Our Love Story

The stained-glass windows of the old church cast a kaleidoscope of colours across Merryll’s long face. She sat, a solitary figure amidst the echoing silence, her heart heavy with the weight of past hurts. Just then, a young man, Eder, stepped inside. He was a stranger to this town, a trainee lived from a very distant province, temporarily stationed nearby. His crisp uniform hinted at the paperwork he'd just finished to accomplish.

He noticed Merryll immediately, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Hesitantly, he approached. "Ma'am?," he began, his voice soft with concern, "Okay ka lang ba Ma'am?"

Merryll looked up, startled. She managed a weak nod, and put on a sweet smile. Eder, sensing her distress, simply stood beside her, offering a silent presence. After a while, Merryll began to speak, her voice soft as she recounted some old stories to him. Eder listened patiently, offering words of comfort and understanding. To lighten up the mood, he made her laugh by saying some good old jokes and stories.

A connection sparked between them in that unexpected moment, a shared humanity amidst the quiet sanctity of the church. Before leaving, they exchanged numbers and Facebook accounts, a promise to continue their conversation.

The following weeks were filled with late-night messages and stolen moments of conversation. Eder, despite the demands of his training, made time for Merryll, his words a balm to her self healing journey. He told her about his life in his distant province, where co-incidentally Merryll’s father also came from, his dreams and aspirations. She, in turn, shared her hopes and fears, her laughter slowly returning with each passing day.

Then came the day Daniel had to leave for further training, even farther away. He made her a promise, "I'll be back for your birthday, Merl. I promise."

The days that followed stretched into weeks, then months. Merryll clung to Eder’s promise, her phone always within reach, hoping for one of his surprise "take-life calls," as he playfully called them. She marked off the days on her calendar, each one bringing her closer to her birthday, and to the possibility of seeing Eder again.

Finally, her birthday arrived. Merryll woke up with a mix of hope and excitement. As the day goes on, patiently waiting for him, as he promised. Then, just as the sun began to set, a familiar figure appeared in front of her inside SM Legazpi. Eder, a duffle bag in his hand and a bag on his back, arrived safely from his training. He indeed had kept his promise.

He spent days with her and especially during Christmas, meeting her family, sharing stories and laughter. As he sat there, surrounded by her loved ones, Merryll knew that this was more than just a fleeting connection. This was the beginning of something special, something real. And as Eder took her hand, she knew, with a certainty that warmed her from the inside out, that this was the start of their forever.