43 When We Officially Met – 5/6

Estrella Palacios

Jonathan Lashley

English 101

28 April 2024

When We Officially Met

I am on the phone with my manager, telling him I can’t go to work today. I have a fever and some lousy stomach pain. He said that it’s OK, he’ll find coverage for me. I was getting ready to go to a family party, finishing some touches like curling my last strand of hair. I had a full-on face of makeup; I went to my room and started to choose my outfit. I stared at my closet for a few minutes, deciding whether to wear a dress, a pair of shorts, or a shirt with pants. It was a hard decision since I was seeing my whole family again and family friends after not seeing them for six months.

I was busy with college and working full time, so I didn’t have time to see them. But since it’s summer break, I thought, why not take the chance to see them today since they will all be there?  I wasn’t going alone though my older sister Karina was coming with me. She was in the room with me as I was getting ready. I looked at her and asked if she thought this was cute. “Yeah! That looks cute; just put some white sandals with it.” And I did! When I got ready, my mom made food for the party, like rice and cooked beans.

They were put in two big tinfoil’s. In our family, there is a rule that if you have food to be brought to the party, you must be there early. But my sister and I woke up late, so we were behind schedule. We grab the food and get into the car on our way to the part. The party is in Roberts, Idaho, about twenty-five to thirty minutes away. As we were on our way, Karina blasted some Latino music, and we listened and jammed to it until we got to the park where the party was being hosted. We get out of the car, and our cousin Kevin greets us. “Hey guys, you finally made it. Do you need help with the food”?  I looked at him and said, “No, it’s okay. It doesn’t whey as much we got it.”  Karina got the first tinfoil out and started walking, and I followed right behind.

When we got closer, I asked my aunt, “Where do you want them to be set?” She looked over and pointed at the table full of food. Karina and I head over and set the food down, and everyone starts digging in. I walk away from the table and start to greet everyone and start catching up with each of them. Then, I come across one of my favorite aunt and uncle.

Maura and Mico, I smile over. “What’s up y’all? Long time no see. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen you guys.” They start laughing at me. Maura says, “We know it’s been six months or more.”  I start walking towards them and hug both, one at a time. We started catching up when they discussed meeting this nice dude they thought was perfect for me. Hopefully, he and his family would come to the party so we could officially meet. I tell them I’m not looking since I am in school and have a lot on my plate. My uncle Mico looks at me and says, “I told him that Lizzette is not the right girl for him.

And that I know someone who is.” Right there and then I knew what he had done, I started laughing and said, “How do you know I’m his type? You barely met the dude”. Besides that, I switched the topic to seeing this adorable guy who entered the store I worked at and thought he was cute, but I never got his number since I was shy as soon as I finished telling them about the cute guy. My uncle tilts his head to the side, pointing, “he just got here. I guess you are going to meet him.” I look over, and as soon as they get closer, I recognize one of the guys. I couldn’t believe it.

It was the same guy I had been crushing on for a few days already. The guy my family was trying to hook me up with was my crush. I looked back at my uncle and aunt and told them, “That’s him, the guy I was talking about for the past twenty minutes.” We all started to laugh. “Will I guess things happen for a reason, right? I spoke. My uncle grabs me by the hand and takes me to greet and talk to him.

We didn’t talk throughout the party since both of us were shy. But in the end, he helped me put some of the party things into a truck to take to my grandma’s house, two blocks away. I get on the truck, and he also hops on; he tries to start a conversation with me. “Hey, you Estrella, right?” I think yep, that’s me, but I respond with, “Yes, I am. You must be, Jair?”  after that, we just took off. I talked back to my grandma’s house. He helped me take down the things from the truck. Karina came to pick us up and return to the party.

As I opened the back seat, my cousin Kevin was there. I told him I liked this guy but didn’t know if he liked me. Kevin said he had been talking to him throughout the party and thought I was cute, too. Kevin dares me, “I dare you won’t ask for his social media to stay in contact,” and I am someone who backs down from a dare. “Deal, I will.” When we got dropped off at the party, I stopped him before he walked off. “Wait, Jair! I have a question. I was wondering if I can get your number?” He looked right into my eyes and said, “Yes, I was going to ask you the same thing!” After that day, we talked for days that lead to our first date. And now we have been together for three years and going strong. Who thought that calling out of work would have led to me officially meeting my crush and him becoming my future boyfriend?