
Chikahan na! I did not make an entry for the 1st WifeSpeaks’ MemoirMonday, then I found yesterday’s post about just as appropriate for the commitment kwento.
For my 1st official entry for Pinay wifey kwentuhan, here’s my chika in answer to the question:
What’s your marriage proposal story?
Over the phone. How’s that for a marriage proposal?
We had been dating about 2 years, a little on the serious side, but no solid commitments yet. We weren’t even calling ourselves (out loud, at least) boyfriend or girlfriend. We were young, we were enjoying each other’s company and we could talk deep thoughts just as easily as we could talk about everyday stuff. Why complicate things with “official” labels?
We were on one of our regular phone chats when at one point of laughing over something we were watching on tv, he turned silent and the mood shifted to somber. I don’t remember what we were talking about exactly but he started saying stuff about how he likes to analyze things a lot, really think things over, calculate whatever risks, and how he wouldn’t readily jump into a pool of water without knowing how deep it was. And I was all “ho-hummm… okay, meaning? … where did that come from?”
All of sudden he blurts out, “May, will you marry me?” A slight quiver of voice but strong and steady and sure nonetheless. From a guy who once declared he’d never marry.
Me? Said nothing. Well, I wanted to say yes. After dating that long, I really liked the guy. Yes, in a heartbeat! But I couldn’t say it because I was scared as hell. What in the world was he thinking, proposing like that! He was 26 then and I was only 22. Only! I was thinking, what if he wanted to get married tomorrow? I couldn’t do that.
My silence must have gone on longer than shock-factor necessary. Only when he said, “not now of course. In a few years” did I breathe a sigh of relief.
Even then, I didn’t answer him yet. I had to ask.
Q: You want to share your life with me? A: Yes. Definitely.
Q: So, it’s like… you want me to be your best friend? A: Best friend, yes.
And because I was trying to get some kilig out of the whole deal ~ you know, go all tingly and doe-eyed and just look plain silly,
Q: You want me to be the mother of your kids? A: No.
No? Kilig level down.
A: It’s OUR kids. I want you to be the mother of our kids.
Sigh. Laugh. Kilig level soaring!
Then he was all somber again. He said, “But I have nothing to give you. I have nothing but my heart and soul.”
Teary-eyed. That was everything I needed to hear. I said yes.
It was hard to put the phone down after that. We talked a bit, but how do you end the most wonderful phone conversation ever? Eventually, we had to. It was nearing morning and our phones were on fire. When I hopped into bed, I was all giddy. I was engaged! His fiancee. Nice label. *heart*
This happened in the year 1999. We got married in 2003.