, exuberance, and passion. A story which proves that in order to find the worthiness of a lifetime partner waited upon, we have to believe in God’s perfect timing for He is the one who will make all our dreams come true.. :)

Taking the

first step..

Missing the purportedly first formal meeting
(I could have found my love when I was fourteen..)

We could have personally met in June 2002 when we were batch mates in Junior High. I was a new student then and we were supposed to be classmates (III-Bethlehem). He was late during the first day of school and for some reasons, our then principal transferred me to another section (III-Asiria, the section beside his) before the first class started. Nagkasalisi lang.

High school went over but we never spoke a single word to each other. I couldn’t remember anything else except for that one intense stare we had at each other. Akala ko hindi na kami pagtatagpuin ulit..

The Facebook friend request and the bad beginning to a blossoming friendship

God allowed us to use our 8 years apart to learn each lesson from our past unsuccessful relationships. And when He knew that we were ready, He permitted us to meet once more.

In 2010, I dated one of his ‘closest’ friends for quite some time but ended on a really bad note. A few days after that dumping-his-close-friend moment, I was surprised to see a Facebook friend request from a certain “John Neil Canivel.” I couldn’t actually remember him but hundreds of batch mates from secondary school were our mutual friends so I still accepted his friend request. Three days later, he messaged me. How can I forget his first message? It said:

John Neil: Hi! Single ka ba?

And who on this earth will pop that question to someone who cannot even remember him? I suddenly recollected that during secondary school, he was a close friend of the guy I recently dumped. So I quickly pre-analyzed things. He added me up on Facebook to play games with me.. He was good at that first message since that caught my attention and I felt the need to respond:

She-Ann: Hindi eh. Double ako. Sino ka ba?
John Neil: Ang suplada mo naman. Pwede ka ba maging kaibigan?

That unpleasant start didn't stop him from making friends with me. He had a number of follow up apologetic messages as he sensed that I didn’t like his first question. Out of exasperation, I slammed his questions with silly and “i-hate-your-stupid-trying-to-start-a-conversation” replies. It was very quick for me to judge since I needed to protect my heart. Wala pa man din akong napapatunayan na nilalaro niya lang ako, kinailangan ko na agad ipaalam sa kanya na hindi ako iyong tipo na dapat niyang paglaruan.

He wanted to start a really good friendship but then I was certain that he’s just playing with my feelings. Well, that’s what I thought….

His first broken heart and our getting-to-know-each-other stage

When he asked for my number, I gave him the first ten digits correctly and intentionally wronged the last digit. He almost yelled a “YES” when he got my number but then I didn’t let him hope for long because I told him what I just did. I wanted to hurt him knowingly. That’s the first time I broke his heart. I wouldn’t be able to explain the guilt I felt then. He became aloof. I couldn’t comprehend but I seriously missed him so I gave him my real number and in an instant, everything went back to normal. He sent me a message at once and a great friendship started to flourish. Messaging was not confined to Facebook alone. I gave him a fair friendship except for one thing: I was being careful and safeguarding my heart. Friendship pa lang ang gusto niya, feeling ko liligawan niya na ako haha.

We SMS each other persistently. Considering I didn’t have cellular network in my room, I kept going to mama and papa’s room para lang makasagap ng signal at mareplyan siya. At work, we can both access Facebook so we conversed over Facebook. I even created a skype account for him (siya ang unang contact ko doon haha okay nabuking na ako ahaha).

I was besieged by his attention and time. I almost forgot that he might just be playing with my feelings :’(

Perfected Challenge to the Suitor..

His First Challenge: The First Date
(Considered blind date because I could not vividly remember his face. As if we haven't met before..)

One day, he told me he didn’t have sleep, he’s all worn-down, and that day would have been the worst time to meet him. He had his 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM shift at work then he went straight to Cavite to process his exit papers from ROHM Semiconductor. He reached home around 2:00 PM. I told him I had plans for the night. My friend was leaving for Texas and a despedida party will be held at his home.

John Neil: Daya, ayaw ako isama..

Finally! I will get rid of him if he’s not sincere with his friendship intent. So I quickly replied:

She-Ann: Okay, you meet me later 6:00 PM or you meet me never.
John Neil: Joke lang. Wala pa akong tulog, hindi pa ako nagpapagupit. Madaya ka palibhasa ikaw kumpleto tulog mo.

I stood for what I wanted. If he wants me enough, he’ll see me. Walang excuses. Gusto niya iyon diba? Madali naman siyang tatanggi kung nilalaro niya lang ako.

She-Ann: Problema mo na iyon. My statement shall hang on. You meet me later, or you meet me never.

I didn’t anticipate that he’d go. But he was there! Very early! My heart was pounding as I came closer to where he was seated. In fairness naman kay h2b (hubby-to-be), walang tulog pero punctual siya noon :) We had heaps of stories to tell. Seemed like we’re old friends who didn’t catch up for quite some time. We even talked about our past relationships (on our first date, feeling close talaga).

Too much stories, bounded time. I had to go to Laguna for my friend’s despedida. I was about to say goodbye when he insisted to bring me there. I warned him that I will not introduce him to my friends (para hindi makaramdam ng pag-asa) but he still insisted to bring me to Laguna.

He had his first ‘meet the friends’ there. It was unexpected because I didn’t have plans of bringing him to the party but for some inexplicable reasons, nag-abot pa kami ng mga kaibigan ko kahit late na late na ako sa usapan namin.. My friends told me to bring him to the party since John Neil brought me to Laguna all the way from Pasig (and it was late), but I said NO.

During the party, naramdaman kong he’s such a good sport kasi walang bitterness after ko siyang pauwiin nang alanganing oras. He barely had three hours of sleep and I was at the party but we kept SMS-ing and talking. We had breakfast the following day and he insisted to bring me home. Again I said no.

I refused to accept all his other requests that day and I did everything deliberately. I wanted to see if he’d be there to stay no matter how much I tried to break his heart. Assuming na talaga ako nito as I saw how he looked at me. I could tell how much he wanted to be with me. I took advantage of what I witnessed and I made every thing a test. He was just apt to pass every single test I gave him.

The Courtship Stage

From “Hi! Single ka ba?” to “Mahal na mahal na kita”

We started to see each other sporadically since then. His feelings developed very fast. But for me, John Neil is nothing more than a close friend and a short-lived suitor… or so I thought. After a few weeks of exclusive dating (yes, tumigil din ako sa pagddate ng iba) he finally said “Mahal na mahal na kita..” Tinawanan ko lang siya.

Inseparable, that’s how we’ll always be

From that day forward, we were joined at the hip. Aside from perpetual communication, he visits me at work (I had graveyard shift every 2 weeks) or he will bring me to my client’s site before he goes to work. Our normal day had coffee and cheesecake from Starbucks Veranda and incessant talking from Cainta to Ortigas.. Seldom did we not see each other. We were literally inseparable.

His courtship proposal at Starbucks Coffee, Veranda

He usually orders coffee for the both of us. But one day, he asked me to order my own coffee. As my order was given to me, I was handed a blue long-stemmed rose and a box of chocolates by the barista.

Barista: Ma'am pinabibigay po ng kasama ninyo. Binilin po niya iyan sa akin. Birthday niyo po ba? Anniversary?
She-Ann: *Nagulat ako. Tila 10 seconds ako natigilan hehe* Ayyy kuya wala akong kasama. Hehehe joke lang. :p Kaya pala pangiti ngiti na kayo sa akin naglalakad pa lang ako ah :p Friend ko siya :)
Barista: Ngayon po malalaman niyo na kung friendship lang talaga gusto niya. Hehe (muntik na maging nosy si kuyang barista hehe)

Those in queue were more kinikilig than me. They teased me and said “ang sweet naman. sagutin mo na iyan!”

I was blushing when I went back to our table. I wanted to hug him because he picked the most beautiful rose I’ve ever seen but I stopped myself because he might mistake it for a “Yes” hahaha!

He didn’t write anything on the card. But he personally asked me if he can formally court me. Ang haba ng hair ko! Tatanggi pa ba ako? :)

He poured his heart out during the courtship stage. He gave his all. Literal na pinaghirapan niya ako ligawan together with my favorite comfort food cravings (Chicken McNuggets, Oreo Cheesecake, and Chocolate Cream Chip Frapuccino). The few months of courtship felt like years to me. We were talking almost 24x7. We were together most of the time. We knew each other very well and we had that very special friendship. We ended up having a mutual understanding.

Meet the Parents = Big YES day

(May 8, 2011)

*May 7, 2011*

On his 24th birthday, I was away from Manila. Lasing siya at ang kulit kulit niya. Para manahimik, I told him I will see him the next day and I will let him meet my parents when I get back to Manila. He sounded very happy and excited.

*May 8, 2011*

I came from an out-of-town company outing and he picked me up from Veranda. Again, we had coffee on a heavy raining afternoon at Starbucks Veranda. We heard mass at EDSA Shrine first. I held his hand as I was praying: “Lord, thank you po dahil after 1 year of battle with a strayed love and a broken heart, I am ready to give this one a try. Kung hindi po ako sasaktan nitong tao na ‘to sa Inyo ko na po siya unang pinapakilala bilang boyfriend ko. Sana siya na..”

We headed home after the mass. He was very anxious but at the same time very enthused to see my home and at long last to meet my family. He started singing to overcome his jumping heart. Three streets away from our home, I ruined his excitement and told him that I will not be bringing him inside..

John Neil: Lagi mo na lang pinaglalaruan feelings ko :’( Gusto ko na makilala pamilya mo tapos niloko mo lang pala ako para matulog na ako kagabi.
She-Ann: (pagdating sa street namin) Joke lang. Kabado ka kasi masyado. Malapit na tayo. Just be yourself. They will like you.

I saw an immeasurable smile on his face.

Ito na ang eksena pagdating sa bahay:

She-Ann: Papa, si John Neil nga pala, BOYFRIEND KO.
Papa: Ha? Binibigla mo naman kami. Akala ko manliligaw mo pa lang iyan?
She-Ann: *Smiled* (Nakakatawa kasi pagkagulat ni papa. Akala niya yata uso pa years ng ligawan hehe)
John Neil: *NO REACTION. Nag-oobserve sa bahay namin at sa family ko*
Papa: Kumain na kayo doon. Nagluto ako.
John Neil: *Nagmano sa mga magulang ko na tila maamong tupa hehe*

I thought I’d make him jump for joy when introduced as my boyfriend. Fail. NR si Jon.

Sa dining table, we were all eating. Nagbubulungan kaming dalawa.

She-Ann: Bakit NR ka? Ayaw mo ba maging boyfriend ko?
John Neil: Ay seryoso ba iyon? Akala ko isa lang sa mga pangtitrip mo.
She-Ann: Oh sige, bawiin ko na? Pahirapan ulit kita?
John Neil: Huwag! Ang saya ko nga eh. Hindi mo lang alam kung gaano mo akong napasaya ngayon :) Hindi ko lang kasi alam kung ano mga seseryosohin ko sa mga sinasabi mo kasi power tripper ka eh.

Okay, aminado akong nilaro ko talaga feelings niya at most of the time pinagttripan ko siya. Piniga ko rin nang todo ang pasensya niya.. Kasi kung hindi, hindi siya tatagal na boyfriend ko. Mahusay siya. Pasado sa exam. Never give up ba naman ang drama eh :)

It's all the more sweet after overcoming hardships and pouring sacrifices..

He told himself “she’s not high maintenance after all.. she required much of my time, but she never wanted overspending for her..”

Hindi ko na ikkwento dito kung paano ko pa siya pinahirapan. All I can say is that I gave him a very challenging courtship stage – one worth remembering for the rest of his life. He almost gave up, but he knew that he needed to try even if there's a great chance of failing..

And when I ask him why he loves me and this relationship so dearly, he will tell me just one thing: “Dugo at pawis kita at hindi ko hahayaang mawala lang basta iyong babaeng pinaghirapan ko..” *kilig* :”>

Blessed, bliss-ed bride-to-be..

When I read back, I saw that he filled the most space in my diary since I met him. I never thought that this once just a batch mate who used to pass me by without even saying hi, now someone with whom I share the best moments of my lifetime :)

If I could have found my love when I was fourteen, maybe we haven’t stayed together to date. I truly thank God for His wonderful plans for the day I said yes, I already know that John Neil’s more than worthy of the love and loyalty I can offer. I was never mistaken to choose him even if I had earlier uncertainties.. He never considered me his 'number 1' because I am his 'one and only love..'

What more can I say? :) I am thrilled to walk down the aisle on our wedding day, but I am much more excited to spend my lifetime of marriage with John Neil.. :)

(END. She-Ann's version)