Radio Romance

This is the Philippines’ most romantic station, Radio Romance 101.9, where love comes to you in a melody. It’s been a lovely three hours, but I’ve got to go. Don’t worry, though, Caroline is next to take care of the music. This is Henry. Catch you tomorrow.

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5 January 2024

Dearest Caroline,

Gawd, every single time I close my show with that familiar spiel, I just feel my heart drum right out of my chest.

The routine has been etched into my head like grooves on an LP. You would wave at me from behind the glass, your large cocoa eyes scintillating like mirror balls on a dance floor. Then, you would pirouette your way into the radio booth’s door and fill that soundproofed enclosure with the sweet fragrance of your white tea and ginger perfume. Of course, after that, you would shimmy your way towards me sitting behind the broadcast console and stretch your lithe arms to wrap around me. It would then be time for you to take over the controls and for me to walk over to the chartreuse couch across the dials and levers to chat with you in between your turns delivering your lines. Every weekday, this choreographed dance between two colleagues and best friends plays out between us; the high fives we exchange may as well be us two locked in a promenade position. Every weekday, the words inside of me jam up like a CD in a defective Discman. When you’re around, I just don’t know what to do, what to….

You know there’s a reason I had Ric Segreto’s ‘Don’t Know What to Say” as my last song today, the last little ditty before you took over the board. Am I too much of a hopeless romantic to vividly imagine that you’d hear the soulful vocals, break into that bright smile that deserves to be captured in a million ballads, slide your delicate hand in mine --- as if it were a fretboard, and give me a kiss? Ah, that probably only happens on MTV.

But perhaps, one day, my dreams of you would be on air with you, the only listener. For now, I guess I have to content myself in writing to you in the pages of my diary. Sigh!

Still not knowing what to say,

Henry

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5 January 2024

Dearest Henry,

Why is it that every single time I take over from you and start my programme, a string quartet harmonises inside of me?

As soon as I arrive at the studios, everything just falls into place, as if I were following a script with cues on when to move. I would quietly approach the booth so that I could steal a glance at your shy smile as you lose yourself in the refrains blaring from the loudspeakers. Of course, my mouth stretches itself into a grin, like a stroke under two notes in legato, as I gesture hello to you. Just seeing you would then inject energy into my legs, and I end up practically dancing my way into the door and to you, seated. Gawd, being so close to you and smelling that fresh, piney scent of Irish Spring, I can’t help practically sealing you off with an embrace. As I take over the console, you would stride your way to the sofa and ask me in that voice that sounds like a rhapsody in my mind how I am and we’d converse between the spiels. Day in and day out, I’d be wrapped up in a mental tango with you, my eyes blazing with the affection I want to give you. Day in and day out, I ask myself how I can finally say to you that, yes…oh gosh!

When I told you that I was selecting the Lani Hall cover of the Cat Stevens classic “How Can I Tell You” to start my shift, your brilliant hazel eyes shone, you gave me a high five. Ugh! What would I have given for those muscular fingers of yours to intwine in mine, deftly sliding like you would on saxophone pads. Every single time I talk to you, the words I’ve kept for two years long to push out of my mouth, and then, at the very last minute, crash, it falls flat.

I hope, though, one day, it won’t end up to this very same thing, to chickening out. I guess for now, the chorus of angels shall only sing in the pages of my diary. One day, I swear.

Hoping for words to no longer blow away,

Caroline

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14 February 2024

Dearest Caroline,

Today, I asked you to grab a coffee with me after your show. It’s a good thing you never noticed that my frayed nerves transformed my voice into a screechy falsetto or that Jack, our station manager, was looking at me with a smirk when I gave you that invitation. Thank goodness you said yes.

Gawd, you looked so stunning in that lavender maxi dress, your long, dark hair flowing down your back! It’s almost as if every note of Bread’s “Baby, I’m A Want You” piped in from the café’s sound system were written just for you. Well, apparently, the barista saw me mouthing out the lyrics of the soft rock classic as I was gawking at the radiance of you because as I was paying and you were looking for a table, she asked me if you were my girlfriend. Oh, I wish!

One day, I will pluck up the courage to let you know that it took so long to find you, and that I’m never letting go.

Wishing emotions won’t pass me by,

Henry

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14 February 2024

Dearest Henry,

Today, you invited me to get some coffee after my board work. Oh my goodness! If you only noticed how I was pretty much plucking at my frock in nervousness as Jack was smirking at me from behind the glass and as I tried to keep my heart from melting into a puddle when you suggested a hang out, just you and me! Of course, I said yes. What other answer would there be?

Geez, all of me just wanted to admit to you how dashing I thought you looked in that seafoam green shirt, how it brought out the sparkle in those amber peepers of yours. I could have sworn that Sergio Mendes wrote the words for “Like A Lover”, that bossa nova track that permeated in café as you were opposite me, just for you. Well, apparently, the barista saw me daydreaming, imagining that I were the cerulean mug you pressed to your lips and breaking into a dopey little lip bite, because as I approached the counter to ask for some milk, she commented that you and I look good together. Argh! I know we do.

Oh, how I yearn to end these endless days and nights without you in my arms by finally confessing everything to you.

Dreaming to be the morning sun to you,

Caroline

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3 May 2024

Dearest Caroline,

Wow! We just spent three hours on Facetime. I suppose time flies when you’re having fun. Musicals have nothing on the lilt of your laughter, the funny faces you pull as you bop along to the titles we play when we have a little tune war.

Ah, but do you have any idea that our entire conversation was soundtracked by The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”? Oh yes, as I was taking in your beautiful, beaming face on my phone, Sting was singing at Volume Level 20. How could I not, Caroline, when I had it in the background to pump me up for, well, finally telling you how I feel?

Oh yes, asking you to video call with me was but a pretext to me finally spilling to you the dam of adoration I’ve been holding back for a long time now, the listed track that sounds different back masked, so to speak. Man, I had a plan. I even managed to ask you to describe your ideal man (which, of course, is a question that clashed around my head like an array of cymbals). I should have just told you then, taken it as my cue; for crying out loud, you even mentioned you wanted someone who you share a lot in common with. Alas, my silent fears gripped me, clawed my throat shut, and then, boom, you had to sleep.

Gawd, I have to do this soon. Must I always set myself up to be alone?

…but what if that’s not what you want? What if me unbosoming how I fancy you is dissonant to you seeing me only as a…oh no!

Mesmerised by the magic things you do,

Henry

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3 May 2024

Dearest Henry,

Ah, those three hours we spent on Facetime is making me hear Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” everywhere. The tune war, you singing along to the tracks we’ve sent to battle – all of it was perfect…because you are, Henry.

Ha! It’s a good thing you didn’t hear Tammi Terrell’s “All I Do” droning on at the back as I stared at your grinning face from my phone. Oh, you know I’m the type of girl who would let Marvin Gaye’s duet partner belt out whilst those hazel eyes gleamed in laughter. Why? Well, Henry, I was actually reflecting…on letting the melody of my soul sing out to you and…declare to you what’s inside me.

Yes, when you asked if we could converse on video, that idea came upon me like a sudden hit of a snare. I even concocted a script in my head; I was supposed to fade into the subject of me romantically liking you. I don’t know why but when you asked me what I wanted in a partner, I felt myself shut down. How could I tell you that all I do is think about you without you thinking I was a nutjob? So, I just kept it in. Ugh!

But one day, I will discover if you feel like me, if this dream is for two.

…that is, if you’re okay with that. Oh gawd, what if the cadence of your heart is for someone else? What if to you, I’m only…no!

Feeling my soul a burning fire,

Caroline

***

14 July 2024

Dearest Caroline,

Tonight, you’re going out on a date. Someone else is taking your love, not me. Gah, if only I’d actually spilt the beans, never mind if my heart was beating in seven-eighths time. If only I’d held you all those times it was just you, me, and a song blasted from the speakers.

So, now, I have to content myself to listening to The Temptations’ “Just My Imagination” as you’re being wined and dined by such a lucky guy. Tomorrow, you will probably want to gush about him as I let my entire being transposes to a minor chord. Well, I guess I can pretend I have to go home early because of a stomach bug? I don’t know.

I suppose it’s time for me to face the music. Us being together will always be just in my deepest imaginings.

Forever letting my imagination run away from me,

Henry

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15 July 2024

Dearest Henry,

Yesterday, I went out on a date…. but gosh, I wish it was you, that the lounge singer at the restaurant sang for us. If only I could have found the words, didn’t tremble at the sight of you, then…oh!

So, now, I only have Angela Bofill’s “You Should Know by Now” to play for myself. I couldn’t even get a minute with you after your show because your tummy is upset. How I long to say to you…

“Oh wait, Henry accidentally left something next to the broadcast console…. Oh, silly him, he left his notebook open….oh my goodness!”

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This is the Philippines’ most romantic station, Radio Romance 101.9, where love comes to you in a melody. This is Gerry, sitting in for Henry today. Worry not, he and Caroline will be back next week after their romantic beach getaway to celebrate their anniversary. How sweet! Well, I know they’re listening right now via the internet, so why don’t we dedicate a song for the love birds. This is Minnie Riperton with “Lover and Friend” here on Radio Romance.

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Author's Postscript: Because I am very extra as a person, I decided to create a Youtube playlist of all the songs mentioned in this piece. I'd have done a Spotify one, but I realise not everyone has an account there. Yep, that first song is a Filipino 80s song. Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJwzWdzDuE_gPVHAQtnlEnxUpzOW0rIFj