How I Met the Wife

I couldn't recall exactly what year was that but I think it was in 1998 when I first heard her voice. Back then, I was one of those who were hooked on texting. It was very common (not sure now) for people to just ring somebody else's number and there you go, the start of a good chat.  One night, I thought about chatting with people I didn't know. So I started dialing random numbers. If it rang, then the number was active. Few seconds after the ring, you'd receive an sms like - "Hi. Who u?" - and you'd reply "Hi. Can you be my textmate?" That's how the process was. Unlike the others, her number rang but I didn't receive any similar text. I waited for few minutes, still no reply.  

The following day, about 6:00 in the morning, my phone rang. A call from unregistered number:

Caller: "Hello, good morning....."

Me: "Yes, good morning."

Caller:  "I had a missed call from this number last night. Sorry I was already asleep. May I know who this is?"

Me:  "Uhmm, I actually do not know you.  I was just randomly dialing numbers last night. Can we be textmates?"

Caller: "Oh I see.  Sure, no problem."

So that's how it started. We became textmates, exchanged thoughts or points of view on certain topics, and argued. We didn't have the same view about destiny...even until now. I don't believe in such a thing as I believe that everything is a product of choice. She, however, does.

The texting continued for some time. I was in Cebu and she was in Dagupan. It took months before we finally met in person. When I was assigned to an engagement in Manila, I excitedly asked her if she's ok to meet up. She answered to the affirmative. She would be watching a concert that time anyway.  

And the moment came. We agreed to meet in SM Megamall. She would be waiting for me in a coffee shop. On the way to that coffee shop, I felt uneasy thinking of what would happen. And thus the meetup:

Me: "Hi.  Donna?"

Donna:  "Yes? Wilson?"

Me: "Yup, it's me. Hi, nice to finally meet you."

Donna:  "Yah, hi. Nice to meet you too." 

Me: "This is Arn, my officemate." 

And my phone rang...... I was told I needed to go back to the office.  

I felt embarrassed and sorry. I wasn't even able to sit down and had a chat with her. That was the quickest meetup I had.