Does that title make you cringe with all the cheese in it? LOL! I’ll try my best to keep this short, okay?

Since who-knows-when, I have always wanted to be a barista. There is something about that role that instigates so much curiosity and awe put together. I had such high regard for baristas that even managed to write an ethnography on them with my college best friend. As I learned more about their responsibilities, it was slowly engraved in my mental to-be (not to-do) list.

So a couple of years after writing that A- (woe to those grammatical errors we failed to double-check during crunch time) paper and fresh out of college, I applied and landed my dream job! Bam!

June 14, 2005 was my first day inside Starbucks G4…yes THAT branch. Amidst all the chaos of the “rush” of post-lunch customers outside, I was silently working on written exercises at the backroom. A couple of hours later the “closers” started to arrive and punch their timecards. Then this tall guy in khaki shorts and white (or was it black?) logo-shirt with glasses and a #2 cut came in and greeted the two of us new hires. He was all “Pare, kumusta?” and his usual quasi-politician persona. I learned three things about this guy on that day. He’s from the OTHER school, he loves basketball and his name is RANDY.

This is NOT the Daily Offering design that I will refer to if you read further…

Naturally, the “school” topic came up when he learned where I studied. And honestly, at the very moment I found out where he graduated, I knew we were going to get along quite well. The getting-to-know-you stuff (at least from my part) halted when them boys started to talk about basketball. Despite bagging the 2004 title, the Lakers (”his team”) never made it to the finals that year. So I totally forgot what they were talking about exactly.

A few days into the job, I was prepping the Frappuccino mix at the backroom while Randy was taking his lunch. He asked me quite a lot of questions about my life, family, etc…Q&A?? But to be fair, he divulged little facts about himself too. And I did not even ask! That’s was the quasi-politician talking again!

Weeks passed and we started to become close..in a very platonic way, I might add! I just found him really easy to talk to. And with the same appreciation I have with all my other guy friends, I was thankful for the genuine friendship we had (slash have). We often chat over the phone just like any other girl-friend of mine with topics ranging from annoying colleagues at work to food to my (then) relationship woes to who ever girl he was courting at that time and (don’t tell him I said this) even showbiz! And with all honestly, we can both say that we had no bf-gf relationship-esque intentions during that time. He is just one of those few guys who likes to make telebabad (read: chismoso) and I am one of those girls that hang around guys with no malice and “ilang” (I cannot identify the perfect translation for this. “Uncomfortable” is not enough translation) feeling.

Can you believe that I actually bought a bouquet of red roses for his “girl” then? That girl is lucky I picked those because let’s just say, Randy has a different “taste” in flowers. LOL! I teased him about the different girls he courted and even gushed with *kilig* when he tells me about his date or when he shows me their SMS exchange. On the other hand, he always encouraged me to stay strong with my situation then and not give up – relationship and work-wise. We had our own little “support group” with the rest of our Starbucks barkada.

Sometime in mid-October 2005, – the time when we were both single and not really searching for something or someone in life – we found ourselves stepping into a different level. The phone calls started to become more frequent. He began to ask me how my day went and I saw that he was sincerely interested. He would call the store during his off to speak to me even just for a few minutes. Our post-shift meals together (even if they were inside fast-food chains) started to become something else. And check this: When I was surfing away on dial-up internet I get a one-word SMS “busy?” I immediately disconnect (can you believe that?!) from the internet and reply back “Try again.” just so I can talk on the phone with this lucky fella!

When we are on the same shift or at least a couple of hours apart, he fetched me at Guadalupe so that we can go to work together. And after work, he also made an effort to actually drop me off outside our apartment building rather than just at the gate of the complex. That’s something, isn’t it? Hahahaha! In one of our conversations he said “I closed the store’s back wall last night so check the Daily Offering. I know you like the beach.” This remark made me grin with intrigue and well, *kilig*. The next day, I hurried from the Ayala MRT to Starbucks G4 to find what he had designed. I stepped in front of the Daily Offering trying to figure out if it was an ocean wave or a mountain underwater…and is that a starfish? One of our friends at work noticed me staring at it so she went up beside me and said “Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ba yang ginawa ni Randy sa Daily Offering.” Hahahahaha! Oh well, it was the thought that counted, I suppose!

After work, we hang out at the simplest places – Select, Ruffo’s, McDonalds, etc… If my memory serves me right (at least mine is better than his!), our first date was on 23-Oct 2005. The date I am not 100% sure but the place I am certain – McDonalds Jupiter. Not the most romantic place – I know! I was “borrowed” at Starbucks G2 and it was his off. He left their family Sunday-get-together so he could fetch me. We were both in that “Are we friends or more than that?” mindset so it was like a non-date date, I should say. I ordered regular fries and McFlurry Oreo because munching a burger in front of this guy I might-or-might-not-like did not really appeal to me. Randy on the other hand, had nuggets AND burger…and yeah, barbecue sauce for both the nuggets and burger! (Wow, I am amazed that I can still remember this part!)

On November 3, 2005 we left the store together after closing yet again. Before I step out of his car, we usually have conversation of sorts – shallow, deep, funny, annoying, and anything under the sun (or moon, if you want to be literal). Without any revelation of how we felt about each other in the past, he suddenly asked me “Love mo na ako?” Shock ran through my body for two whole seconds before I said “Yes.”

The dalagang Pilipina in me jumped out of the window. Where my “hard-to-get” guise went, I have NO IDEA!

It just felt right saying that. From the very beginning up to this day, from acquaintances to what we are now, it feels so right with Randy. We are the same and different at the same time. That’s what Randy used to tell me…Errr, or something that sounds like that!

And I agree with him on that. I love love love that we are different individuals – with different lives, building careers (which are sort-of different), achieving different goals and yet together, we strive to be better for each other. We grow as individuals and we grow together as a couple. We have different dreams but hold on to each other as we reach for the stars.

Today marks our 44th month as a couple. Two 4’s. Because we became us a little over midnight then so it was officially November 4…plus we both agreed that we like the number four better than three anyway!

So here’s to us, Babe! Happy 44 months! I cannot decide whether I still feel like it was only recently that we got together or we are like an old married couple (in a good way ah!). Maybe a little bit of both? Well, you know me – always in-between..like my height? Yes?

Can’t wait for your so-called surprise! Make it good ah! You are still in-denial that you are NO GOOD in planning surprises so my tip for you is to have contingency plans (with an S)! Parang BCP lang yan! Good luck! Hahahaha!

(I did say I’ll “try my best” to keep it short, right?)

Blue Eagle the King!!!