Galimgim

/14/ Not a Luck

"We did it. We finished our four-year course." 

At first, it felt impossible. The sleepless nights, the endless deadlines, the fear of failing---it was crushing. But somewhere along the way, we learned to endure. Or perhaps we simply had no choice but to rise to the challenge.

There were times I wanted to give up. But then there was Christian---always there when he could be, always putting my needs before his own. That was why I was careful not to burden him too much. He never complained, but I knew how much he was sacrificing.

The truth is, the struggles of being a student are nothing compared to what awaits us beyond the university walls. The future is unpredictable. And yet, Christian and I made it---we crossed the finish line. He graduated summa cum laude, while I graduated magna.

Our classmates would tease us: why not make it official, why not admit what everyone could already see? We only laughed it off.

But what mattered most wasn't the teasing or the accolades. It was the journey. Because when you finally reach the goal, you'll always ask, what's next? And yet, I realized that maybe the reason the whole journey had been so meaningful was because I walked it with him. 

My parents were proud of me. For once, I could finally say I made them proud. All the sleepless nights, the stress, the sacrifices---it all paid off. Christian and I received awards we never imagined we would. It felt surreal. 

But as they say, the real battle begins outside the classroom. And so, the two of us pushed forward, preparing for the Civil Engineering Licensure Exam. 

My parents already knew about Christian. To my surprise, they seemed to like him, maybe even trust him. I only ever introduced him as a friend, but they seemed closer than I expected. 

We rented an apartment in Cebu. Same unit, different rooms. I was so comfortable with him that even if we sat or lay side by side, it never felt wrong. Well... maybe I did  mind a little, but never enough to feel unsafe. With him, I was always at ease.

*

The months leading up to the exam were brutal. Sleepless nights became normal. We studied side by side, pushing through exhaustion. Christian insisted on cooking every meal. I offered to help, but he only ever made me sit and watch him, as if taking care of me was part of his own routine. 

Then the day we had been waiting for finally arrived---the board exam. My heart wouldn't stop racing. I thought if I had even one more cup of coffee, I might faint from the nerves.

But the exam itself? It wasn't as terrifying as I imagined. Our professors had trained us well, drilling us with problems that felt just like board exam questions. It was difficult, but it was also familiar. 

And so, I asked myself: should I rely on luck now? Was this all about luck? 

No. It wasn't luck. Not at all.

We passed. I ranked Top 9. Christian ranked Top 3. 

I was so proud of him. That was my man.

It wasn't luck that brought us here. It was discipline. Focus. The love for studying. The choice to keep going, even when it was hard. That's what carried us to the top.

Because of our ranking, companies started calling, offering us positions. In the end, we decided to work for the same firm. We promised each other that our relationship would never interfere with our work. If we happened to be assigned on the same project, we knew how to stay professional. In a way, this was another advantage of being with someone whose mindset aligned so closely with mine.

We weren't lucky. We just believed in ourselves. 

*

But real life is harsher than any classroom. 

At work, I failed countless times. I thought graduation would mean the end of my struggles---but it was only the beginning. This was the real world, and it demanded more than I thought I had.

I was grateful for Christian. He taught me what it meant to be a leader---how to guide people without losing myself, how to admit mistakes and still stand tall. His presence made me stronger.

We grew. We stumbled. We learned. But we knew we couldn't put our relationship first, not yet. We both needed time---to mature, to build ourselves, to find our place in the world.

And every time we thought we had learned enough, new challenges appeared. That's the thing about growth---it never ends. The more you know, the more you realize you don't.

Eventually, I became better at my work. I learned not to let emotions cloud my judgment. There were times Christian and I couldn't see each other as often, but we understood. We respected each other's dreams. Our love for work didn't diminish our love for each other---it strengthened it.

And finally, after years of being "just friends," we decided to stop denying what we already know. We were in love. There was no need for formal courtship. All the years he had spent by my side, helping me, caring for me---that was more than enough. That was love.

Our families accepted us wholeheartedly. They even admitted they thought we had been together all along. They trusted us to make our own decisions. 

I guess this was my reward---for being patient, for choosing growth first before love, for working hard for my dreams. 

I am so proud of myself. Proud of what I've achieved. Proud that I've found someone who makes me the happiest woman in the world. 

We are not lucky. 

We are simply what we chose to be.