Our love story began seventeen years ago. We were just sixteen, studying in the same school from elementary to high school. There may have been a few chance encounters, like a passing glance in the hallway or shared spaces we weren't even aware of, but we never really knew each other. It wasn’t until our third year in high school that we finally became classmates. Still, we barely spoke, just a two-line conversation, and nothing that hinted at what the future had in store for us.

A year later, on April 27, 2007, an unexpected message on Yahoo Messenger changed everything. That first hello, which Homer started and I entertained, sparked something instant and undeniable—like we had been friends for a long time. From that day, we’ve been having long conversations through chats and text messages; he even uses his mom’s phone whenever he runs out of unlimited text subscriptions. But it’s funny that whenever we bump into each other at school, we are like total strangers. Who would’ve thought that we were already building a world of our own outside school?

We began talking face-to-face after returning from the Christmas holidays. Homer would find little ways to be near me, showing up wherever I went and effortlessly blending into my circle of friends. In the evening of March 06, 2008, at our batchmate’s birthday party, he told me he wanted to talk in private. I don’t remember how we ended up in the pool, but there we were. Amid the quiet and chill of the night, he reached for my hand, looking at me, and said, “Mahal kita, Sarah.” I liked him too, but all I could say was, “Hindi ko alam sasabihin… Hindi pa ako ready.” It ended well, and we stayed for a little while, just the two of us, shivering under the night sky, carrying something new between us.

Since that night, Homer started becoming vocal about his feelings. He was even telling me that he wanted to marry me, that when we get older, he will ask to marry me. While for the rest of the school year, we simply enjoyed each other’s presence. We attended prom, had our first dance, and then came high school graduation. We both knew that things were about to change. With different universities ahead of us, there was a real chance we wouldn’t see each other again. We kept in touch. Our conversations didn’t stop, and without needing to say much, we both knew we wanted to be together. It was unspoken but mutual.

It was already summer, and what Homer didn’t know was that I also didn’t want this to end. I was already feeling something deeper, something I wasn’t quite ready to say out loud. I wanted to tell him how I felt, but at the same time, I was full of what-ifs. I am aware of how young we were, and I found myself quietly testing him, pushing him away, unsure of where this could lead, but hoping he’d hold on.

I was scared of getting into a relationship. I had made a promise to myself that I would only be in a romantic relationship after I finished my studies, and only if I was truly certain about the person. I wanted my first boyfriend to be the man I would eventually marry and spend the rest of my life with. I spent countless conversations with friends and even more with myself trying to make sense of what I was feeling. Love felt like both a promise and a risk. But eventually, I found the courage to take a chance on love—my first love. It took me a month to decide when the right time was, until one day Homer asked me again to go on a date.

On May 14, 2008, our second date, was the day I said I love him too. We went to Alabang Town Center. I wanted to talk to him inside a church, but it was closed. We transferred to a park under the giant tree where my mom said yes to my dad, but it was crowded. We transferred again to a different location, but guess where? We ended up sitting on the basement stairs of The Spa, and this confession happened so fast because we had a movie (Speed Racer) to catch in 30 minutes.

Inside the cinema, we weren’t able to focus on the movie because we were talking about what had just happened. We talked about our family, plans, and commitment to each other. We held hands for the first time. We promised each other our undying love. But sorry to disappoint, we didn’t kiss. That was reserved for another movie—The Incredible Hulk. 😁

Homer told me that there will be no goodbyes, we will give meaning to forever.

And for these two sixteen-year-olds, their journey had only just begun.

Homer and I never had any past relationships. We were each other’s firsts. And at seventeen, we braved what was ahead of us. In college, he studied near LRT Central Station, while I went to school near Vito Cruz. Every day, we would travel together, meeting at the terminal closest to home before heading off to our separate campuses.

Every day, he always waited for me, no matter how long my classes ran. My classmates got used to seeing him at the waiting shed in our school’s pergola, and they’d tease me whenever they spotted him there. While he waited, Homer would write me letters or create little handmade gifts, just whatever came to his mind. Sometimes, I would find these things randomly between my notebook and other stuff. His quiet presence and thoughtful gestures made even the most ordinary days feel special.

With regards to our families, he had already spoken to his mom about us and asked for her support. I, on the other hand, chose to keep our relationship a secret for the time being. I planned to tell my family after my first semester in college, hoping to show them that my studies wouldn’t be affected. But things didn’t go as planned. A relative happened to see us together on our way home and told my parents. That night, they asked if I already had a boyfriend, and I answered honestly: yes. My mom said she had suspected it because I had been talking about Homer so much. They asked if I could consider not being in a relationship during college, but I told them it would be really difficult for me. Hearing that, my mom turned to my dad and said, “Eh mahihirapan naman pala anak mo, o sige.”

Since then, we've shared many meaningful moments with each other's families. We go out to dinner, watch movies, take trips, and travel together. We exchange gifts, cook meals, and enjoy long conversations. Homer genuinely enjoys spending time with my family—he often asks, and sometimes insists, on being with us, especially during the Christmas holidays. While I cherish every moment spent with his family, it was always my favorite whenever we were with his mom, especially when she calls me Iha and introduces me to her friends as her daughter.

Our love story is woven through the simple joys we share—wine and cheese on cozy nights, cuddling up during our favorite movies, or playfully wrestling and tickling just to make each other laugh. We bond over everything from digital games to old-school board games, turning even quiet nights into lasting memories. Coffee dates, pizza and pasta dinners, ice cream cravings, and late-night ramen runs are part of our rhythm. Just like traveling together to new places, whether a beach, hotel, or resort, and trying foods we've never had before. But what we love most are the private moments—dancing when no one’s watching, singing exclusively for each other’s ears, and creating a world that’s completely ours, full of laughter, love, and endless connection.

We also often fight over petty things, and we have our own share of failures and transgressions. We grow together and have our own seasons of success and even pauses. There are times one of us is ahead of the other, but despite these situations, we are always beside each other. No one is moving forward alone, and no one is being left behind - always together.

We have been together for half of our lives, we grew up side by side, learning, evolving, and exploring life. Many might think that our relationship was smooth sailing, but it never was. We also experienced pain, heartbreak, loss, and grief. We pushed each other to our limits. We’ve seen the best and worst in each other. We even became our own enemies, fighting with each other, but always fighting for what we have. Ours was not only tested by time and security, but also with our shared values and beliefs, consistent compromise, acceptance of the good or bad, and never-ending forgiveness.

Every moment made us stronger, and every day we chose each other over and over again. These years taught us love isn’t perfect, but always worth it.

What began as an unexpected message on Yahoo Messenger eighteen years ago has blossomed into a lifetime of love, laughter, and unforgettable memories. After all the moments that shaped us, we took the next step — a promise to keep choosing each other, but this time, forever.

I am choosing him now, and I cannot make him wait anymore. This chapter of our narrative started not in the traditional way; it was a plan first, before there was a proposal.

On July 6, 2024, in the quiet room where I live alone and build my dreams, a different kind of dream began to take shape, not just mine, but ours. That night, we talked about our future, about getting married. It felt like we were planning something monumental, something we had both been waiting for so long. We brainstormed, set goals, and talked through what was possible. By the end of the night, we were filled with hope and happiness. We shared this “hopeful plan” with his brother and my sister, keeping it close but real. Quietly, I began to prepare and make inquiries. The high and joy of that “this is it” moment started to settle in, and I often found myself thinking, “Am I really doing this?” I wanted everything to be ready—so that when we revisited the conversation to finalize things, we’d already have a plan in place.

On May 14, 2025, our 17th anniversary, he proposed at El Jardin de Zaida in San Juan, Batangas. It was very intimate, spontaneous, and emotional. He had been planning to pop the question ever since we arrived at the resort, though there were a few close calls where I almost found out. After a dip in the pool, we headed back to our room. I showered first, and just as I was about to step out of the bathroom, as I opened the door, there he was—kneeling, holding out a ring. “Miel, will you marry me?” he asked.

At first, I didn’t know how to react. When something overwhelms me, I tend to panic—especially when I’m not sure how to process it. Then Homer gently nudged me: “Ano na sagot mo?” I smiled through the rush of emotions and said, “Syempre, Miel. Oo naman.” He gave a short, heartfelt speech—and before we knew it, we were both crying. We hugged each other long and tight. Afterwards, Homer took his turn in the shower while I was supposed to prepare the wine and charcuterie for our anniversary celebration. But I was completely on cloud nine. I couldn’t do anything except stare at the ring on my finger, replay the moment countless times in my head, and take it all in with so much gratitude and love. This time, it’s official. Homer ended our night together by saying, “Engaged na tayo. Fiance na tawag natin sa isa’t-isa”.

From the first message to this moment, thank you for every step.

To the journey we never planned but always cherished, to the love that keeps growing, no matter the time or place, and for the story that keeps unfolding most beautifully.

Here’s to us — to more love, laughter, and a lifetime of yes.
I’ll always choose you.
I’ll find you in any lifetime.