Chapter 39 - In Search of True Love in the Digital Age

If I can't achieve my dreams and build the Server of Iris, then I'll take the next best thing - True Love - And I'll be content for the rest of my life.

Yup, I said it. Corny and sappy it may be, I firmly believe that true love still exists in the 21st century.

My dad, my mom, and most of my teachers in High School taught me that true love waits ever since I was a young teenager. It's kind of annoying because I had a big crush on my cute seatmate back then and, just like the other boys who already have a girlfriend at such a young age (15 years old), I felt envious and I wanted to have a girlfriend too as well. But my parents and teachers kept on reminding us and repeating the same message over and over again - True Love Waits! True Love Waits! If your love is true, it can wait!

Even though it's tiresome to listen to them, I know, deep inside in my heart, that they truly care about us. Why? Because sadly, the country I'm living in right now, the Philippines, is the Number 1 country in the whole Southeast Asia when it comes to premarital sex, date rape, teenage pregnancy, transmission of STD's and HIV-AIDS, child marriage, cohabitation (live-in partners without marriage) and single motherhood.

I didn't know most of these things back then, but now, I fully realize and appreciate their kindness and concern. Those morning homeroom lessons are their honest effort, given to us teenagers so we wouldn't be led astray by peer pressure and bad influence.

They, our teachers, only meant us good, for they don't want us to suffer the horrible consequences of rash decisions and unwise actions.

And because of that "True Love Waits" message and their dire warnings, I never asked any girl on a date. I never had a girlfriend when I was in high school, or in college, or after college. Oh no, I did not dare to. I've become a "Study First, Find a Job, Work Hard, Look for Romance Later" kind of guy and it's for a good reason. I want my career to be established first and become financially stable before I court a woman.

I don't want to give false hopes and empty promises.

I don't want to hurt a woman's feelings. I don't want to cause heartaches and heartbreaks.

I don't want my future wife to suffer poverty and unwanted pregnancy.

I only want the best for her, whoever she may be, because she only deserves the best...

Sheesh... I'm such a sentimental hopeless romantic, always reminiscing about the past...

When I was in college, I really thought I have found "The One". I had a very kind female friend, the best female friend I've ever had, and her name is Irma De Los Santos. She's not that tall, only 4'5 feet, but she's smart, hardworking, ever so gentle and undeniably cute. She has porcelain white skin, big brown eyes, and short black hair. She looks like Snow White, but in High Definition 3D Anime Version. Despite my quirkiness and not so handsome looks, she still noticed me, even though everyone thinks I'm a weird nerd. And that's not all, she was so kind and patient to me.

Since then, I already planned to court and marry her after our college graduation. Well... We already know what happened next. Everything got derailed. My plans crashed and burned. I was too slow on establishing myself and she found another man. Or maybe, its' the other way around. Maybe it's the man who found her and realized that she's a keeper. A wonderful woman that must be cherished, protected, and be taken good care of...

Can't blame her though. She has all the right to choose.

She can't wait for me forever...

That was all 4 years ago... Have I finally "moved on"? FREAKING FINALLY YES!!! I'm not bitter at her or to myself anymore! All the hurt and the pain has been forgotten and dead! Buried deep to darkest recesses of my mind!

IT'S PRIME TIME FOR ME TO HAVE A NEW LOVE STORY! I'M 27 YEARS OLD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! I'M OLD! It's time for me to "suit up"! Ladies will never turn my way so I've got to be a little bit aggressive! It's up to me to make the "First Move"! Yes Sir! I'm Single and ready to Mingle! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

Sheesh... I sound so cheesy and creepy, I make myself cringe! But that doesn't matter! What I said earlier is still the truth! Nothing's gonna happen if I don't make the "First Move"! Nothing's gonna come my way if I don't go out there and start new friendships with cute girls! Why "Friendship"? Because a healthy, non-toxic romantic relationship starts with friendship! Baby steps, guys, baby steps. It's been four long years after all. I've been so focused and busy and almost isolated with my business, I've become utterly out of touch with girls! HA! HA! HA! Ha! Ha...

Wait a minute...

Now that I given more thought about it... I think... I've totally forgotten how to socialize with women...

I've started perspiring heavily.

I don't know how to start an interesting conversation or how to befriend a girl... If I was a five year old kid, making friends a girl with the same age would be a piece of cake. We would become instant playmates in a playground within minutes. But when you're a 27 year old adult male... It's a whole new dimension... You can't just approach a woman, introduce yourself, and befriend her! She would totally give you the "Judging Eye"! Man, I'm so insecure! But that's not the point! Oh no, that's not the point at all!

I'm "the new guy" in this area. I'm a total stranger...

I don't know anybody here, and nobody knows me.

Building new ties would be... complicated... The girls would totally freak out if I just approached them out of the blue and started introducing myself. It will be so awkward and embarrassing! ARGH!!! THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!!! I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED YET AND I'VE HIT A WALL ALREADY!!! WHAT ON FREAKING EARTH SHOULD I DO?!!

As always, I turned my trusty Glass Phone on. It's tempting to ask Oogle "How can I get a kind, beautiful girlfriend?" But I did not. I still have some self-respect and dignity left within me. I'm a man! When the "Capture the Woman's Heart" moment arrives, the "smooth moves" would come to me naturally! My sleeping "Don Romantico" instincts would kick in! I can do this without Oogle or anybody's help! It's my love life! MY PERSONAL PRIVATE LOVE LIFE! I can do this on my own!

I looked at myself in the wall mirror.

"You got this, Teslan! YOU GOT THIS! We may have a minor disadvantage on the facial area, but we can still do this! We'll charm the future girlfriend with our sense of humor! Trust yourself! We can do this!"

With my little pep talk over, I quickly pressed the "Photobook App" and searched all my high school and college female classmates.

It's hard to build bridges and start a new relationship when both parties are complete strangers. But, if there's a former connection in the past, I can do a "catching up" with that old acquaintance, rekindle our friendly relationship, and start from there.

I looked at the profiles of my classmates for hours, and at the end of my search, I discovered something...

I'M THE ONLY ONE WHOSE CIVIL STATUS IS "SINGLE"!!! ARGH!!! WHY ARE YOU GUYS IN SUCH A HURRY?!! My classmates are making such big progress with their lives! Making trips around the world, getting married, buying new houses, and starting new families, and here I am getting left behind! It's like, I'm stuck or something!

I turned off my Glass Phone.

No... It's not yet over. It's not yet too late! There's still hope for me! All is not lost!

I CAN STILL DO SOMETHING TO REVIVE MY LOVE LIFE!!!