The way he smiles at me...

The way he looks at me...

The way he kisses me...

Everyday is like me falling for him like the first time.

It's magical in its own way.

To me loving a person is not because of the money or the good looks, it's how its heart works. Even if sometimes hearts are the hardest to see.

My parents always say "faces we see but hearts we don't know" well to me is different.

I see them both with Damian.

He is an open book.

No secrets.

No lies.

Trust is the strongest between us and that is very important.

I used to hide from everyone else the real me. I was afraid people would reject me so I would lie or keep secrets from everyone.

But with Damian, he proved to me that he was different when the day I told him about well...my skin condition. He accepted me no matter what when everyone else just backed away or gave it second thoughts. He has accepted many things about me that no other has.

My craziness, my temper, my quietness, my shyness, my simplicity, my family...

Everything was beautiful in his eyes.

Even me.

The simple things that he do everyday makes me swoon like crazy. My heart accelerates just at the sound of his voice and my knees get weak when I stand next to him. My hands slightly tremble at his touch with excitement and I can feel my eyes brighten just at the sight of him whenever I get the chance to be with him. I'm like a crazy school girl madly in love with her crush.

Love found me.

And suddenly he became my everything.

Not a single day does he forget to tell me that he loves me. Even with him now working so hard he always manages to find the time for me. Even if it's just to tell me he loves me, he always replies.

Sometimes he tells me to greet my parents for him, other times its a whole karaoke concert in which he starts singing to me. Dedicating songs after songs just for me and dance in front of me like nobody is watching. There are times were we simply just stay hours talking on the phone and more times in which he even invites my brother and I to play with him on his Play Station.

My BROTHER.

Hard to deal with but Damian accepts him and my family no matter what.

Even if they judge him so much.

"You had to pick a short man." My mother says.

"I'm only friending him because I'm trying to see if he has money." Steve says.

"You are too beautiful. What do you see in him. He's so...different." My father says.

"Mexican mens aren't always good." My sister Gloria says.

"He's too old." My sister Nancy says.

They simply just don't know him like I do.

He doesn't has to be tall, nor rich, and heck American.

Those things don't matter to me at all.

He has been working really hard to get money, blisters and sun burns, everything just to have a little something.

He is only slightly like an inch shorter than me but size didn't bother me.

Looks were the least of my concerns as well because to me he was the handsomest out there.

And him being a Mexican meant nothing. He was different from all the stereotypes which are spoken of.

If only people could see him like I do.

~*~

Merlyn: heyyyy can I ask you a very personal question?

Me: sure go ahead.

Merlyn: it's really personal though...please don't judge me. I just need your advice.

Never would I have guessed Merlyn ever asking advice from me one day. It's always the other way around.

Me: I won't judge I promise.

Usually she takes a long and I mean a long time to reply a text but today she was on a roll texting me through Snap Chat in the records of seconds.

Merlyn: It's about.... a thing....

Me: Wowwww "totally" understand that 😂😂😂 please explain yourself.

Merlyn: Geez Dani give me a break it's something not easy to talk about. I'm embarrassed 😅

Me: Okay okay go on you can trust me.

Merlyn: I need to know how you do it.

Me: Do what?

Merlyn: you know... Do the thing.

Me: gurl I ain't comprendo nada

Merlyn: The thing the thingy of the thing 😭 for crying out loud you and your guy!

I face palmed finally understanding her. And heck this was way more personal than I thought. Now why on Earth does she want to know that?!

Unless....

Me: Is there a guy in your life?

Merlyn: 😢😢😢 not exactly.

Me: 😶

Merlyn: Remember Irwin?

Sounded familiar but I had no clue who she was talking about.

Me: Ummmm is he who took my chips one day in the vending machine when it got stuck and me and Kaitlynn attacked the darn thing and when we left the guy gave it a single hit and took MY chips for free?

Merlyn: What?! 😂😂😂 what no what the heck you talking about?

Me: Continue :')

Merlyn: Irwin was a junior when we were seniors and I had a crush on him.

Me: yeah don't know him probably to busy plotting revenge at the time.

Merlyn: Ugh geezus with you! 😂 horrible friend anyways HE and I have had a thing going. Friends...with benefits?

Me: benefits? What's with the question mark?

Merlyn: that's the thing...

Merlyn was going through the same thing I went through a few months back.

Irwin was the next Juan.

Apparently Merlyn fell in "love" because he randomly friend requested her and became friends. The guy is a total player though and Merlyn knows it very well. Let's say through a few dick pics, she wanted to be something more.

And just like Juan, Irwin guy wanted to use Merlyn as second.

Me: don't you dare do it! 😭😭😭

Merlyn: Why not? I'm old enough.

Me: that's not the thing.

Everyday I regret myself for ever getting so low for someone. For ever thinking being second was a good thing. For ever playing along with Juan. It makes me sick to the core at how I could have done that to myself. Even so nothing happed between us, Thank God, I pretended to be someone I wasn't. And it made me feel dirty at the thought that I ever laid eyes on him. Now Merlyn was going through the same thing.

Me: You're going to regret it trust me you will 😭

Merlyn: 😭😭😭 I don't care...it's not like anybody is going to ever love me. Just look at you...everyone else....everyone from school we graduated with are either married, taken, parents, and in love. Unlike me...nobody wants me. I need to feel what is it like to feel loved.

Even if it is fake.

The last time I saw her parents they told me to advice her to take the good path. To do things correctly unlike me who which they still think I'm pregnant to this day. I promised I would advice her correctly. And from experience I for sure as heck knew what she was trying to commit is a complete mistake.

Merlyn: I'm getting behind in everything.

Me: don't say that. You are still young and beautiful. You have all the time man. What's the rush?

Merlyn: Time Dani. Time itself is rushing. I'm not getting any younger gurl.

Me: don't do it. Don't do it when there is no love.

Merlyn: I love him though...

She is a stubborn little thing. I tried my best to point out all the mistakes in her idea but she kept finding reasons in which I couldn't even help at all.

I suck at being a friend.

What kind of role model am I???

I can't tell my best friend she is doing a mistake because all I've done in the past have been mistakes. Even so I learned them it was as if she wanted to experience something like mistakes in her life.

And there was no way I could help her.

Merlyn: I know it is wrong but please tell me please Dani. 😢 I love him even if he doesn't.

Me: You can't just do it to somebody who is not going to be there Merlyn. Listen to me the right person will come one day. It has to be to a person who you can call him "yours" not someone who is just putting you for second.

Merlyn: Like Damian is just yours? You don't know how long that will last though and you still did it though.

Ugh the stubbornness in this girl. Can't she see I'm trying to save her? There wasn't much more I could do now. Everything I said, she found something to use it against. Her "positivity" was also spot on. But instead of getting mad I placed myself in her shoes and I understood her. I've been there once.

Me: Just think about it okay I just don't want you to get hurt.

Merlyn: I know 😭

At the end I think I managed to convince her mind not to have any thoughts. Now its up to her if she take my advice or not.

Lord I hope she does though.

*****

July 14, 2018~

It was a lovely Saturday.

I take it back.

It was a scorch burning sensation desert like Saturday.

That's better.

Damian sent me a voice recording through WhatsApp that he wanted me to come because he was making some meat.

I love meat.

I was a freaking carnivore and everybody knows that.

He said he wanted my family to come as well. His family was going to be there and he said it was time our family met each others.

Sadly my mom like always rejects ideas like that so she passed and my father wanted to but he had an appointment with the mechanic because they were fixing his car.

So it was just me and Steve.

My dad wanted me to have a freaking body guard so he sent me with him. Even so it wasn't necessary because Damian said it was for my whole family not just me so either way I was still taking the little nut nut of my brother along.

Damian sent me the address and Steve drove the car. He seemed pretty chill about going though. Usually he complains because he hates being third wheel/bodyguard but today he seemed quite happy to tag along.

We finally arrived to our destination and it was in a lake. There were little areas with benches and grills and right in the farthest was Damian walking towards were my brother parked the car.

"You came!" He gave me quick kiss not even caring my brother was literally right there. I worried a first but then I kissed him back and didn't care.

Screw my brother.

Damian is my guy and I'm not afraid for the whole world to know and I can kiss him all I want.

He held my hand and led us to where they were all gathered.

"Family I want you to meet my Dani." He introduced me to his family.

He told me their names but I forgot all in the second because I was too busy swooning at Damian.

His two uncles, his aunt, his brother, two cousins, and a random guy friend which wasn't so random because I think I saw him once in the old house, gave a warm welcome to me and my brother. Even so at first it was awkward since I was dying in shyness, eventually we opened up and talked a lot. Heck my brother was super friendly with them and that made me feel proud of him. Mostly we talked about their country and about us like how we are born in America but always use my parent's country like it was ours. They were amazed with the country Honduras and I was intrigued as they talked about all the things in Mexico.

"You ready to go visit Mexico one day?" One of Damian's uncle asked me.

"Yes. I would love to." I smiled.

"You're lucky at least you can come and go wherever place you want." The other uncle said.

"Yes but I want to go with Damian though." I looked behind my shoulders and smirked at him.

He was behind cooking the meat.

"Better not be talking bad about me Princess." He chuckled.

"You know Damian has no American papers though right?"

"Yes I know. And I'm willing to help him just as long he doesn't leave to Mexico without me."

"Geez Love I want to go back to Mexico though. I said a year or two."

"Yeah with or without me." I frowned.

Damian quickly gave me a kiss on the forehead and went back to the grill.

He has been saying lately that he wants to go back to Mexico. And that worries me. He says in a year or two because he lives in fear everyday and he would like to feel free. I keep telling him to wait until I'm twenty one so I can help him but sometimes he is a stubborn man.

"How old are you?" A cousin asked.

"Nineteen." I replied. "About to be twenty soon in October."

"Wowwww Dammy got a young one." The cousin chuckled. "How did you ever laid your eyes in the ugly one?" He joked.

"Because she loves me just like how I am~" Damian sung it out and hugged me from behind only to shower me with his kisses then left back to the grill.

I was trying not to die because of all the swooning I was doing. I could literally feel hearts popping from my eyes each time he got near me.

"Ooo tell us how you met?" The cousin got a beer and handed another beer to  one of the uncles.

"Um...well...Facebook." I laughed nervously.

"Ah love through the internet. More common these days." One of the uncles commented.

"Damian friended me and was the first to sent the first message." I told them.

"Remember when you asked me where I lived and I told you close to Dallas?" Damian spoke from the grill. "Then I asked you and you told me Princeton. I had to fess up and tell you the truth that I lived even closer to you." He laughed.

I laughed remembering how he tried so hard not to reveal so much about himself when we were only but mere strangers and just friends.

"At the end well I finally got the pleasure to meet her in person and I don't regret nothing of that day." Damian told it to the family.

"How long have you two been dating?" The aunt finally spoked.

Everyone was so interested in how we meet. Heck even my brother whom I forgot was literally next to me. Great I was revealing to much to him now.

I looked at Damian hoping he could answer that question.

"Nah ah Princess you tell them I keep telling you but you keep forgetting the day." He laughed.

"Oh I know trust me I do I just can't do the math how many months. We've been dating since December." I told his family. Then started to use my fingers to count.

"It's not much but I feel like I've known her for so many years now." He left the grill again and kissed my cheek.

"Son you need to get married." One of the uncle randomly blurted out. "You are young and this girl truly makes you happy. Get married and have a family."

"Of course," Damian sat next to me.

The aunt went to take over the grill.

"I'll cook for her and teach her how to cook. Love her definitely and take her to Mexico with me to our new home."

"When when when?" Uncle was getting excited.

"Tell he get the guts to tell my parents." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I will Princess I will." He laughed.

"Dang son she is ready already." Uncle laughed making everyone laugh as well. "Hey Freddie what do you think as Dani as your sister in law." The uncle asked Damian's brother all of a sudden.

"Few times I meet her but I like her. As long as my brother is happy." Freddie smiled.

Damian kissed my forehead some more and held my hand.

"Sooooo what's your name again?" The uncle asked facing my brother who has been quietly listening to everything.

"Steve." He just chuckled.

"So Steve," said it with an accent. "What do you think of Dammy as your brother in law?"

Steve's eyes slightly went round but he smiled suddenly.

"He looks okay. Not bad."

"Probably wants the sister out anyways." The other uncle joked.

"Dammy you need to pay this kid some money or else he will never approve of you stealing his sister." The cousin said.

"Don't worry I'll give my Play Station." He laughed.

"Deal!" Steve laughed and everyone joined in as well.

*****

"So wanna jump from this cliff?" Steve asked as we looked down.

"Sure."

"Cool me too."

"Hey Love!" Damian caught up to us and hugged me in his arms. "What are you guys doing?"

"I want to get closer to the water." I said.

"Hmmmm too many mosquitoes don't you think?"

"It's just a few minutes." I gave him the puppy eyes. "Can I?" I asked permission.

He gave me a quick kiss on the lips and smiled.

"Yes Princess of course. But I'm coming as well."

His aunt caught up to us and pulled out her phone and stood next to my brother.

The cliff was a small one. It was about six feet up to get to the ground to the shore area. I was planning to jump but decided best to climb down from it, staining my pants with dirt and sand. My brother simply just jumped since that giraffe had no problem with the height and Damian found a smaller area to climb down to join me. Sand came in contact with my sneakers and I ran to the edge of the water as the current of the water came to the shore and back to the lake. I wrote my name in the sand and then ran back to Damian's arms as he finally managed to get to the bottom. He grabbed my hand and ran into the water trying to drag me in as well but I begged not to in between laughs because I didn't want my father to kill me afterwards if he saw my shoes. My brother tried to push me making water actually get some in my shoes but then I quickly got out.

"Guys pose for the picture!" The aunt called out from the top.

Damian got on a small rock so he could be taller and hugged me tight as we faced towards the direction where his aunt was holding the camera.

We smiled and then it was time to go.

I gave one last look at the lake and smiled as the sun was setting. I held Damian's hand as he whispered in my ear, "I love you."

As we got back to the other's, Damian and I were making out in a corner while everyone else was cleaning up. Eventually they finished and it was time to leave.

"It was a pleasure meeting you." One of the cousins shook my hand. I shook hands with everyone there as well.

"Hey can I tell you something before you go?" The cousin asked.

"Sure." I smiled.

"Okay but don't get mad at what I'm about to say."

"Uh oh." Damian chuckled and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You two make a cute couple. For reals. Dammy you need to respect Dani here. Girls like her are not easy to find. You man are lucky. So respect her and love her."

"Mannn why would she get mad at that man?" Damian laughed and kissed my cheek. "I treat her like a princess, like my queen."

"Yes yes true true." I laughed. "Thank you." I thanked his cousin.

As I said my goodbyes, Damian took me to the car where Steve was already inside was the car ready to go.

"Thank you for coming." Damian opened the door for me.

"Thank you for inviting me. I had fun and it was a pleasure to meet your family."

"I love you." He kissed me.

"I love you too." I kissed him back.

"Don't ever forget how much I love you okay? You're only mine."

"Only yours." I whispered with a smile not wanting to leave from his lips.

My brother coughed.

Geez! I keep forgetting he still is here! Dammit!

Damian said goodbye to my brother and gave me one last kiss before we finally left.

I love him so much.