Love and Resilience

A New Memory of Forever

Jovana’s POV

Serena survived. After everything she went through, after every sleepless night, every whispered prayer, she survived. Watching her now, healthy, happy, and full of life again, I feel like I’ve finally saved someone—like in some way, I’ve saved my mom through her. The guilt and fear I carried for years, the feeling that I couldn’t do anything to stop my mom from slipping away, all of it has been replaced with the quiet joy of seeing the woman I love win her fight. All my fears... they’ve been washed away with every day Serena lives and laughs.

Months have passed since then, and life has never been better. We’ve spent so much time together—celebrating Christmas under twinkling lights, exchanging gifts, and whispering sweet nothings to each other. New Year’s Eve was unforgettable. We stood on a rooftop, watching fireworks burst against the night sky. Serena hugged me tightly, her chin resting on my shoulder, and I knew then that this was what happiness felt like. Pure, unfiltered happiness. It’s in these moments that I realize I don’t want anything else in this world. All I need is her.

Today, though, is different. Today, I’m taking a leap of faith.

After finishing my duty at the hospital, I head straight to the mall, my heart thumping with excitement. I’ve been thinking about this day for weeks now. I’m going to buy a ring. *A ring for Serena.* The thought makes me giddy. My hand is shaking just imagining her reaction when I propose tonight.

As I wander through the mall, my eyes dart from store to store, looking for something perfect. I need a ring that isn’t flashy or over the top. Serena has never been into extravagant things. She’s always preferred simplicity, elegance in its most understated form. And then I see it—a small jewelry shop with a display that catches my eye. The ring is sitting there in a velvet box, a simple band with a tiny diamond embedded in the center. It’s timeless, just like her.

“This is it, kaya mo 'to Jovana. Kaya mo” I whisper to myself, smiling. I step inside, buy the ring, and while I’m at it, I pick up a bouquet of pink tulips her favorite flowers. With everything in hand, I head home to freshen up and prepare for the night.

I can barely contain my excitement when I text her:

*“Meet me at the rooftop of our café tonight. Let’s have a little date.”*

She replies almost instantly: *“Sounds perfect. I’ll see you there.”*

She has no idea.

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Later that night, I arrive at the café early, making sure everything is set. The rooftop is dimly lit, with fairy lights twinkling around the edges, casting a warm glow over the space. The air is cool, and the sounds of the city below seem distant, as if this rooftop is its own little world. Our world.

I’m sitting at our usual table, the one by the railing with the best view of the skyline. My heart is racing as I keep fiddling with the ring box in my pocket, going over the words I’ve rehearsed in my head a hundred times. I want everything to be perfect.

Moments later, I see her. Serena walks onto the rooftop, her eyes scanning the area until they find me. She smiles, her whole face lighting up as she makes her way over. She looks stunning her hair loose and flowing, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She’s always had that effortless beauty that makes me fall in love with her a little more every day.

“Hey,” she greets me, leaning in for a quick kiss before sitting down. “You look nervous. Okay ka lang ba?”

I chuckle nervously, trying to hide how jittery I am. “Just... excited to see you.”

She raises an eyebrow but lets it slide, picking up the menu and glancing through it. We order our favorite dishes, the same ones we’ve had every time we come here. But tonight, I can’t focus on the food. My mind is too consumed by what I’m about to do.

We talk a little, like we always do. She tells me about her day, about a small victory at work, and I laugh, chiming in with stories from the hospital. But the words are mechanical; my mind keeps wandering to the ring in my pocket, the pink tulips sitting next to me, and the question I’m going to ask her.

After a while, I know it’s time. The food is barely touched, and the night is settling in around us, the city lights below glowing like stars on earth. I clear my throat, pushing my nerves aside, and pick up the bouquet of pink tulips, holding them out to her.

“These are for you,” I say softly, watching her face light up at the sight of the flowers.

She smiles, her eyes softening as she takes the tulips from me. “You always know how to pick the perfect flowers. They’re beautiful, Jo.”

I nod, swallowing hard. “May gusto pa akong ibigay sayo, Serena.”

She looks at me curiously, tilting her head. “What do you mean?”

I stand up slowly, walking around the table to stand in front of her. My heart is pounding in my chest, louder than I’ve ever heard it before. Serena’s eyes follow me, a mix of confusion and anticipation flashing in them.

"Serena," I start, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "I’ve been thinking about this moment for a long time.
Simula nung bumalik ka sa buhay ko, lahat ng pinagdaanan nating dalawa; isa lang ang alam ko at yun ay ayokong mabuhay ng wala ka sa tabi ko. Hindi ko kakayanin pag nawala ka pa sakin.”

Her eyes widen, her breath hitching as she realizes what’s happening.

“Dinala kita dito kasi,” I continue, my voice a little shaky but full of emotion, “kasi itong café na 'to.... dito tayo nag simula. Dito natin inumpisahan ang lahat, dito natin pinag-usapan yung mga pangarap natin at mga takot natin sa buhay, at dito mo rin ako iniwan.... Hindi ko sinabi sayo kung gaano ako nasaktan nung gabing yon. Pero naiintindihan ko na ginawa mo lang yon dahil natatakot ka at gusto mo akong protektahan. And I love you even more for that.”

Serena’s eyes are filling with tears, her hands clutching the bouquet tightly.

“But now,” I say, my voice strong, “Gusto kong palitan ng bagong alaala 'tong café na 'to, gusto kong burahin yung gabing nasaktan tayo pareho. Gusto kong palitan yon ng saya, Serena.”

With trembling hands, I reach into my pocket and pull out the small red box. I hear her gasp as I kneel down in front of her, holding the ring up between us. Tears spill over her cheeks as she looks down at me, her lips quivering.

"Serena Alayna Suvillan," I say, my voice thick with emotion, "you are the love of my life. You’ve been my strength, my heart, and my home. I want to spend forever with you—through the good and the bad, the highs and the lows. I want to wake up next to you every day and fall asleep holding you every night. So… will you marry me?"

For a moment, time seems to stand still. The world fades away, and it’s just us, just me on my knees, hoping with all my heart that she’ll say yes.

Serena’s lips tremble as she nods, tears streaming down her face. “Yes, Jo,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “Yes, a thousand times yes.”

I slip the ring onto her finger, and she pulls me up into her arms, holding me close as she sobs softly into my shoulder. I feel her heart racing against mine, and I know—this is it. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

“I love you, Serena,” I whisper into her hair, holding her as tightly as I can. “I love you so much.”

She pulls back just enough to look at me, her tear-filled eyes shining. “I love you too, Jo. More than you’ll ever know.”

We kiss, and the world around us melts away. It’s just us—Serena and me, together, writing the next chapter of our story. One filled with love, hope, and a promise of forever.

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