The Best Night of My Life
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, let me tell you one of my favorite stories. The most romantic date. The best thought of gift anyone has given me.
It was Christmas 2002. A and I got together exactly a month before. We were both very happy and much in love as I was his first girlfriend and he was everything my ex, who I broke up with 3 months earlier, wasn't.
Two weeks before Christmas, A told me that his family is having a Christmas reunion in Mandarin Oriental Hotel so it's a pretty formal event. It would be my first time to meet his family and since I wanted to make a good impression, I prepared for it.
On the day of the event, I borrowed a black spaghetti strapped dress that fell just below my knees from my stepmom and wore my strappy sandals that never failed to make me feel sexy. I went to the salon and had my hair curled. I felt so beautiful, even better than my prom night! What was slightly ticking me off was that he was late. It was already 830 PM. So much for coming on time for a dinner affair and making a good impression in front of his entire clan!
When he got to my house, we took a few photos and his sister called him on his mobile. She asked him if he could pass by her apartment in Katipunan, QC to pick up the gifts for their relatives, which she forgot! I lived in Valle Verde at that time and a last minute trip to Katipunan would delay us even more! We'd never get to dinner. Then again, I knew I had no choice. When we got to the apartment, my boyfriend left me in the car to get the gifts. It was taking him quite a long time gathering them. I was surprised when he came down empty- handed. He told me he needed help carrying this one gift because it was huge and heavy. I was secretly annoyed because I had to climb three flights of stairs, lugging a huge, heavy box in my dress and high heels. I knew I just had to do it if I wanted to make it to the dinner.
Upon reaching his sister's apartment, he paused in front of the door and turned to me. He said, "I love you..." and I whispered the same words back to him and we kissed. Then he whispered, "But I think I love you more..." And then he pushed the door open and I gasped at the sight in front of me.
From the ceiling hung silver stars. On the floor were rose petals. On every corner were tea candles to light my path. In the background playing was the mixed CD he made of my favorite songs. By the window, the words "Merry Christmas, Cat" were strung and beneath that, a candlelit dinner for two were set. Yup, he cooked dinner with the help of his sister (actually, his sister cooked. He stirred the beef a little.) We barely touched our food. He was too nervous. I was too happy, too busy smiling from ear to ear to actually put something in my mouth and chew. He decided to bring in dessert and his gift for me. For dessert, he bought my all time favorite yet hard to find chocolates, Guylian's Belgian Pralines.
He brought out a red cardboard box and I was amazed because the lid was a picture of me. On the underside of the box was another picture and words and phrases that had meaning to both of us. And on the sides of the box were lines from a poem he wrote. It read:
(As you can see, the title of my blog, chocolate stars, came from this poem. I asked him one night when did he compose this poem and he said that it dawned on him one time, as he was walking towards me and I was standing there waiting for him with a smile on my face.)
I opened the box to find more of the Belgian pralines amongst star shaped candies. In the center of it was a heart shaped jewelry box. Inside lay a silver anklet and a bracelet made of silver stars linked together.
It was the most romantic Christmas, the most romantic date, and the best gift, I ever had.
As for the dinner affair and family reunion in Mandarin Hotel? There was none. He made it all up. :)
It was Christmas 2002. A and I got together exactly a month before. We were both very happy and much in love as I was his first girlfriend and he was everything my ex, who I broke up with 3 months earlier, wasn't.
Two weeks before Christmas, A told me that his family is having a Christmas reunion in Mandarin Oriental Hotel so it's a pretty formal event. It would be my first time to meet his family and since I wanted to make a good impression, I prepared for it.
On the day of the event, I borrowed a black spaghetti strapped dress that fell just below my knees from my stepmom and wore my strappy sandals that never failed to make me feel sexy. I went to the salon and had my hair curled. I felt so beautiful, even better than my prom night! What was slightly ticking me off was that he was late. It was already 830 PM. So much for coming on time for a dinner affair and making a good impression in front of his entire clan!
When he got to my house, we took a few photos and his sister called him on his mobile. She asked him if he could pass by her apartment in Katipunan, QC to pick up the gifts for their relatives, which she forgot! I lived in Valle Verde at that time and a last minute trip to Katipunan would delay us even more! We'd never get to dinner. Then again, I knew I had no choice. When we got to the apartment, my boyfriend left me in the car to get the gifts. It was taking him quite a long time gathering them. I was surprised when he came down empty- handed. He told me he needed help carrying this one gift because it was huge and heavy. I was secretly annoyed because I had to climb three flights of stairs, lugging a huge, heavy box in my dress and high heels. I knew I just had to do it if I wanted to make it to the dinner.
Upon reaching his sister's apartment, he paused in front of the door and turned to me. He said, "I love you..." and I whispered the same words back to him and we kissed. Then he whispered, "But I think I love you more..." And then he pushed the door open and I gasped at the sight in front of me.
From the ceiling hung silver stars. On the floor were rose petals. On every corner were tea candles to light my path. In the background playing was the mixed CD he made of my favorite songs. By the window, the words "Merry Christmas, Cat" were strung and beneath that, a candlelit dinner for two were set. Yup, he cooked dinner with the help of his sister (actually, his sister cooked. He stirred the beef a little.) We barely touched our food. He was too nervous. I was too happy, too busy smiling from ear to ear to actually put something in my mouth and chew. He decided to bring in dessert and his gift for me. For dessert, he bought my all time favorite yet hard to find chocolates, Guylian's Belgian Pralines.
He brought out a red cardboard box and I was amazed because the lid was a picture of me. On the underside of the box was another picture and words and phrases that had meaning to both of us. And on the sides of the box were lines from a poem he wrote. It read:
A shade of soft silence draws upon my lip
Closer, nearer, inch by inch, and tip by tip
You are there.
These are the nights stars become chocolates
That glimmer in your honeyed gaze
Or be it a star that takes your shape
In the brilliance of your countenance
And the radiance of your face.
You are.
And in this moment I pause,
Slowly, every time, every night, ever so simply,
Just to delight in the presence of such sweet divinity.
You.
(As you can see, the title of my blog, chocolate stars, came from this poem. I asked him one night when did he compose this poem and he said that it dawned on him one time, as he was walking towards me and I was standing there waiting for him with a smile on my face.)
I opened the box to find more of the Belgian pralines amongst star shaped candies. In the center of it was a heart shaped jewelry box. Inside lay a silver anklet and a bracelet made of silver stars linked together.
We were both so happy that we ended up slowdancing into the night. (Okay, that was cheesy!)
It was the most romantic Christmas, the most romantic date, and the best gift, I ever had.
As for the dinner affair and family reunion in Mandarin Hotel? There was none. He made it all up. :)
12 Comments:
OH.MY.GAWD.
Laglag panty, ikot bra. ahhahaha!
That was the sweetest, Cat. Waaayy sweet. Kinilig ako, promise.
awwww... how sweet of him! this story got me all teary eyed. :)
Shet kilig. AS IN.
Can we make Chips and A meet sometime. These kilig plans somewhat escaped us through the four years.
OH. MY. GAWD...OMG! OMG! OMG!
That has got to be the most sweetest Valentine's Day story I have read so far!!! (ok, so its not Valentine's Day, but still!)
I'm all teary-eyed, and I finally understand all those country-music songs! SO, so, so, sooooooo sweet! I'm telling you right now...you better hold on to that man, because a guy like him only comes once in a million years (and that coming from someone who knows how us guys act...)
Anyways, I hope you had a great Valentine's Day, and I hoped that you guys slow-danced the night away again (BTW, that part was not cheesy...just perfect)!
To All--> It's a scene straight out of a movie/ book, huh??? I couldn't believe it was happening to me. :)
DT--> Oh, don't worry! I'm holding on tightly!!! :)
kaya pala "reaching for chocolate stars." awww... how sweet!!!
that's the kind of story you really need to preserve in your poetic memory to tell all your children, your grandchildren, your children's children, your children's grandchildren etcetera...
btw, funny naman ni bunny!
"laglag panty, ikot bra" hahaha...
wow! how absolutely fabulous! a toast to you two!
oh my gosh. this is so romantic. my vote from anton's blog goes to this post! i'll repost it ha? thank u :) -andrea
Hi Andrea!
Thanks for the vote. :) I wasn't really after the prize. Just wanted to share my story. :) Please do share the link where you're reposting my story. :) Thanks!
hi cat,your story just reminded me of my man who have done a similar surprise like your's. because of me reading this, i cried and now push to reconcile with him, we had an argument last night and now i reminisce all his sacrifices and love. thanks girl =)
hey girl ang sweet naman... yan ang gusto na guy kakakilig! And btw congratulations ha hehehe!!!!!
awww what a beautiful love story!! enjoy west side story! :)
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