rina,

i remember one of the first times i hung out with you.  this was during a KVIE service project and we were answering phone calls.  supposedly, says yong and derek, i liked you since then.  i wish it were true because it would have possibly meant that we could have been together sooner than we have.  but that night i was sitting over on yong's side and after we had a break, i decided to sit next to you.  little did i know that i would enjoy sitting next to (and being with) you from that moment on.  and that night after i'd do the "carlton" dance, you said to do it again, and i did.  i'll do anything for you.  no matter what.  you can count on me to do so.

lately, i feel as if we have been getting closer and closer, despite not always being together all the time, like in the summer.  now we have classes at different times and our schedules aren't the same, but we see each other in the morning before i leave, and we come home from school the same time.  i like the routine we follow.  i'm not saying that we shouldn't do other things, but i like knowing that i can wake up next to you, and when i come home (or your place) its with you.  my roommates are probably thinking that i'm just like our roommate from last year because he practically lived at his girlfriend's house.  but i spend more time with them than our roommate from last year.  i'm not saying anything bad about him, but i just wouldn't want to forget my friends while i'm always spending time with you.  i appreciate that you understand that sometimes i need to go home.

i LOVE being with you.  no matter what we do.  whether it be shopping, walking in the park, taking the bus to school or just being in the same room with you, i like the time we spend together.  i know we're always together, but that's the way i like it.  i'm still amazed that you're not tired of seeing me.  i know that i'm not tired of seeing your pretty face. 

i'm glad that i'm getting to know you more and more everyday, along with the great friends that you introduced to me (i.e. yong, dahye, chung, derek, jon and the rest of the gang).  i never really made great friends with my girlfriends' friends in the past, but i'm happy that we all can hang out together and there's not problem or any awkwardness.  there are always fun times when we get together, like the times we went to marine world or even down south to LA for three days.

we have been together for more than two months, but, as you, feel like we've been together for much longer, at least two months longer than our date says.  i've shared many great things with you within the time that i have started liking you (since before winter quarter finals).  i knew when i started liking you, to have you as my girlfriend was something that i really wanted, more than the girls i liked prior to you.  and as my stubborn self showed, i was truly that.  i still wanted to talk to you, and if anything try to be your friend.  i'm still in shock in the fact that you still wanted to go to banquet together (this was all before knowing how you really felt).  if it wasn't for banquet (or the after party, as andy, minh, tony and stef lau know), it is possible that it would have taken us longer to get together.

it's funny how that occured, but nonetheless i don't regret anything that i have done with you.  i like sharing moments with you, because when i go back and think about those things, it makes me realize that we do have our times, when we seem to just let things be as they are and enjoy it that way.

you are also the person who makes me a better person.  i'm more caring, nice, sensitive, patient, understanding and school-orientated person.  without you, my life would be all a mess.  but you help me out and straighten things out and lead me to the right way (like how you cleaned the top of my desk ).  i wouldn't be as focused with school.  knowing that you're always studying, makes me want to study with you.  because i get two things accomplished: learning and being with my rini.  i try to follow in your examples because you have everything in your life going for you, and you're pretty at ease with it.  you are always calm, no matter what the situation, and i hope that one day i can be a tiny bit of that.  i may always seem like i'm calm, but most of the time, i just like to not care or ignore things.

thank you for being the person who you are.  thank you for being such a great girlfriend who is always sweet, caring, thoughtful and beautiful.  i always look forward to the times i get to see you again after not seeing you for a period of time, even if its time from getting out of class and seeing you again.  i think of you when i'm not with you and miss you just as much.  i truly THANK GOD that I FOUND YOU.  

and of course, i  you!

your boy,
nino

mariah carey feat. 98 degrees and joe

I would give up everything
Before I'd separate myself from you
After so much suffering
I finally found the unvernished truth
I was all by myself for the longest time
So cold inside
And the hurt from the heart it would not subside
I felt like dying
Until you saved my life

Thank God I found you
I was lost without you
My every wish and every dream
Somehow became reality
When you brought the sunlight
Completed my whole life
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude
Cause baby I'm so thankful
I found you

I will give you everything
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do
To ensure your happiness
I'll cherish every part of you
Because without you beside me I can't survive
I don't wanna try
If you're keeping me warm each and every night I'll be all right
Cause I need you in my life

[Chorus]

See I was so desolate
Before you came to me
Looking back I guess it shows
that we were destined to shine
After the rain to appreciate
the gift of what we have
And I'd go through it all over again
To be able to feel this way

[Chorus]

Thank God I found you
I was lost without you
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude
My baby I'm so thankful
I found you

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude
My baby I'm so thankful I found you