iLove

[09:41 GMA-Kamuning]

It was a roller-coaster ride. 

I held on to the safety hand railings of the MRT as it sped its way to the next station. Using my other hand, I grabbed the hands of my beautiful girlfriend, Hanna Torres, but she pulled it back awkwardly. She bumped unto me as the train jerked and she held on to the sleeves of my jacket but quickly released her grip as if I was a hot potato. She looked at me sharply with total disgust and then rolled her eyes in complete frustration. I smiled. Deep inside me, I was dancing with joy and I was praising God. Those set of eyes never failed to set my heart on fire, I fell head-over-heels in love with her all over again. 

Yes, she was mad at me. For two days, she soaked me with all of her exasperation with me, that I was too busy to care for her, too preoccupied to talk to her, and at night, too sleepy to call her. She blamed it all on me, the games I play (Plant versus zombie is an addiction, sorry), the articles I write, the passion I have for my service, the work I do and the sleep I rarely have. And as I counted all the bad things she pointed out, I recalled the lessons I've learned in dealing with such arguments--girls always win. 

Gorgeous sons of God hear me out. Listen to what I believe in. You may cite your point, you may tell a girl your stand, you can even go to a lawyer for your defense but in a raging verbal war, believe me, girls always win. You can win a fist-fight with another man but you cannot win a verbal dispute with a girl. Why? Because you need to let them win. 

I'll tell you why.

I've realized that the fight isn't exactly about the work you do, the articles you write, or the games you play. She's not exactly mad at you because you're too busy, too lazy or too sleepy to care. Its actually about them missing you so badly! Look beyond the hate, read between the arguments and you'd see a sweet girl, dying to be with you, pointing out ever so clearly how she loves you and that you're important to her and that she needs you. Some guys fail to see that and ends up hurting both himself and the girl. Mistake. I thank God she's mad at me bacause I feel i'm still important to her. Thank God she still loves me for being angry with me. For me, it's always better that she's mad than not to be with her at all. At least, that's what I believe. 

That belief made me look at her with so much affection and love eventhough she looked like an angry cat ready to scratch her way out my face. That belief made me want to kiss her right there and then, in the busy, crowded MRT train that sunny Sunday morning.

I looked around. I caught some men looking at Krizia intently and I stared at them feeling over protective. They looked away. I looked back at Krizia. I melted. I blushed and she shrugged. I asked myself, "Man! Am I lucky or am I lucky?! Am I really with this lovely woman?!"

I stared at her. She glared at me. I stuck my tongue out just like what you'd do to make a baby smile. She looked away and sighed. I grabbed her face with both hands and tried forcing her to face me. She got her tongue out and I felt it touch my wrist. I quickly let go and wiped away the dampened part of my wrist with my handkerchief. We both laughed. 

I know. It's disgustingly sweet, but it's sweet nonetheless. God's love thrives in these kind sweetness and it makes me realize heaven really exists. At times like this, I feel God loving me, blessing me and I would not trade a million dollars for this precious few seconds with my lovely girlfriend. She will always be God's greatest blessing and we're on our way to the Feast to celebrate that eternal thanksgiving. Thank God I have Hanna for my girlfriend!

I again looked around. I saw an old couple just by the MRT door reading newspaper together. I saw another couple standing in front of them and then all of a sudden, I remembered all my friends who loved and got hurt loving, I remembered couples falling in love and breaking-up and I had this sudden urge to pray that our relationship may be as strong as those of the lovely old couple. A memory suddenly came into full view as I looked at the old couple. It was a memory of a good friend asking me, "how would you know if she's the one? How sure are you that you'd be together forever?" 

I remembered that friend going through a tough time with his girlfriend so he had all the right to ask me. At first, I was shocked and I found myself groping for the right words to say. I searched deep inside me and for a reason I didn't know, I blurted out, "I'm sure because I chose her to be the one."  

I used to believe in soulmates--the idea that there is that one perfect soul to complete you. And after all the teachings, all the lectures about love I've heard and read a thousand times over, I think I still do. The only difference is that I believe, God gave us soulmates ( and I emphasize the 'S' in the end), that we just need to choose who among all the God-given soulmates you'd be with. Our choices makes all the difference. And as I looked back at Krizia, away from the old couple, I murmured just below my breath, "I choose you, my love." I choose her because she's the best part of me. I choose her above all the soulmates God has prepared for me because, I love loving her. Make sense?

The overwhelming feeling overtook me. Suddenly, I didn't care if there are people looking at us, I didn't care if we're commiting a heinous crime, a serious case of PDA (Public Display of Affection). I again, grabbed her face, looked at her straight in the eyes and I kissed her in the forehead. "God, I love this girl!" I shouted in my mind and my heart exploded with love. In my stomach were butterflies munching on the remnants of the pancakes I ate that morning. She pushed me, looked at me and with a baby-like expression said, "Hmp! Hindi pa tayo bati!" I nearly laughed.

So how sure am I really? Simple. I'm sure because I made God the center of our relationship. We serve, we love, we praise God together. We shout to the world how great our God is and we pray for each other's needs. She's like my travel mate, my companion, as we journey through all the hardships of life and ultimately reach heaven together. For "Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?" (Amos 3:3). I don't think so! That's why we made heaven our goal.

I have faith that God will bless our relationship with everything He planned for us, as much as I have faith in Him. That simple. "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." (Mark 10:9). 

It was indeed a roller-coaster ride--fast, exciting, and fun. The kind that you'd be wanting to ride again once it's all over. God had the track planned carefully for us. The loops, the rising and the falling, the speed, the thrill, every tiny detail and I love Him for always giving me the best. And I think it's just fair to give Him only the best as I care, as I nurture this chance at love, this relationship I have with my girlfriend and through this, I give Him back His glory and supremely, make Him proud.

May God's love shower us with only the best things in our life,

Rex Van Carlo E. Mollo

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

P.S. Please pray for Hanna's family that they too may be blessed with at least a Sunday at the Feast very soon. For almost a year of service, Hanna never saw her family cheer for her in the audience. This poses a great problem for me and Hanna because for a non-Feast goer, our service is a complete waste of time.  I ask our loving PICC chorus family, my lovely CG mates and our friends to please pray for us as we invite Hanna's wonderful family to join us at the Feast. Thank you and God bless you.

P.S. To my gorgeous, loving and talented girlfriend Hanna Torres, happy 13th monthsary! I love you so much and thank you for the roller-coaster ride we're in.