This story is a kind of epic tale that will give you just the right amount of feels, in a five-minute read.
I lied.
The truth is, this story will give you all sorts of different feels – joy, suspense, warmth, hilarious heights of wickedness, and pure laughter out loud along the way.
If you are looking for a coming-of-age story of two extremely opposite individuals, and their long journey to finding true love, and keeping it alive, or something to satiate your romance cravings, read on.
Filled with lots of intimidating first encounters, harmless flirting (mostly from my side), awkward first dates, too many senseless fights, and enchanting moments of happily-ever-after, this story can make you yearn to read, and want more.
Don't tell me I didn't warn you.
Still writing the rest of our story
This scenario may seem like any other story. Finding the “perfect” partner, that someone meant for love, the one who is every bit worth the wait, and the person you’ve ever wanted, prayed for.
Does this look like one of those dramatic moments from your favorite movie or Wattpad story? So, it must be possible, right?
Just like any mortals do, I had a vision of ‘the one.’ But the perfect person is just that—a dream. Until that Friday afternoon in 2011, when he walked back into my life, and suddenly everything lighted up (yummy dopamine overdose anyone?).
I’d known Dom for ten years. We’d been together/dated for eight months and married for the last eight years. Oh, we survived the seventh-year itch!
Intimidating first encounter
My first encounter with my future love was very unromantic. None were the usual sparks, and birds singing the moment it happened (such a cliche, I know!).
He was on the other side of the table, looking dangerously, and intimidatingly handsome. I was 21 years old, fresh out of university, and a nervous wreck on my first job interview ever.
A somewhat complicated scenario. Simply put, I wasn’t into him.
It took less than a month for me to start liking him. He’s brilliant, usually just kept to himself, has this robust and mysterious aura around him, and is just so clueless about all those subtle “I like you hints” people send him. Something clicked, and I thought to myself, “Hmm, this is interesting.”
Harmless “flirtings”
Being my immediate supervisor, we worked together and saw each other every day. But we barely talked at all, apart from the occasional “yes” or “no.” Just like that, my one-sided “crushing” was hopeless.
I didn’t give up. I just thought maybe, just maybe, there's a slight chance for him to notice my unexceptional existence (lol). I told myself, “full steam ahead, Anna!”.
I had a great plan and made it unbelievably visible. I would dress up nicely on some days, and come to work earlier than usual to catch a glimpse of Dom sleeping (he loves to work so much he even sleeps in the office on some occasions!).
I would stare at him with those love-sick puppy eyes during our monthly meetings while working, of course. Who said you couldn’t do both?! I was ready to be noticed, yet, nothing. He wasn’t interested at all—my poor, dear 21-year-old heart. 😭😭😭
Somehow, we got a little closer (there was simply no escaping my charms!). Conversations and chats became longer and more frequent (about time!). We became more comfortable around each other.
Until that one beautiful day. I tried, but for some reason, we both cannot remember how it happened, or the context of that conversation. I remembered telling him this, “If I’m still single at the age of 30ish, I will just marry you.” His reply was, “how can you be sure that I will like you back?”. Big ouch!
We lost touch in 2004 when he left the organization.
Nerve-racking first dates
Fast forward to 2006; we met again. Dom invited me to watch a movie. I didn’t expect much. It was just a movie.
We sat next to each other, awkwardly the entire time. I had all the right feels. We were warming up to each other. We connected. Finally, the opening that I was waiting for. Then I freaked out! I guess I wasn’t quite there yet, and everything I felt then was just some sort of crushing that was not able to take off to something more, not, however, anyhow. I never heard from him again. No regrets.
Running 30ish then, I began to wonder if there is someone out there I could spend a lifetime together. I was ready to change my status from “I’m single and loving it” to “I’m ready to mingle and possibly settle down.” The answer was there the whole time, and the timing was perfect.
We reunited in September 2011 after he completed his studies in Germany. He visited me at work, and everything around us ceased to exist, except him. I could not stop smiling; I thought my face would crack. I knew he was going to be my love forever. I asked him if he still remembered the promise I made some years back. He did, grinning back at me. Love 2.0 reloaded!
What followed next were the purest, sweetest, and outside the box real first dates ever. Who doesn’t love playing house with someone you like? So, for one of our first dates, we toured several apartments in the city. Insanely quick, right?!
Dom met my parents in December and asked their “permission” about us moving in together. We didn’t hear the usual “We’re not comfortable with it,” or “What will people think” arguments. While they were not 100% solved with the idea, they didn’t reject it.
It was a short-lived romance, though. I was just kidding! I left Dom in January 2012 to complete my Master’s degree abroad. It was the longest four months of my life daydreaming about him, eagerly anticipating the next time I’ll get to see, and never leave him again.
No frills proposal and wedding
After completing the program in April, I went back to work like there’s no tomorrow. We were still living together, and the thought of getting married didn’t cross our minds yet.
One Saturday, bonding with my siblings, they asked us when we will get married out of the blue. Our answer was in three weeks. Just like that. No popping the question. No engagement ring. Nothing fancy.
Our wedding was one of the sweetest moments in our love story. It was an extraordinary celebration we created with some help from the ones we love. Our youngest Ron was in charge of souvenirs. Dom’s niblings took care of food and drinks. My sister-in-law Joy played photographer on us and helped create our playlist of wedding songs. My cousin Aizza prepared and handled the mini program. It was the simplest of things but had the loving, warm feelings, and moments all around. We were deliriously happy.
Looking back, I realized that what we had was not a wedding. It was a celebration of everything that was already good - our loving families, and the one that will soon come. It was perfect, and I couldn’t have wished for anything otherwise.
Our first year could have been worse, but with God…
The first 365 years of our life together was insanely difficult.
One question gave us the best chance of happiness ever after: “Do we see ourselves getting old, and happy with each other?”. Our answer was a big YES.
That was it. We started to communicate with each other. We talked about everything, with all honesty and openness. About all those awkward conversations, we have been putting off for far too long. We tried everything to make our relationship work and keep it all together.
We may have got off to a slow start, but I have no regrets with the journey we took to bring us to where we are today in our relationship. All those things led me right to Dom.
Got an "epic" love story to share? Please leave your comments below, and I will surely read them. Here's to love, in whatever form it takes or finds us.
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