Mendiola... A traffic congested thoroughfare in Manila, full of happy memories. I was a 3rd year college 'hunk' at San Beda and Bennette was a graduating 'lass' at Holy Spirit. No, it wasn't a love at first sight (well at least not for me!) in fact we started-off as friends. We were both Management majors and our school orgs had some joint activities. She became a close friend of Ritchie then she invited our class to their rest house in Baguio (north of Manila) for the sem break of '91. Being the bestfriend that I am, Ritchie naturally wanted me to come along. I still remember me telling them that's I'll be the happiest person in the world if they'll go on steady. That time in Baguio was when I got to know Bennette real well. Chit-chats, talking and laughing the night away, sight seeings then one thing led to another, yadda... yadda... yadda... well let me put it this way, we went up to Baguio with me seated alone while the two of them were chatting in the bus the whole time (six hours tops!). Then, we went down with Ritchie seated alone. You got the picture?!

I knew then that she had a BIG crush on me when she began visiting our campus more often just to see me. I was 'committed' to someone else that time (and Benz knew that!) so I wasn't lovey-dovey with her so that she wouldn't get the wrong impression. But being the flirt that I am, I'd accompany her home and would even call her almost every night (and our house didn't have a phone then!). Heck, I was with her more often than I was seeing my girlfriend then! Obviously, Benz got confused. Really confused! Me?!! I was okey! You get used to these things you know?! (ha!) Anyway, we really clicked together. She showered me with Bart Simpsons' stuff (she was not wooing me, mind you! she just knew that I am collecting Simpsons stuffs). She'd even called me overseas at my friend's house when she was abroad. I didn't know what was with me back then, we aren't ON but I wanted to be with her everyday. It was so weird. In Valentine '92 I gave my real girlfriend roses but I gave Bennette a bagful of Coca-Cola goodies which were gathered with a LOT of effort. But here's the kicker: I told her that flowers are for girlfriends!! Her gay friends at Beda were pushing me to her but the more they push, the more I resent. I can still remember a time when we played a trick on our friends and fooled them (and ourselves!). We told them we are 'on' na. We called it the 'mock-steady' and we pulled it off and decieved quite a number people. Ahhh... the best of both worlds! I just went with the flow. At the campus, we were together, but after class, I would go pick-up my legit' girlfriend. I didn't know Bennette was hurting then. She's been taking everything seriously until one day, BOOM! She decided she's hurting too much and she have to get over me. Me?!! What did I do now?!!

OK, she left me. She's more with her gay friends and new sets of friends (NSF) than with me and my friends. Then it hit me...

Finally, I figured that I had to take a stand and tell my girlfriend (my ex and not Bennette, stupid!) we're not for each other (don't feel bad, she's happily married-with-children for years now!). On Bennette and her friend Michelle's grad party, (that's March '92) I finally told her how I felt. Needless to say, she answered yes!

Now you're asking why 1-0-2-6?!! Well we felt we really started then. We both knew at the very beginning that we're for each other, loud and clear. We started playing our parts before I could blurt out 'THE' dialogue...

WAIT!!! Below is a Sci-fi story, for fiction fanatics...



Finally here is my version of what really happened six years back... read on and judge who's telling the truth : )
Ok so we did met thru our respective school organization, we did have a fun party (I can't even remember him then so definitely NOT a love at first sight for me too ). Because the party was just a short one I was requested to do a repeat, this time a longer one, thus the Baguio trip. We (John, Ritchie & I) went ahead of the group to Baguio because they had to attend the college chorale's seminar there after a few days. Being the good host that I am I entertained them pretty well (hey how was I suppose to know that he was slowly getting addicted with my company?). Well, the three of us had so much fun, got to know each other pretty well, more so of John since I already knew Ritchie before the trip through common friends. Well, to sum it up that Baguio trip really changed my life. I met and became really close to the other group that followed us there since John & Ritchie had to attend the chorale's seminar most of the following days a few blocks away (John stayed with the chorale group and was supposed to be with them the whole time, but like I told you he was getting addicted to my company ... he would come over to our place to take baths, eat breakfast and brush teeth EVERY morning... mighty addicted huh?). On the way back to Manila, things suddenly changed (duh! not just with the seating arrangement) the friendship went deep, we started going out often as a group. Ok ok I will admit I did find John very interesting BUT ONLY if he admits to making sure my interest doesn't falter (regular phone calls, night outs, subtle sweet stuff that he does). The friendship that we all shared was unique (since the Baguio trip the group became four with the addition of their new friend Red, whom they met and became close to during their chorale seminar). Friends around San Beda was baffled as to who I am linked to since John is the least affectionate of the three. My closer friends knew there's this special friendship I share with John but nobody would believe that it was really just plain friendship. Though deep down I knew that what John & I had was no simple common friendship, I also knew equally well that he is kinda committed to somebody else.
Not really minding the status quo, we went on along with the situation and continued having fun, sharing dreams, making more memories until one day I knew I am falling hard for him... knowing this would lead to something disastrous and painful I slowly detached myself and stayed more with the other Bedan friends I have, as I was having the time of my life (of course I missed him but please don't dare tell him, if you do he would really be impossible to live with). Then wham! bang! He suddenly sang a different tune... I honestly didn't know if I was glad he finally took a stand or sad as I was already happy and enjoying myself with my NSF. Well, ok I admit I did love him too much then to resist him... shhh that's another secret ok? : )

That was how everything started. The relationship went thru a lot of more colorful stories but that's it for now : )

Okay...okay, let's cut it out and just click here to get a version that's mutually acceptable to us. whew!

Now that you've taken a side already, it's just about time to open the door to either of our personal page. Be on the right track and don't be left out!

(note: one of these sites' NOT worth visiting yet! guess...)

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Love Story