I spent Friday evening with my family (and by family, I mean--the Lagmans, Catelos, de Leons and Ocampos) at Ichi Japanese Restaurant in Paseo. The young 'uns--Kuya Joe, JM, Grace, Jinxx and me--stayed in one table while the oldies occupied two tables.

While the 40-year-olds and above were busy talking about summer get-aways ("Bohol! Bohol!" / "Swimming ulit!" / "Gusto ko mag-airplane naman!" / "Cebu Pacific yung mga girls, PAL ang mga lalaki!"), we littl'uns were deep in serious conversation about life and relationships. Naks naman! Hahaha!

Anyhoo. Kuya Joe and I were talking about our cousins *ahem*sige na, wala na akong bibigay na names*ahem* and the...er, many relationships they've had. I was telling him I have to catch up with the rest of the cousins, since most have their exes and ako wala pang "ex". Haha. Then we came to this conclusion about the Ocampo kids--and these were Kuya Joe's words:

"Ang mga panganay naman, hindi nang-iiwan."

Oh? Well, there's always a first time for everything. Let me be the first. Haha. :P

Before dinner ended, I had a thought--and it keeps bothering me: I said last week that my life doesn't revolve around HIM, and HE said, "Talaga?" as if HE didn't believe my words.

If HE was right, that is just sad. For me, I mean.

Damn, I am being taken over by the Dark Side! Shit, Jake. Shit. Haha. Joke lang, Seatmate. :)

I was at UP Diliman this morning with my mom and sister. We were looking around for a dorm or an apartment, since Jinxx plans to study in UP. So there we were, waiting at Kalayaan Residence Hall for the Open House to begin.

Jinnx and I got bored waiting, and she suggested we take a walk to the CBA building, see how long it takes to walk from Kalayaan Hall to her building.

While we were walking, we passed by another residence hall and we saw three people walking towards us. Two guys and one girl. Siyempre di naman namin sil kilala, so di namin sila pinansin. Haha. Anyhoo, they passed by us. Seconds after they passed, Jinxx stopped. She turned to me and she was like, "Did you hear what that guy said?"

I was like, "What? I had my earphones on. Ano ba sabi?"

"Hindi mo narinig? Ang lakas kaya ng boses niya!" Jinxx said.

I shrugged.

So Jinxx continued, "When he passed by, he was like, 'KAMBAL'? He was referring to us!"

Shit, dude. Shit. Hahahaha!

Stupid. Eww! Me and Jinxx? Kambal? Pare naman, i-compare mo na ako sa lahat, wag lang sa kapatid ko. Gross much?

YUCK.

(Because Valentine's Day fell on a damned day of the week—Saturday—the love fest began on Friday, February 13.)

The day had started out like any other. No festivities, no celebrations. HE had texted a couple of times, asking how I was doing—I had been sick for the whole week, with coughs and colds and fluctuating temperatures. *cough*

By mid-morning, the boys of our class—some of the sweetest, most thoughtful boys I've known (with the exception if Mr. Happy Gay, haha!)—had presented the girls in class with roses and a song. The same treatment was given to the Dean and Sr. Celia during their classes with us.

"Ano gagawin ninyo later, Fi? May date ka ba with HIM tonight?" I had been asked once, twice...one too many times throughout the day.

Over and over, I've answered, "Wala eh."

I could hardly text HIM (he was on duty at SLH), what more about seeing him and going out on a date?

My afternoon was spent with my class in a sign language seminar—“The Language of Love." Then HE texted, saying he wanted to see me before I went home.

When the seminar ended, I left the auditorium and called him.

"Punta ka dito sa Dean’s Office," HE said.

I saw his friend waiting by the office door. Dear God, what on Earth is he planning now? I thought.

--

YOU stood with your back to the clear, glass door. As soon as I saw you standing there, the lone person in the quiet office, I knew you were up to something.

Swallowing my anticipation, I walked up to you slowly. One step...two steps...three steps closer to where you stood.

Then you turned around, a smile gracing your face, a dozen white roses in hand, wrapped beautifully and tied artfully with a red ribbon. You held the bouquet out to me.

Had we been alone on a rooftop, or in an open field, or in a deserted street, I would have cried tears of joy.

It was like a scene straight out of the perfect romantic movie.

And like the girl in the movie, I got my happy ending.