pinakamaganda

It was  my favorite spot at Roppongi Hills. I was “lost” one summer afternoon – I was looking for the Roppongi cinemas where I’m supposed to meet my friends to watch Transformers. Then I gave up finding it, got tired and took a seat at some big bench. Then I looked straight. There was the gazebo, the Tokyo tower, and a hundred images playing at my mind. It was a nice spot. Since then, when I feel like emoting my hearts out, I always go there, drink coffee, look at Tokyo Tower, and think.

Then last night, I found myself at the same spot again. This time, I was with my friend Kel, our first girl talk together since her engagement the other night. Nope, this post is not about me. Most especially, this is not about my engagement. This is Kel’s engagement, as told by a friend.

Overlooking Tokyo Tower, Kel started to share how his boyfriend, Jun, proposed.

Joane: OMG Kel… you’re getting married…

Kel: Oo nga eh… (yeah…)

I was fishing how Jun said the words. So I asked.

Kel: Sobrang nagulat talaga ako. Kinukulit ko pa nga sha nun, sinasabi ko kasi, “pagod na si Joane, parang gusto na niyang umalis.
(I was really surprised. I was even pressuring him to go like I was telling him, ‘It seems that Joane wants to go already.’)”

*Joane laughs*

Kel: Tapos yun, he said, “Me sasabihin ako..
(then he said…)
Pero mahina di ko narinig nung una.
(But I couldn’t hear what he first said.)

But wait, there’s another flashback… let’s start at the morning of the engagement – Sunday, September 20, 2009, at my place, where the couple stayed for their first night. We were all getting ready to transfer to their hotel at Shinagawa Prince. I was checking the net for time tables of the trains, etc. for our city tour while Kel was in the shower. Jun approached me and checked what I was doing. And then suddenly, he told me something like this,

Jun: Joane, me sasabihin ako sayo, pero secret lang natin ha.
(Joane, I have something to tell you. But it’s a secret ha)

He was whispering while looking back and forth to the direction of the shower where Kel was. I suddenly got nervous. I got scared that the thing that Jun would tell me might turn out to be something bad. Like, I was hoping that it’ll rather be a prank or something else to make fun of Kel when she goes out. , than any bad news or secrets. Then he said,

Jun: Mag propropose na sana ako kay Kel ngayon.
(I’m planning to propose to Kel today.)

I forgot all the scariness and suddenly my heart was filled with joy. I was shrieking OMG OMG over and over again the whole time. OMG! I then also started to look at the direction of the shower just to check out if Kel could hear us. And of course, I was hoping Kel did not hear anything. I asked Jun if he got the ring. He said yeah, he’s been keeping it all the time.

By the way, these are just brain dumps. That’s typically how everything flowed. Right when I got home (today, Tue Sep 22), I hurriedly went to my MACyGay to type the beautiful story of my friend’s engagement. For two days I’ve been keeping these memories in my brain. It’s torture to keep something to yourself and you have no way to share it to everyone. But I think I was luckier than my other friend, Rica (who kept the secret for about a week?). Hehehe. Cheers to that.

Then we started the tour. We walked pretty far the whole time. Walking drained us out. But what the hell, we were tourists. Though I’m their official tour guide, I felt like a tourist too. Jun told me that if he couldn’t do it today, or in Tokyo, he would do it in the US instead (since they’re also bound to US for work).

Excited for the Ferry

Then we went to Odaiba, for the FUJI TV, the Rainbow Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty (we were only able to see the back though). I was excited to get there too because I’ve never been there. At the station, while Kel was still in the restroom, I was telling Jun how careless he was because he left the ring at the bag that Kel was carrying. He was hoping that Kel would not notice. But he was very confident that Kel won’t bother to open the bag because it’s a camera bag. So it’s full of camera geek stuffs. So Kel won’t bother opening it in the CR.

We booked for the ferry, for a little cruise at the Tokyo Bay, passing over the Rainbow bridge, and the Tokyo buildings… And OMG, I almost blew the secret (hence, I could be accused big time of being careless too).

Kel brought a video cam to capture the little ferry boat sail away while we watch over Tokyo Bay. I then shouted out, “Yehey, gagawa ako ng vlog! (Yehey, I’m gonna make a vlog!)” I never made any video blogs yet. I only made videos of myself playing my guitar, but no video blogs yet. So I thought, that would be the moment for my first video blog. It was the perfect setting.

The Perfect Setting. Jun is just busy capturing images.

I then went in front of the camera and, started to say something like, “Hi! This is my first vlog! And we are cruising at Tokyo bay.. This is my friend’s boyfriend, Jun. (I went to Kel, while Kel was doing some twisting action of the camera).. and this is my friend, Kel.” And then I stopped. I almost said, “… AND THEY’RE GETTING MARRIED!!”. Damn that was so close! I stopped my vlog attempt right there because I was out of words. Panic attack hehehe.

I was wondering if Jun could do it. The setting was already perfect. The cruise. The Bay. The Bridge. The Lights… It was just after-sunset. And our spot was great. When the boat started to stop at the other-side pier, I gave up the idea that I’d be seeing Jun propose.

Indoors. Perfect Setting = Gone.

We decided to go indoors on our way back to the pier because it was cold already (autumn’s here). So the perfect setting for everything was gone. When we got out of the boat, I was really tired… perhaps they are too. We left Jun somewhere to set up his camera for the view of the Rainbow Bridge at night, while Kel and I took off somewhere to look for coffee or any hot drink, which unfortunately were out of stock at that part of Odaiba. I was implying to Kel that we have to go in the mall or go back to Shinagawa or anywhere to have dinner. Then, we went back where Jun is to tell him that we are going back. Jun was bragging his photo of the rainbow bridge and was telling about some exposure and other camera jargons. He did took a really beautiful photo. Then, I said, “Ayan nakasetup naman yung tripod, dun kayo bilis picture-an ko kayo. (Go there quick, I’ll take your photo since the tripod was set-up already)”

The two went to the SPOT (it was a long stretch of fence overlooking the Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo lights), and I forgot what already happened, all I could remember was that I was busy taking photos, and swearing at how ugly my photos were… The couple’s backs were already facing me, they were facing the VIEW. And then there… right in front of one of the world’s most beautiful, Jun was already on his knees…

I was shouting OMG OMG OMG (I could not hear what they were saying)… while clicking and clicking at the camera… and my tears were almost coming out… When they were already hugging each other, I hurried to them and hugged them both (sorry I’m so extra but I couldn’t contain my happiness already, hehehe)…

As Kel was saying,

Kel: Ayun, nabigla na lang ako, he’s on his knees na, saying, “Will you marry me?”
(I was stunned, he was on his knees already, saying, “Will you marry me?”).
Tapos nilabas na niya yung ring.. hehe
(Then he pulled out the ring, ).

Kel: Sobrang unexpected. Hindi sha ma-speech, he’s a quiet person kasi. Isang tanong lang, of course I said yes.
(It was so unexpected. He’s not the type of guy who gives a lot of speeches coz he’s a very quiet person. One question, and I said yes.)

The newly engaged Couple. Kel is teary eyed here.

With me again. I'm so extra

Wooohoo! Congrats Jun and Kel! Advance Best Wishes! Hehehehe

Presenting my faaabulous college roomie on Us Girls. He’s probably enjoying his wonderlust of fame now..

I couldn’t help but post it here, so one day when he becomes more famous, and his designs become the must-haves of the rich and the famous, or if he forgets me, this will stand proof of my friendship with him.

… so I’ll get special discounts, or hand-me-downs at least!   

I giggled when I saw this from Rica’s status link.

Congrats George, so proud! Keep on making people fabulous! mwaah!

Now I’m so inspired to send magazines