Looking back at our love story, it really seems like a typical teenage Netflix movie. Girl likes boy, boy does not notice girl, girl becomes the "best friend" even arranging dates for the boy. Then suddenly boy likes girl after many hours of dating advice and classroom jokes and giggles. Starts dating in 2010 and breaks up a few weeks later. Boy then realises mistake and a few months later and asks Girl to be his girlfriend the second time in-front of all her friends and family at her 16th birthday party, unfortunately they break up 1 year later AGAIN (MATRIC YEAR 2012). Girl is heartbroken and finds therapy with her friends at a place that was called Tipsy Turtle. Boy is heartbroken too but chooses to not show it AT ALL. As the months go by, boy and girl fight a lot and then suddenly it happened... from strangers at first, to friends, to in-love and then back to strangers again. In-between they both get involved with partners that just did not sit right and perhaps had a bit of mental issues (Oepsie, but it is true), and probably a blessing in disguise otherwise they would not have been getting married. Strange that they both had these partners at the same time. Then it starts, they start BBM'ing each other, at first it was only once in a while, then it because more frequently and then it became daily. Both then ending it off with their current partners. In 2014 they spontaneously bump into each other at a place at that time that was still called MOJO'S. Donovan showing off his skills at the pool table and Irene showing off her skills drinking brandy specials. Once their eyes locked, it was destiny and they shared a kiss that night. A kiss that none of them knew was the chapter that started their forever. 18 December 2018, after a very tough year emotionally, Donovan gets down on one knee on the beaches of Zanzibar, whilst listening to the dancers chant their love for Africa and Zanzibar and asks Irene to marry him. The love story could not get any better and wedding planning officially started. BUT THEN.... Covid 19 came along and like for many others, completely jumbled the plans to get married in 2021. And here we are 2 years later, covid a distant memory and the I Do's in motion. The love story of this boy and girl is definitely not perfect, but it sure is worth it.

Spending over 10 years loving the same boy/man really does have it's perks, he knows me at my best and definitely at my worst. He has celebrated in my triumphs and picked me up in my failures, he also knows how long I can be hungry before becoming hangry and that he knows even when attempting to eat my sushi that I will never allow it. I am also very happy that he supports my addiction with Miley Cyrus's song flowers and accepts the fact that I am extremely stubborn and hard headed. He also made his peace with the fact that I am a Kruger which means it comes with multiple personalities in a day and a lot of "Kruger kyke" So here we are, the boy who I once had a crush on (even if it started with his calves) now becomes the man I get to marry and I would not have it any other way.

"Who's this girl that is following me to class, he thinks to himself" " Stalker vibes much" They became very close friends, not something either of them expected the day Irene complimented his calves. Back then he did not realise that she was keeping an eye on him .... and his calves. After many hours of dating advice, Irene became his Go to Girl, even though her advice did not work, he kept on going back for more. Some time passed and one day, sitting in the technology class, concentrating really hard (on that afternoon's Rugby practise), Donovan got hit with a paper ball, then looking over his shoulder, he saw that it came from a table at the back of the classroom, where Irene is trying to hide away but miserably failing.... and then it started a paper ball fight. He made eye contact with her and then right that moment, she had him, he was falling in-love... Years went by, dating, breaking up, dating again and breaking up again. After one night, when Irene and her little red Ferrari as she might think (It is only a Kia people) parked in front of his gate. Little did he know, his beautiful Mother had her hand in this arrangement as she contacted Irene to borrow her learners licence papers and notes... And there they were on a winter's evening, chatting the night away, reminiscing about the good times and remembering why they fell in love. That night was the start of the end for their current relationships but the beginning to forever for them. Thank goodness for his Mom, otherwise they would have never had their spark ignited again. Some months went by again until one night when they bumped into each other at the local bar. "Actually we did not bump into each other Irene, and no it was not fate either. I knew my go to forever girl was at the bar next door, called Tipsy's and I knew I had to see you." (She also knew he was there and got some excuse to get her friends to go over there instead of staying where they were.) Spotting him at the pool table, and casually going to get herself a Brandy special, he looked over his shoulder and it is as if no one else was in the room with them. They ditched their friends (sorry about that) and chatted the night away, both confirming that the previous relationships were over... then, on the back of his bakkie, Irene laid her head on his shoulder looking up at him, locking eyes and then IRENE just went in for the kiss. "Might I just add that she had a ton of garlic earlier that evening which did not stop her, and oh boy am I glad about that... and, I still get crazy garlic kisses, she has no limits when it comes to garlic." They both went their separate ways, confused but in love. Not sure how to tell their parents or how to move forward. After some bumps in the road and some tough conversations, Donovan asked Irene to be his girlfriend on the 30th of May 2014... and that was the start of a beautiful love story. Now, I get to Marry my best friend, partner in crime, travel buddy and all around love of my life, my side kick. I get to spend my life with my go to girl and my walking diary, Believe it or not, I still get some dating advice every now and then. Stick around for chapter 2, it is sure going to be a great ride and it starts 28 September 2023.