(Charie's POV) We first met at Lawaan Elementary School where we both participated in a Journalism Interschool Contest. As fate would have it, we became classmates in high school and eventually became close friends. Despite his status as the top achiever in our school, I would always joke with him and ask, "Pakopyaha ko dong please" every time we had a difficult assignment or exam. Our friendship grew stronger over time, and by our senior year of high school, we became more than just friends and started dating. Since then, we've been through many ups and downs, but we've never given up on each other. Approaching our almost 15th anniversary, I can confidently say that saying "yes" to him when he asked me to be his girlfriend on September 25, 2009, was the best decision I've ever made. He's not just my partner, but also my mentor, travel buddy, best friend, and brother. (Dark's POV) I remember vividly when I first saw her face in the crowd eighteen years ago at an inter-school journalism contest. She was chatting and giggling with her classmates while glancing at me as if they were discussing something about me. It was during our sophomore years in high school that I discovered her undeniable beauty, charm, and beautiful singing voice, and I quickly developed feelings for her. It wasn't until senior year that our bond grew stronger, and our closeness turned into love. Now, almost fifteen years later, knowing her has been the best gift I've ever received. She has been my best friend, my tranquility, and my home. We've faced numerous challenges throughout the years, but our relationship has always been a work in progress. I feel fortunate to have learned from all of it and will continue learning with her.

High School Dreams They say when you find the right guy, you'll know when the time is right, and it'll happen naturally without feeling pressure. But for me, with dreams as big as the sky, figuring out the right time was like chasing a fleeting dream. In the halls of my high school, I had it all planned out. At first, I dreamed of walking down the aisle at the age of 25, a young bride full of hope and excitement. But as time passed and my dreams evolved, so did my timeline. By the time I reached my late teens, I decided 27 would be the perfect age to settle down. Changing Plans But life has a funny way of throwing curveballs when you least expect it. As I navigated through my early twenties, I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew. The pressure to have it all figured out by 27 weighed heavily on my shoulders. I remember a moment vividly, crying in front of my friends, overwhelmed by the thought of marriage at 27. It wasn't that I didn't want to find love or build a life with someone; I simply felt there was so much left to explore and experience before taking such a monumental step. The Mid-Life Crisis at 27 When I finally reached 27, I found myself in the midst of what I jokingly referred to as a mid-life crisis. It wasn't a crisis in the traditional sense, but rather a period of self-discovery and reflection. I questioned my career path, my passions, and what truly made me happy. Despite my initial timeline, I realized I wasn't ready to walk down the aisle just yet. There were still mountains to climb, dreams to chase, and adventures to embark on. Marriage could wait; I had a life to live first. A Proposal Deferred In 2019, during a romantic getaway to Palawan with Dark, I found myself faced with a moment I had long anticipated and feared simultaneously. As we sat down for a candlelit dinner at a private resort, my heart raced with anticipation. But as my Dark reached into his pocket, my inner voice screamed, "Please don't propose." I knew deep down that I wasn't ready for such a commitment. And so, when the moment passed without a ring, I breathed a sigh of relief. The Right Time It wasn't until February 27, 2022, that I finally felt the stars aligning. On a quiet evening, surrounded by a sky full of stars, just the two of us, with the sound of ocean waves in the background, I found myself at peace with my decision. The doubts and fears that had plagued me for years melted away, leaving only certainty in their wake. As Dark dropped to one knee and asked the question I had long awaited, I knew without a doubt that this was the right time, the right place, and the right person. With tears of joy streaming down my cheeks, I whispered my answer into the night. And so, my journey to finding the right time came to an end, not with a rushed decision or societal pressure, but with a moment of pure clarity and love. For sometimes, the most beautiful things in life happen when we least expect them, in the most unexpected of moments.

Choosing someone to spend a lifetime with is undoubtedly the most important investment one can make. While family and friends may traverse stretches of the path with you, it is the spouse who pledges to stick with you, from the very beginning to the very end of your journey together and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have found my soulmate early on. It means I have more years ahead to cherish and experience the beauty of life with the one I love. Spending life half of our existence allowed us to discover the different phases of life together. From being students dreaming of a future career to working couples who were confused about what path to take, we have experienced the highs and lows of a relationship. Until the time came when marriage discussions arose, I felt unprepared as I strived to fulfill my family obligations first. Thus, we agreed not to rush into this lifetime decision. However, life had other plans, and I realized that readiness is not something we can achieve entirely before embarking on a new chapter. Then the pandemic happened in 2020 and hit me with a big realization of how short life is, leaving me with the thought that the biggest regret we may have are the things that we will not be able to do. On December 25, 2021, I planned to propose to her in Siargao, but things went wrong when Typhoon Odette hit. I almost proposed to her that night amidst the chaos brought by the typhoon because I was afraid that something bad might happen to us, and I would lose the chance to ask her to be my lifetime partner, haha. I attempted to do it again on her birthday, January 03, 2022, in Malapascua Island, but we weren't able to proceed due to the bad weather. Finally, on February 27 of that same year, on the Island of Malapascua under a canopy of stars, with the serene beach as our witness, my heart fluttered like a hummingbird's wings as I couldn't utter the words I had longed to ask. Petrified, I searched the sky for a sign, silently asking for the right moment to propose. It appeared as though the universe heard me whisper, granting me the sight of shooting stars. When the third star appeared falling, I took the courage to pose the question, and I finally heard the most beautiful "YES" I could ever have, marking the beginning of our new chapter together. Truly, when something is meant to be, it will unfold naturally at the perfect time according to His plan. As we embark on this new journey, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for the adventures that lie ahead, knowing that together, we can conquer any storm.