A Friendship-Driven Love Affair

This is my entry to the Love Struck Writing Contest at Aboutmyrecovery.com, the award-winning blog of a fellow Filipina and mother that never ceases to inspire me.

I'll start my story with the statement, "Love is kind, patient and never jealous."

My love story is cliche and profound at the same time. I fell in love with a friend. Now, let me explain that further: We started out as lovers, then learned how to be friends during our 10-year relationship. We met in college at the University of the Philippines, and were brought together by our love for fantasy books and RPG.

Through the years, we drifted apart. Our dates, while meaningful, got fewer and fewer. A lot of people that we knew in college told us that our relationship is an institution, and that a sure sign that the world will probably end is if we ever really broke up. But looking back at our journey towards being a couple (permanently), I see the times when we were not together and marvel that we never really said our goodbyes. And in the end, we would always seek out each other when there's a blockbuster movie coming up.

Perhaps it's because not a single one of my other boyfriends could hold a candle to how he handles me during my lowest times (PMS included). No one has been more patient and more understanding when I wanted to vent about anything and everything. In return, I struggled and succeeded in improving my attitude... from insane-jealous b!tchiness to a rather edgy, yet very approachable partner. That he gave me the chance to change and improve time and time again made all the difference in the world.




A lovestruck moment occured recently. It was while I was preparing to go to the office one night. He asked me "Where are you really going?". Though taken aback at the rather paranoid tone, I answered calmly, "To the office. why ask that?"

He answered with an impish grin, "If you're only going to the office, why do you look so pretty and smell so good then?" His smile widened as he saw my expression change from indignant to somewhat taken aback (and very pleased) and then back to indignant. I grabbed a pillow and started hitting him with it, while saying "binobola mo ako!" ('you're flattering me!')

Flattery from him is very rare, but very significant. If he tells me I look pretty, he means it. It's a shame that I really needed to go to the office just then, because if I didn't, I'd probably reward his flattery with something more lingering than a soft kiss and a whispered "I'll wake you up when I come home".