Our Love Story: The Night of the Proposal (Part 3)

“I ask you to pass through life at my side—to be my second self, and best earthly companion.”

- Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre -

It was ordinary day, ordinary night to come. The special thing was him. We had planned to go to a restaurant in Dago Highland. It had been a long time I wanted to go to that restaurant because my friends said the view was awesome. Lets see... I really hoped he would like it.

We started at 6.30 from the hotel. I didn't dress up nor change my clothes because I didn't bring any spare. I was bit regretful that I didn't bring any good dress with me but later I thanked God for not because the weather in Dago Highland was very cold. Can't imagine if I wore short dress in such temperature. 

Once we arrived there, the parking space was already full. The parking guy told us to park at the road side a bit far from the restaurant so we had to walk a bit to reach it. No wonder many people came to this restaurant. First of all, it was Saturday night, the time of lovers. Another thing was the view was indeed awesome. Here is the view of the restaurant from the front.

 

Magnificent!!

The distant glimmering lamps in Bandung city made a very beautiful scenery. So romantic... To get into the restaurant, we had to take an elevator. It was truly like we were in the sky. Never been in such a great restaurant before. I was wondering about his feelings. What he felt about me in this romantic atmosphere? Did he like me? Did I make a good impression on him? But I tried to throw away those thoughts for now because this view was to awesome not to enjoy.

We got the table inside. I wish we could have gotten a table outside but there was no vacant one there so like it or not we had to take this table. Here is the view of the inside of the restaurant

We decided to have  a portion of sushi, a bowl of donburi, a glass of strawberry juice, a cup of tea and a scope of red bean ice cream. All the food were great. Especially the red bean ice cream. (Even recently I've been craving to eat red bean ice cream but I couldn't find the same taste *hiks* ). hahaha... (all food are delicious for me :p). Unfortunately, we didn't take proper pictures of those foods. Here are the pictures of them.

Hahhaha... Oops... It was him <3 So cute, isn't him? I mean not him, but the pose he made :P

I asked him whether he had tried donburi before, he said he had never tried that. Donburi is a Japanese dish consists of Japanese rice, with eggs on top of it and chicken or meat or prawn and special sauce. It was so tasty. He gave a try of the dish and he said yes it was delicious. Hehehe thank God all that night's food choice was a success.

We had good time in the restaurant. We talked about many things. Here is the things I'm amazed every time I'm with him, we chat alot. But, I never get bored. I like every single word he says, every joke he makes, E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G... I felt like we had met before in the previous life, maybe as a passionately loving monkey couple, or two trees who grew together and stayed together for the rest of their lives.... I felt that we were like old friends who have been long time no see and chat. I just like everything in him.

I was enjoying my sushi so zealously when suddenly I felt pain in my stomach. NOT NOW PLEASE... I said to myself. But I couldn't help. Dago is a highland and a very cold place. My stomach cannot resist that. It is very prone of cold and windy weather. I tried to hide it from him because I didn't want to ruin my first date but I couldn't bear it any longer. I excused him that I wanted to go to toilet and went to the restaurant cashier instead to ask whether they had some medicine for that. Thank God! They had! I took a tablet and she gave me a glass of water. I was there for a while to wait for the medicine to react. Then I came back to our table.

He asked me what happened and I said I felt a bit cold. Sweetly, he gave me the coat he was wearing and told me to wear that. I said you would get cold and he said, "It's OK. I'm matahari. I will not get cold". I accepted the coat though I knew that he was shivering cold. We continued to chat and sometimes he would take photos with his camera here and there. But I still felt pain in my stomach and I thought I would have another medicine in my car. One more time, I excused him to go to the car. I said I had something to take in my car. I walked to the elevator but I felt very dizzy. OMG... That time I prayed God not to make me pass out there. It was my first date and it was a public place. I didn't want to make him worry about me. Luckily, I managed to get into my car and immediately took the medicine.

I closed my eyes. My God... 

"Pain, Pain, Go Away Come Again Another Day." hahaha it should be rain not pain. but they're rhymed right? :p

I didn't know how long I was in the car until I got much better and decided to go back to the restaurant. He was still there. Looking at him... healed away my pain for a while. Oh God... I really fell in love with this guy. How I wanted to be with this guy... as his girlfriend... But I didn't know what he was feeling about me. Did he feel the same? Was I only dreaming?

We had finished all the food and I said to him I wanted to go home because I felt bit unwell. He said OK and paid the bill. We went straightly to the car and when I was about to start my car, the pain in my stomach came again. This time I couldn't hide it from him so I honestly told him that I had this stomach problem everytime I had late eating time or cold weather. He offered to replace me to drive but I refused. I didn't trust him with driving because he said he didn't have driving license and he was used to driving a left side wheeled car. So that time, we just sat in the car and he started to tell me some stories to ease my pain.

Seconds by seconds, minutes by minutes passed. the atmosphere between us suddenly became romantic. Only both of us in the car right? So, suddenly he asked me about someone I liked. I was surprised by his sudden and straightforward question.

Me: "Yes, right now I have someone I like."

Him: "Who is that?"

Me: "How do I say this? I can't tell you laaa."

Him: "It's OK la. If you have someone you like. Just tell me his name. Do I know him?"

Me: " I don't know." (my heart was pounding so fast that time)

Him: "OK. Just tell me the initial letter."

Me: (shy) "Hmmm... It starts with M. It has 8 letters."

Him: "Hmmm.... M? 8 letters?" (seemed thinking)

He started guessing wrong answers. I didn't know whether he simply didn't know or pretended that he didn't know and let the answer come from my mouth. I gave him one by one the next letter until it formed:

M - A - T - A - H - A - R  - I

Him: "Matahari? You mean Matahari is Surya right? You like me?"
Me: *too shy to answer*
Him: "Agnes, is it me that you like?"
Me: *nodded* *still shy n scared how he would respond*
Him: "Actually... I like you too Agnes." 
Me: *surprised* "REALLY?"
Him: "Yes. You are different with other girls. I've never seen any girl like you. You work very hard. You're understanding. Your thought and words are very mature."
Me: *flattered*
Him: "Do you want to marry me?"
Me: *unexplainable feeling* "U want to marry me?"
Him: "Yes. I want to be a family guy. Settling down with my wife and my children. I want to take care of you."
Me: "I want to marry you. You are a very good and kind hearted guy. But you have to wait until my master degree is completed."
Him: "How many months it takes until it completes?"
Me: "Around 10 months is the fastest."
Him: "OK. I will wait for you. Once your master degree is completed, I will meet your parents to ask for you as my wife. How does it sound?"
Me: *too happy* "Perfect."



WE'RE ENGAGED!!!! <3

So I guess since that romantic conversation, we were officially dating, right? I am his girlfriend and he is my boyfriend. Therefore, we began to talk more about our personal lives, future, families, etc. We didn't even realize that we had been in the car for more than three hours. OMG, it has been a long time I've never felt this kind of feeling. Like you don't have any weight, you believe that you can fly. something is blooming inside my heart and light is coming to my life. I want to treasure those lovely feelings so that I can recall them over and over again for the rest of my life. 

Want to know our days after that? You would not believe what we had after that. I'll share it in another post. See you :)

Our Love Story: Day Time in Bandung (Part 2)

True Love Doesn't Have a Happy Ending, True Love Has No Ending <3

 So, finally I met him. The guy in a brown shirt with red luggage. 

My heart was pumping so quickly. In one quick glance, my heart stopped beating. It was as if I was absorbed into a limitless dimension. The world seemed to lose its gravity because I was totally pulled to his existence. He was there, approaching me... There was distance between us but my heart believed he was my other half. 

............................................

I took him into my truck and we headed to the hotel he was going to stay at. I was so nervous that I barely looked at him directly. All the way, he kept on talking and talking but all I could do was only smiling and... smiling. He talked about many things. Once or twice, I would take a glance at him. I enjoyed seeing him from the side. He was quite good looking. But I didn't tell him because I was too shy.

After about 30 minutes drive, we arrived at the hotel. Actually I often pass this hotel but never really paid attention to it. Still looked at anywhere but him, I helped him take his luggage but he told me to leave it inside the car until the reservation done. I did as I was told.

So there he went, to the receptionist desk. I was waiting for him in a bench nearby when another problem occurred. He actually had booked a room via Agoda in this hotel, but the receptionist said there was no record. He showed them his booking proof and tried to explain with limited Bahasa. Then I approached and asked the receptionist about the issue. Thank God there were other empty rooms that time so this unrecorded booking was not a big issue. Can you imagine if all the rooms were fully booked and we had to find another hotel? God is good all the time :)

Then we checked into the room. They gave us a room which was a bit front near the hall. We took his red luggage and brought it into the room. He started to unpack it. Only after getting into the room that I realized that something was wrong with him. Can you guess? I'm sure nobody can :P. I didn't like his shoes. It was so sharp and too long. I couldn't believe my eyes. Seriously, why did he have to wear that kind of shoes? >.<

OK. Forget about the shoes. So far, I didn't have any bad impression about him :)

At that time, we were still bit shy to each other but I managed to ask him whether he had had breakfast or not. He said he hadn't had breakfast because he started very early (poor guy). Honestly, I was bit hungry too so I took him outside to have breakfast. Near the hotel, there was only few food sellers and I didn't feel to go somewhere just to have breakfast so we decided to have Nasi Uduk nearby. 

Here is the picture of Nasi Uduk

We were eating in silence. Suddenly, he tried to engage in conversation. I was still very nervous at that time. All I did was saying yes or no, and a few words. I ate only little even though I was very hungry. I didn't know what happened to me. The food just was so difficult to swallow and my stomach got full too soon. I didn't finish my food. He asked me why I didn't finish it and I answered that I was simply full.

With full stomach and fully nervous, we went back to hotel room. There we started to have a more relaxing atmosphere and try to have a conversation. I felt less nervous too now. OK OK... You must be asking, why should I be so nervous? Let me tell you. All this time, I've never had to accompany a friend from other countries and take him around the city. I myself am not typically a fun girl who likes to play and hang out so I was bit confused where to take him during his visit. Another thing is, it's been a long time I've never been with a guy (that attracts me) :P

He and I talked about many things. He showed him a video of him and his friends in Curacao Island, where he has worked for the past 2 years. He also showed his pictures with friends and families, paper money from every country he visited (he even gave me some Indian rupee which I still keep) and a bag of special tea instant from his hometown Chennai. My impression about him from that was he liked to share and to tell stories. I liked that kind of person. We will not get bored and lonely being with that kind of person. <3

Suddenly, he gave me a box with lace. He said it was a surprise gift for me that he had promised me when he was still in Malaysia. I was sooo flattered. I opened the box and guess what i found? A NECKLACE. It was sooo pretty with a crown. I really loved it. Here is the picture of the necklace

Beautiful, isn't it? 

After that, we continued to just chat and chat until we got bored then we felt like going somewhere. He asked me where to go but I didn't know. So, we just got into the car and decided later. Once we were in the car, we had an idea to go to the cinema in Paris Van Java mall. Simply like that and there we went, hahaha last minute decision always works. 

 There were many movies played in the cinema (obviously, Nes :P) but we decided to watch Elysium. And I never forgot to order popcorn and drink :D. It was a very hardcore movie. blood everywhere. I can't stand watching that kind of movie. wrong movie to choose for the first date. hahaha... But I know one thing, I think he knows my hobby from there because during the movie, I kept on eating the popcorn. I concluded that because he started to tease me about food. He said, "It's OK. eat eat..." *embarrassed*

Once the movie finished, I felt awfully tired  so I begged him to go back directly to the hotel. He offered me something to buy there but I simply didn't have energy to do that. I wanted to recharge myself by sleeping. That movie really sucked my energy. Never again in my life I choose that kind of movie. >.<


Finally, we went back to the hotel. Both were tired. We planned to have dinner in Dago highland that night so we decided to take a nap before going there. I slept so fast that I didn't know what he was doing. It turns out that he took a picture of me when I was sleeping XD

See, it was me... Sleeping with some Indian rupees, my tablet and many things in there. I was so tired that I didn't realize how and when he took the picture. But it is sweet of him, isn't it? <3

So, That's all we did during the day in Bandung.

At night, we went to a very beautiful restaurant in Dago Highland named Takigawa Restaurant. I will share our night with you in my other post.

Thanks for reading :)

Our Love Story: First Meeting (Part 1)

"Meeting you was not the first day of the rest of my life; 

it was the first day of the BEST days in my life."

 - Steve Maraboli -

I will never forget that time, when we both met for the first time. From the night before I met him, I had barely had sleep. I was so nervous. Many things came up in my mind. Those 'what if' things like, "What if he does not like me? What if I am not what he expects me to be? What if I don't like him? (well... I have the right also, don't I?). But again, I convinced myself that this meeting was worth trying. 

I woke up so early that day, eagerly went to the bathroom and took bath quite long. My heart was still beating irregularly fast n I felt butterflies in my stomach (this one is cliche, but it's true!). I was in the bathroom for an hour or so, I guess yes... Then started to dress up. What to wear.. what to wear...??? First impression is very important right? Honestly, I am not a fashionable girl. I wear what I wanna wear, n what makes me comfortable. I don't know how to  match this color to what color, this clothes with what accessories, etc. In short, I don't know what to wear... What to present myself to him. sexy n sensual? boyish n sporty? elegant n stunning? NO. Big No. So, what I wear is: a blue color shirt with black top inside it, a pair of jeans and wedges. That's all. ooh, and my purple spectacles hehehe... I think you can call it simple style? I call it my style :p

It was 7.30 in the morning, I started myself from home with my truck (that's what he called my car). I went to the travel station in Pasteur near Pasopati bridge. He said he would arrive at 9. But, I don't like making people to wait for me, so, I went there earlier. I parked my car near the station and sat by the bench inside it. I pinged him but he didn't reply. I understood because he would be sleeping in the car. He started very early right? He said we went from his kost house at 5. Wow... So determining <3

While waiting, I went to the snack counter n bought some bread and mineral water. I hadn't had breakfast so I was bit hungry. So, I asked the seller about the travel arrival.

Me: "Sir, what time does usually the first car from Jakarta Sarinah arrive here?

Seller: "Oh dear, this station is only for departure. The arrival is in Surapati street. Near Suci market."

Me: (saying to myself: Oh s**t, I was in the wrong station) "Oh is it? but the car will pass here right? He can get off here also right sir?"

Seller: "Yes, for sure. He needs to tell the driver to stop and drop him here."

Me: "OK, sir. Thank you."

Then, I took my phone and whatsapped him. No reply. I regretted that I didn't have his phone number at that time so I could not call him. I kept on texting him through whatsapp. Finally he replied and he said I didn't understand and didn't know what to do. I was confused of what to do next. So I said, "OK just get off in the normal station, I will pick you up there."

I ran to my car, started my car and went directly to the arrival station. It was near but the traffic would be ugly. Unexpectedly, the traffic was not so bad. I arrived there but could not find any parking space, so I parked my car bit far from the station. Then I got off the car, ran to the station and ask one of the officers there.

Me: "Sir, has the first travel from Jakarta Sarinah arrived?"

Officer: "No, it hasn't arrived. Maybe in 15 mins."

Me: "Great. Thank you sir."

I went to the waiting room n sat. Bit exhausted because I was afraid he would arrive before me. I pinged him again to ask his whereabouts. I was shocked with his answer. He said the driver had already dropped him off in Pasopati. N he sent me a pict to tell me where he was. I had no idea where it was. My God. This guy knew little Bahasa n knew nothing about Bandung n now both he and I did not know where he was. Anything greater for such an early morning???

Immediately, I asked the officer whether he knew where the picture was. He did not know. Then he showed it to his friends and one of them said it was in Dipati Ukur. What the hell was he doing in Dipati Ukur? I told him to get off in the normal station but he was somewhere far from it. Then suddenly he called me. (Thank God >.<)

Him: "Agnes, Did you receive the picture? I'm in front of the building. Do u know where it is?"

Me: " I don't know. I have asked to some people here but I'm not quite sure. Is there any local people there? Ask them where you are now. I will pick you up there."

Him: *mentioning a name*

Me: " I didn't get what you are saying."

Him: *mentioning the name again several times*

Me: " I don't know where it is."

Suddenly a familiar language was in the phone.

The person: "Neng, your friend is in Dipati Ukur. Near..... shop (he mentioned a name of clothes shop but I forget the name)."

Me: "oooh. Near Padjadjaran University, isn't it?"

The person: "Yes, yes. Correct. Exactly."

Me: " OK, sir. Thank you so much for helping. Please take care of him. He doesn't know Bahasa and Bandung. I'll come to pick him up now."

I cut the phone.

I ran and ran to my car (that day I ran alot, but good anyway). I got into the car and drove fast. Around the mentioned place, I saw the building in his picture. So, I stopped and parked the car in the roadside. I got off and started to call him and search for him here and there.

Me: "Surya, it's Agnes. Where are you? I'm already in front of the building in your picture."

Him: " Hi. I'm near the building also."

Me: " I can't see you. Where are you? I'm near my car. I'm wearing blue shirt."

 Finally.... I saw him in the distance. A guy with a brown shirt with a red luggage was waving at me. I waved him back. He started to walk to me.

Me: " I think now we can cut the call right?"

Him: "Oh yes."

We laughed.

So, that's our first meeting. 

That day, we did many things. 

See you in another post for that :)

Thanks for reading.