AXIOO

Sometimes a man gets lucky enough to meet a woman who in time becomes his best friend. The more he gets to know her through the amount of time they spend together he realizes that he wants her to be more than just his friend. And then after a period of intense dating, he so willingly invites that woman to build a life with him – a new life, something that only they both can share. So when finally she says “yes!” and he feels like the happiest man on this planet, it’s like he’s found his new purpose for living: to make her just as happy as she made him and to protect her from any harm that may come her way.

Every man has this natural urge to protect, more so for the one he loves. It is this natural pull that brings men to do the things that he does – like (hmm… I’m just throwing some random thoughts at the top of my head here) he doesn’t allow his girlfriend to drive herself home late at night, he would rather drive her. Or not letting her carry heavy loads during her trip at the groceries, he would rather carry it for her. Or accompanying her to study in a quiet public library during exam period just so he could walk her home afterwards. Some might call this overprotective, but for those who understands, they’d call it love. He doesn’t do it just he could look good in front of his friends, he does it because he loves her.

Now I know what you married folks are probably thinking right now that this is probably truest before marriage. I have been married for quite some time now and while I do realize that the natural urge to protect is still there – strongly, I might add – I have to say that the way it is carried out might have evolved somehow. As I got to know her better, I become aware that she might be stronger than I have first pictured her to be, and so I waive the frivolous little things that I think she can handle on her own and focus on the bigger things (like what all men like to do!) But I am just a guy and sometimes I forget that it’s those little things that made me look so dashing in her eyes in the first place, and most probably one of the reasons she fell in love with me. The natural urge to protect even in the most trivial of times, not because I am want to look good, but because I love her.

So I am grateful for couples like Raymond and Aulia who walk into my life to remind me just of these things. Raymond doesn’t let Aulia out of his sight, not unless she wishes to be. He prefers to be where she is, to take care of her and to take her to where she wants to go, and she knows that she can always rely on him.

Raymond and Aulia, thanks for the quick reminder. I hope you both will always stay this sweet.

Cheers,
Ivan