High school sweethearts tie the knot for real 10 years after 'wedding' in marriage booth

A pair of high school sweethearts who once got pranked into having a "wedding" in a marriage booth officially tied the knot for real after 10 years.

In an episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Arjay and Kimmy shared their love story that began in 2012 at Madapdap Resettlement High School in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

"Third year high school po kami that time. Pagkakita ko kay Arjay nun, nagniningning po 'yung mata niya," Kimmy said. "Love at first sight ba 'yun?"

("We were third years at that time. When I saw Arjay, his eyes were sparkling. Could it be love at first sight?")

Arjay, for his part, also noticed Kimmy, who always had ribbons in her hair. He thought she was cute.

"'Pag dumadaan siya tapos napapatingin ako sa kanya. Lagi kaming nagiging groupmates sa mga team activities," he said.

("When she'd pass by, I would always notice her. We're usually grouped together for team activities.")

Both of them were honor students, with Arjay at the top of the class while Kimmy ranked ninth. They were so different, however – Arjay was an introvert, while Kimmy was a certified Miss Congeniality.

"Sobrang friendly niya," Arjay said about Kimmy. "Minsan nagseselos ako kasi sobrang dami niyang ka-close."

("She was super friendly. Sometimes I get jealous because she has so many close friends.")

To spend more time with Arjay, Kimmy pretended not to understand some math lessons and used it as an excuse to be closer to him. But that was the extent of what she had allowed herself to do.

"Kahit po na may crush ako kay Arjay, hindi po talaga ako yung nagfi-first move that time kasi nahihiya po ako," she said.

("Even though I had a crush on Arjay, I didn't make the first move that time because I was shy.")

Their feelings were so apparent that their classmates had begun teasing them to each other. And then one day, their teasing had escalated into a full-blown prank.

Arjay and Kimmy were caught separately and handcuffed by their classmates, who then took them to the marriage booth.

"Pagkakita ko, si Arjay po 'yung isang nakaposas. S'yempre sa loob-loob ko e crush ko nga po siya. Medyo kinakabahan na kinikilig," Kimmy said.

("I saw that Arjay was the other one handcuffed. In my mind, I had a crush on him so I was slightly nervous but I also felt giddy.")

Arjay, meanwhile, felt shy because there so many people surrounding them.

But that prank became the much-needed push for him and Kimmy to acknowledge their feelings for each other.

"May video nun tapos kumalat na, naging tampulan na kami ng tukso tapos hanggang sa naisipan ko na siyang ligawan," he said.

("Someone recorded us at the marriage booth, people would always tease us. Until I decided to finally make a move.")

Kimmy was not allowed to have a boyfriend, but Arjay was given leave to court her. They took walks in the park and ate siomai on their dates.

When they went to college, however, they had to deal with the challenge of a long-distance relationship. Kimmy was studying in San Fernando, while Arjay stayed in Mabalacat.

Arjay didn't have a mobile phone that time, and sometimes they would only see each other once every two months.

"Kinu-question ko na po 'yung sarili ko na 'Lord, si Arjay na po ba talaga?' ganyan. 'Kung siya na po talaga bigyan Ninyo po ako ng sign,'" Kimmy said.

("I questioned myself, 'Lord, is Arjay really the one for me? If it's him, please give me a sign.'"

Eventually, they were able to get past it after discussing their relationship. They might not be able to spend time together often, but the spark they felt all those years still remains.

"Siya 'yung una at huling babaeng niligawan ko. Siya 'yung unang nagparamdam sa akin na special ako saka mahalaga," Arjay said.

("She is the first and last woman I courted. She is the first to make me feel that I'm special and important.")

Six years later, they graduated from college and finally made their relationship official.

"Naisip ko po na sasagutin ko na siya nung after graduation po talaga namin, sa Baguio. Sinagot ko siya sa Mines View. 2:17 p.m., tandang-tanda ko pa 'yung time," Kimmy said.

("I thought I would tell him my answer in Baguio after our graduation. I said it at Mines View. 2:17 p.m., I still remember the time.")

Fast forward to two years later, Arjay proposed to Kimmy on her birthday. She was not expecting it, but just like when he first courted her, Kimmy immediately thought of her parents.

"Akala ko nga po dahil birthday ko lang po 'yun, 'yung cake saka 'yung bouquet," she said. "Magpo-propose na po siya. Nagulat ako imbes na yes po 'yung una kong masabi, 'Nagpaalam ka ba kay Mama?'"

("I thought it was just my birthday, there was a cake and a bouquet. Then he proposed. I was shocked and instead of saying yes, the first thing I said was, 'Did you ask for permission from Mama?'")

But of course, she said yes. They held the wedding shortly after in honor of her late grandmother, who often told them, before she passed, that she would have married them off if she only had the money.

When Kimmy finally walked down the aisle, she thought of another ceremony from the prank pulled by their classmates 10 years ago.

"Agad po akong naiyak talaga nun kasi naalala ko nung marriage booth pa lang kami," Kimmy said, getting teary-eyed. "Who would have thought, nagkatotoo into real-life wedding."

("I cried immediately because I remembered when we were just in the marriage booth. Who would have thought that it would lead into a real-life wedding?)

It was, as Arjay said, a dream come true.

—MGP, GMA News