The Dream Guy

By: Jocelyn A. Uy
	
	My name is Marita Teresa* Velasco** Gonsalves*** Chan**** 
McCarthy***** Imaoka******. (*=Middle name **=mother's maiden name ***=last 
name ****=1st marriage *****=2nd marriage ******=3rd marriage) I am a pure 
Filipino who has been divorced twice: once from a Chinese guy and once from 
a Scottish guy. All of my friends call me "Mary" or "Mare" because it is 
easy to remember. My love life was pretty bland. I had lots of boyfriends 
in high school, but they didn't last a long time. My first husband was a 
Chinese guy named David Bruce Chan. I met him in college. (I went to Cal 
Poly Pomona.) For me, I believed that it was love at first sight. We got 
married soon after we graduated, and we moved to Chicago. It didn't last too 
long, and after about a year we were divorced. I didn't date for a couple 
years after that. Soon, I found a job in downtown Chicago working for a 
fashion designer. I was in charge of selling clothes in his store. His name 
was Angus Ian McCarthy. He wanted to bring Scottish fashions to America. He 
was about 5 years older than I was, but he looked young. He moved to Chicago 
about a year before I married David. Angus had a very thick accent and very 
thick hair. He was a very traditional Scot. On special occasions, he wore a 
kilt! I worked for him for a couple of months before we actually "fell in 
love." When we did "fall," it was on Christmas Day. We got married a year 
after we "fell in love." We closed his business, because it was failing and 
moved to my old town in California. There, we found jobs in a mall. He was a 
manager of a shop called "Fudder Clutter." It just so happened that I worked 
next door in the Hallmark store. We were married for quite some time, but we 
didn't have any children. Then one day he didn't go to work. He told me that 
he felt sick. I got curious and asked someone to fill in for me that day. I 
followed him around to see what he was up to. I thought he was planning a 
surprise for me, so I was excited. I ended up following him to an office 
building. It looked like the real estate agency we went to buy our house. 
He entered and then I entered. He walked into a door and he shut it behind 
him. I put my ear on the door. I heard people smooching! I thought, "Oh, my 
husband walked in on a couple making out!" I wanted to surprise him, so I 
opened the door. I could NOT believe what I saw. My husband was hugging, 
kissing, and making out with our real estate agent! I yelled, screamed, and 
punched him in the face. I went back out to my car, a navy blue Hudson 
Hornet with black interior, and drove straight to the courthouse to get 
divorced from Angus. The trial was quick and we went our separate ways. I 
went back and lived with my parents for a year, then I got my own apartment 
in L.A. I found a job working at an outlet store in South Coast Plaza. While 
I was in my building, I had a lot of presents because it was Christmas time. 
I needed a ton of help. I felt like a bag lady. I was trying to get in the 
elevator when all of a sudden this EXTREMELY fine guy puts out his arm and 
grabs half of the gifts while saying, "You need some help?" I was in shock. 
I just stood there and nodded my head. We went in the elevator and I pushed 
my floor button. He told me he lived on that floor too! Actually, he lived 
right across from me, and I didn't even know it! I invited him in for some 
hot cocoa. (I hate coffee!) I found out that he was born and raised in 
Hawaii. His name was Leonardo Brandon Imaoka. His father was 75% Hawaiian 
and 25% Filipino. His mom was a 50/50 mix of Dutch and Chinese. This mixture 
of ethnicities made a FINE structure of a man. He had moved to his apartment 
a couple years after he graduated college. (He had a B.S. in Chemical 
Engineering with a minor in Computer science. He went to U.S.C.) He was 
planning to go back to college, after he had settled with a family, and get 
either a master's or a doctorate. All I did was get a B.A. in Communication 
with a minor in Occupational Therapy. I did not want to think of college at 
all (David). We talked for about an hour when I realized, I was falling for 
him. I'd only known him for a couple of minutes, and I felt I was falling 
in love . . . AGAIN! I didn't want to make a mistake, so I decided to ask 
him out on a date. Just a simple dinner and a movie. He refused me. I was 
completely surprised! He told me that he had just broken up a relationship 
with his fiancee. He still was a little uneasy about dating. Explaining to 
him that I knew how he felt, I led him back to his apartment, I told him 
that if he ever needed a friend, I would be here for him. The next day, I 
finally began my Christmas vacation. My entire apartment was decked out with 
lights, garland, and holly. I was going to have my family over for Christmas 
vacation. I invited Leonardo over so he could meet my parents. I was just 
about to go out and buy some groceries, when my doorbell rang. I answered it 
and it was my first ex-husband, David Chan. I was a little surprised and 
confused. We began talking about our lives after the divorce. I told him 
that I got married AND divorced again, while he told me how he found me. He 
started working down the street from my building with a friend of mine that 
lives in my building. He told me that he dated a year after our marriage, 
but nothing serious. He was in the vicinity of the building when he decided 
to visit me. He felt miserable about losing me so early. I was kind of 
confused about what he said. But then, I saw his hands. He had a wedding 
band on his finger. He had remarried. Then I asked him when he got married. 
He told me just recently. I also invited him and his wife to my Christmas 
dinner. I didn't know what he had planned for me. Finally, the big day had 
arrived: the Christmas party! I was decked out in my best dress. Leonardo 
came first, and HE LOOKED GOOD! He helped with the hors d'oeuvres. We ended 
up trying to grab the same plate. We touched each other, and I felt a tingle 
shudder through my entire body. We leaned in closer and closer until we were 
practically breathing on each other. Then . . . DING-DONG! My family had 
arrived! I almost tripped while trying to get the door. I opened it, and 
there were my parents and my little brother, Michael Darian Velasco 
Gonsalves. He goes to U.C.I. He's a freshman. Well, I introduced Leonardo to 
my family, and they treated him as if he were my husband. Another ding-dong 
came and it was David and his new wife, Lisa Danielle Chan. I told everyone 
to sit at the table while I brought out the food. My parents were impressed 
that I actually cooked food! We ate and then afterwards we opened presents. 
(This night was Christmas Day. We usually went to Mass at night.) I gave 
Leonardo a box of Preferred Stock cologne stuff. My parents gave some 
keys . . . to a new car! The Hudson I had was inherited from my grandfather. 
The new car was a 1997 Dodge Prowler. It looked good when I picked it up. 
After my family left, Leonardo stayed and talked to David's wife. They just 
happened to know each other from high school. David asked to talk to me 
privately. We went into the kitchen and he started looking at me funny. I 
felt really weird, and I wanted him to leave. He came up close and asked me 
if I still loved him. I told him no, but I liked him as a friend. He didn't 
care what I said, and he tried to kiss me! I slapped him in the face and 
stormed out of the kitchen. David actually wanted to cheat on his NEW wife 
with me! Talk about a confusing situation. I asked him to leave, and he did, 
as if nothing had happened. After they left, I started crying. Leonardo 
wondered what was wrong, and I told him. He got so angry and asked if I 
needed someone to talk to. I told him yes and we sat together in front of 
the television and began watching "It's a Wonderful Life." When the end of 
the movie came, I didn't realize it, but I had my head on his shoulder. I 
looked up and he looked down at me. We stared at each other for a while 
until finally we kissed each other. After about a minute or two, we broke 
off. We both were a little startled about the whole thing. Then Leonardo 
said he had to go back to his apartment. I agreed with him and told him I 
had to clean my apartment. After he left, I just looked up at the ceiling 
and started mouthing, "Thank you, God! THANK YOU!" Okay, now that you know 
how we started to hit it off, here are his STATS: He is 6'2", 185 pounds. 
He has short blackish-brown hair that can be slicked back if needed. He is 
into basketball, tennis, and running. He goes to the gym every week, 3 times 
a week. He looks very muscular, but not so that it's overwhelming. He has a 
beautiful smile and perfect teeth. He also part-time teaches an intermediate 
Kung Fu class twice a week. This guy was a catch! Over the next few days I 
was trying to contemplate "the kiss." I was afraid that I was moving too 
forward or he didn't like it! I wasn't sure if he'd act the same way! I 
really wanted a relationship with this guy, but I didn't want to spoil it. 
While I was at work, I kept on thinking about what he thought. I was so in 
tuned with my thoughts that I sometimes started "going off into space" while 
ringing up a customer. I almost got fired! The boss let me off with a 
warning and then said I had the rest of the day off. Then I went back to my 
apartment. On my door was a little note. It said, "Need to talk. Meet me 
across the street at Spago's at 7:30 P.M. Wear formal dress! Signed, Leo." 
So, he ended up asking me on a date! Of course I was going to go, but I 
wanted to do a good gesture for him. I bought him a bouquet of flowers. 
(Hey, isn't the GUY supposed to do that?) When I got to the restaurant, 
Leonardo was already there. Man, he looks good in everything he wears! He 
was wearing this spiffy Giorgio Armani suit that looked like it was off the 
cover of GQ! He had already ordered for me and while I was about to sit, I 
gave him the flowers. He was touched. We acknowledged each other on how we 
both looked and sat down. We began talking about what happened on that night 
before. He asked me if I wanted to pursue a relationship with him. Of course 
I said yes! So at that moment, we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. 
After dinner we went to a movie. We saw "Titanic." When we finally got to 
our apartments, it was about 1:30-2:00 A.M. It was one of the best nights I 
ever had. I wanted to move slowly due to the many mistakes I had made in the 
past. He agreed and said he'd see me in the morning. Then he looked at me 
with piercing eyes. I felt like jelly. I swear he could have done anything 
to me and I would have been helpless! All he did was give me a most heavenly 
kiss on my lips. Oh, what a kisser! We said our good nights and entered our 
own apartments. I closed my door and I felt so good! I didn't feel sleepy so 
I started up some popcorn and looked if anything was on T.V. The next day I 
went to work, and who did I see shopping in my store? Why it was my ex-high 
school sweetheart, Terence Hiroshi Kashimura! He was a hybrid of a black 
woman and a Japanese man. A lot of people made fun of him for that. We were 
the best of friends before we became sweethearts. We actually kept in touch 
even after graduation. He told me he just got his doctorate in psychiatry at 
Notre Dame the year before. He now was Dr. Terence H. Kashimura. I had not 
seen him in years! The last time I saw him was at our reunion and we still 
were in college! We got to talking. He married 5 years ago and he had two 
kids: 1 newborn and another that was 4 years old. We talked for a few 
minutes and then his beeper went off. He had to go and I told him that he 
could come over to my apartment to talk. After work, I met Leonardo in front 
of our building. I told him about my day and who I met. He said he wanted to 
meet him as well. Terence gave me his phone number so I called him and told 
him and his family to come over. He said fine, but he needed to finish with 
a patient of his and call his wife with his kids. I made some lasagna 
because I remembered Terence liked pasta, and I set the table for 5. I had 
an old baby high chair my mom gave me, "just in case." I set it next to the 
table. Leonardo came over dressed in a really, REALLY nice "necktie-less" 
suit. I had some wine chilling in the fridge. Leonardo starting watching 
T.V. while I worked on a story I was trying to write. It was about a senior 
in high school who likes to write poetry and stories, and all of the ups 
and downs in her life. I didn't know what to name her, but I knew that it 
would start with a "J." Anyway, I heard a ding-dong and the Kashimura family 
had arrived. Terence, with his wife, Janice Caitlin Smith (completely 
Caucasian) & children (baby Jasmine Yvonne & 4 year old Terence Hiroshi Jr.) 
came in and sat down. I introduced myself to his family and I introduced 
Leonardo to them. He was great with the kids. I told them my story of how I 
got married and divorced, and married and divorced again, and how I met my 
present boyfriend, Leo. Then I asked them to sit at the table and prepare 
for dinner. I brought out the lasagna and the wine and we all began eating. 
Janice fed her baby some formula while little Terence Jr. was eating his 
lasagna very slowly. We just started talking about what had happened over 
the years. Before we knew it, it was time for them to go. I bid them goodbye 
and told them I'd see them later. When they left, Leo and I cleaned up. We 
were in my apartment at night, alone, and we were in love. What else would 
come next . . . we started kissing very passionately. My head said "stop" 
but my body said "go!" I didn't know what to do! That was until my 
conscience stepped in. I held my arms out and told him that it was going too 
fast. I said if we took our time, then it would be better. He agreed, with a 
little frown, and said he'd go now. I kissed him good night and he went back 
to his apartment. I went to sleep dreaming about Leo and seeing if we could 
take our relationship further. Leo and I ended up being a very serious 
couple for about 2½ years. Then the moment came. It was a beautiful moonlit 
night. We were in a very classy and expensive restaurant. I was wearing 
probably the most expensive dress I owned and he was wearing his most 
expensive suit. After we had our dinner, he took me to an open grassy area 
so we could look at the stars. Then all of a sudden a big electronic blimp 
flew over our heads! The screen turned on and it said, "Will you marry me, 
Marita?" over and over again. I was completely speechless. Leonardo had paid 
a lot of money to have this guy fly over with this blimp! I was so touched 
that I had to say . . . YES! I told him yes, and he was extremely happy. He 
gave me a BEAUTIFUL platinum and diamond ring. It was so wonderful! I kissed 
him over and over again! When we got to our apartments, I called my parents. 
I told them I was getting married . . . AGAIN! I told them that this was the 
one. This was the one that would last forever. I ended up calling everyone I 
knew, except for David and Angus. Leo called everyone he knew. We planned to 
have our wedding in the spring so it would be nice and sunny. We wanted to 
have a big, romantic wedding with all our friends and relatives. He agreed, 
with one exception: we have a small wedding in a church 1st with only 
witnesses, then we have the big gala. I said that was fine. So it was 
settled. I was going to be Marita Teresa Velasco Gonsalves Chan McCarthy 
IMAOKA! Wow! Try to say that 3-times fast! I was going to wear my mom's old 
wedding dress. The first 2 times I got married, I got new dresses. Those 
were mistakes. I thought if my mom used this dress, and she's still married 
to my dad, I should do the same! We decided to have a traditional Filipino 
wedding. You know, the 13 gold coins, the cloth with the chain, etc. 
Finally, the big day came in June! We had already been legally married under 
the eyes of God the day before, but now it was time for the fancy stuff. 
Everything was perfect. The church, the flowers, and all the guests were all 
completely perfect! I was so happy. Then it started. All the other people 
processed in with a uniformed manner. Then the song came on, "Here comes the 
bride . . ." My daddy was with me and we walked up the aisle very slowly. I 
saw everyone there! Then I got right next to Leonardo. HE LOOKED GOOD! He 
bought, not rented, his own tuxedo. The wedding began. We were about to 
exchange our vows when Leonardo went over to the piano. He sat down and 
started playing and singing the song "You are My Lady" by Luther Vandross. I 
started crying. I was so touched. Finally, the vows came and we were married 
in the eyes of our families. We gave each other a very lovely kiss on the 
mouth and we walked out. Now we have been married for 5 years and we have 
been around the world. We had our honeymoon in Europe. We also went to Japan 
and the Caribbean. It was a great time. We already have 3 glorious children. 
Our oldest son is 4 years old and his name is Leonardo Brandon Imaoka Jr. We 
also have a 3-year-old daughter named Angelina Marita Imaoka. And our 
youngest child is a newborn baby boy. He is Dean Terence Imaoka. He is 
approximately 8½ weeks old. If I never met Leonardo Sr., my life would have 
never been the same.

THE END!