To be Married!

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the rock of a promise

Yesterday I went to Anilao under the pre-text of guiding 10 divers underwater. I had to force him to drive me all the way, cause I couldn’t handle the long drive. (takes him 3 hours, it’ll probably take me 4 or 5..)I put up with the uncomfortably touchy Korean boys, who felt it necessary to touch my hand or arm or shoulders or back of my neck every time Elmer’s back was turned. I waited for the Italian guest to show up for the intro-dive sessions, but he didn’t. I watched my friend Elmer talk him into an intro-dive (he’s claustrophobic, he’s scared of the big -more than a foot long- reef fish, the ocean is dark..). We took him to Twin Rocks-Barge (surprise surprise! and the pretty fish scared him to frozen wide-eyed bits). We saw dolphins pass by the front of Elmer’s house. (A rare sight! I think this was the world’s way of adding magic to the weekend!!) We had a family dinner with Elmer, Ate Melinda, Martin, Maye, Julio, and Virgil. We talked about Virgil’s love gone sour. We went to bed early. I thought I was going to Mapating the next morning. I was a little worried about taking him to the Cathedral. I sidled up to him before falling asleep. Yesterday.

Today I woke up a bit late for the dive. We left for Cathedral at 7:30 instead of 6:30. He backrolled into the water like he’s done it many times before. We went to the cross to feed the fish. I gave him the piece of squishy bread. I noticed the loose fin strap and started fixing it for him. The fish terrified him and he passed the lump to Elmer, and the blanket of fish parted. He turned around and grabbed my hand. I thought he had a problem. But when I looked into his mask the wide-eyed look was gone. I was met with a smile. He pulled my hand towards the stone. We touched it. Both of us. He thrust a small slate into my hands. In his handwriting, there it was. “nee will you marry me?!” I was confused, even as I had no reason to be. I looked around, but I didn’t see anyone or anything, not the fish, not Virgil, not Elmer, just a whole lot of water. The two of us in the deep blue sea. As I stared at his words, he pulled out the ring. There was a ring! I lived with him for more than a year and yet I never saw it coming. We’ve talked about it in passing but it was always done in jest. But there it was. I said yes without saying a word. He slipped the ring onto my finger. He pulled out his reg and we kissed. I can’t believe we kissed! And I never tasted the salty water. I just felt his mouth, the softness of it and how real it was. I was weightless. The bells we’re ringing. (In reality, it was Elmer with his Mares shaker.) Everything after that passed me by in a blur.

Today, I am engaged to be married! Engaged! Me! For real. It is certainly not a dream. The ring is on my finger and the rock shines like no other object I have held in sight. I can’t believe he got me to say yes! I never did think we had it in us. Never. Neither did I think for one moment, that we would have an official date to celebrate, like an anniversary. We’ve been together for over three years (this is what he tells people) and to date, I have no idea what month it all began.

I can’t believe we are to be wed. And soon! My sister asked me if I was sure about all this. I said no. I am not sure. I don’t know if this will work. What I am sure of is that, I am willing to try. If only to see if we could outlast time. If only to show him how much I love him.

I decided to take the plunge and that is that.

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Filed under Engagement, Love?, Marriage Proposal, Relationships, SCUBA Diving, Underwater Marriage Proposal