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Christian Jorda and I have been together for over a decade. At 24 years of age, we are both happy, successful adults engaged to be married and still very much in love. When we first started dating, many people were skeptical about our relationship. They thought we wouldn't last and that we were incapable of true love. In my opinion, though love is a very complex idea, it is also a natural emotion that everyone feels at some point in their life if they are truly lucky. We were fortunate enough to find each other so early on in our lives.

~ Childhood Sweethearts ~

I met Christian in the 6th grade when my parents transferred my brothers and me to another elementary school, mid school year. Being the new girl, I welcomed every friendship that came my way – especially that of the cute, funny, athletic, nerdy, trouble maker in my class. Christian and I became good friends throughout the 6th and 7th grades. Toward the end of 7th grade he asked me to "go out with him". I was attracted to his genuine personality, humor and kindness, so I said, “Yes.” In the summer after 7th grade however, the extent of our relationship was left to talking on the phone. The amount of phone calls lessened, along with the amount of time and content. Basically, I was getting bored so I broke off our relationship. The summer flew by and it was back to school as 8th graders. Christian, being so persistent, made sure that we didn't stop being close friends. Eventually he charmed his way back into my life. On February 1, 1996, we were at a birthday party. There, he asked me to be his Valentine. Not surprised, I happily said, "Sure". On Valentine's Day of 1996, in front of a small candy store, my valentine gave me a bouquet of red roses with a card. He then asked me if I would like to be his girlfriend again but this time promised to never let me get bored of him or our relationship ever again. In return, I gave him a card, a kiss and my trust and said “Yes!” Since that cold February day when we were 14, he has yet to fail his promise to me. Keeping a lasting PG-13 relationship early in our teens seemed effortless to Christian because he is a huge romantic that isn't afraid to express his feelings. He always knew the right words to say. Christian would write me poems, sing to me over the phone, and always hold my hand (We'd even sneak holding hands in class under our desks!). He loves to display his affection and is always honest with me keeping our relationship refreshing and open. Throughout the summer after 8th grade, we actually went on dates. We went to the mall to hangout, eat at the local Chinese restaurant for a snack and then eventually we worked our way up to going bowling and even to the movies. Christian was the first to say "I love you" in our relationship because he always knew how he felt. It was very real and strong for him. I, being the realist and skeptic, knowing our age and the odds against us lasting through our teens, wanted to make sure I felt the same way, so I held back expressing my feelings until several months later.

~High School~

In high school, we went our separate ways, yet remained a couple in love.  We both attended single sex private high schools, which again, made it hard for us to see each other.  Despite after school activities, Christian managed to always pick me up from school and walk me home.  This may sound like a simple, undemanding task but without a car and our different schedules it was an easier said than done gesture.   This involved him taking the bus from his high school to mine and then walking me home and then taking the bus back to his house.  No matter what activity I had after school, Christian was always there to take me home.  Sometimes he would wait outside with his friends, other times he would wait alone in the rain.  Even in the worst weather, he would have a surprise for me, whether it was a piece of chocolate or a red rose.  Sometimes when I had to stay very late after school, he would come just to give me a kiss and a hug before he went home. 

Though I was number one in his life, he maintained an A average in school, joined sports teams and after school activities.  I, on the other hand, knowing that we were only in high school with our whole lives ahead of us, did not place him first in my life.  Christian was my priority after my school work, my family, my sports, and even after my extracurricular activities.   I wanted to focus more on those things because I wanted to get into a great college and have a bright future ahead of me.  Christian always knew what our future was going to be, I just didn’t believe as much as him.   

~College~

Although Christian wasn’t my number one priority, I did not neglect him and appreciated how he kept up his promise for so long.  With everyday that passed, our love grew stronger and matured.    After we decided which colleges we would attend, independent of each others choices, I promised him that he would be number one in my life.  He attended Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City and I attended Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.  We spent most of our time on my beautiful campus. Over looking the New York Skyline, we talked about the many buildings before us as we strolled the scenic overlook from New Jersey.  Throughout the four years of college our love became a bond of ultimate trust, respect and faith in each other.  Honesty, compromise and sacrifice that weathered many pressures and trials, along with much bliss best describe our relationship.  Christian is now and forever will be number one in my life. 

~The Engagement~

On Friday, September 15, 2006, (a month and a day after our 10½ year anniversary) I was shopping all day with my god sister anticipating Christian's phone call to meet him prior to his departure for a bachelor party that weekend in Las Vegas.   On my way to dropping off my god sister, I received his phone call.  Christian told me that he just ran into our eighth grade teacher, Mrs. Byrnes, and even almost ran her over.  This didn't come as a surprise to me because on his way home he passes our old elementary school.  He told me that Mrs. Byrnes was going through old pictures and that she had a whole box full of things from when we were in 8th grade.  She also said that we can rummage through them and keep whichever ones we wanted.  I told him that that was great and to get a lot and just bring them back.  He insisted that I go and help him pick out the pictures because I'm a very picky person, and to hurry because she was not going to be there much longer.  This annoyed me a little because I had to turn around (I was more than half way towards my destination) and hurry over to my old elementary school in the rain.  

When I arrived, Christian met me at the front door of the school to let me in.  He mentioned that Mrs. Byrnes was somewhere roaming around the building and that we can just go right upstairs to her classroom and start looking through the boxes without her.  I followed Christian anxiously all the way up to the top floor to our old 6th grade classroom, thinking that I would get to reminisce while sifting through boxes of childhood photos.  I entered the classroom where there were only 4 pictures laid out on one desk and thought to myself, "That's it!?  You made me rush all the way over here through the rain for 4 pictures that I already have!?"  It was our 6th and 7th grade class pictures and two pictures from our 8th grade graduation dinner dance; one of which I look horrible in because my eyes were half closed.  Hiding the disappointment, I told him that the pictures were nice but I already have them at home but to tell Mrs. Byrnes that it was very thoughtful of her and we'll take them anyway.

Christian seemed a bit fidgety but it didn't faze me.  He said okay and then he asked me if I knew when the pictures were taken.  He asked this question thinking that I would turn the pictures over to check for a date, but I knew when all the pictures were taken and answered him immediately.  Then he decided to flip one of the pictures himself.  On the back of the picture it said, “YOU.”  Christian said, “Hmm, there’s writing on the back of the picture.  I wonder why?”  Then I seriously contemplated what it meant.  “Y-O-U,” I thought to myself, “What could those letters mean?”  I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Hmm, yah I don’t know what those letters could mean.  Maybe it’s a puzzle!?”  I then flipped the next picture over and it read, “WILL.”  Then flipped the next one reading, “ELAINE” and finally the fourth and last one, “ME.”  I then thought to myself, “Oh My God!  I know what he’s going to ask me!!!”  Then Christian said, “Wait a minute, it’s missing a picture.  He took out the last picture out of his back pocket and it said, “MARRY.”  That’s when I screamed, “OH MY GOD!!!”  Tears came bursting out of my eyes.  He took both of my hands and we faced each other.  I tried to focus on his face and the words that were coming out of his mouth amidst the waterfall of tears and emotion but it was too hard.  The only words I could make out was, “Elaine, I wanted to bring you back to the place where we first met (our 6th grade classroom).  More words were coming out of his mouth but I couldn’t decipher them.  Then he mentioned that he forgot the rest of what he was going to tell me and just whipped out the ring and held it in front of me and said, “Will you marry me?”  All I could do was nod my head yes.  I was in so much shock and joy that I couldn’t speak.  He then hit his forehead and whispered to himself, “Duh!”  He got down on his knee holding the ring above and said, “Elaine Marie Tiburcio Magallon, will you be my wife?”  Then I was able to muster up the strength to say, “Yes!” while nodding my head. 

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