whirlwind romance

She was a friend of the bride. He was the brother of the groom.

They were strangers to each other until the day of the wedding. She found herself without a ride to Baguio, as her friend fell ill that day. He had the family car to himself, as he came to visit from the US and arrived just the day before (everyone in the family had already gone up by then). She gingerly agreed to ride with him, bereft of any other choice.

The first few minutes were awkward. They engaged in small talk, usually talking about the couple—the only people they had in common.

Pretty soon, even before they hit the expressway, they found more topics to talk about—their common interests, passions and experiences. Nothing had ever seemed so comfortable, she felt. It was a total meeting of souls. It felt as if they had known each other forever. Even if, just a few hours ago, they were unaware of each other’s existence.

They spent the entire 8-hour Baguio trip talking—about everything and anything under the sun. They made each other laugh, kept each other entertained and showed each other just what they’ve been missing their entire lives.

The wedding seemed the best place to cap it all off. Every corner screamed romance; everything celebrated love and all its wonders. It was the perfect venue to fall in love. And fall in love they did.

3 weeks later, he had to go. In those 3 weeks, they were inseparable. Now, they were about to be separated by oceans and seas after having been joined at the hip for almost 21 days…

He went back to the US; she stayed behind. Both resumed their old lives, though at the back of their minds, kept alive the memory of those fairy-tale 3 weeks…

A month later, he came back. On a surprise visit.

He came back with the sole intent of proposing to her. Be his wife, he said. I just know our lives are meant to be lived together.

She said yes. Nothing had ever felt more sure.

A year later, they’re about to join hands in marriage.

As she retells the story to me, I realize that these are stories that break even the most cynical of people, the most persistent of love’s detractors. When you’re meant to be, you’re meant to be. It matters not how long you’ve been together, or how many things you know of each other. Love is love is love. Time is but a factor. In her words, you just know.