Love caught me "off guard" in the most unexpected way, and suddenly, you were everywhere. At first, I didn't notice the way you smiled at me... but with each passing day, your presence became harder to ignore, and before I knew it, you had grown on me in ways I never thought possible. You'd show up, asking for help with things you didn't need help with, and I'd wonder what the real reason was. But in those moments, I started to see that it wasn't about getting things done – it was about spending time with me. Slowly, I began to see the pattern, and my heart started to notice the effort you were putting in, just to be with me. Your persistence turned into presence, and your presence turned into a part of me. Now, I couldn't imagine life without you by my side. You're the safe haven where I can be myself; the "partner in crime" who makes every moment unforgettable. As we start our journey towards forever, I vow to be your partner in every sense – in laughter, in tears, and in all the adventures that life has in store for us. Together, let's create a love story that's filled with patience, kindness, and understanding. Forever and always, my love.

Just as with all friendships, we begun by fanning the flames of “hello” & “hi”. And then we gradually grew fond of each other; exchanging experiences of each day, sharing our plans for the future and then going on to achieve individual and collective goals. It was a really a case of “finding love in a hopeless place” (yeah like that song! You know the one!). Though there were days when the silence between us felt heavier than words; moments when our doubts sat at the table, uninvited but present. But still—we fought. Not each other, but for each other. We learned to fan the flame instead of watching it fade. We chose belief. We chose patience. We chose us. It is rare to find someone that understands the shape of your soul; it is a beautiful feeling. And because she was so reserved, I enjoyed surprising her; I love the way she enjoys surprises, either with gifts, outings or birthday “paranran”. Most times I couldn’t wait to talk with her because like a rose she just revealed several layers of herself; every conversation with her felt like discovering another secret she did not even know she held. We eventually got engaged in 2025 and now staring down at forever, with my forever bestie and forever love. And in retrospect—I remain grateful for that quiet beginning; for that first “hello” ––for that beautiful, improbable, unstoppable flame.