I Remember... All Too Well

I REMEMBER the times I was wondering if you were the one for me because for the first time I got what I wanted in a man. My initial petty criteria of being pure Chinese, taller and older than me with no regard for how tall or how old they are - hence our same Chinese Zodiac signs albeit you being older than me by a whole cycle. 😅

I REMEMBER that you were the only guy I introduced to my friends in person thinking maybe you were the one for me and you seemed to be everything that I may have been looking for until the time wherein we cannot see each other in person due to your driver’s license issue.

I REMEMBER that summer of 2021 when those same friends I introduced you to told me that you do not have any plans for me because if you do, you will attempt to level it up already. 

I REMEMBER that same night my friends voiced their opinion about you was exactly the same night I attended the Zoom Wedding Reception of one of my classmates from graduate school and happily told you that I won a prize during the event only for you to comment and send the IATF guidelines that they violated the protocols with only an acknowledgement that there was such thing.

I REMEMBER that very next day through my dear friend’s advice prior to her departure to our home country that I am in a situationship and should be careful about it that I was awakened - awakened that my possible feelings towards you were finally shut off. That giddy feeling of what could have been a how I met my husband turns into a nightmare on how disastrous it would be to spend the rest of my life with someone who is constantly sapping all the joy that you had in you every time you want to share your own random happiness.

I REMEMBER the time I decided that I had enough - enough meaning I stopped telling stories that made me happy - because you are just going to sap that tiny ounce of joy in me right? I was there during your down times, but the difference was I made it felt like it was everything about you and less about me - after all, it seems like that is what you wanted right?

I REMEMBER that during Christmas holidays of 2021 until the first month of 2022 you may start noticing that I was pulling away. I knew with your high sensitivity, you knew something was off and you were trying to make more effort that would lead me to respond in a civil way…

I REMEMBER that Valentines of 2022 instead of me filling giddy with the stuffed pig and chocolates you sent, I was annoyed that you even sent one because I knew it was over and yet it seems like you are trying to breadcrumb me or what since you seem to be an expert on these things.

I REMEMBER in March 2022 when I decided to end the dating that was downgraded into talking stage or situationship (whatever is the proper label - but definitely not in a relationship, this I’m sure of) with someone for almost two years. Almost two years of stagnation where friends are calling you borderline stupid - or stupid as they say for wasting my time chatting with a guy that leads to nowhere. While yes it was true that it led to nowhere, in fact my heart and brain knew it all too well that I had enough. I don’t know if you trying to win me back was to make sure you have me as a spare tire or bread crumbing me in the hope you would still find someone better while you still fulfill the need to have someone to talk to without commitment from your end.

I REMEMBER when I told you when you said your driver’s license is about to be fixed and wanted to see me when it’s fixed and I said I don’t want to deal with another uncertainty of waiting and I also said you don’t need me anymore in my life - because you are now prepared with the next girl you will be seeing since there will be no more obstacles for you.

I REMEMBER that one fateful day of December this year in an event wherein your character and attitude is so bizarre that one of the listeners of my story about you asked if it was you. The shock that I received from her and she then proceeded to tell me that you are probably getting married to a girl who is at her late 20s if I heard it right. She also consoled me that you and I wouldn’t be compatible and you are so choosy. Well, I guess that explains why you probably dragged it for so long.

I REMEMBER what I said to you before and I don’t feel any bitterness that you found someone first before me. I was even happy because I knew I was right - I was right that you are now fully prepared for the next girl after me without any obstacles. I was right that I finally decided to end the charade of constant communication without any means of whether you want to level it up or not.

I REMEMBER that I was relieved when it was all over… that it may have cost my youth, but I was able to peacefully walk away from something that I wouldn’t regret leaving. After all, I already exhausted all possible ways but also made sure that my heart is still intact.

I REMEMBER when I said I won’t shed a tear on you… and I was right. I didn’t because my heart and mind knew you were the only one who met my initial criteria… and if it didn’t work out, it’s fine because there was technically no risk involved in changing your standards and hoping that you might be the one.

I REMEMBER in the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s All Too Well 10-minute version, she said “I get older but your lovers stay my age” is so funny and relatable now because your ex before me, me and probably the girl you’re with right now, and also probably all the girls you dated during your younger years were right around the same age when we first met you while your age changes depending on who you met first among us. You make reasons that you look young so you have an excuse to find someone way younger than your chronological age. Perhaps you are similar to Leonardo Di Caprio where as your age, your lovers stay the same age it’s just that you allow your lovers to go above 30 years old. 😅

I REMEMBER that there are still people that are older, taller and pure Chinese. I just have to patiently wait for him - it’s just definitely not you anymore.

Distortion

Days have passed and I posted Brain’s message to Heart on Fil-Chi groups anonymously. As I read one of the commenters who said that maybe I should consider that I was not really into him. Then I remember my friend from the US also said the same thing about my feelings for this guy. This friend of mine knew from the get-go that I wasn’t really on-board with the idea of dating someone younger. I even posted on one of my tweets that I cannot phantom the idea of dating someone younger even for a day almost a month before I met this guy - and here I was, ate crow and went out with someone six months younger.

Then it dawned on me that I may have a distorted fantasy in a different sense. Yes they kept on saying not to start imagining things until it comes to reality. However I realized that I had an unusual view. I imagined more on how I would help his mom in doing household chores or bring her to the places she was never brought to by her son and less on how my dynamic with him would happen if we end up being together - which is not a good idea because at the end of the day your romantic relationship is far more important than the relationship you are going to have with the other people in his life.

I can say that the distortion was real and if you are not careful, you will fall for the disillusion. Like some people say, heartbreaks are previews of what could have been in the future... It's not only heartbreaks that are valid previews but so does how a man treats his mother would determine how he would more or less treat you… You saw the scene... you experienced the scene... you know that there is something questionable in that scene... but you chose to turn your blind eye because you thought it was cute.

At least for now, even if it may mean a lost cause of how much you probably took the biggest risk on what could be your biggest what if in your life if you don’t take a chance, I’m starting to realize that with my personality, I cannot phantom with an idea who have a different upbringing than I was. I was born to learn how to share in my limited capacity, he was brought up not learning how to give as he might be used to receiving everything. The fact that he wasn’t able to give something to the people he courted - what more to the one he went out with in which both of you are testing the waters? I don’t know if you can say if he is selfish or he just doesn’t know how to approach things the proper way.

Also, the things you yearned for in a man, he cannot give it to you. If you want to be treated like a baby sometimes - he is not going to give that to you since you would be the one who is going to treat him like a baby and do not expect to get any ounce of care that you desire. Not only that, I realized that it would be extremely difficult if you are going to spend the rest of your life with a person who probably has his past traumas where you never even got a chance to delve into the emotional aspect of his life while you on the other hand was willing to express your feelings in a certain situation even if your MBTI personality says otherwise. Who knew that a person who looks like an innocent and fragile angelic face would be the one to crush you into a million pieces that you have never imagined. This was all because your mind cannot comprehend that if he would just be a stopover, what lesson would he impart you if you thought you were more experienced in this? Meanwhile, if he was my final destination, where were the valid challenges and struggles that every married person needs to weather from to make the destination more fulfilling? At last we realized that with that innocent and fragile look, hidden within is a heartless person who never knew how to apologize for the mistakes that he did, who showed no signs of remorse for the hurt that he caused on you when you crossed paths and he acknowledged your presence as if nothing had happened. Which now would make you realize that I should thank God that He saved me from an angelic-looking face that is a monster within that would crush every ounce of yourself should your hard-headed self persist in holding on.

I may not be ready to meet someone yet - in fact I was looking forward for next year’s Valentine’s Day without seeing anyone prior to that event as I wouldn’t want to be giddy on such an occasion that would require me to do some sacrifices for Ash Wednesday which also falls on next year’s Valentine’s Day.

Ghoster Epilogue: Dear Heart

Dear Heart,

I know right now you are still in distraught. We both thought that we are ready to move forward after what happened with the guy we last went out with two months ago. We thought we're just waiting for the scab to naturally peel off as what all wounds are meant to do right? But that one fateful event last weekend caused that scab to reinjure itself. Then it doesn't help when it was the first time we experienced being ghosted by the guy we last went out with only to see that same ghost facing the venue's entrance on a rainy afternoon. I know the horror we both experienced. It's like you would rather watch the scariest horror movie of all time or ride the scariest or most dangerous ride in an amusement park rather than seeing a ghost in a human flesh. Heck, I'm sure you weren't even scared whenever you visited a horror booth.

I know we both agreed that closure is not what we needed prior to that unexpected encounter - but because that was the situation that was presented in front of us, we might as well take the chance to clarify things with him. Logically, what he said the reason he wasn't interested was understandable - he doesn't have any feelings for us even if he said he tried his very best (we both knew he was telling the truth too). After all the priest told us that we can't beg for love, it was just that we both know that it was a cowardly move on his part not to tell us immediately or even tell the mutual person who introduced us and he chose to quietly walk away after almost three months of chatting and seeing each other in person just because he said he doesn't know how to tell us. We technically got the closure that we never thought we needed, it's just that I comprehended already - but I understand if you haven't yet.

Dear Heart, I understand that it wasn't easy on your part because we both knew that we initially didn't have any interest with him when the matchmaker attempted to pair us up with him - at all. Eventually, we decided that as we got to know him, we would choose to take a chance on him. I understand that between the two of us, you were the one who gambled more. I knew that it was the riskiest move that you did in your entire dating life. If it means admitting that you did love him (first love perhaps?) during those times because of the amount of care and concern you had on making sure he wouldn't get hurt - even if it means you or we would be hurt in the end, then so be it. Foolish as it may be, but if we can't admit it - it would be harder to move forward because you wouldn't still understand what is going on with you until now right?

I just want you to know that one day you will wake up to the reality on why being with him wouldn't work out in the long run. He wouldn't be able to give the love we wanted and deserve. I know we both saw the red flags on him, it's just that we either put it on the back of our mind or we immediately brushed it off because his mom was able to cover up the glimpse of his supposed red flag when we both invited her in one of our dates with him. I believe that one day you will realize that there is someone better that will come in our life, just know that I am here for you throughout this journey. You are going to be alright - you have to be proud of yourself from this experience because it shows how courageous you could be on taking a risk on loving someone - even if it means to be an unreciprocated one.

Sincerely,

Brain

Ghoster Part 6: God's Christmas Present

When the organizer asked us to go to our assigned seats for the Speed Dating segment, I was seated diagonally across him. He did acknowledged my presence so silently greeted him too. Maybe I just made it a little awkward introducing my name to him as not to make the same girl I chose to sit with realized that it was him I was referring to prior to rearrangement of seats as I told her and other fellow girls of my age that the one who ghosted me was in the venue but never told them who it was.

So the speed dating segments means that the guys would have to move counter clockwise after three minutes of talking to a girl. Sometimes you don't know what was God's purpose. I was thinking three minutes was enough for me to clarify things with him as I don't need to delve into getting to know stage since I already know him. But the funny thing was since the movement is counter clockwise from their starting position coupled with me clarifying to organizers about their movement (as when the men's position shifted, I ended up with no one), they said that the one who seated with me diagonally would come back to me. That means I would be talking with him last, which is even a more perfect one as I can focus on getting to know guys more while not being distracted with whatever I wanted to clarify things to him

When our turn to talk with each other comes, I just jumped straight to the point asking why and further clarifications such as saying I understand if he couldn't accept the crucial information I disclosed to him only to find out that it wasn't the case. He said he didn't feel anything for me prior to our last date and he was just trying to see if there is something for two more weeks after we last met. I kept on asking then why didn't you tell me or the matchmaker if you didn't feel anything. He said he didn't know how to tell me - which I really think it was a cowardly move. I believe with what he said because I could sense the way he was sending his message the exact time he said he was having doubts about me.

Again, the reason was something that was out of my control. It wasn't I had an attitude problem that would make him think twice about me. I cannot do anything as you cannot force people to love you if he doesn't feel anything. Like he told me, he tried his best and I said I know that there's nothing I could do or change the situation in order for him to change his mind. He kept reassuring that it's not the information I disclosed to him that caused him to back off nor I said or do something that offended him. I told him you made it look like that was the reason because of the timing and he did acknowledged about it. After that speed dating segment, I got the closure that I never thought I needed from a ghost (maybe I can be a ghost medium now? Lol). So after the event, I thanked him, said that I don't know if I would see him again and nice meeting him then extended a handshake before leaving the venue.

I think I said what I needed to say to him and maybe realizing that he didn't know what he did was ghosting (that's why he never sat down during an honesty game when the organizer asked if you ghosted someone). Maybe I could have called him out for saying that the elephant at the zoo we last went died even before he officially died. Lol! When I told people about this instance, I just knew GOD IS SO GOOD! I never asked for a closure as I knew closures were never given to the one being ghosted, yet the Lord gave me this opportunity. Logically his reason why he was disinterested with me was more valid than what I thought it was, it's still equally painful in the sense you cannot do anything about it because you cannot dictate a person on who to love.

I know it was a tough road ahead of me since I was stuck on how do you improve yourself if the reason things fell apart was he just doesn't feel anything for you and he assured that it's not what I revealed nor I may have said something that offended him. It's not like you did something wrong, so you know what to do the next time around so you would be a better person for the next one.

My mom probably explained it best, you are already perfect, the person knew you are perfect, his mom probably knew you're perfect. It's just that he cannot feel anything for him to continue to go out and get to know me better. I guess it's a matter of praying and hoping that the next person that would come would be able to see my worth as a person that they would feel that it is worth going after me. As some of my colleagues may have told me, I deserve to be pursued and loved.

I sometimes wondered why would he had to re-enter my life if I think I am okay with the idea of getting ghosted without knowing the reason why. If he has to re-enter my life to clear things out, why would God allow an almost two-month time frame? Turns out maybe time is what I really needed at that moment. As my college friend sent a bible verse ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭8 saying that there is a time for everything. I guess time to recover, to heal, to understand myself, to clear my head from clouded judgement and thoughts. Because if he suddenly showed up and I was not utterly prepared to see him, I would have responded in the most immature way because of the amount of pain that I was experiencing. However in the event, I was calm and was able to articulate my thoughts towards him and he was not also being defensive because if you raise your voice, people would start being defensive if they aren't calm too right?

I just want to thank God for everything. As they say, there is nothing impossible without Him. He allowed me to have this opportunity to have an unexpected closure where majority of being ghosted would have wanted too. I know that I may not be that ready to meet people for a deeper relationship for now - after all it's a matter of not making the same mistake as I did during the start of lockdown. Maybe - just maybe if I would be able to be prepared for it the second time around, coupled with finding ways on how to love yourself and realize that you are more than enough, he might show up at the most unexpected moment.

The end.

Ghoster Part 5: Haunted

HE WAS THERE! He was there at the same event as I was attending to. He didn't know that I was there because I only saw his back. I knew it was him! The shirt he wore was similar to the shirt he wore on our first date. The bag was still the same bag he was sporting throughout all our dates. As I saw him from afar, he asked the security guard something and went somewhere inside the venue. My knees were trembling so much and my heart was racing so fast as I don't know what to do because I didn't expect him to be there especially the event would last until the evening. Like I said, he said he doesn't want to leave at night. What was happening!? I didn't have the courage to go immediately inside the venue. I had to recompose myself. That time, I knew I needed to call someone, so I decided to call my mother. As I call her, all I said in Tagalog was, "Ma! Nakakita ako ng multo!" My mom said my reaction was so real as if I saw a real ghost - because that's how you would probably react if you would see a real ghost right? Well, I do not have an actual experience of seeing a ghost so this is probably the nearest most irrational thing right? Lol! So when I told her who I saw, my mother calmed my nerves and begged that I should not hinder myself from attending just because I thought I was already okay - but I wasn't. I spent 1,100 peso for that event, you can't just put that on waste too. Also, it is your chance to clarify things should the opportunity strike that you would be able to see him face to face once again right? So I went to the bathroom praying to God that that everything will be alright because I never saw this coming. It came out of the left field. I am also glad that one of my colleagues was able to answer my call and calmed me down as I go up the elevator to go to the venue itself.

I don't know why was this happening to me. I am already okay with the idea of being ghosted by this guy without explaining the reason why. I thought I was ready to move forward to meet someone only to realize when I saw his back that maybe I wasn't. Imagine when I rode the Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo Disney Sea almost six weeks ago (I know it wasn't as scary as Tower of Terror as my colleagues that were with me are not up to the task of riding those), I didn't feel anything even the scariest part of the ride - I didn't even scream. But my encounter, that doesn't involve any spinning, anticipation on falling down from the very top that most people were scared to feel whenever they rides those - I felt the horror in every core of my body. It's like if you would rather see a person that ghosted you or ride the scariest ride of all time - I think I might choose the later one. That's how scary it was for me.

Oh well... it is what it is. The only thing you could have done is to brace yourself and hope that you were still composed with yourself whenever you would be tasked on having a face to face with him - if ever that happens...

(To be continued)…

Ghoster Part 4: Back on Track... or Not?

Japan trip was over, my birthdays (Chinese and Western) were already celebrated... I learned more about attachment style theories and felt that I might be in a freezing state trying to get out of the funk...

I think I am doing well right now. I realized I just have to take this one day at the time. Already talked to a psychiatrist with Chinese ancestry hoping she would be able to help me navigate the problem I told her (which I think helped a lot and she told me that maybe I was underestimating myself way too much). Not only that, I realized that maybe it's not that you miss the person, it's just that you miss the times when you want to talk with someone about anything which cause you to have pangs to your chest. Which is why thanks to Heidi Priebe, I started to create my own version of my Google Docs. Instead of Heidi Priebe's version wherein she would write to the Google Docs on what she wanted to say to an specific person, I wrote it for my future husband without knowing who that person is. By doing it that way, I realized that I was starting to get better and looked forward to writing stories to him. Who knows maybe one day if I would end up getting married to him, he would learn all the things I wanted to tell him if only he came earlier (but of course we shouldn't be able to rush things - as the saying goes, in God's perfect time.)

Then there's this Filipino-Chinese singles event I decided to attend to. I don't know what to expect. It's just that I know I would be meeting new people and hoping that he wouldn't be there. I mean it would last until the evening. He does not go out that late anyway so if ever I would be meeting someone from the past, that would be cool, but I wouldn't be bothered by it. Also, the age range is so favorable for me. Imagine ages 30 to 50. That means people in there are most probably older than me then hope that the girls in there are also older than you so you would have a fighting chance. Lol!

So the day comes... I was preparing everything that needs to be done and get ready for the event. All dress in black with matching heels (of course we got to weed out guys who were shorter than me or entertain guys who are still taller than you despite wearing heels). Then also placed the love charm on the black bag that my friend gave me for my birthday gift a few years ago.

I rode Grab not knowing what to expect and hoping for the best on a rainy Sunday afternoon. As the Grab driver dropped me off in the location, I saw a gold Innova car, the same car he was driving but I just knew it was just one of the gold Innova cars I just saw that was about to enter the parking entrance of the venue which is just one of the passing thoughts you had and hoping you find the one for you there. Until I shifted my eyes towards the venue's entrance, I saw the style of clothing of a person that seems familiar and then saw the bag the person was sporting was very familiar too... That's the time my heart was racing as fast as a Shinkansen Bullet Train and my whole body trembled...

(To be continued) …

Ghoster Part 3: Honesty Letter

Our company trip to Japan is fast approaching - in fact the flight is already tomorrow. The last thing I wanted to do was still have these sort of confusion or feelings in relation to him that my mind knows it doesn't matter at this point. These past few weeks I realized that I was lying to someone - MYSELF.

They say honesty is the best policy, you can lie to other people about how you feel about a certain person, but at the end of the day, if you cannot be honest with how you feel, you would feel more pain, more loneliness and unwanted emotion. Suppressed emotions and denying your feelings to a person you chose to care would make me have a hard time moving forward from you.

So here is me saying that yes, I think I may not 100% admit that I have feelings for you, because I knew deep in my heart I treated you differently compared to the guys I dated. It is only you I decided to be prepared to get hurt as long as I make sure I wouldn't be the one hurting you. It was just that I didn't expect to be this painful especially when I prepared myself cleaning all the possible emotional baggage from the past just to make sure I prepare myself for the next one - which happened to be you. You that I never thought in my wildest imagination that I would date - someone who is younger than me. You when I felt that you might be so inexperienced, made sure that you wouldn't be traumatized with whatever would happen between us. At least when the ending occurred that we didn't work out, deep inside my heart it was a personal mission that was accomplished that I didn't hurt you - you left on your own terms with multiple possible reasons that I may never get an answer from.

I guess I want to say if there is something I learned, something you taught me or the reason why you came was probably because it allowed me to know myself more and what I am capable to do that I never imagined. Foolish as some people would eventually say, but perhaps this is what I probably needed to prepare myself for the next one. Who knew that I chose to care, love or consider your feelings? Who knew that by revealing my condition, I bared my whole genetic makeup to you - which I would never know if you're okay with that or not. At the end of the day, losing you showed how courageous and brave I could be to be honest to you even if it meant goodbye. That I chose to hold on even if the supposed red flags are there. I believed it was more of an orange flag because orange flags are flags that you wish they would do or had but it was not bad enough that it would compromise your core values. Yesterday when my dad told me that I did my part, I realized that maybe our goals aren't aligned in the first place. I meet you hoping you would be my first while you probably did this for your mother's sake.

And that is where the issue arises, because you do it to please your mother, you have a different tolerance level, you would have a little to no commitment in getting to know more about me. Because of that, every small pet peeve or info I give to you that contradicts you and your preference would automatically make you uneasy. Aside from this, if you felt that I was about to penetrate your feelings, the easiest way was to escape. Meanwhile I on the other hand saw that you are almost a carbon copy of my youngest brother. Then I felt you didn't care for your mom enough - or perhaps help her with household chores. So the orange flags, I was trying to see if I can survive to be with you after all love is not purely passion, it takes commitment too - commitment in trying to get to know the person and trying to make it work.

I am writing this so I can move forward and be fair to the next person and to myself. maybe I did love  you because I felt the effort and care I gave is so crazy for my standards. I will admit that I am not closing the door but I know that there is a world in front of me to discover and explore. If fate allowed us to be together, so be it. For the time being, I'm sure one day you will just be a passing story. One day I will understand that I deserve to be loved and accepted the way I am. One day I will understand that perhaps being with you for eternity is a bad idea and one day when the right man comes for me, I will then understand that everything makes sense now.

I hope and pray that you will find someone you will love and also for that person who is willing to love and care for your mother because dear Lord, I pity your mother. The sad part is, I wouldn't be the one to do that part of loving and taking care of her so I hope one day it will dawn on you that you need to find someone who will love and will love you back and your mother too.

(To be continued) …

Ghoster Part 2: Root Cause

I don't know how come for some reason I decided to read Ronald Molmisa's Lovestruck Series "Shanaba" edition a month ago. I read all of his Lovestruck Series because it is really, really valuable. I think if I'm not mistaken I started reading the Lovestruck Series ever since I bought the "Singles Edition" around 8 years ago. I read it wondering if it was really him, like "Sha na nga ba?".

If I learned something it's like sometimes when we read something, our emotions are on different state at that point in time. So if we read the same book again, we would understand it in a different way because of time, experience and our state of emotions that time. Rereading the book allowed me to learn about attachment style. I realized the terms has been used for a long time, it's just that it was only prevalent now. Looking back now, I also realized he really wasn't my "Sha na nga" based on the book.

Enter attachment theory. So I took an exam to see and wonder if I am having an insecure attachment style, what was it? I realized that the results although it may seem I have a secure one in general, if I break down in terms of my relationship with my parents, people in general and relationships/dating, I had the same results except my relationship/dating aspect showed that I had an disorganized attachment.

Because of the disorganized attachment style I learned that I thought I have, I started watching YouTube videos of Heidi Priebe and read articles in relation to those. I realized that I have bigger issues to solve because I realized with the dating history I had that I wouldn't be able to solve the problem quickly. Not only did I have one insecure attachment that would allow you to practice doing the opposite way, but I had two insecure attachment style merged into one body. So when I kept on asking myself what am I doing wrong in every date I had? It's like you kept on studying, taking test and you still failed. Which made me realize that whenever I do the opposite, the other insecure attachment style will show up. So if I backtracked on what happened with each of my dating history that lasted more than a month, I learned that I've been dealing with the same issues it was just that I try to approach things differently hoping for a different result, but the end was still the same - I failed or it didn't work out.

Knowing what I needed to do, just hope and pray that I would be able to address the root cause of the problem so that I would know what to do whenever the next one comes.

Still, I can't figure out why my feelings are still not at ease and there were times I still wanted to cry...

(To be continued)…

Ghoster Part 1: Aftershock

Ghoster is a spin-off story of Looks and Brains. The ending of Looks and Brains had a hashtag of "Chapter Closed", but because of some unexpected encounter in my life, I have to write a spin off of this book entitled Ghoster.

After the matchmaker officially said it's over that you were no longer interested, I wasn't like really surprised about it. I also knew that the after effects of coping with it is no easy feat. It's like relearning your routine prior to your inexistence. Not only that, being a first time ghostee, you don't know how it really feels until you experience it to yourself firsthand. If there is a positive thing about this instance was that the matchmaker is your like safety net of making sure that you are not totally ghosted because the person can ghost you, but you can never ghost a matchmaker, because if you do that, you are doing disservice to their business and they can immediately cut losses with you as you are not cooperating with them as their client.

I thought I was ready to brace the storm whoever the next one would be, but I was absolutely dead wrong about this matter. I thought that I had the ability to suddenly shut off my feelings towards a person without crying or feeling bad about it. I said this because I knew I did it before, I was so proud of what I did except what I failed to take account was the difference of the circumstance and the person itself. After all, you can't use the same strategy to a different person. What works in one person, doesn't work in another. I kept on telling people how I was able to shut off my feelings and survive almost two years of being in a situationship without falling for them and when I was done and leave, they asked me to give it a chance and I refused.

However this one, it's like I was prepared for the departmental exams only to realize when you saw the questionnaire that the professor never taught you the topics you need to know while professors from other classes were able to teach their students that same topic. Or it's like you prepared yourself months ahead for an performance exam where all the practices and minor performances that you did in each and every aspect of your dating life was put all in one major performance exam - unfortunately you flunked big time. Flunked in the sense you got the same results as your previous minor exams but even a bigger blow.

I could be able to reason out each and every dating failures I had that end up me crying. However with this one, I cannot comprehend the reason why no matter how much logic you would like to put into it, I just cannot understand why I cannot make the feelings go away. I try my best knowing that these are similar failures that I had in the past, except it wasn't because the situation is different, the manner on how it ended is different. You were ghosted...

(To be Continued)…

Looks and Brains Part 4: I Tried My Best, but My Best Wasn't Good Enough - and It's Alright

 I tried my best, I took the biggest risk I have ever imagined I'm doing, but it wasn't good enough.

Matchmaker confirmed that you are no longer interested in communicating with me. I cannot blame you since you only did what is best for you. I would never know if the crucial information I disclosed to you was the main reason or if it was the one that cement your decision that you were no longer interested in seeing me.

It was unfortunate that despite thinking that the last time we met was a happy one without any form of being pissed with one another - or I might be wrong about this.

Looking back on the notes I created about you, I can say that I did my part not making you hurt even if it meant that I was going to be the one ending up being hurt. I didn't expect to be hurt this bad though. Meeting you was indeed a refreshing experience. It was fun while it lasted that's for sure. At least I was finally able to go to some place that I wanted to go to for a long time.

I know personally sending you a last goodbye message would not be advisable - nor you would even dare to read it. I might even be muted or blocked from your contacts. What is important was that the matchmaker gave me the closure I needed even if you ghosted me. So here I am posting it here - for my sake. So that I could move on faster - because who knows if the one for me is right in the corner.

So here the what would be letter goes:

I don't know if the crucial info I disclosed to you was the deal breaker or it was the one that cements your decision to be no longer interested in me. I cannot blame you with your decision nor I am aware that this is the harsh reality that I need to face from hereon out. That not everyone is going to be open and aware in the situation that I am in to. I know that I didn't want it to happen to myself either, but it is what it is. I am not saying you are closed-minded because to each of his own and with how your life has gone through - this is a difficult thing for you to face with me. Why? Because you have always got things the easy way - while I have to struggle in each and every milestone I had in my life. Heck, I even have to swore to the NBI personnel that I didn't commit a slight physical injury onto someone just to get my NBI clearance - meanwhile you got your clearance smoothly.

Even if we didn't end up together, I would still like to say thank you for everything and wishing you the best!

I am positive that you would eventually meet someone you like or someone you are well-matched with. Perhaps the doctor that the matchmaker was informing my mom who is probably way more successful and younger than me and you might be someone they need to help take over their family business.

I am not sour-grapping, but I wondered if I don't end up with you, why does it have to take for almost three months instead of a quick one month or less? I realized that time allows you to see the preview of what you could have been if we would end up together. If time was quick, I would have created more what ifs. If I am wondering now, I might be wondering more back then. But I think almost three months of communicating with you already gave me enough insight that it's going to be a messy one in the long run. Messy in the sense that even if I wasn't pissed off every time we go out together, more time spent together and the answers to my questions would make me realized that we are not going to be a good match.

I kept on telling people that you might be the biggest what if of my life if I don't take a huge risk in getting to know you. Now the chapter has ended, at least I am at peace knowing that I held on until the end, knowing that I took risks that I have never imagined like telling the matchmaker that I am starting to have interest in you. Lastly, to explore the option of dating someone younger than me for the first time in my entire existence.

I don't know if I would be open on dating someone younger again - but of course given a choice, I would revert to sticking to my criteria. After all, I can tell to people, I tried, it just didn't work out.

Again, I hope the best for you and also for me.

Thank you and goodbye.

#ChapterClosed

Looks and Brains Part 3: I Think I Now Know Why You Came

I have been wondering why did you come into my life at such a weird time. If you're going to be just another stopover in my series of stopovers until I reach my final destination, what are you going to teach me? It's going to be three months soon that I get to know you. Mind you this is not during the actual pandemic lockdown wherein you couldn't see each other so you gotta invest in written communication. So seeing you in person would be possible. If I use this as a barometer of the guys I went out with pre-COVID, you would probably be the longest guy I communicated and met.

And last night or at dawn, I just realized what my dream meant two nights ago. I realized that this is not directly something to do with you literally teaching me something that would again lead me to get hurt in order for me to learn the harsh reality. I realized that because you present a different angle compared the guys I met before, you are making me feel or realize things that I have or couldn't imagined that would happen to me.

I have always thought that I was the better one between me and the guy I was then seeing. Then you came and I realized that every advantage I thought I had was now gone. But the funny thing was despite losing the advantage and with me dropping the crucial bomb that would make anybody ran away in my opinion, you chose to choose to still see me (thought I'm not sure if dropping the deal-breaker bomb would make you ran away and never see me though - to be determined). You indirectly taking away the advantages I get used to, which made me vulnerable. It's like I experienced unpleasant feelings and thoughts that I never had before. It's like you've unlock an aspect of myself that I didn't know that I had problem to deal with.

So right now, this is not a matter how would you treat me because I realize whatever you were thinking or planning would not solve my insecurities or the thoughts that were troubling me. Only I can figure this out, I have to find ways how to improve upon this because whether I end up with you or not, if I don't give myself enough assurance, confidence and love to myself, whatever you or somebody else would offer me would be worthless.

This is now a battle of my negative thoughts and feelings and how to make me see that despite my perceived advantages being taken away by you, there must be something you saw in me that I might never understood until I get enough courage to ask - and also if we reached a point in time wherein things go well.

(To be Continued)...

Looks and Brains Part 2: Universe Taking Over

They always say each person you meet whether it is a happy or sad ending will teach you something so you would grow stronger as a person.

Of all the guys I went out with, you are the only one I never immediately imagined of what life would be with you. I admit that you presented a different angle compared to the guys I met. I also kept on wondering why do I need to meet you in my lifetime? As we get to know each other, I kept on having different reasons in my head. Like did I meet you because at some point in your life, you and my late sister were once sitted inside the math training that you both did?

I may now know why you come into my lifetime. You might be indirectly teaching me a lesson, but I think I would be the one teaching you a lesson instead.

For someone like you who has looks and brains, you should be off the market by then, but you landed in front of me. You were handed over to me that I reluctantly refused to accept. Truth to be told, I wasn't even that attracted physically - perhaps the disdain of knowing I'm older than you preceded to whatever they are marketing you to me. I was making a mission if you are indeed attractive enough, I have a plethora of options for you to choose from among my friends and acquaintances so I knew I got to ask the question every friend of mine hold dear to them. Fortunately or unfortunately, the result was what I didn't expect. Every possible move I make to make you not want me enough, you unconsciously countering or destroying it.

Knowing that you, the time and situation are playing right in my hands, I knew I can manage you and waiting for you to leave, ghost (well almost until some Divine Intervention intercepted my impulsive plans when you didn't respond for 5 days) or rejected. But as time goes by, conversation still going on, things are changing - suddenly time is starting to become my enemy.

I never felt belittling myself in my whole dating life until I met you. Because of your dating drought, I guess I'm probably the best person you end up meeting post drought. Someone who was in that situation before; someone who knew that if you think the same way I did 8 years ago, you're going to be screwed if not careful; someone who will choose to be called stupid for letting go of someone like you instead of being selfish because I knew that you deserve to explore to find the one that is best for you; someone who will choose to protect you and thinking what might be the best option for you while not take advantage of you as an unsuspecting prey.

I think I might be willing to choose this path - even if it meant I might not end up with you. If it means that I'm going to need you to teach something to prepare you for your next stop or final destination - I just think, I'm going to be ready for whatever.

Right now, I just know I have a hidden diamond in my hands, as long as I did my part on not prematurely giving it up, giving my best shot, and understanding that it may not be something my system would understand - but as long as it's right, I think we should be fine by then.

(To be Continued)...

Looks and Brains Part 1: Unexpected Connections and Coincidences

Looks and Brains is a 4-part story on how I met this guy until how things ended.

My mother knew that I am going to fight through hell just to not meet someone younger than me, even if we are talking about days. Heck, I even quote-tweeted or quote-posted that I could not phantom the idea of dating somebody even a day younger than me. Then for some reason, fate seems to be fooling me around on the last week of June. With my boss suggesting me a Chinese series entitled Forever and Ever (一生一世) wondering why would he make me want to watch it to learning one of the NBA Players I looked forward to playing in Domantas Sabonis cannot play in FIBA World Cup to learning that the matchmaker was attempting me to match with a guy a year younger than me over the phone - until my mom informed me in our family group chat that they already finalized to set a meeting with you on the day I was supposed to get my Confirmation photos (that made me a hard time picking it up) without my consent.

I would be lying if I said I want to meet you - I don't because my mom knew how much I hated meeting a guy younger than me, but she still pushed through the meeting arrangement. I was pissed off, they kept on saying that you are good-looking. I didn't care if a guy I met was good-looking who am I to judge? So pissed off that I wore clothes that would not fully impressed someone, but also made sure that you are decent-looking enough coupled with bringing a backpack - which my friends would like to destroy.

On the first day of July, I met you with your mom (as per matchmaker rules that both parents meet with their respective children to get to know each other). I knew I needed to ask questions - questions that would probably be my reasonable escape of why I am not interested which is religion. The problem, we may not have the same level of fate in God, but we belonged to one religion - which means my initial plan to escape was destroyed. Next, the usual trend was exchanging numbers for formality sake but you aren't sure if one of you would keep the conversation going. I would admit the conversation between the two of us went well the first time I met you. But then, because you are just a new client of the matchmaker, you needed to create a WeChat account which I don't know for some reason your app wasn't working until we went on our separate ways that day since you guys know I still need an errand to do that you kept on wondering what am I going to do there. Thinking I won't be communicating with you again, matchmaker called not asking if I'm okay with seeing you, but to ask if your WeChat account was working properly. Because I was in a "big sister" mentality, I was like sure I'll message him because the matchmaker said so, so I texted you first with the objective of doing what the matchmaker wants. Then the next day, you suddenly messaged me on my Viber informing that your WeChat is now okay then your conversation starter was what I was doing after we parted ways. My oh my, I sometimes wondered that I received the Sacrament of Confirmation on 3rd week of May with the photographer's promise of being able to pick it up by the following week until it dragged on the day I met you. Funny isn't it?

I would admit that I enjoyed chatting with you, there were also times wherein there was a possible miscommunication between me and the matchmaker due to language barrier since I was thinking you should be given options to choose from and matchmaker then said if one of you said no, that's the time she will find another one. With that rule in mind, I was initially planned of just plain chatting with you, after all I then felt that I didn't want to keep on chatting with other people and I don't know if our conversations will go deeper.

However, fate was forcing my hand to do things that I never imagined. Because matchmaker kept on thinking that I'm not interested in communicating with you, I was forced to answer a yes or no question - with no in between. I cannot believe that I said to the matchmaker that I was starting to get interested in chatting with you with the risk wondering if you felt the same way - which at that time you were still interested.

Days passed, I am warming up with the idea that maybe it was not a bad idea to be with someone who is younger than me. As I got to know you, I was starting to feel like I might have caught a big fish...

(To be Continued)...