The Scrapbook

On our second month together - 5 years ago, Nimmy gave me this very personalized card. To my surprise, it was some sort of a mixed-media journal, a scrapbook. 

Front Page

Inside 

Backpage

Looking back from our very humble beginnings as partners, I can't help but be proud of what we have become now. You see, when you've come from numerous failed relationships, you can really feel how blessed you are when you find someone who can really catch you, through thick and thin, through sickness or in health and so on. 

Let me tell you a story. 

When I was kid, I used to draw. I'm no hardcore artist, but I'm a master of tracing. Tracing is easy. You just need a piece of bond paper, put it above a picture from comics or any book, and trace it using a pencil. I started that way, until I tried sketching faces. 

If you remember Justin from Queer as Folk, he's a teenager who fell in love with Brian. He's an artist and he sketches pictures of, well, what else, men. Imagine me as Justin. Justin who lived during a time when internet was not a fad, have to find ways to stimulate his eyes. Mine was a far-cry Hentai, but I love to draw faces of men. And yes, I drew a face of someone I will fall in love with. Albeit, I never saved any copies of my drawings. 

During that time, I already know that I will meet someone I will fall in love with. I'm a sucker for romance. I love to fall in love - hence I've cultivated a need for me to be in relationships. 

Being a prayerful person, I've asked Him, to give me a person that will fall for me in unison. 

Although I felt it was not right to fall for the same guy, I felt however that love comes from Him and it needs to be shared. I never stopped loving and it became my hobby. 

When Nimmy was brought in to my life, I am 100% sure that he's a blessing. 

He's like a soulmate. Everything just falls into place. 

When I dreamt that someone will give me flowers, Nimmy on my first month gave me a dozen of red roses. When I wished for someone to give me love letters, I got a scrapbook on our second month. 

Now I stopped asking those cheesy things from the movies. Because I was really blessed to have found one true love. Each day, you wake up knowing that there's this person who loves you truly. That this person doesn't need to do much effort. Because his presence -  his life, have become your life too. 

Never a day when we fail to have our "i love you" exchanges. We never get tired of saying that for 5 years and 2 months of being together. 

We never stop smiling at each other

We never stop laughing

We never stop caring

We never stop showing concern

We never stop fighting until we go back and say I love you

We never stop giving

And most of all

We never stop praying together

Our relationship has been through leaps and bounds, and to tell you honestly, if I'm asked what's our greatest fight or roadblock, I really can't remember. I think our biggest secret is that we move forward so quickly. We're good pairs for a racing team. 

To end this entry, I think the biggest lesson I have for love is that you never stop dreaming and wanting that special someone. Your soulmate is out there, you'll never know. Also, keeping in a relationship is a conscious effort. 

Laugh and enjoy together. That's the ultimate secret.