like a version

We watched “I Love You, Man” over the weekend, and this quote from the movie struck a wistful chord with me: "You've dated a lot of women; what makes you think that she's The One you want to marry?” 

I've had my fair share of boyfriends, each different from the next, but they all had one or all three superficial commonalities: tall, in the IT industry, and named David. Coincidences, I promise. When Dave and I first met, I nicknamed him D3 to avoid confusing my friends, who were losing track of the Davids in my life. Dave jokes that his biggest fear is the arrival of D4, as I trade him in for an upgrade. But honestly, D3 isn’t just another version. Apart from sharing a name, occupation, and height with my previous boyfriends, the similarities end there. For starters, Dave is my first  Christian boyfriend, a detail that makes a world of difference in the dating game, where nobody gets to score. 

Generally, couples are best friends by default. Ours is a special case because I was given the best friend role before the girlfriend title. He once said to me, “Sweetie, you’re nobody’s default best friend.” After almost 2.5 years, I'm still as giddy as I was on our first date. I tell him everything, from my Christian struggles, uni stress, and neuroses, to mosquito bites, shopping purchases, and lame sushi jokes. He is my best friend, my confidant, navigation system, foot warmer, a closet comedian with bizarre metaphors, and the greatest boyfriend in the world. 

I appreciate all the grand gestures and especially the little things he does. He naturally, subtly walks on the side of the traffic. He always saves the best part of every dish for me, carefully shells my crab claws, and discreetly places them in my bowl. Chivalry is not only alive and kicking but also incredibly hot. But most of all, he makes me feel safe and protected. Even right now, with a thousand walls between us, I still feel like he is beside me. All the time.

happy chap

3 years ago, I was nostalgic and stuck in the past.

Today, I look forward to the future.

It's amazing how life can take a complete turn in an amount of 3 years. So much and not much has changed. I got to spend my birthday eve and the first couple of hours with someone I love. Who would have thought that the new friend who showed up early on my 24th birthday to wish me a happy birthday and give me a gift would now be my loving boyfriend??

It only gets better with age!

gold sprinkles

There once was a social butterfly, but now she has found her nectar.

Big parties, busy ambience, crowded bars. What used to be exciting is now exhausting. Nowadays, I find pleasure in being with one particular person and still having a blast. I love the quality time we have together. After an exquisite date in the city, we curl up at home and talk about everything.

These cozy moments often go unnoticed, but they're the foundation of any strong relationship. Being able to enjoy each other in every way gives me assurance that we can do this for the next 60 years of our lives. After two years as a couple, the spark is still there, but the nervousness and anxiety have been replaced with silent familiarity and a security blanket that tucks us in every night. These moments leave an afterglow sprinkled with gold, proving how blessed I am to have met that one in a million with whom I connect. I sometimes forget this when things go wrong because we're human and make mistakes.

Nevertheless, this rare connection that we have makes all the heartaches and tears worthwhile. No one is perfect, and in between learning our differences and life's interruptions, that connection is sometimes lost in translation, even with the most patient boyfriend. I get annoyed at times, my mood swings hitting any bystander, who is usually him, faithfully standing by my side. I erupt at the slightest sign of trouble, often without sufficient ground. Thankfully, these little golden moments remind me to look at the big picture.