Love Next Door

16 - White Dress

MIKA

It's a beautiful day, in a particular, strange way.

This morning at church, two of our leaders announced some great news.

They're getting married.

We're witnesses to how their love grew from being workmates to being friends to being lovers.

"God's love comes in many different forms. You don't have to look for it. It will find you. Kaya yung love is blind? Hindi totoo yun. Being in one team, nakita namin ni Anne kung paano kami when plans are not met, when too many ideas collide... kapag inaabot kami ng gabi sa meeting at pagod na kaming lahat. She saw kung paano ako ma-frustrate, mainis, magalit... At hindi niya tinolerate yon. She corrected me, yet did not condemn me. She knows my fears, and she helps me overcome them. Love sees clearly, but chooses to keep no record of weaknesses. It always trusts, hopes, and perseveres.", Kuya John shared.

The whole community couldn't be any happier for them.

Ako kaya... Will I find myself in that kind of love, too?

Lord, Kayo pa rin po over anyone else. But if I could just pray for a man who would love me close to the way You do... Na kung magkamali man ako... Tutulungan, hihintayin niya akong maitama ko yun, kahit gaano pa katagal. At ganun din ang gagawin ko sa kanya.

After the service, I met with Ara for lunch since doon niya rin ibinigay yung pass for King Archer's exhibit which she promised me.

Sayang lang na hindi niya ako masasamahan dahil uuwi siya sa pamilya niya sa Pampanga.

Today's exhibit will be held in UP Diliman. Kaya naman kagabi pa lang, I already made a research on how to get there.

The weather was fair... And windy, I must say. Siguro kung bata lang ako, malamang kinulit ko na si Papa na samahan akong magpalipad ng saranggola.

Sadly, I haven't even seen him for a long time.

Staring at the Commonwealth avenue, I realized how busy life has become for me. Too busy to the extent that family became a faraway memory...

How different this life would be if I chose to follow what my parents wanted?

Malamang, kasal na ako ngayon.

But other than that, wala na akong mabuong conclusion.

The thought made me heave a deep sigh.

Galing Philcoa, sumakay ako ng jeep papasok ng campus.

I kept my gaze out of the window, trying to absorb the university's calm scenery.

Habang nakadungaw sa bintana ng jeep, nakita kong nagkukumpulan ang mga tao sa may Sunken Garden kaya naisipan kong pumara.

Bumaba ako at naglakad papunta sa oval, kasama ng mga taong nakatayo doon.

That's when I saw another magical moment happening.

In the center of Sunken Garden was a man on one knee, and a woman stood in front of him. Kahit malayo, nakita kong hawak ng lalaki ang isang maliit na kahon sa kanyang kanang kamay.

On one side of the garden, there was a grass-cut wedding proposal, forming the words "Will you marry me?"

Though we knew it was planned, it's as if nature was one with him in asking for his beloved's hand in marriage.