"Raphael"

By: Anne Lorraine Del Rosario 9A 10

INTRO

I've never really been the person who has had the smoothest road in life.Some days, I even

felt like just giving up and wishing that life would just stop being this miserable, unescapable

whole which had no exit but I realized that it just takes some time to figure it out.This is my

unexpected, unbelievably destined love story that God has led me to.

When I was around ten years old, I was a new student at De La Salle Santiago Zobel

School.As I stepped out of the car, my mom kissed me and wished me luck, and she told me to

have fun, being a single parent, she was always there for me and she took care of me in those

years.At the first day of school, I was very nervous and being the shy person that I am, I knew I

wouldn't have that much new friends just at the first day.I was the only new student in my class

and it was also another big factor I had to get used to and as a new student in the school, you'd

always need a guardian angel to help you and guide you into getting used to the school.When the

teacher asked who wanted to volunteer and be mine, I first thought that nobody at all would raise

their hands.I was so shocked when a boy who looked really kind and concerned raised his

hand.

His name was Raphael Bautista and he had chubby skin,dimples and brown hair.He was

one of the main reasons why I earned friends that year, and throughout grade school , and high

school, he would always be the person I would go to the playground with, be my partner in

projects and most of all be my best friend.Our friendship became even deeper when I we were in

senior year, and this was the year where I felt like I lost my whole world.I remember everything so

clearly.From when my mom had gotten sick, and those days where I felt so sad and miserable

because of it, and finally, the day when she passed away.After that day, for almost a year, I always

looked,felt and acted so lifeless, as if I didn't care about anything anymore.For that whole year, I

would always go to Raphael and he would always cheer me up, and tell me that everything was

going to be okay.Years later, I finally moved on, and he was still always by my side, to those major

and minor problems I had and those times when I wasn't exactly being the kindest friend to him,

and neither was he.On the last year of college, it felt like something had changed in him.Like he

was trying to reveal something and I just couldn't see what it was.It was like he wanted something

more than our friendship, and I wasn't sure if I did too.When it was my mom's 10th death

anniversary, I cried and thanked him for all the things he did for me and after that, I was shocked

because he confessed to me about everything.About how he always stood up for me, and helped

me through almost everything, and through almost all the rough patches of my life and finally, he

asked me if I wanted our friendship to be something more , and we gave it a try.We had our first

date in Enchanted Kingdom, and it was really fun, I guess the factor that we already knew each

other so much helped us.He didn't really court me, in my terms,because I already knew him and

loved him as a friend, and now even more than that.After 2 years, he proposed to me during our

trip to Palawan.

BODY

We then got married in Chapel On the Hill, in Tagaytay with all our friends and it was a

simple but elegant wedding.That day was so perfect, and I remember how I thanked God and

understood his plans for me , and why those hardships in life have led me into my relationship

with him.His vows to me were to always be by my side, like always, and to be with me no matter

what would happen.Mine were to always love him and do the same to him, and make him be

happy and blessed with my love always.It seems as if it was just yesterday when he guided me

through the corridors, and played all those games with me in school.I would've never imagined

any of these things happening now to ever occur back then.It's truly unexpected and I suddenly

realized why those problems happened to me.It was all for the best.Our marriage was very

honest, and trust and compassion were one of the main components.We were also very loyal to

each other and he always made me laugh and feel very thankful and happy for being in the

relationship, while at the same time, still being my best friend.It was just like my ideal married

life, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.We now have 2 children, and we are now very

happy with our lives and with each other ,and I know that God has greater plans for us, and this

our story itself , is just the start of many more surprises.

CONCLUSION

The story I wish to tell is one that will inspire those who read it, and show hope to those

who have went/are going through a tough time in their lives , and to show them that you should

never lose hope, because sometimes , the hope you need is already there, and patience and time is

the only thing you need to see that there is hope , and that you just have to look for it even if

sometimes it feels as if it is already gone/has already disappeared, it's still there , waiting for the

right time. It's amazing how friendship can lead to something much more magical and something

simply much more than it, and it's amazing how God always knows what he is doing with our

lives, and what he is crafting in his hands with it.All we just have to do is put our trust in him and

continue living our lives, by moving on and waking up the next day not knowing what's going to

happen, but being ready for it and embracing whatever circumstances occur.The rough road to

life may not always be the desired one, but in the end, the outcome is much more greater, and the

thanks you embark in God and yourself is much greater than that of the smooth road.This

project has not only inspired me into imagining and planning my desired future, but it has also

taught me a lot about life in the process of making it.It has taught me morals which I can apply

even now, and morals that will lead me into my desired future.This was truly such a creative,

interesting project, and I'm glad it was all about envisioning what we wish to plan for ourselves,

and what we wish for God to plan for us.