Rapp & Jeselle

VOL. 01 / ISSUE 2026 · GARDEN PASS REQUIRED

The Garden Issue: A Journey to Forever

A Note from the Couple

To our dearest family and friends, thank you for being part of our greatest adventure yet. As we prepare to begin this new chapter together, we wanted to share this space with you, a collection of our favorite moments and your guide to our celebration. We can’t wait to see you at the gate and celebrate under the stars.

With love,

FEATURE STORY

Two Hearts, One Story

From High School Hallways to Forever

🤵

Rapp The Groom · His Side of the Story

In June 2008, as I was walking up the stairs, I saw a cute girl. She was a transferee student with a captivating smile and deep dimples that I couldn't help but notice. I didn't know it then, but that moment would remain in my memory forever.

We spent four years as classmates in high school, yet we never shared a real connection or even a memorable conversation. I was the secret admirer, watching from the sidelines, cheering for her in every school activity that she participated in, while my stomach turned to butterflies every time she walked by. We graduated, and life took us on different paths. Miles turned into years, and silence became our only connection. Our paths crossed occasionally over the years, but we remained strangers.

She graduated first; she moved and worked in Davao, where I was studying college. Then I graduated, passed the board exam, and became an engineer. Our paths briefly flickered; she congratulated me and mentioned a job opening at her company in Davao. Even though I already knew about the job and was not really interested in it because I already had a better offer elsewhere, I asked to apply just for the chance to hand her my CV just for one more moment to see her. But life had other plans. I moved to Laguna for better opportunities and a salary, and eventually, I moved to a different country.

God’s perfect timing: despite the distance, I never stopped checking on her; I would stalk her on Facebook sometimes. Finally, years passed. With the help of close friends, we had our first serious conversation. What started as a single chat turned into months of getting to know each other. We never stopped talking. Despite the distance, I found ways to show my love through flowers, food, and plenty of coffee.

After ten months of long-distance, we were finally reunited. Standing in that airport, my heart was racing; I was a nervous wreck but seeing her felt exactly like that first moment on those school stairs in 2008. That day, I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes. She then introduced me to her family. Meeting her family, especially her father, was nerve-wracking because it was my first time going to a girl’s house and being introduced as her boyfriend, but thankfully, they warmly welcomed me as one of their own.

We faced the challenges of a long-distance relationship head-on, but still we kept going. During my next visit, I finally decided to propose. I asked her parents first, and they gave me their blessing. I asked the girl of my dreams to be my wife and, I swear, that was the sweetest “yes” I received in my life.

👰

Jeselle The Bride · Her Side of the Story

Sometimes, the most beautiful love stories begin long before two people even realize it. Our story started in high school. Back then, we were just two students walking the same hallways. Our classrooms were beside each other during our first year, and every time Rapp passed by, he would quietly look my way.

I didn’t know it then, but he was already noticing me, watching the activities I joined, remembering the little things about me, even memorizing moments from afar. The funny part is… I didn’t even remember him. It wasn’t until third year of high school when we finally became classmates. Even then, we hardly spoke. The only reason he would approach me was to ask for a piece of paper. Later, I found out that while I was going about my days without a clue, he was silently watching over me, keeping an eye on anyone who tried to get close to me. He liked me even then, but he never had the courage to tell me.

Life moved forward, and after high school we went our separate ways. I went to Butuan for college, and him to Davao. But even from a distance, he somehow kept track of where life was taking me. Quietly, from afar, he continued cheering for me without me even knowing. After graduation, I moved to Davao for work. Around that same time, he achieved one of his dreams, he passed the board exam and became a licensed engineer. By coincidence, I shared a job opening in our company for an engineer in the same field as his.

That was the moment he finally reached out. He told me he wanted to apply and asked if we could meet so he could give me his resume. I agreed and even offered to help submit it. But later, I discovered the truth. He didn’t really plan to apply. He just wanted a reason to see me. The engineering manager eventually asked me why the person I recommended never showed up for the interview. When I followed up with him, he admitted that he already had a job and was only waiting for his flight ticket at that time. All that… just only so we could meet.

Not long after, life became quiet again. Since I wasn’t active on social media anymore, he could no longer “stalk” me like before. But he still found a way. Through our close friends, he managed to send me flowers, without telling me they were from him. I remember being confused, wondering who they were from. Eventually, my friend gave him my number, and that’s when we started talking. He would call me often. And this time, he didn’t hesitate. He told me he wanted to court me. Even though he was already in Dubai and I was in Davao, he remained incredibly consistent. Distance never stopped him from showing up in the ways that mattered.

During the time he was courting me, I was also reviewing for my LET the Licensure Examination for Teachers. It was one of the most stressful and exhausting seasons of my life. But he was there. Even from miles away, he made sure I never felt alone. He constantly cheered me up when I felt overwhelmed. He would send food and coffee, reminding me to rest, to eat, and to keep believing in myself when I was too tired to believe anymore. His quiet support became my strength.

When the day finally came for the results to be released, he was the first one to check. And he was also the first one to tell me the words.. I passed. He celebrated my victory even before I fully processed it myself. For one whole year, he patiently courted me, steadfast, sincere, and unwavering. Then six months later, he proposed. And now, after two years, we are finally here, preparing to stand before God for our church wedding.

He is the only man I have ever introduced to my parents, and from the very beginning, they welcomed him with open hearts. In the same way, I guess am also the only woman he introduced to his family. Our families didn’t just accept us, they celebrated us. Looking back now, it amazes me how God was writing our story long before we even realized it. The boy who silently admired me in the hallways of our high school is now the man I am about to spend the rest of my life with. He often tells me that I am his answered prayer.

But the truth is, he is not only my greatest blessing. He is my God-sent safe haven, the person who reminds me of God’s love through patience, kindness, and unwavering faith. And today, as we begin this new chapter together, I know with all my heart that our love story was never just written by time. It was written by God. 🤍