In Her Memory

Jade Dionisio Tanchingco

"Jade, please will you marry me?"

That was David, my childhood friend turn boyfriend asking my hand for marriage. We're not in some romantic place like how I fantasized it to be we were in the humble abode of my office cubicle. We weren't surrounded by grand arrangements of exquisite flowers we were surrounded by people working or should I say waiting for 5:00 pm so they can go home. There was no orchestra playing a sweet melody or at least a romantic music the only sound I hear was the low buzz of people walking passed us, the low voices answering phone calls and there was no banner of some sort with the words I wanted to see instead I am only holding a long folder with printed words of "Will you marry me" made maybe through power point that was forced to look romantic.

I was shocked. I was disappointed. Not only because he proposed to me but also because I don't feel special by the way he forced things to be. I was tired from the whole day of standing in front of the photocopier and answering phone calls and then he's going to just barge in on me and ask for me to marry him through a folder? who do you think I am David?! Am i not worthy of something planned or of something with the least bit of effort?! I was screaming in my head.

"David, tumayo ka jan, dali tayo."

"Bakit Jade? Ayaw mo bang magpakasal sakin? May iba ba?"

"David no, it's just that magpapakasal palang sila ahya Gab at Pearl, it would be bad luck. And walang iba ano ka ba you're the only guy in my life..." I said while biting my nails trying to hide a lie. I didn't wait for his answer and just walked out on him. I was feeling frustrated and tired and un-loved I just couldn't take it.

Wait this thing happened 20 years ago. Sorry I don't mean to sound rude by the way I am Jade Dionisio Tangchingco the youngest and the only daughter of the Tanchingco family who owns the JLT group of companies. I was considered the gem of the family, the favorite, the spoiled heiress of some sort. I grew up getting everything and anything I wanted so you shouldn't blame for being the way I am. So let me tell you about the story of my one true and undying love right from the start.

I was raised in the family of strict principles and traditions so at a very young age we were taught how to behave like a Tanchingco, how to act like Tanchingco, how to talk and think like a Tanchingco; which mainly consist of everything about our good reputation to be taken cared of and considered golden. All in all it was a pretty extravagant and prosperous childhood. Angkong John my grandfather got it all figured out here in the Philippines, He started JLT group of companies together with my dearest Ama Cecilia. It was solely a story from nothing to everything. They have three sons, Uncle George a priest, Uncle Lucky, the playboy COO of JLT and the youngest my Dada, Oscar the CEO.

At the early stages of my parent's marriage they were banished by Angkong because Dada married my Mama a filipina. But the elders' lack of having a daughter was what mama thought she could solve so she prayed with all her might to give birth to a baby girl though their first and second try resulted to my ahya Gab and dihya Paul they know the wait was so worth it when they finally have me. The elders accepted my family upon learning that I was born and my Dada reclaimed his position as JLT's CEO again and everybody was happy.

I am now a 24 year old business management graduate of Ateneo, and I was just coming home from my trip in London, you know heiress' stuffs I travel when I get bored and since I don't have a job yet or should I say i don't have plans of having one in the near future yet I left for Europe. Not only to feed my hunger for travel and exploration but also to give my Dihya Paul some time and space. I know he still hasn't find it in his heart to forgive me about the incident before I left. But now I hope we could reconcile since we were so close to each other when we were younger.

I came home not only for Ahya Gab and Pearl's wedding, reconciling with Dihya Paul or missing my whole family I also come home because I missed David. My childhood friend turned long term boyfriend. We were actually paired at a very young age because they said our union would result to good luck and us being an official couple back in high school sealed the deal that made our families even happier not only for us but our families' businesses as well. But don't get me wrong, I do love David he's like a brother to me, he's smart, handsome, dependable and he's my guy best friend so I love him, even if I don't feel any spark when I look into those deep charcoal eyes and I don't feel any wave or even a tinge of electricity when he holds my hand or put his arms around me but then I let it roll, maybe I'll find that spark when we get married someday. I really do hope that I would. But then at the mean time I am hoping he won't propose to me yet. I know it's very confusing I know I love him but what i don't know is that if the level of my love for him would survive until marriage.