When Jia's birthday came, I made sure that we were selfish. A lot of things were happening around us especially in our friends' lives but it was Jia's day and my focus was all on her. On Jia's special day, I decided to let the whole world know about us.
I stood there outside Jia's bedroom, checked what I was going to post one last time before doing it, then immediately knocked on the door.
Jia opened the door with a wide smile on her beautiful face.
"Happy birthday!" I greeted excitedly.
Jia put her arms around my neck and kissed me softly. I savored it as I put my arms around her waist.
"I love you so much, Melissa," I whispered as I gave her a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you, too, Isabel," she replied warmly.
"Regalo ko?" she asked as she moved back
I smirked.
"I am your gift," I said, continuing our tradition.
Instead of a playful response, Jia gave me a hard stare.
"Good. Because that's what I really want as your gift, Isabel. I want us to tell everyone that you're mine," her tone left no choice for discussion.
I almost wanted to feel bad that I kept her waiting for a while now. But for me, it was worth it. Jia and I spent a few more weeks with a quiet relationship which I was sure was about to change.
I smiled at Jia with a raised brow.
"Someone did not check her phone, obviously," I teased.
Well, truthfully, Jia wouldn't have had time to see what I posted since I knocked on her door soon after I posted it.
Confusion etched on Jia's face and she hurriedly went to her bed where her phone was. She sat down as she opened it.
I decided to sit on the floor across her as I watched her read my message on instagram. It was a single post with three photos of me and her on different occasions. The first one was a photo of us when we were teammates in Ateneo, the second one was a photo of us when we were just friends cuddled up with Boyfie, and the last one was a photo of me kissing her on the temple while we were hanging out in a park - quite similar to the one I posted of us in the beach after Jia signed off from the UAAP; except on this one, Jia also had her eyes closed and a peaceful smile was on her beautiful face.
_beadel On this day, God created the most beautiful person who came into my life. We've come a long way, Jia. I still remember you guiding me on my first year in Ateneo and all the years throughout. I haven't forgotten those days when you would always get mad at me for jumping with the setter's backset not knowing it wasn't necessary. It's still funny to me when I remember that time when I got a little bit scared because you shouted back at me when I called you for a set intensely. And to this day, I am still proud of those "bahala na" plays that we have and we still do now that we're teammates again. I remember that I used to dream of being your teammate again but now, it's a reality I'm living in. For that, I am thankful.
Being your teammate had always been and will always be amazing. But being your friend is even greater than that. Sure, there were years that we barely talked but when we did, it was still as easy as when we were in college. We've always had a low-maintenance kind of friendship. When the situation calls for it, you know you could come to me and I knew I could always rely on you. And through the years and the more years to come, that is one part of our relationship that I hope would never change.
Change, however, is inevitable. But in this case, I never expected this change to ever happen. I have never dreamed of it in my younger years. God knows I've never planned or wanted to be anything more than your best friend. I was content and happy to be a platonic constant in your life. But Julia Melissa, you made it so damn impossible not to fall in love with you. It was the scariest moment of my life when I realized I had fallen for you and I might just lose you because of the stupid feelings that I couldn't stop from growing. I must have done something heroic in my past life because God still blessed me with you returning my feelings. It was unbeliveable. It was surreal. The journey hasn't been easy but I still thank God everyday from the moment I wake up and right before I go to sleep that we are here. Together. Happy. In love. I am so in love with you, Melissa. And I would live everyday of my life making sure that you know that and ensuring that you won't regret being with me. I will treat you the way you deserve to be treated and even better. I promise.
