After mastering the art of surviving bad relationships and becoming a connoisseur of the most awkward internet dates, Bry made a bold declaration: she was officially done with love and she was going to mind her own business.

Then enters Scarlin, Bry's college bestie with a knack for matchmaking (apparently) and a blatant disregard for Bry's anti-love stance. Scarlin reached out to Bry with a seemingly innocent request: could she pick up her cousins, Esteban and Sam, from O'Hare if her brother couldn’t make it? Scarlin, in her ever-conniving ways, connected Bry and Esteban via text, subtly dropping a private message to Bry: "You know he's single?? hehe"

Bry rolled her eyes so hard she saw another dimension. "Absolutely not going to happen," she texted Scarlin, "He lives in the Dominican Republic." Because, of course, a long-distance relationship was just what she needed in her love life saga.

But life has a funny way of playing out. What started as courteous text exchanges between Bry and Esteban soon turned into daily conversations. Every text was filled with witty banter and genuine interest (on Esteban's part). The once casual texts evolved into regular FaceTime calls. And to Bry's surprise, those FaceTime calls grew into mutual longing and visits.

Before they knew it, Bry and Esteban were inseparable. Who would have guessed that a simple request for an airport pickup could lead to a love story straight out of a rom-com.

p.s. Bry didnt ever end up picking them up from the airport hahaha.

En un principio, solo iba a ver dónde se quedaría mi hermano en la universidad y volvería a casa el día siguiente. No pude completar el viaje, pero mi prima (Scarlin), insistió que debía conocer a alguien a quien no conocí en ese momento.

En realidad, solo quería conversar con ella y mantener el contacto porque se ofreció a ayudar a mi hermano y, ¿por qué nouna amistad más?

Pero entonces, esas conversaciones casuales fueron más profundas y reveladoras, fueron más intensas e intencionales; los mensajes se convirtieron en videollamadas y olvidé que no quería una relación a distancia.

Ahora, no puedo dejar de escribir, de llamar y de saber de ella de no querer pasar otro minuto más sin ella.

At first, I was just going to see where my brother was staying at college and return home the next day. I wasn't able to make the trip, but my cousin (Scarlin) insisted I meet someone I hadn't met at the time.

Really, I just wanted to talk to her and stay in touch because she offered to help my brother, and why not just become a friend?

But then, those casual conversations became deeper and more revealing, more intense and intentional. The texts turned into video calls, and I forgot I didn't want a long-distance relationship.

Now, I can't stop writing, calling, and checking in with her because I don't want to spend another minute without her.