Happiest birthday, Mart!
The relationship I get to share with Martin is one that I treasure deeply. There are still days when I get so fascinated by the fact that I get to call him my “boyfriend”… But he is so much more than that. He is the person I prayed for and continue to pray for. The best of friends. Someone who’s kind, patient, and strives for excellence. Perhaps also somewhat of a weirdo. We have spent numerous birthdays together. As friends, as two persons falling deeply and now as partners. I am beyond blessed to celebrate his life and his goodness in full. When my idea of home can get knotted up in my mind, he takes it in his loving hands and untangles them for me.
Today, on his 28th birthday, I write this for him — he who is the inspiration for dreams that I have, castles in the air that I build, and the future that I am eager to meet.
Martin, every day, I am amazed by your optimism and how it can quickly console my moments of doubt and despair. You never fail to remind me how loved I am. Thank you for reminding me of my innate beauty and for entrusting yourself to me. It is a privilege to be able to love, be loved by, and dream alongside you. Daily, you teach me what it means to give without counting the cost, and through your example, I know that love is a verb and it is one that I constantly strive to learn how to reciprocate.
Thank you for making life all the more wonderful. Nothing is more thrilling to me than having a glimpse of your mind and the knowledge that I get to engage with you in dialectics for the rest of my life. I am grateful that you journey with me in all my seasons and seek adventure with me daily.
I love how animated you get when something piques your interest — like a little kid on Christmas morning running to the tree to open up presents. I love it when you sing to me and call me before you sleep just to tell me about your day. I love how you always have a silly smile on your face as soon as I call you or make kulit just to see you react even when I know you’re busy working. I love that you’re a fan of BTS, which means I can crush on Tae-hyung all I want because you completely understand, too. I appreciate your patience in explaining how you animate and letting me have an inside look at one of your passions. You know exactly just when and how to lift my spirits up and when to lend me your ear whenever all I need is for someone to listen.
I admire your hope and how you share it with me when mine wanes. When I think beyond the present, I am often filled with trepidation. You invite me to be grounded, encouraging me to be hopeful for what lies ahead but at the same time appreciate the present moment we are blessed with. You make me so excited for the future that has yet to come. As fearful and uncertain as I am, you always make sure to remind me you’ll be there to help compose and animate my campaign jingle. You help create alternate universes with me — exploring what-ifs and what could be — and educate me on the intricacies of comic lore, the quantum universe bifurcation, demons, and exorcism. When I waver, you keep me steady. When I question, you give clarity. It gives me great joy to know that the collection of stories being written in my head is eagerly awaited to be heard by you, any day. Every day.
You laugh even when my jokes aren’t funny. You make me laugh even though I don’t always find you funny.
In an attempt not to make this overly verbose, with all that’s been said, I am simply grateful for the life you celebrate today. It is [extremely] good that you exist. How wondrous it is to live my life knowing that you are part of it. How much more beautiful that I — ME! — get to be a part of yours.
Happiest birthday, Mart. You are deeply and genuinely loved.
