21 Minutes

Twenty-first

M: Just like every word that he [Jeron] gave, it came true. We graduated as champions.

And a lot more than that. Both of you won the championship in your final year, landed on elite club teams, became champions again, and now the two of you brought honor to the country through your respective sport. How does it feel?

J: Just... wow. What can I say? Sobrang blessed lang. I mean, these were all but dreams when we were younger. And now, realizing na na-experience namin lahat ng yon, sobrang grateful lang talaga. Ako, masasabi ko, I wouldn't have done it without the people who stood with me through and through. Of course, hindi mawawala doon si Mika.

M: Agree. (nods her head) Agree na di niya yon magagawa kung wala ako, joke! Joke lang! (laughs with Jeron) What I really want to say is -

J: No, no. Actually, hindi joke yon. (looks at Mika) We wouldn't know for sure, right? Malay mo nabaliw ako kung nakipag-break ka sa akin nung fifth year. (smiles)

M: Heh, baliw. Seriously though, everything na na-achieve namin, we owe it to the people who supported us. And siyempre thankful ako kay God kasi in-allow Niya na ma-experience namin 'to together.

Awww... Even in talking about their career, this sporty couple just never runs out of feels, right? #AthleteCoupleGoals

You've known and been with each other for so long. Can you share something your partner did that you'll never forget?

M: Hmmm, ang dami eh. Naks! (looks at Jeron) Seryoso, ang dami niyang ginawa for me. Ano na lang siguro... Hmm... Noong nag-propose siya sa akin. Yun. Hindi ko yun makakalimutan.

J: (grins widely) Bakit?

M: You really want to hear it 'no?

J: Of course. Minsan ka lang maging sweet in public eh. Lubusin ko na.

M: (laughs) Sira. Anyway, hindi ko kasi yon inexpect since ang bata pa namin. A lot of people do not know this but Jeron proposed to me only months after graduation. And as you know, last year lang kami kinasal so he and I were engaged for four years. Weird nga eh. Our parents knew about it [Jeron's proposal] and game naman sila. But they didn't want us to get married young.

J: Yeah. For them, ibang usapan na yung kasal. But they liked the idea na we're kind of locked in each other already. (chuckles)

M: Ang simple lang nung ginawa niya nun pero I really felt it. Alam mo yun, parang... ang lalim ng dating niya sa akin. And yung singsing na binigay niya sa akin noon, I found out through my friends na mahal siya. Hindi naman ako particular sa price pero kasi he bought it using his earnings when we were still student-athletes. Although lamang yung team nila sa amin, di naman sobrang nalalayo yung sponsorship namin so more or less, may idea ako sa natatanggap niya. And I think he really went overboard with the ring.

J: Kaya nga libre na lang yung venue na kinuha ko. (laughs)

M: Ah kaya pala. (laughs) Anyway, yun. Sobrang unforgettable yung night na yun for me.

How about you, Jeron? What's one thing Mika did for you that you'll never forget?

J: When she said yes to marrying me.

M: Mag-isip ka ng iba. That's cheating!

J: It's not! (laughs then turns serious) Kelan ako nag-cheat?

M: You tell me.

J: (stares at Mika) Never. No one ever will compare to you.