The first time I met Maine I was mesmerized. She was the most beautiful girl I've ever met. We were introduced by a common friend and we instantly clicked. It was like she was the female version of me and I loved that about her. As cheesy as it might sound, for me it was love at first sight. The moment I saw her, I knew that she was the woman I wanted to marry. However, I did not have the privilege of doing so right away.
We exchanged numbers and I would text her jokes every night, hoping to make her laugh and smile. I sent her good morning and good night messages as well.
At that time, however, I didn't know she had a boyfriend,. His name was Jake.
I respected their relationship but I still wanted to be friends with her. So I still continued with my daily routine with her. I sent coffee to her desk at random times of the day. I made sure that I went to every weekly lunch get together. I did the best I could to make her feel how special she was to me.
She meant everything to me. She was my world.
But I was not hers.
The first time I saw Maine cry, I vowed that I would do my best to make sure that she would never cry again. Seeing Maine cry was my kryptonite. It was like a knife was stabbing me in the chest. I wanted to take all her pain away.
It was just a typical Monday, around twelve o'clock in the afternoon and we were having weekly lunch get together.
Maine started to tear up all of a sudden, her grip on the fork becoming tighter. I asked her what was wrong as I sat closer and offered my handkerchief.
She pointed to the other side of the restaurant and when I turned my head, I saw her boyfriend, kissing another woman. I was horrified by Jake's actions. How could he do that to someone like Maine? If I was him, I would shower Maine with so much love and never let her go. At that moment, I wanted to punch him until he could never walk again. But I knew that I had to take care of Maine first, so I immediately took Maine's hand and took her as far away as possible from that douchebag. I took her to my secret sanctuary:a small treehouse by the beach.
With tears still flowing down her cheeks, she took me by surprise and gave me a hug. At that moment, I wanted to stop the time. I wished that we could stay in each other's arms forever.
I remember telling her how beautiful she was and that she deserved someone better. Someone as genuinely amazing inside and out, like her, should be showered with nothing but love and affection.
Few months after their breakup, I gradually saw the old Maine come back. The bubbly and charming woman that I fell in love with. Ever since that one afternoon, Maine and I became even closer. It was completely platonic, well at least for Maine But not for me. Still she became my best-friend and I became hers.
One night I told her how I truly felt for her. We were sitting by the beach, looking at the stars and I said, Maine, alam mo, hirap na akong itago ito sa sarili ko. Nag-try din ako na balewalain na lang ang nararamdaman ko. Pero hindi ko na talaga kaya, Meng. Gusto kita. Gustong gusto. Alam ko na magkaibigan tayo, pero can't you give me a chance? To become something... More?
She looked at me with her big, brown eyes and said, Chard, alam mo naman na I appreciate lahat ng ginagawa mo for me, diba? Pero di ko pa kasi kaya, eh. My last relationship, sobra akong nasira. Parang pinunit yung puso ko into so many pieces. I need more time to heal. Kailangan ko munang mabuo mag-isa bago ako pumasok sa panibagong relationship. I'm sorry. Sana maintindihan mo.
Her words truly broke my heart, but I promised her that I would wait patiently until she was ready and I did as I promised.
To be completely honest, I thought about staying away from her because I knew that she only saw me as a friend, but I wanted more. Yet I could not find it in me to leave her. I decided that if it meant being by her side and seeing her happy, then I would take what I can get. Even if I was wishing deep inside that we could be more than just friends.
I continued to send her flowers, chocolates and random gifts. I remember one afternoon I got a text from her saying, Shoks! Nagpadala ka na naman ng chocolates! Ikaw talaga pinapataba mo ako! Nakakainis ka! I remember chuckling every time she tried to remain 'friendly' with me whenever I would do such things for her.
After a year of trying my best to make her feel how special she truly was, she finally said yes. On February 10th 2006, Nicomaine Dei Capilli Mendoza became my girlfriend. I felt like the luckiest man on earth. Patience truly does pay off.
Before Maine, I had my fair-share of relationships, but none came close to what we had. They say that friendship is a good foundation to a wonderful relationship, I'm a firm believer of that. We enjoyed the simple things life offered such as music, comic books, and movies. We, however, enjoyed simply being with each other the most.
Whenever it was her time of the month, she would call me up and ask me to bring ice cream and cuddle with her. She was extra sweet and cuddly whenever it was that time of the month. She would also always make me watch her favorite Nicholas Sparks movie, A Walk to Remember. I swear that woman knows every line in the movie.
She would be in tears and she would suddenly quote Landon Carter, Our love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it.
And then I would laugh, while she mock-punch me and I would silently thank God for giving me the chance at loving Maine.
Having my best-friend as my girlfriend was the best thing in the world. Whenever I needed someone to talk to, she was always there. I could talk to her about anything. There was no topic too ridiculous for us to discuss. Just talking to her brightens up my darkest days.
I can recall how much she loved to taunt me every time we would play with my PlayStation. I miss having someone to fight over the game controller with. A person to hug after a long day at work. Someone who knew me better than myself. I miss her.
During one of our movie nights, she fell asleep on my lap and I just stared at how beautiful she was. I remember thinking to myself, I know life wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows , but if I can spend every day of that with you, then I'd be very happy.
She was the first person to make me feel butterflies in my stomach. Whenever something good or bad happened, she was the one I wanted to tell first. The only one I was willing to share my secret sanctuary with. The person that could make me feel giddy yet nervous at the same time.
Only her.
