Chapter 2: New Beginnings

A silly lie began it all. When I heard that Carlos had arrived in Manila, I knew that I had to see him in person, again.

After my job, I wrote him another letter, saying to him that I want to see him in the weekends, and he decides where. His letter came a few days later, and he invited me to see him on a restaurant on Saturday afternoon.

That Saturday finally came, and I told that silly lie I had mentioned earlier. I had told my parents that I will meet up some friends in the restaurant Carlos told me, and I will be back soon. Finally, I was finally on my way to meet Carlos again.

We, throughout the years, have considered this meeting as our first date. It was that moment, that 3-hour date full of talking, laughing, and getting to know each other, that made the first spark of our relationship.

Our secret dates continued until three months later, when we decided to let Carlos introduce himself to my parents before he leaves Manila. Fortunately for Carlos, he had gave a good impression on my parents, and they had liked him.

And then he left. Fortunately, we both had cellphones already, and communication was much easier. The next time we had seen each other again is until next summer, where I had a break from my teaching job.

Four years after the trip to Pagudpud, here am I again, in a family trip. I had called Carlos the day prior about the trip, and he told that he still works in the same resort. Unfortunately, my parents had unknowingly planned to take the family into a different resort, and I hadn’t see Carlos on that day.

But fortunately, our cellphones had saved us for the first time. We still contacted each other, and had a date on the first night of our vacation. The next day, Carlos took me to see his parents, which are apparently delighted by our relationship. And it was home time once more.

Oh Carlos, together with his sweet surprises! Before me and my family left, he had managed to catch us up, and he had proposed to me. Finally, that stranger I met at the beach four years ago, at the same place, became my fiancée.

It will then take another year of scrupulous planning and hardwork before the big day arrived. One year to choose me and Carlos’ outfits, design our wedding cake, rings, and more stuff. And that year has passed, and it finally came!

A few weeks before another school year starts, and before Carlos starts his new job in Manila, came our wedding. It was a warm, Sunday afternoon on May 29, and everything went as planned. It was one of the best moments of my life, with me finally founding “the one”. And the reception after the event lasted ’till night, where everyone certainly had fun!

After the reception, we passed the night at my parents’ house, and we went straight to the beach that set the cornerstone of our relationship, for a little honeymoon.

And that was the start of our marriage that lasted more than 20 years.