As the days turned into weeks, the lines between friendship and love began to blur for Brian and Louise. Their dates were filled with shared laughter, new experiences, and an undeniable connection. They introduced each other to their favorite cuisines—Japanese for Louise, and Filipino food for Brian. Though Louise had never fully appreciated Filipino food before, Brian's passion for it made her fall in love with it, one dish at a time. They bonded over their mutual obsession with Game of Thrones, constantly quizzing each other about the latest episodes, and slowly but surely, getting to know the depths of each other’s hearts.

 

It had been three weeks since that magical night, but the memory of the dancing lights at Ayala still played in Louise’s mind. She found herself questioning whether she was ready to open herself up fully to someone again, the way Brian was gently nudging her to do.

 

“I guess I’ll be seeing you after the New Year?” Brian asked, trying to sound casual but failing to hide the hint of longing in his voice.

 

“Yup, see you then,” Louise replied with a smile, though she couldn’t ignore the pang of uncertainty in her chest.

 

Every year, Louise spent the holidays in her hometown of Dapitan, where she would stay for a month to reconnect with family and friends. But this time, as she packed her bags, she couldn’t help but think about Brian. He was eager to see her again, worried that the distance would disrupt the delicate bond they were building.

 

Days passed, and Louise settled into the familiar rhythms of home—long chats with her family, walks along the boulevard, and reconnecting with old friends. She was enjoying herself, yet Brian was never far from her thoughts.

 

One morning, her sister Michelle shook her awake, her voice full of excitement. “Ate! Something is here for you!”

 

“Huh? I didn’t order anything,” Louise mumbled, half-asleep, thinking it must be some forgotten package.

 

Michelle left the room and moments later returned with a massive bouquet of roses, so large it seemed to fill the entire room.

 

Louise sat up, eyes wide in surprise. She took the note that was nestled among the flowers, her heart skipping a beat as she read: “Just because it’s a Wednesday… Love, Jon Snow.”

 

What Louise didn’t know was how much effort Brian had put into making this surprise happen. Since they were still getting to know each other and were provinces apart, he wanted to do something unexpected, something that would make her smile. And what better way than to send flowers when she least expected it?

 

Being a concierge, Brian was confident he could pull this off—even without asking Louise, or anyone from her family and friends, for their exact address. Instead, he used the little details Louise unknowingly shared with him—photos of her day, snapshots of the view from her house, and landmarks near her home, like Fantasyland in Dapitan. He meticulously studied Google Maps, narrowing down possible houses until he had a good idea of where she might be.

 

The next challenge? Getting the flowers delivered. This was a decade ago—online transactions weren’t as common, and Dapitan was a small city in the province of Mindanao. Brian tried calling various establishments nearby—banks, small shops, even the theme park—hoping someone would be willing to help him send flowers. But no one could.

 

Just as he was about to run out of options, he remembered a friend who had a contact in Dipolog. After a few calls, luck was on his side—a friend of a friend agreed to personally buy the flowers in Dipolog, travel to Dapitan, and hand-deliver them to Louise. Brian immediately sent the payment through Palawan Pera Padala, the only reliable way back then.

 

And just like that, the plan worked. The flowers reached Louise successfully.

 

A smile spread across her face as she stared at the bouquet. For a moment, all the uncertainty melted away. She picked up her phone and called Brian. They talked for hours, the distance seeming to shrink with every word. Though their relationship had begun in an unconventional way, something about it felt just right. By the end of the call, they had made it official—they were exclusive.

 

Louise put down the phone, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks. She didn’t have all the answers yet, but she knew she was ready to take the next step, to see where this new path with Brian might lead.