Robert and I go all the way back to Citrus Glen Elementary—when he had his very first crush… on me (who else?). According to his mom and sister, Robert was in love with me from the very first time he met me. I even have old class photos of us together, with Robert always directly behind me, always lingering around. He was always there.Of course, I was completely oblivious and I didn’t reciprocate any feelings, nor did I even realize he liked me. Robert’s still a little salty about that to this day. My bad. I carried on with my life, and he carried on with his, quietly longing for me through the years, one could assume. Just two kids crossing paths, unaware that God had his plan. As time went on, Robert followed his own ambitions and joined the U.S. Marine Corps, while I stayed in Ventura, pursuing school and trying to find a job. I ended up taking a job I didn’t originally get—one that, through a twist of events, was offered to me at the last minute. Coincidentally, it was the same job his sister would end up working at, too. One night, I was working at the host stand, minding my own business, when somebody called my name. Tell me why his sister, Rena, practically pulled up and interrogated me! She started asking what elementary school I went to, and the million-dollar question: “Do you remember my brother Robert?! For a few minutes, she proceeded to tell me all about her brother—this stranger I didn’t even remember. Me, being a little scared of her, just nodded and listened as she went on about how she used to tease Robert about his crush on me for years, even after we parted ways. All I remember thinking was, Well, that’s funny, and not thinking much. When I asked Robert about it later, he said that Rena had called him to say that I worked with her, and he proceeded to tell her, and I quote, “I don’t care, I want to be single, Rena.” He’s a hater. After that, Rena kept talking about Robert, that she wanted us to meet. She was trying to pimp me out, and while I appreciated the gesture, in all honesty, I was just enjoying life as it was. I couldn’t imagine he’d actually become a part of my life. But time passed, and September came around—that’s when I saw him again: At The Cheesecake Factory. So romantic. As soon as I walked into the building, Rena ran up to me and excitedly exclaimed, “Guess who’s here!” Everything changed. They were sitting at the bar, and I purposely avoided going over there because I was nervous. My first real impression of him was thinking he looked scared. He had a blue beanie on because it was chilly outside, and he was cowering into himself over the table, his body language clearly showing that he was uncomfortable and didn’t want to be there either. Later, I found out that Rena had coerced him into coming. Thanks Rena. She called out to me, and my body immediately stiffened. I cautiously walked to the table, where there was an audience of three (Kaylee, Daisy, and Rena), watching us with bated breath, waiting for sparks to fly, all the while, Robert and I could barely hold eye contact as we awkwardly reminisced about elementary school days—completely avoiding the real reason he was here. After, a few minutes later, he hastily rushed past me and muttered, “Bye, Janae. It was nice seeing you again,” as he walked out the door without making eye contact. I thought that was cute. Rena walked up to me right after and gave me his number. I kept it, making sure to put it in a place where it was safe. When I got home, I obviously chickened out. My phone just happened to break that night, but my mom gave me hers to send Robert a text. I tried to fight it, embarrassed to text first, but my sister Chantell, and mom practically forced me, so I did—thanks to a little peer pressure—and I’m so glad I did. Since that day, we never stopped texting. He started hauling himself from San Diego to Ventura almost every weekend by train just to see me, even if it was just for a day. I thank God for what he continues to do.