Our story began in the halls of Leyte National High School. Although we remember the beginning a little differently, it led us to the same place.
Kristle’s first memory of Jake was during our third-year Science class when he suddenly asked for a piece of paper. Her first thought was, “Classmate ba nam ini? Yana ko man la nakita pag sulod.” He seemed a little naughty, a little unfamiliar, and just another classmate she never imagined would become part of her story for the next fifteen years.
Jake’s memory goes back even further. Before we were ever classmates, he would often see Kristle walking up the stairs to her classroom. Our rooms were beside each other — his class occupied the room in the morning, while ours used it in the afternoon. Even then, he noticed her gentle personality and thought she was soft-spoken, kind, and generous.
Eventually, we became classmates in 2011, during our junior year, and found ourselves seated near each other in our advisory room. We belonged to the same group of friends and spent many afternoons riding the same multicab home with our barkada. There was never a single moment when we suddenly realized we liked each other. Looking back, it simply happened naturally — somewhere between shared conversations, laughter, and everyday moments, friendship quietly became something more.
Like many teenage love stories, ours started with what seemed like a joke. We were textmates at the time, and one day Jake jokingly told Kristle that we would become a couple if he stopped playing DOTA. It sounded like one of those playful conversations teenagers often have, but then he gave her a deadline to answer before midnight. At first, it felt like a dare. But when the next day came, Kristle realized that maybe it wasn’t a joke after all.
Because Kristle wasn’t yet allowed to have a boyfriend, our relationship became a tago-tago kind of love. In fact, we only officially became “legal” on the day of Kristle’s college graduation. Until then, only a few trusted friends knew about us and quietly supported our relationship.
Many of our favorite memories came from the simplest moments. We spent countless dates at McDonald’s, always ordering the same thing: a BFF Fries Combo, one BFF fries, and three Coke Floats. We celebrated many of our monthsaries with Emots, turning ordinary gatherings into memories we still laugh about today.
We also found joy in the little things. Kristle fondly remembers our joyrides around Tacloban and Palo, while Jake treasures the simple routine of riding the tricycle together after school before Kristle headed to MMH. Looking back, those ordinary days became extraordinary because we spent them together.
As the years passed, we grew up side by side. We celebrated graduations together, rejoiced over board examination results, attended oath-taking ceremonies, and witnessed the weddings of our siblings and cousins. Through every milestone, we remained each other’s constant source of encouragement and support — through every achievement, every failure, and every heartbreak we encountered along the way.
Even during our younger years, support was already a language we both understood. Kristle would often accompany Jake during his DOTA tournaments, bringing him snacks while he played and quietly cheering him on from the sidelines. Looking back, it wasn’t really about the games. It was about showing up for each other, supporting each other’s interests, and finding joy in simply being present.
We may not have always helped each other financially, but we always supported one another through prayers, encouragement, understanding, and unwavering faith. Whenever one of us doubted ourselves, the other was there to offer strength and reassurance.
Over time, our relationship matured alongside us. The simple misunderstandings and high school tampuhan gradually transformed into deeper understanding and patience. We learned that love is not about being together every moment of every day. It is also about respecting each other’s individuality, giving each other space when needed, and trusting each other completely.
Of course, fifteen years together did not come without challenges. The greatest test of our relationship was distance. There was a time when Kristle spent five months in Manila for her internship and later moved to Cebu for a year to continue her studies. Then, after she eventually returned to Tacloban, Jake’s work brought him to Cebu, where he stayed for five years.
Being apart was never easy. Different schedules, limited communication, and the loneliness that came with distance often tested our relationship. There were moments when we questioned whether we could continue, especially when life became overwhelming and communication became difficult. Yet despite everything, we held on.
Looking back, we realize that every challenge taught us something valuable. We learned the importance of honest communication, patience, and understanding. We discovered that no matter how difficult life became, we could overcome it as long as we faced it together.
Most importantly, our relationship grew stronger because of God’s guidance. We believe that every step of our journey was covered in prayer. Through every season of life, every challenge, every blessing, and every victory, we felt the Lord leading us toward His plans for us. It was our faith that strengthened our commitment and reminded us that our relationship was built on something greater than ourselves.
As our relationship grew stronger, so did our dreams. Together, we achieved milestones we once only imagined as teenagers. We bought a car together, started building a place we can call our own, and continued working toward the future we dreamed about for so many years. Through every accomplishment, we remained each other’s number one cheerleader.
One of the most unforgettable moments of our journey was our engagement — and what made it even more special was that it happened on Kristle’s birthday. True to Jake’s playful personality, he spent weeks pretending he needed help choosing a ring and even asked for advice on how to ask permission from Kristle’s mother. Kristle genuinely thought she was helping him prepare for some future proposal. Little did she know that he already had everything planned. What seemed like another one of Jake’s pranks became one of the happiest surprises of our lives.
Today, after fifteen years together, we stand on the threshold of a new chapter. For us, marriage means always choosing one another, going above and beyond for each other, and remaining partners through every season of life. It means always having each other’s back, supporting each other’s dreams, and building a life centered on love, faith, trust, and commitment.
What excites us most is what lies ahead: the opportunity to continue building our life together, grow our family, and embrace all the blessings and challenges that come with marriage. After everything we have been through together, we are ready.
Over the past fifteen years, we have learned that love is not just about happiness, romance, or beautiful moments. Love is also found in sacrifice, patience, forgiveness, perseverance, and faith. It is through life’s challenges that love becomes stronger.
What started as a simple friendship between two high school students has become a fifteen-year journey of choosing each other every day. Above all, we are grateful to God for writing our story, sustaining us through every season, and leading us to this moment where we are ready to enter the covenant of marriage.
While our story began in the hallways of Leyte National High School, we know that the best chapters are still waiting to be written. This is only the beginning of our forever.
From Hallways to Always.
