We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

It all started in Junior High in the seventh-grade homeroom. I was the new girl in class, and Angel Javier was the quiet one of the crew. Growing up in a household where Disney movies were the top-rated Family movies, I couldn't help but notice his resemblance to Aladdin, and I wanted to be his Jasmine. I had a crush, but it wasn't until eighth grade that he realized how I felt. As children, we couldn't understand the concept of a formal relationship or falling in love, but we quickly developed a friendship.

From 9th grade until High School graduation, we spent most of our time together because we were in the same group and took the same classes. However, we didn't speak much because we were both in the awkward/shy-fazed, but during lunchtime, we talked about school assignments and shows we both liked. One of the shows was "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," or he would tell me jokes from Puerto Rican comedy shows. I would also go to the basketball court with the girls to watch him play. In 10th and 12th grade, we were permanently assigned to the same group projects because of our last names starting with the letter "L," but our best conversations were texting during the initial era of the flip phones.

After high school graduation, I returned to the US to attend The University of Pennsylvania (PennState) and Angel Javier attended Universidad de Puerto Rico Ponce (UPR Ponce). We drifted apart a little, trying to become adults and figure ourselves out, or as we would say, "God was preparing us for each other." But almost every winter, spring, and summer break, we would get together with our friends at Pizza Hot and do movie nights. Most importantly, we were always there for each other one way or another, checking up on each other and giving each other hope, advice, and emotional support. Sometimes, we were there for each other without realizing we needed a friend. Especially during the time my mom was sick. #BestiesForLife

Then COVID happened, and we started creating workout nights, movie nights, game nights, and prayer nights, and then they turned into date nights. In the distance, we made it work as best as we could. Even though we have known each other for over 20 years, he still wouldn't ask me to be his girlfriend because he first wanted each other to meet our immediate family members as a dating couple formally. Then, on September 7th, 2020, Angel Javier asked me to be his girlfriend under the shining stars and moonlight. It was a beautiful and memorable evening in San Juan, PR. Little did I know that his proposal would be much more magical than I could ever imagine. #AlwaysAndForever is a reality, and on April 30th, 2022, I said "yes," and we would love to share the love we have for each other with the people we love most and have seen us grow up into the adults we are today on our wedding day.