Our Love Story

August 18, 2016 — a simple day that turned into something unforgettable. That was the day when fate made its move through a Facebook chat. I was in my 3rd year of college, busy with studies and dreams, while Jericho was already working as an automotive technician at MOTECH, Quezon City Branch. Who would have thought that a single online conversation would be the beginning of something so real and lasting?

Our love story began with late-night chats, endless conversations, and video calls that never seemed to end. We shared laughter, stories, and secrets. Slowly, without even realizing it, we were already falling in love with each other.

One day, Jericho told me he would be going home to Laguna and asked if we could finally meet in person. Nervous but excited, I said yes. I was with my friends at that time, but I made an excuse that I was going home early—when in truth, I was about to meet him.

As I waited, I bumped into my close Ate Elaine at the plaza of Sta. Cruz. We talked while I nervously anticipated Jericho’s arrival. I even told her, *“Natatakot ako makipagkita dahil uso dati ang manloloko.”* When Jericho finally arrived, Ate Elaine told him, *“Ingatan mo yan ha.”* Those words stayed with me.

Because I was still studying and afraid that my parents might not approve, we kept our date simple. We went to the newly opened CLA Mall. There, we shared siomai, sang our hearts out at videoke, and just enjoyed each other’s company. That simple date became so memorable—it wasn’t about the place or the food, but about the feeling of finally being with the person I had only seen through a screen.

Afterwards, Jericho brought me home. My mama had just woken up and was on a video call with my papa. Jericho, with so much respect, gave *mano* to my mama and told my papa that he wanted to ask permission—to court me. That moment, I knew, was the beginning of something true and beautiful.

And so, what started as a Facebook chat grew into a love story built on trust, respect, and sincerity.

Our story continued as every time Jericho went home to Laguna, he would always make time to see me. One time, he asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday, which is on November 16. I told him that I had never been to Enchanted Kingdom before and that it was my dream to go there.

When he came home to Laguna, he convinced me to go on a date with him, saying that he would take me to Enchanted Kingdom. He even went to our house to ask permission from my mama, and he talked to my papa through a video call, telling him that he would take me out on a date.

We were already on the bus, excited for the trip, when suddenly my mama called. She was with my aunts, and they told us to just come back home and have our date at Sunstar Mall instead. I got upset with Jericho and told him, “Then you! You just go home by yourself. We’re already so far.” But Jericho calmly replied, “If we don’t follow what your mama says, I might never be allowed to visit you again.”

I felt guilty after hearing that, so I just messaged my mama, telling her that we would just go to SM Calamba instead, and that after our date, we would go straight home.

After our date, our relationship grew deeper. For our second date, Jericho invited me to the Venice Grand Canal Mall in Taguig City on December 24, 2016. During that date, we couldn’t even finish all our stories about ourselves—we just had so much to share. From then on, every time he went home to Laguna, the day became meaningful because it meant we would see each other.

Most of our relationship revolved around chatting whenever we weren’t together. Then one day, he happily told me that soon we would be closer to each other because he was going to be transferred to MOTECH – Sta. Cruz Branch.

There were times when he would fetch me and walk me home whenever I came home late from school. Those small moments made me feel cared for and safe.

Then came my birthday again—November 16, 2017. By then, we were almost celebrating our first year together, so Jericho once again asked me out to Enchanted Kingdom. That time, he finally fulfilled my wish.

He knew my story—that my Papa had gone abroad when I was in my first year of college. Because of that, I often rejected suitors, telling myself that once I found someone who had the same qualities as my Papa, that would be the man I would choose for life. I always believed that if I entered into a relationship, it would be one meant to last forever.