I've taken a lot of buses in my travels. But the most memorable one happened three years ago today when I sat next to a guy on the way home from Gumasa, Glan.

His name is Jan and we had a little conversation—the first real one we ever had two months since I came in as the new Software Designer in the company we previously worked with. It wasn't exactly the kind of conversation that will get you butterflies in the stomach. There isn't much to remember what it was about either. God knows what broke the ice because he's the shy type and I'm not the one who'd initially strike a conversation. But something got us talking that it felt we've known each other for a long time. It was so spontaneous and natural. And the next thing we knew, time flew. It was already 3 hours later.

Bang late!

Those were the two words he sent me over Skype the next day after coming late for work. Just so you know, our conversations on Skype before were no more than work-related shiznits. It's pretty obvious how those two seemingly insignificant words are so meaningful to me that I could not easily forget it three years passed. Not just because it made me realize that my habitual tardiness has done me good somehow, but from then on, we always had something to talk about like Science (wtf, right?), music, or our shared love for Jack Johnson that slowly drew us closer until we became so inseparable. And the rest, as they say, is history.

It's past midnight and I am bathing in mush right now as I write this blog reminiscing that moment on the bus three years ago. Bus rides do have a funny way of bringing people together when they least expect it. Our story didn't exactly begin with love at first sight, as seen on TV. We were both broken at that time but who would've thought? We never really know who in our lives will turn out to be a blessing, do we?

I oftentimes find myself asking how did I get so blessed and what have I done right to deserve him. We still ride buses together. But this time, he's no longer just that office mate who knows how to rock a guitar that I had (and still has) a crush on. He has a special role in my life. A role he plays so well. He is my best friend, my critic, my number 1 fan, my mentor, my favorite challenge, my inspiration, my confidant, my +1, my travel buddy, my rock. He's pretty much everything but above it all, he's the love of my life.

Yes, it was three years ago today I sat on the bus next to the man I never thought I would want to spend the rest of my life with. And that was just the beginning.