Not your average love story...
Her side of the story...
His side of the story...
When I first met Janssen, I encountered him on three different occasions on the same day. The first introduction was with my friends, who were also fraternal brothers of his. I can't even tell you that I paid him any mind our first interaction (LOL). I was too busy fussing about someone I didn't like and they left pretty soon after they arrived. However, he left his phone in the room and I answered the door. That was the first time I paid attention to him and definitely thought he was cute and missed an opportunity lol. Later that night, I went to a nightclub called, Compound with some girlfriends. I was walking around the club with another close friend and she began talking to her long time friend and guess who was standing next to him, Janssen. Our paths crossed yet again and here we were finally able to express some interest towards one another. I don't even think we exchanged numbers at that moment because I bumped into another old friend and got swept away in the crowd. But then, that same girlfriend I was with earlier, were walking down the street and were graciously offered a ride to the front door of our hotel by none other than Janssen and their shared friend. He really saved the night because our feet was KILLING us. But guess what, we still didn't exchange numbers. That was the third time and still no success. It must've been fate because I was then invited to a completely different itinerary that included our blended set of friends and I was definitely hoping to see him again since I knew his friends would also be there. We went to the once-popular Wet Willie’s restaurant for an early dinner and when we got there initially, Janssen wasn't there. I wasn't very happy about it either because there was some other guy in the group constantly shooting his shot and I was NOT interested AT ALL. I was looking for him. He wasn't there, but it was okay because we had plans of going to the club that night as a group, so in my mind, I had ONE last opportunity to charm a little harder. I wasn't going to ask him for his number (lol). But as luck would have it, Janssen arrived late. The night quickly turned around. He asked the guy I was uninterested in to have his seat and the breath of relief was unreal. We spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and cracking jokes together. We finally exchanged numbers and even took a picture together. Never missed another day without talking to him ever again.
It’s June 2014, Atlanta Greek Picnic Weekend. I got a call from my Kappa brothers to meet up downtown to go visit some AKAs at their hotel. We knock on the door, it opens and there’s a room full of women getting ready for the day. One woman in particular has an attitude because she isn’t fond of one of the Kappas in the group. I immediately noticed this woman. I liked her attitude, along with her brown skin, petite figure and outfit she was wearing exposing her side boob. I asked one of the guys, "What is her name?" and was told “Oh, that’s Shakira.” After a brief stint in the room, we decided to leave, but I accidentally left my phone in the room. I run back and knock on the door, and Shakira opens, retrieves the phone and hands it to me. This would be the first time we ever made eye contact. Later that night, everyone went to the club, Compound. I end up seeing Shakira again, so I walk up to her and spark conversation. By this time, I had been hanging out all day, so I was extremely intoxicated. This became obvious when I said to Shakira “I know what color panties you’re wearing.” This stops her in her tracks and she laughs and asks, "What color?" I knew I was right because I saw them when she was getting dressed earlier in the room. The look of shock came across her face and she instantly broke out into laughter. That confirmed she knew I knew. A few minutes pass by and another woman walks up and starts speaking to Shakira. I'm taken aback because this is another friend I had known since 2008, and couldn’t believe that the two of them were friends too. The night progresses and my intoxication deepens, but we all head back to the hotel to continue the turn up. I got my friend in the car and we saw Shakira and her friend walking and talking towards the hotel too. I tell them to get in and we all head back to the hotel. It wasn't a very long conversation and split ways pretty quickly going into the hotel. I'm drinking, talking, and having fun in the hotel until about 4AM and I had to be at work at 7AM, so I decided to head home. Upon waking up a few hours later, I checked my phone and with great disappointment I realized I didn’t get Shakira’s number. Now this became the mission. I arrived at work half-dead and contacted one of my best friends, who also happened to be a long time friend of the woman that walked up to Janssen and Shakira in the club the previous night. My friend told him they were going to Wet Willies in a couple of hours to meet up with this woman and some of her friends. I asked, “Is Shakira going to be there too?” My friend says, “I think so.” I quickly thought about it and went to my supervisor. I told him I was starting to feel sick and needed to go home. I rush home, change clothes, and meet up with everyone else at Wet Willies. I see Shakira again, and this time I make sure to not leave her without getting her phone number. We spent the rest of the night together and from that day forward Shakira and I have never gone a day without speaking to or seeing each other since.
Who knew?
Who knew, huh? This picture would be the beginning of the rest of their lives.
Although their perspectives of the same story aren't quite the same, Janssen and Shakira both agree that their start began with similar friends far away from both of their Illinois-hometowns. Janssen knew Shakira’s friends and Shakira knew some of his. There had been plenty of occasions and a plethora of events where the two were in the same place at the same time, but clearly those times weren't the right times. From 2010-2014, they bypassed one another to finally meet in a completely different city with the same groups of friends. At that moment, their forever story began.
Their beginning story started, June 4, 2014. The love and support started, never stopped, and here they are. Ready to wed and become Shakira & Janssen Shaw. Throughout the years, the love between the two has grown and deepened day by day. This wedding and vowel exchanges will solidify their journey of life being well worth the ride and a choice to choose each other for the rest of their lives. This is their love story and the saga continues with their holy matrimony on May 4. 2024 at the Dreams Resort in Tulum, MX.
