Paper Year

In the next series of blog posts, along with this one, I will take you to what went on during our anniversaries, or love birthdays, as we call it.

It was April 1, 2017, and we just had our first year together. To be honest, it was not really easy but, hey, it was very worth it. The honeymoon stage really felt like a honeymoon with love overflowing, while also adjusting to the new things that we learned about each other. 

Much like one year ago, we just had some misunderstanding before our first birthday. I had some personal flaws that she wanted me to rid, (which I still have as of writing and it's not something I should be proud of). We settled in and choose to stay with each other despite my wrongdoings, had our favorite, Burger King, and headed onto Ball Pit Manila in Makati City.

Ball Pit Manila logo from Facebook.com

Ball Pit Manila had already caught our attention even months before our birthday and we really wanted to come and see what had been going viral in social media. Ball Pit Manila had this pool of white plastic balls that you could drown yourself into. 

I made the reservations and when we went there, it met our expectations and we had a very good time feeling like a kid once again. As for me, I never experienced playing outdoors with neighbors, and other kids and that made the Ball Pit Manila moment a really enjoyable and memorable one since I don't really have a lot of memories playing happily and care-free with someone outside my family. I was happy that it had to be you, love.

Aside from the huge pool of balls, the murals and the ambiance of the place were really inviting. It had that innocent but very engaging feel to it. We also had the chance to play card games, and board games! The stay really made us feel like childhood friends turned classroom lovers.

After the events at Ball Pit Manila, we went on to a massage parlor called "Mont Albo Massage Hut" and had our first massage treatment together. Before the actual massaging, we were first scrubbed by the therapists. Then, the massaging that went on for about an hour really made us felt relaxed and free from all negative auras that could invade us. I just did not like it when they had to put massage oil between our fingers. That gave me a really irritating feeling. The finger massage did so, too. I kind of hated them.

Mont Albo Massage Hut logo from montalbomassage.com

However, I was with the love of my life so I just ignored everything and started to live in the moment. And I could feel that in that very moment, the presence of love was undoubtedly together with us. Forgotten was the earlier dispute.

Before going home, we went on to try a nearby "Sinangag Express" (a Tapsilogan) and it was good. Everything was going our way that night, and I could not be any happier. I bade her goodbye and kissed her in the forehead. Happy first birthday to us, love!

A paper may be thin, and easy to scratch on and be crumpled, however, it can still be straightened and fixed to pave way for a new chapter of love mixed with of happiness, and sadness.

Happy Anniversary

A 2018 Netflix movie called "Happy Anniversary" explored and gave us the story of a couple that was supposed to celebrate their third wedding anniversary. Sadly, it was not a happy one.

Official movie poster from imdb.com

Directed by Jared Stern, his directorial debut, "Happy Anniversary" opened up with the woman saying to her man that she was "not happy". For a person who has been having a long-term relationship with somebody, that has got to be shattering. No person who invested his or her love deeply would be happy after hearing those words. However, those words should not be taken away from couples. Those words should be said one way or another.

"Not happy" does not always mean "I want to get away from you, I want to leave you, I don't love you anymore." Sometimes, it only means "there is something wrong that should be fixed." Long-term relationships are messy, a crazy roller coaster ride with lots of bumps, curves, and ups and downs, but the thing that makes it worthwhile is this: You are in that roller coaster ride with that someone you love deeply sitting beside you and taking the challenges that come along in the ride with you. 

Personally, I have a lot to think about this very topic. Not that I am unsure with my love, but because I have numerous wrongdoings and shortcomings, I do not know if I am still worth her love.

I wanted her to change into the person that I wanted her to be - to be just as mature and to be the same person as I am. However, that thinking was wrong in all aspects. I should not be wanting her to change, I should just accept her as she was when I decided that I would court her and ask for a chance to love her. Here's what I just learned - both of us had our own shares of wrongdoings, shortcomings, and personal issues, among other flaws. I should not blame her for that and force her to change, and vice versa. Accepting that love could still be perfect despite the imperfections, that would be a clear sign of true love. Love would do the work eventually.

Another thing that I should be very sorry for, I wanted love to be convenient. However, love would never be convenient at all times. Love would be expressed and shown best when it would be inconvenient. When there would be hassle, stress, and irritations for you, and you would still go all the way just to show love to that person, that would be a clear sign that you truly love that person. 

I have broken most of the promises I made, however, as long as I have the time, I would try to replace those promises with legit actions to let you know I would still love you no matter what. 

Still, love is on its way. Love is still going to keep on loving you. I am sorry.

Happiness in a relationship is not forever because quarrels and misunderstandings are inevitable. Staying in a relationship is a decision you should make, just as happiness is a decision to look on the brighter side of things. Acceptance truly is the key.