The Other Side of This So-Called Love Story (Eileen's Real Version)

Jeng always dodges the "How did you meet?" question with his whimsical tale of a midget-throwing competition. (He has a very vivid imagination.) I don’t blame him. Our actual story isn’t the sweeping romance one might expect.

In September 1997 at Valley Fair Mall, I met Jeng along with Rich, JJ, Chris and Brian. Our inseparable group of friends was born and life as I knew it changed forever.

My initial impression of Jeng was an awkward, shy guy and I knew right away that I had zero inkling of romantic interest. Meanwhile, his troublemaker friends did the best they could to bring us together... however uncomfortable and annoyed it made us feel. They made it known to me that Jeng was interested and employed all sorts of tactics to sell him to me. I could not be sold.

For the next 7 years, Jeng and I played this cruel game. He went to great lengths for me while I continued to shut him down. I was adamant that my first impression was true -- we were never meant to be together. (It is true. I was a dog of the female variety.) Eventually someone pointed out that my passionate avoidance of him was going to come back to bite me. When I moved back to California from New York, it did.

We got together in 2004 and for the next 4 years, we became the couple all our friends had known we would be. I couldn’t deny the truth and on lucky 8/8/08 after a surprise-filled day of helicopter riding, fine dining and a private violin and guitar serenade in Union Square, he proposed and I said, “Really?” Haha. First impressions, first reactions... I’m not very good at either.