Circa CareerBuilder Days
Gibran and I overlapped at CareerBuilder for a few years. Outside of the occasional run in, in the office we didnt socialize with each other much. However, I distinctly remember Gibran as the cute guy who would speak to clients on the phone, while putting on a mini green. Little did I know, Gibran thought the same of me, minus the whole putting in the office thing 😛
Fast Forward
There were multiple times between meeting at CareerBuilder to the night we finally reconnected in 2020, where life brought us together in unexpected, unintentional ways. A few years after working at CareerBuilder, I was commuting to work on the L, and I looked up and Gibran was standing near the door with his headphones on. I hesitated saying Hi multiple times, thinking what if he doesnt remember me and then I look like a fool? I let my pride take over and ended up not saying hi. Looking back, out of all of the train cars, he ended up on the one I was sitting on. Life truly does work in mysterious ways!
The second time, was my 30th Birthday Party at a bar in Wicker Park. Although we had a few mutual friends from CareerBuilder, I didnt really expect to ever run into him. (I should have known not to assume, considering what happened above). Much to my surprise, Gibran walked in with a few other people I had invited. Although I dont remember the exact events (hey, can you blame me? It was my 30th) Gibran insists that he gave me a hug and we chatted a little.
Third times a charm
It was New Years Eve going into 2020, and I had plans to celebrate with one of my best friends, Lexi who to this day I have to thank for pushing me to go out that night. Had I not, I wouldnt be sitting here tonight writing out our love story. After going to a house party for a few hours, where another mutual friend from CareerBuilder was at too, I was convinced to go to Rocks in River North. After all of the chance encounters of running into each other in the past, life decided why not try for a third time?? Gibran ended up at Rocks that night and asked a mutual friend of ours whether or not I was single. We ended up making the bar our dance floor and danced to Come and Get Your Love by Redbone, which to this day when I hear it on the radio or during the Guardians of Galaxy movie, I go back to that night at Rocks and feel all of the butterflies all over again. I wasnt just a sucker for Gibrans dance moves that night, I was a sucker for him.
