Never give up the relationship you built, no matter how hard the trials are, no matter how you fight each other, because love is greater than all of these.

~Quetzal

2012-present

We started our love relationship in 2012 of October. It happened when I decided to go on training at Negros Occidental Language Information and Technology Center in Bacolod (NOLITC). I was a scholar by former Gov. Alfredo Marañon and so he was. That training was a Finishing Course for Call Center Agent NCII. We started in August though it was good for a hundred of hours only, we took more than a month due to some Australians who came to teach us Australian accent. We ended our training in the first week of October as far as I can remember.

It was the first day of training, everyone came so early due to excitement. We were gathered in one room, there was a given task for all of us. We must compare ourself to a thing, draw it and explain in front of the crowd why did we choose that thing. After of random people taking their drawing in front and explained it, it came my turn. I chose a pen, after all it was my favorite thing, after a brief explanation I told them a famous quote which I believe in it, that.. “Pen is mightier than sword”. While I was explaining in front, I saw him at the back sitting while having a conversation with another guy beside him. I thought that he was kinda cute. (stupid flirt) 😂

Once I was done, I went back to my sit, I was in the middle. It was Abi’s turn, our gay teammate who had a crush on this guy too. After Abi, it was his turn, he didn’t draw a thing, it was an image which was half angel and half evil for sure you already knew what it means. A fact that humans have that kind of nature, every good person has his own beast deep within him, and not all bad are quite evil. He was remarkable amongst of us for having such mind, a thought of mine.

Our batch was divided into three teams, and I did not expect that we will be in one team. After that day, it was like a normal day, but everytime we were together I felt a bit of admiration for him. I don’t know until now if he really did notice me before those days. His friend, our teammate as well, had a crush on me, and that guy was always talking to him about me. They were in one group, since I was in a different group, my companions were always the three good guys (since we were living in one place, that’s why).

Since I love this kind of training I did excel very well and that made me lead the team. Whenever I got problems his guy friend who became my admirer always comforts me. That guy wasn’t my type, I did tell him, but still he insisted to keep admiring me and so we just became good friends. The training was nigh to end. One night we rode on a bus, we used to go home late. We were sitting at the back, Abi was sitting right next to him when he/she called me and said, “Hey Romnia, Jomil likes you daw.. coz I did asked him, Is there someone you like from our team? and he point you out. I hate you ‘coz he likes you not me.” he/she said. I was a bit flattered and shy at the same time, everyone heard that, maybe not everyone but most of our teammates and even the other people there.

The next day was a bit awkward for me, I didn’t know on his part. Then we went home together again with some of our teammates too, we were just living in the same city. I was too sleepy, I was sitting at the back end of the bus, that was a higher seat than the rest, and he was in front of me. I leant my head down at the back of his seat due to sleepiness. I put my hand forward crossing their shoulders. I felt that he took my hand, and turned my palm, he touched it, caressed it, then he put my hand on Katrina’s shoulder (our teammate, she was a bit older than us) and he put his face on my palm. (me: What in the world did just happen?! For real?! pretending to be sleeping yet I was no longer sleepy, damn electricity in my veins!).

After awhile of that moment, he took his phone out and he took pictures of me sleeping at the back (me: What the heck are you doing!? Still pretending to be asleep)

When we arrived I just pretended nothing happened, and that I was truly sleeping, he woke me up telling me we arrived at the bus station. (good actress, witchy laugh, but damn I got arm cramps)

Lets make it short, month of October was about to end, I got a job, and so he was. He already started to text me, he confessed his feelings and that he was willing to wait if I am not ready to be in a relationship once again. I was touched, he made a promise, he will wait he said. A promise that no matter what, it will not be broken he said. There were other promises, that I thought it would be hard for him once he knew my past, but he kept his promises. (me: he’s really remarkable, one of a kind). We dated whenever we got same offs.

We were working in different BPO companies, one night (night shift) I was on break at the third floor of our office when someone called me out that he was outside the building, at the ground floor paying a visit with his colleagues which actually some of our teammates as well. We met at the ground floor I did not expect even our friends that, he would kissed my cheeks and hugged me tightly, when they saw his act they thought “oh maybe a friendly kiss and hug” well they didn’t know what was happening, and after a few minutes he left, but then again just another sweet kiss from him. (me: what a sweet surprise, I like that.. hahaha)

There was another night, it was our night off, and we spent time together outside their office, staring at the moon and stars (like the old romantic days of our ancestors, haha). We bought ice cream, and we sat on a plant box’s edge. It had thought of something, so I did ask him, just what if, “what if we’re not meant to be together forever?”. (I did turn my back away from him) I was shocked to his response, he cried so much just all of a sudden, I regretted why did I ask him that. (stupid me) I had a hard time comforting him, explaining that question was just a what if.. 😟 He said he don’t want us to be apart.

Now, we’ve been in this relationship for almost 8 years (Oct. 28). We had fights, love issues-jealousy (‘coz sometimes I am his headache)✌️, misunderstanding, etc. but then, we’re still here. Now we have a son that really looks like him.

In love relationship, we are building trust, faith, learning to listen even if our hearts are in broken pieces. We learn to forgive even if it’s too painful, intense quarrels are tests in a relationship, yet despite all of these we chose to stay together, because of love, because our love is stronger than pride, stronger than our problems, believing each other that we can be a better version of ourselves. Whenever we find faults, we talked about it, find solutions, we hear things from each other, we give space when needed. We wanted to live together ’til our hair whitens.

Never give up, ‘coz when you give up, regret might find you in the end.

Yours truly,

~Quetzal