A love story by Alison Joseph...
I was the quiet withdrawn girl in university and he was the popular outspoken one. Somehow our paths crossed through friends and common lectures. We saw each other more often after that as he kept dropping by my hostel for coffee and food (good old cream crackers) I secretly had this crush, but I brushed it off, it was just a crush!! I always thought that he was way out of my reach.
He always made us all laugh at every outing, very outspoken and very manja. I used to peel prawns from him whenever we had them then and I still do it now! He was a well known brat among us friends, with his sad puppy eyes when he wanted something!! More often than not he got his way through that. It didn't work though when he wanted parts of my rented bike for his supped up bike. He is still sulking over it.
All through my growing up years, I was told that I should only get married to a man who was of the same ethnicity and religion. I strongly believed in that and eventually thought I'll succumb to an arranged marriage. It scared me. How do you live with someone you don't know? I hoped that somehow a miracle would change things. Friends came up with ”Criteria's To Date Alison“.
In 2004, we finished uni and went our separate ways. Completely lost touch but tucked in the corners of my mind. A year later Friendster was a huge hit and I eventually was part of it and started getting back in touch with long lost friends. Who do I go looking for? You guessed. Still can't seem to tell what made me do it. We got back in touch. He picked me up from work one day and we went for nasi lemak in bangsar.
Soon after that, we had a mini gathering; we met up in A&W, PJ. Terrence, Anesh, Scott and me. We took a ride in the limo which Scott conveniently brought, for some good Indian food. On that limo I was telling them how I was supposed to have dinner with a client from work in a few days when I really didn't want to go. All of a sudden Terrence says I'll go with you, I'll be your chaperone, your ”boyfriend“. I was quite surprised but more than happy!! 1st thing in the morning of the very next day I call up the client and told him how my ”boyfriend“ will be joining us. He canceled dinner. My problems were over. I eventually call Terrence and tell him that he doesn't have to play ”boyfriend“ anymore. He replied ”great! Than both of us can have dinner“ That was our 1st date TGIF, sect 14 PJ if I got the date right it was 28th October 2005.
After that dinner, he came by to pick me up after work very often for coffee, I swear we could have bought shares in Starbucks at the rate we going! Lots of coffees later, it was the great V-day celebration. I was hoping! Pick me! Call me! Take me out! And he did! We had dinner at our 1st date TGIF. But alas I was hoping for a kiss, he was hoping for a kiss. NOTHING HAPPENED!! He is still sulking over this too! He still says ”I can't believe you didn't kiss me!“ and I still say ”I can't believe you expected me to make the first move!“
Smses and calls were getting more frequent, and in one of it he asked if I would consider us in a relationship. I was delirious about the proposal scared out of my wits thinking of my family obligations. But I can't help but think why else would our paths cross like this again. Not everyone gets a second chance!! I prayed, I went to church. I even thought of all the worst case scenarios I had to go through with my family. The pastor at church the night I attended actually came to me, prayed and said ”this is a new beginning“ I never thought of anything else and never looked back since. It has been a new beginning ever since I met Terrence. I somehow knew it was meant to be.
I kept him waiting. I wanted him to ask again and he did, on the escalator in mid valley to watch a movie! I jumped at it and said yes! yes! yes! that was 11th of March 2006. The next night we went out again and as we were about to say goodbye, outside my house, he drove out again, and parked facing Sri Paandi's Section 11, Petaling Jaya. There he told me that he loves me he would take care of me; I could only nod in my dizzying emotions. Parked right there facing our favorite banana leave restaurant we shared our 1st kiss. I don't think I slept that night.
The rest is then history, we faced war with family, we learnt of each others loving and annoying behavior, we fought, we cried, we loved, we laughed and we are going strong. Falling even more in love everyday, cliché as it may sound. It wasn't an easy ride, but I am proud of what we have become today. I have found my guardian angel that brought out the best in me and looks over me despite my weaknesses.
”Than just above 3 & the half years later, he bought me a ticket to Abu Dhabi…“
On one cool night at 304, Unda Building, Abu Dhabi, he came back from work and we cuddled up to watch a dvd, while eating tuna and cheese sandwich and a bag of chips. After the movie, overcome by emotions, he tells me how much he loves me, how much he looks forward to our lives together; I was in tears just hearing that. Then he takes out a bow-tied light green box that would make every girl's heart stop! It was Tiffany's! He got down on one knee and asked me for my hand! Tears' streaming down my cheeks, my hair was a mess, we both haven't showered, the room smelled of tuna and cheese, I'll spare the details on what we were wearing, I said YES!!! I want to spend my life with you. 9th of December 2008 was a night to remember, the most heart tugging moments I have ever experienced. It was a month of celebration, from the desserts to the beaches and the mountains; luxurious dinners at the palace, rooftop restaurants, and a Russell Peter show too, it was one amazing and very expensive December! We're ENGAGED!!
Curious about the Wedding Date; check out the Timeline...
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