It wasn’t the perfect place. It wasn’t the perfect night. But I was with the perfect girl.
It was the usual Friday for her. She would be leaving for business trip so I told her I want to have dinner with her before she leaves. She had no idea what was going to happen that night.
Things to Buy
I left early that day from work. First, I bought a Compact Bible for her. I want her to bring it with her on her travel to Europe. Then, I went to a bookstore where I bought a travel guide to Paris. She wanted one and even asked me to mark the places I want her to visit when she is there. Lucky girl. And its her lucky night.
Then I went to the jewelry store to get the ring. After several months of looking, I was able to find the perfect ring for her. I know she wouldn’t allow me to buy such things. I know her to be practical when it comes to money. But after all those years we have been together, I want to give one for her.
Next was the school supplies. I bought a paper cutter and a double sided tape. Huh? What for?
First stop was to find a working area. I decided to stay at a Japanese fast food restaurant where there are a few people yet. I took out the travel book and the paper cutter. I opened thru the middle pages. Using the paper cutter, I cut thru a square in the middle of the page. I kept on making a square hole until it was deep and wide enough for the ring to fit in.
Finally, it was done. The hole was just perfect to place the ring. It was also placed somewhere in the middle so that she can still browse the first few pages and then a ring will suddenly be revealed. Neat. I place a double sided tape on one end to secure the ring once I place it there.
Now, to place the ring. So I was in this Japanese fastfood restaurant and a lot of people started to come in since it was almost dinner time. People from the office in Makati are out of the office and are taking an early dinner. Meaning, I can’t afford to let people see me slip a ring inside the book.
So I was thinking of a place where I can be alone and then take out the ring and place it inside the book. I was near the mall and remembered the perfect place to be alone… the comfort room.
I got out of the fast food and went to the nearest comfort room. I found a vacant cubicle and close it. Now the hardest part. I have never moved as slow as this in my entire life. In front of me was a toilet bowl with an automatic flush. I took the ring very slowly making sure it will not drop into the bowl. With the other hand, I took the book and opened to the page where the tape was. Then, I firmly secured the ring to the tape and kept the book. I went out of the comfort room with a feeling of success.
I went to Glorietta and Greenbelt and looked for a place where we can have dinner. I found this place where there are a few people only. Light were low. Food looks great. Nothing fancy. At least we can have this moment together.
I texted her where to meet me. It was disappointing to hear that she’d be late since there was an issue at work and she needs to attend to it. I asked when she’d be leaving, and she said she had no idea. What!!!??? I started to get hysterical. This is already Plan C and here comes another roadblock! Fate isn’t be playing around with me, isn’t he?
I just took a breath and hope that everything will go according to plan.
Dinner Time
I just kept walking around Greenbelt looking for a place to eat while waiting for her reply. Finally, she said she’s leaving the office and will be walking to Greenbelt to meet me. I just found a place to sit and waited for her to arrive.
Upon arrival she asked where we’d eat. She thought I wanted to eat at Cyma. It was just a few weeks ago when we planned to eat here but the place was closed due to the employees year-end party. I told her the place was crowded and you need to be listed first to get a seat. She insisted that we go there.
Little did she know that I don’t want a crowded place. I don’t want people to see me giving her the ring. I don’t want to dine at Cyma because there are plenty of people but she kept on insisting. Grrr… How can I tell her I don’t like the place without being obvious about my plans? I can’t make valid excuses without giving her a hint about the proposal.
So I acted like an irritated guy who is already hungry and who can’t wait to get a seat. I also pretended to be in a bad mood for her being late and she has to follow everything I say. It worked. Of course it will work since it also works for her when she does that. She just asked me where I would want to eat. We walked away from Cyma and I started guiding her to a place that have the right atmosphere.
Again, I have to pretend I haven’t seen the place it. It was in Spicy Fingers which is a few stalls away from Cyma. I have already checked the place, the food and, yes, the price. It was ok. The place is a bit dimmed. Soft music. Familiar Mediterranean and Asian food. Casual. No pressure. I got back to my acting again so that she would say yes with my suggestion on the place and food. It worked again.
We placed our orders right away. And while waiting for the food, we have a little chat and I pulled out the pocket bible as a gift for her and I wanted her to bring it on her business trip in Europe. She opened it and liked its handy size and funky pink leather cover. She started taking about how excited she was on her trip and that all of the necessary papers are ok. That was my cue to give her the travel book.
Will you…
I showed her the book. She got excited and wanted to grab it and view the pictures. Hey! Be careful. There’s a ring in there! I had to defend the book and pulled it away so that she can’t reach it yet. Then I asked her to calm down a bit and that we will browse through the pages together. The ring was placed in the middle and we can still browse the front pages. I opened the pages slowly for her. We would stop at the pictures of France and would point to her the places she would visit for me. She was concentrating on the pictures and still without any idea on what’s going to happen.
We paused on browsing when the food came. We started eating and finished it up. In a few more minutes, I am about to pop the question.
After the table had been cleared, we talked again and browsed the book. I placed a marker on one of the pages of the book as a reminder that I’m almost close to where the ring was placed. Any page further and I would spoil the suspense.
We reached the page marker. I immediately closed the book. She stared at me blankly. I gave her a hug, made a silent prayer, and whispered to her that I love her.
She whispered back, “I love you, too.”
Then I opened the book. And there it was — the ring!
Her face was still blank. I took a few moments to look at her face. Then, I hold her close and whispered to her again. “Will you marry me?”
She said yes.
I took the ring from the book, took her hand, and slipped the ring to her finger. It fits.
It was a perfect night for both of us. We stayed for a while to start a little planning especially on how to tell our parents and everybody else. We had a glass of wine to celebrate and listen to the band play a few songs.
That was it. After being in love with each other for 10 years (now going on 11), I finally had the courage to propose to her. And this night. is a night to start the rest of our lives being together.
February 1, 2008
Daddy’s Note: This article was originally posted at my personal blog at Manokan Express.
