how the day of hearts turned out :)

There isn't much to tell. :)

   It was a regular Friday for me. No special someone obligated to deliver flowers or chocolates. no secret admirer to send mysterious love notes to be fussed about. Not that I am complaining. I guess I've figured that Valentines is not just a day for celebrating romance but friendship as well. :) Just to get into the season, I've sent my own "love notes" too. They weren't much but my deepest thoughts were drawn into each of them. 

Enzo just couldn't let this go without being documented. :P

It just makes me happy seeing my friends smile upon seeing the simple surprise. 

   We never expected anything more. The day went on as usual, with us going in Chem Lab for another 4-hour experiment. At first, we haven't noticed anything strange. They were only girls in the classroom which was unusual since most of the boys from our block get in class way earlier than I do.  Everything went as usual. Having impromptu photo booth sessions was part of the block's tradition so we might as well have one during the most anticipated day of the month.

This is what happens when you have your phone or tablet with you in class.

    We were all just kidding around, not even hearing the second bell ring. It was not until our professor asked that we paid attention to what were missing. The boys weren't around, even Edric, our block representative, who reacts frantically upon hearing the school bell. Well, we knew something was amiss. Sir Kurt even had his phone out, seemingly ready to capture the next few moments.

     Apparently, the boys from our block had another gimmick up their sleeves. Seeing that almost all of us weren't in a relationship and thus, having no one to do sweet nothings for us, they decided to play the role of being our Valentines. 

Nope. Never exchanging anyone of those.

      Aren't they the sweetest? :)) They gave each of us a rose after presenting a supposedly sultry (?) number. Even Raffy and Earl, the shy ones, were game for the challenge. All because they wanted to "brighten (your) day." (These were exactly Gio's words.)

    Well, it took some time off our lab but Valentines just didn't end there. Sir Kurt just kept on relating everything to love! Jotted few of his witty retorts and listed them here:

"I know today's Valentines and you're supposed to go on dates. If you aren't, well, take the chance to go on dates! Trust me. Now's the right time. You won't be able to do that later on. It's difficult making time for love especially when you know there's work."

"Science is obsessed with quantifying everything even if it not meant to be. You see, we are like science. We are obsessed with quantifying love even if it is never meant to measured and scaled."

"Sometimes, the reactions cannot happen because the reaction constant is so small and it is impossible to force something to push through. It's the same with love. In dating, if you know the attraction is little, you can't just go on and be a couple. You'll end up being disappointed because you expect so much knowing it isn't meant to work out." 

It's funny because every time he makes these little analogies, everyone snaps out of their snoozefest. :P Well, that is one effective strategy, Sir! :P

"You don't always see it but love and science are alike in many ways." :)

   Lab ended really later than it usually does. It did take a toll on me that's why I ended up sleeping at such a wrong time. :) Anyway, I've spent a date with roommate Tricia as we had dinner in this restaurant-slash-tea shop called Eat along Katipunan plus I had Starr's Milkshake, too! Indeed, love can be found in the solace of food. :) <3 p="">
   See? Who ever needs romance when you've got friends who'll treat you more than special on this day of hearts? :)

Happy Hearts' Day everyone! :*

what it takes to love

It's the time if the year again where Hallmark earns a lot from all those mushy paper-cut greetings and flowers and chocolates go all the rage. This is when all things are good for two. From shirts to mugs, everything seems to echo what we all know. When February kicks in, expect tons of sugary expressions of love. After all, this month's dedicated to all those drama. 

 Not everyone's lucky to find that certain someone, though. Not everyone managed to meet that guy/girl who'll make this month "extra special." For those who rather have time just for themselves, Facebook and Twitter are the perfect outlets for expressing "sawi" posts or "Yes, I'm alone, yet I'm alone and freee!" messages. Certainly, anyone can attest to that. I, for one, have seen a number even before February came knocking on our doors.

  Well, love is such an overused term, an exaggerated concept. Along the way, people forget what it really means.

  I am no expert in relationships. My heart has never been open to commitments. Maybe just not yet. I may not be ready to open myself to these personal attachments but I believe I've seen enough movies, heard enough songs, read enough books and felt enough emotions to come up with my own thoughts. To you, this might not be the perfect definition but this is what I see. This is what it takes to love.

   To love is to be vulnerable.

CS Lewis has found the right words to describe what happens when you love because in this game of emotions, you take risks. You open yourself to a wide array of possibilities that range from the most predictable to the most absurd. No, you don't get to choose what happens next. One moment, it's all picture perfect then all of a sudden, it's one of those heartbreaking scenes you watch in movies. After all, love is not always sunny and bright.

   To love is to be brave. 

You don't meet Mr. Right in a single snap and as much as you try to be Ms. Right for that someone, it doesn't work. It's like forcing one puzzle piece to fit in a space that wasn't meant to be. Your heart might be broken from loving all the wrong things. Yes, it is alright to feel pain because that's where it all starts. Love starts with the choice to be open to the things you never thought you'd feel.

   Love is not cultivated overnight. It develops through time and is not handled in haste. It takes patience to wait for something you are not even sure will work. It takes courage to accept those doubts and still be willing to take those chances.

   To love is to have faith.

As much as others tell you that it's hopeless, still you are willing to try one more time. You never give up because you honestly believe that he can. In love, there's always a way. If something goes wrong, there's
always tomorrow. Everything can be fixed. It might take some time but you know that it will always work out. You just have to trust and believe that it could happen.

  However, there's always the trap of believing too much. It might be hard but sometimes, we have to accept that some things are not what they seem. They cannot and will not be the things we ultimately hope for. It takes courage to accept the bitter truth. Otherwise, you'll end up fooling yourself and love will always be out of your reach because love? It sticks with reality. It is never far-fetched as many people thought it is.

   To love is to accept all flaws.

He might be smart but he's sloppy and careless. She's pretty but she doesn't know how to make her way in the world. Cliche it might sound, yes, no one is perfect. As much as you want to believe, no one can ever fit into the cookie cutter you have molded. That guy in your dreams will stay that way. He'll forever be a fantasy because admit it, there is no guy out there who can be handsome, smart, thoughtful and everything else you want to be all at the same time. Each has their own flaws and it takes love to recognize those little things and accept them.

  If you only love what you see, what will happen if those things fade away? What will happen if he's no longer the handsome face you see in magazines? What will happen if she loses that jet-black hair and curvy waist?
 
   If you only love what you hear, what if those sweet nothings stop? What if, one day, he doesn't call back and tell you how much he loves you? What if she never responds?

   It takes effort to see beyond what is visible, to hear beyond what is said. That is where love starts.

   To love is to sacrifice.

You can never have it all. As much as you love someone and give him your all,  he just doesn't feel the same way. Love is accepting defeat. It is making someone happy even if it means losing him in the process. Love is accepting the pain, knowing that this is what is right. You know the pain will soon pass but that doesn't excuse you from feeling hurt and crestfallen. It is okay to cry as long as you don't settle for that. Maybe now's not the right time. Maybe he's not yet the one. To love is to sacrifice your happiness for what it's worth. It is trusting that in time, things will fall in place.

To love is many other things I have yet to know and I am bidding my time, constantly waiting and learning as life unravels itself before me. Happy Valentines! :)