strawberry-mango

[strawberry-mango]

2/3/23 Is Our Baseline Day

One day, we just decided to have our "monthsary" on February 3, 2023, because, Strawberry just finds the day amusing.

I obliged, because, why not? I find the date nice too.

But I made it clear that I still have to ask personally. Because personally, I really want to ask and be answered personally. That she is coming to Cebu in a few days more, I will ask her personally.

Technically, we are already a couple. But not yet officially.

The third of every month will be our day of celebration.

And we will always look back to 2/3/23 as the day it became us.

[strawberry-mango]

I Sent Her Flowers

Although long distance, there is always a way to express and show your love to the person who matters to you.

Last week, I sent Strawberry a bouquet of flowers.

Truth be told, I was threatened by her friend who asked her out (perhaps not romantically) for some coffee after work.

Though it would be the second time, still, the paranoia in me kicked in and thought of something to make her feel kilig so that when they'd be together later that afternoon, her thoughts and feelings would be on me.

Flowers.

Perhaps nothing more is grander than flowers to express my feelings toward her.

But how on earth when we are physically apart?

I searched immediately in FB with keywords, "Baguio City Flowers," and poof, it became KokoCrunch!, tadah, I found a page where they sell and deliver flowers within Baguio City.

I sent them instantly my order, gave the office address, paid through online wallet. I asked to have it delivered at 3 PM and, a card that said,

"Wag mo ko ipagpalit, cakes. LOL. [Mango]y" - with the actual intent of dissuading her from her high school friend who asked her out.

2:30 PM came. And still there was no word from the seller in FB. They promised to update me from time to time, but to no avail. So I just became paranoid checking the page. With just a few likes and followers and 0 reviews, I thought, I could've been scammed!

Then to my surprise, Strawberry messaged me showing a screenshot of her conversation with the deliveryman.

Alas, that was the moment I realized I wasn't really scammed.

I told her to receive it but she had to bring her car keys so that she could leave it immediately inside her car and wouldn't be teased by her workmates seeing the bouquet of flowers - to which she obliged.

And finally, she received the flowers I sent.

While she felt kilig, me either as the impromptu plan became a success.

Indeed, when you want to express your love and distance is standing in between the two of you, there will always be means and ways to do so, especially in this modern age.

Until now, I still feel the kilig remembering how I gave her flowers. Although I would have wanted to do it personally, the message remains the same.

Flowers for the one I love.

The very exact flowers I sent and received by Strawberry. For those who have partners in Baguio and La Trinidad who want to show some love, you can check this page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076173218325

Go ahead, say it with flowers.

[strawberry-mango]

Virtual Dates for LDRs

Let's face it, one of the perks of being in a relationship is you get to date your partners, share stories together, laugh together, eat together, watch movies together, hold hands, sweet kisses.

But what if, like Strawberry and I, what if you are into a long distance relationship?

We had, and are having, virtual dates ("v dates").

Thanks to modern technology, distance is no longer an issue to do dates. In this day and age where communicating to someone is one tap away, having dates with your special someone is but easy as 1-2-3.

SBx in VIBO Place, Cebu, will always be memorable being our supposed first v date. With the influx of people too, and a group of ladies being rude in sitting beside me without asking permission, I had to leave and proceeded to nearby BK.

November 26, 2022. This was our supposed first virtual date. However, it was but failure as 1) I failed to bring my powerbank, 2) I didn't bring earplugs.

Although we were able to communicate for a couple of minutes, still, we had to cut it off as the resources weren't enough. Signal on her end was an issue too.

January 7, 2023. Our second v-date was a bit unexpected. We just found ourselves heading to the mall, no plans at all, and we decided to watch the same movie - impromptu.

Curious why Nadine Lustre was awarded as the Best Actress for the film, Strawberry and I watched Deleter together. Although miles apart, I could feel that we really were having a date - minus holding hands, and popcorn all mine.

This afternoon, we will be heading to our third date.

I am excited, to be honest. And I also don't know why.

Perhaps, going into dates doesn't mean we really have to be physically together with the person.

Perhaps, date is synonymous with time. When you give time to someone, whether you are physically together, or you make use of technology to spend time for each other, it's the same thing. Love without time is not love at all.

Perhaps, this will be our way of life for what, for the next 3 years, or until we see each other for a couple of times.

But this, my friends, I tell you, as what Strawberry always says, "Pag gusto, may paraan."

[strawberry-mango]

We Both Came from Long-Term Relationshits

Eight years.

This is the exact years we had to endure (and/or enjoy) from our exes before finding ourselves in each others' arms.

Strawberry had an ex for eight years, so do I. When we met, we were fresh from each other's breakups (though mine was a fresh breakup from a 2-year relationship after the 8 year).

This is not a blog to talk about our exes.

This is a blog to express how moving on is part and parcel of a relationship, no matter the length of the relationship, and no matter how we've become so attached to the person.

Sometimes, we have to realize that letting go is the best decision we can ever take,

What we might be holding back from moving on are the memories, the dreams that have never been, and the promises that were broken.

We might have been thinking of plans from our exes about settling down and all those promises to forever.

However, one day, just one day, our partners just had to cut ties.

Whatever the reason - there is no point of holding on, when love is not anymore mutual.

We have to let go and let God.

My relationship with Strawberry, and both our relationships, actually, came at a time when we were both down - when we were clueless, eventually healing, from a love that we thought would endure forever.

Someone said, my boss actually, and it's the first time I knew of the term, that we are each other's "rebound."

According to Micaela Stein, "A rebound relationship is defined by being in a relationship based on a reaction to a previous relationship, where one or both members are still contending with issues raised by the past breakup."

This is true, that we both came from previous relationships. However, I would react to the part about us still contending from issues of the past breakup.

With the exchange of conversations I had with Strawberry, this has always been raised. There is just a plentiful and bucketful of whatifs.

What if we were just overwhelmed? What if we are still into our exes? What if there is no closure?

But the mere fact that we are talking about it openly is enough reason that we have moved on from the past.

The fact that I am writing this now is more than enough to openly discuss that we are ready for this relationship, and that whatever the painful experience we had, we are able to overcome it because we two are together in this story.

Perhaps that is the beauty of this rebound relationship when both of you came from heartaches. We can discuss something, we can relate to something, we can feel each other.

To our exes, I know Strawberry would agree, although I'm not and I will never speak in behalf of her, I want to thank you for teaching us lessons and giving us expectations - although broken promises sure are painful, you allowed us to grow by surviving the pains and aches you caused us.

Strawberry is a very good person. I really can't think of any reason why she was left. All I could think of (and Strawberry will get angry of this) is that she has everything a man could ever ask for.

She was his loss. But she is my gain.

To all those undergoing depression right now from failed relationships, especially those long-term ones, always remember that God has a story for you.

When one chapter closes, another one opens.

You just have to trust Him.

For God has two ways of answering:

Yes, it is for you.

No, He has better plans for you.

Let go and Let God.

Strawberry and I met at a time when we didn't expect for a(nother) relationship to blossom.

Who knows, it might be your story too?

Just trust the process.

[strawberry-mango]

How Did It All Start?

We both work in the government.

In the same agency.

In the same Bureau.

In the same project.

She, however, is in Baguio, while I am in Cebu.

We both started our career and stint in the agency in 2018. We were Job Order (JO) workers then. And we got our regular positions all at the same time in 2021. I am an IT Officer. She is an Engineer.

But discovering all these information just came in late, as we've known each other as acquaintances since time immemorial. Perhaps we've known each other by name, but for all those events that happened involving us, we never came into hi-hello terms.

We were, in other words, strangers but colleagues.

Then, October 2022 happened. The Global Blockchain Summit in Bataan happened.

As Luzon focals, they were asked to attend the event. I, as someone coming from the Visayas, was not originally invited but our boss in the region insisted that I should come with him, as a matter of sitting down and planning with an organization that is in charge for an event that we would be co-hosting the month that followed.

During that time, I was really alone, or felt really alone. Although thanks to Japs, from the Central Office, who was mingling with me when vacant, but most of the time, as one of the organizers, he had to leave to fulfill his duties.

As the only one coming from VisMin, I felt really isolated. My boss was also together with his fellow regional directors near the stage of the venue, so I was left (and had to be left) behind.

During the Governor's Night held at The Bunker in Balanga, I was calmly sitting in one of the tables when a group of strong independent women approached my table and, to their surprise that it was me, greeted me, "Sir Mango! Ikaw pala yan!"

Really felt they saw a celebrity that came into form. Just kidding.

We had a lot of chitchats, introductions of each other, but one person really caught my attention.

She was simple, silent, unbothered. When I saw her, I felt that I already knew her. There I confirmed her name, which I've been reading unconsciously during our meetings.

She is Strawberry.

One of our conversations was, "Meron nang flight Cebu-Baguio, kanina lang."

Indeed, this fresh news came earlier that day, where PAL will already service flights between Mactan Cebu International Airport and Loakan Airport.

I didn't think of it at first, but was that a sign for the universe to connect us? Really, on that very same night where we first conversed was that very same day where a Cebu-Baguio flight was birthed?

Further, I was eavesdropping the table's conversation and it seemed they were talking about engineering. She then said to one of her colleagues, that her ex took the same engineering major.

Aha. Ex. I have a chance.

Later that evening, when everyone seemed to be bored, the group decided to find a bar where we could sip some drinks. This is the first time we walked together, although in a group.

We found ourselves coming back to the hotel as all stores and bars seemed close, but one thing was for sure, I couldn't take my eyes off her. I wasn't feeling anything romantically, really, but my sight would always be on her especially when she was left walking behind.

This was the very first time I handed her Mango Balls from Cebu.

Another day passed and one afternoon we were given a free trip to Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar. It was very romantic, and okay, scary at the same time.

Together with my boss and another boss from Zamboanga, we were given a free tour with a tour guide, and to be honest, I didn't like the fact that we were separated as groups. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of her.

Was she my crush already? I wasn't really sure.

But she really caught my attention.

Moreso when the last dinner with the Mayor/Vice-Mayor happened in the same venue of The Bunker, we were seated beside each other. (Side note: I came to the venue earlier and I was really waiting for their group to arrive and I'd been transferring table to table just to catch them). And I would notice she would always tap me to ask some questions or converse over some matters.

Her taps, touches, perhaps triggered my love language: physical touch.

The day that followed was quite painful. Because I wanted to see her and bid goodbye, wow feeling close, but our schedule just didn't match.

I left Bataan/Luzon with quite a heavy heart, wanting to meet her again. Although my feelings at the time were uncertain, my urge to seeing her just came in more intense the days following.

[strawberry-mango]

Why These Fruits?

Why not Apple and Orange? Or Orange and Lemon?

Mango and Strawberry seems a new pair.

But the reason behind it is more than what you can think of.

We are on an LDR, and these fruits represent where we are residing at the moment.

She hails from Baguio City, a city known for its cool climate and tourist spots, and its moniker "the Summer Capital of the Philippines" stands by its name. With its almost-freezing temperature compared to most parts of the country, it is haven for strawberries to grow, and visitors leaving the mountain-top city would bring them home as pasalubong. In fact, Baguio City is synonymous with strawberries.

Meanwhile, I currently reside in Cebu City. Although I originally hail from Dumaguete City, three- to four-hour apart, separated by the Tañon Strait, the former, also known as "the Queen City of the South," has been my residence since 2018 for work. Visiting Cebu means taking home danggit, lechon Cebu, and otap, but what comes handy and less of a hassle is our dried mangoes.

Baguio and Cebu are estimated to be far from each other 476 miles (766 kms).

Nevertheless, as the proverb goes, "Distance means nothing when someone means everything" (Ivymae Potts), I will try my best to keep our relationship strong, for strawberry and mango also make a good pair.

Thus coining this blog's strawberry and mango: strawberry representing Baguio and her, and Mango representing, of course, Cebu and me.

***

Edit: Strawberry responded to this, her message goes:

There's something about the taste of strawberries and mangoes that just seems to go together so well. Perhaps it's the sweetness of the strawberries balanced against the tartness of the mango.

Or maybe it's their complementary colors, or their delicious flavor combination. Or maybe it's just that they represent love and happiness?

Whatever the reason, these fruits make the perfect pair, just like our love story which is also a great example of a perfect pairing- two people coming together to create something amazing

I couldn't agree more.

[strawberry-mango]

This Blog Is Not Food Related

Strawberry and mango.

Seems appetizing and a perfect pair for desserts for the sweet tooth.

Seems a good catchphrase for a blog too that intends to perhaps instruct its readers how to prepare food that will increase someone's gastronomic experience.

But it is neither a foodie blog nor a recipe-instructing medium for the readers' appetite.

This is, instead, a diary of two people whose love is blossoming amid a long-distance relationship (LDR) setup.

I am Mango. And this is my love affair with Strawberry.

This is a journey of two fruits, no, humans actually, and the joy, pain, and everything in between they share together as one, with the "challenge" of distance standing between the two of them.