If you asked me four years ago if I’ll ever find love again, I’d probably shake my head and shrugged my shoulders. I thought that the end of a three-year relationship with someone I envisioned spending my life forever with would be the end of my book; however, it’s only the beginning of a chapter that would last a lifetime.

 Joseph found me while I was on my journey to finding myself. With the attempts to rebuild and relearn to love myself, I did my best to be occupied and busy by setting up my business and hitting the gym. Little did I know he was there, admiring me from afar.

Little did I know, he was starting to write our story.

 During one of my gym sessions, Joseph went up to me to ask for remedies and medicines for his injured sheep. The interaction made me feel giddy, as I have always known him as one of the cute guys in the gym. “A chance at last,” I immediately thought, and the next thing I knew I was bringing him the medicines the following day. However, Joseph didn’t show up for weeks. When he came back, he told me that he was on a trip overseas the whole time and that his sheep already died. We started to get along with each other since then. He used to mock me for being thin and frail, which gave me the impression that he hated me and that we were frenemies.

 As our friendship went on, we found ourselves spending more time with each other. We would hang out and participate in marathons. He would accompany me and sometimes drive me to and from my work. And before I knew it, I started to be fond of his presence. Every street we navigated together always reminded me of him. Every city light illuminating always reminded me of his shadow next to me. He has become the happiness and tranquility amidst the bustling crowds and busy streets.

 Sppontaneously, he asked me to go to Baguio, just the two of us. I found myself again on the passenger seat beside him, with my heart under my sleeve. Amidst the cold Baguio breeze, I found warmth and comfort with Joseph. It was a night I couldn’t forget as it was blissful and romantic. The ride home had me wondering what we were. What were these gestures for? What was this feeling I couldn’t get out of my chest?

 I got my answers when he finally confessed to me. He told me he was captivated by me the first time he laid my eyes on me. He was a mastermind of our story, as he created plans to make our first encounter happen. He created ways to ensure that we would spend a lot of time with each other. I never thought it would be possible to have someone who would admire me from afar, and someone who would do extra mile to get to know and spend time with me. His attempts to make me fall for him was a success, and I knew that there was nothing to worry as he’s there waiting to catch me.

 AAfter a year of officially dating, he asked my hand for marriage. At the back of my head, I was screaming yes, but I knew that getting married and starting a family comes with financial readiness and responsibilities. When I told him that I wasn’t ready yet, he patiently waited for me until I was. I used to tell myself, “Lord, kung mapagod man si Joseph kakahintay, maiintindihan ko.” But in all those years, Joseph fought for his position in my life, as if he had written paragraphs into my book that I cannot erase any more. Although I could see sometimes that he was getting tired of waiting, he never gave up. That’s the moment I knew that there is peace knowing that you’ll never miss what is truly meant for you.

Countless times I would ask Joseph, “Why do you choose to stay with me?”

He would simply reply, “Dahil mahal kita."

 When he knelt with a ring in front of beach waves with grain of sands on our feet on the 22nd day of February 2022, I finally told him my yes. This time prepared and without hesitation. I am sure that it is him I want to spend time with for a longer time. I am excited to create more dreams with him and build our family as husband and wife.

 So, if you ask me now, four years later, if it is possible to find love again, I will tell you yes in an instant. Along my journey of self-discovery, I found a love that is patient, beautiful, and kind. All these years, I realized that God never leaves you empty. Instead, He leads you to something a lot better. I look forward to writing chapters of love with God as our guide. I am forever grateful to Him for giving me someone who loves and accepts me for who I am.