2021 wasn't a good year for everyone. It brought drastic change to almost every aspect of human lives resulting to losses- homes, companions, and possessions.

Thankfully, that year brought not losses but unexpected joyful beginnings.

Amidst the loss of countless homes, we found a haven of warmth and affection.

Amidst the loss of beloved companions, we found an inseparable bound.

Amidst the loss of earthly possessions, we found the greatest gem.

Biste and I were colleagues in a private school year 2017-2018 where we first met each other. Syempre sa mga panahong yan, trabaho lang at walang personalan. He has his own life and I have mine too.

Years passed by, I accidentally bumped into him. Greeting each other politely like we used to but bid immediate good bye.

A year after, he sent a message greeting me well and asking few questions regarding teaching-related issues and of course I immediately responded. As time passed by, this conversation went well until Brigada Eskwela 2021 kick off where I ask for favor and he instantly responded.

Those years are nothing but conversational until October 2021 when he had his vacation and asked me what I wanted as a present and I didn’t ask for anything.

It was hot midday when he gave me the presents, baker’s hill brownies and cupcakes, and asked me to go out. However, since it was pandemic, closure of establishments was evident in the town. Luckily, Ciao by Sundowners was open so we opted to dine there. And that was the start!

Honestly speaking, pandemic is no joke. But it opened new opportunities like Biste was granted a work-from-home setting while having schooling which was set to online modality due to restrictions of face-to-face classes. It wasn’t easy but it was the start of our journey.

Due to closure of schools and restrictions of face-to-face classes, my work as well was moved to blended learning- mixed of modular distance learning and online distance learning. Ayan nan ga! Matchy matchy na kami na work from home.

We spent almost every day na magkasama. After work and schooling niya, he untiringly visits me at home. We usually dates at Tondol White Sand Beach and Bolinao Rock Formation where we always dine at Ciao and Badak’s Resto.

We spent three years of dating together. Accepting one’s profession isn’t that easy for he works in military and is serving in Puerto Princesa, Palawan while I teach here in public school Anda, Pangasinan. Kailangan mong tanggapin na hindi ka niya laging mauuwian at hindi ka niya laging masasamahan sa mga importanteng events ng buhay dahil nga nasa malayo siya. Pero hindi ito hadlang para tanggapin siya sa kung ano man siya at mahalin siya kahit malayo kayo sa isa’t isa. Ito pa nga yung magsisilbing tulay para mas maging matibay ang relasyon na binubuo niyo.

Syempre, hindi naman namin palalampasin ang araw ng mga puso where we had a very romantic date by the pool accompanied by fine dining and romantic acoustic band. Sobrang memorable to!

He silently proposed to me December 31, 2022 and let me safe-keep the engagement ring. However due to uncontrollable circumstances brought by my father’s illness, the engagement was not publicized even to our families. There is no perfect relationship sabi nga nila. Hindi magiging matatag ang relasyon kung walang pagsubok. We are not exempted to those challenges of course and a number of trials tested us as well. But by God’s grace, we keep on choosing each other and continuously helping each grow in the best version of ourselves.

Until January 15, 2024 when Biste proposed finally and officially!

The story of us truly defines what Long Distance Relationship means. Each video call was a precious jewel, a stolen moment from our busy lives. We shared mundane details – the taste of Biste’s morning coffee, the sound of Pangasinan rain on Joy's window – transforming the ordinary into extraordinary tokens of our connection. We dreamt of shared breakfasts, of spontaneous weekend trips, of a life woven together, not just stitched together by pixels and late-night calls.