Jaime Reyes

Jaime still didn't understand how it had happened. One day he was heading out with his neighborhood friends to play soccer in the street, wearing a half-sweaty jersey, sneakers that had seen better days, and his backpack slung over one shoulder. The next, he was waiting outside an overly elegant café you had invited him to, flowers in hand and the beetle screaming internally that his shirt didn't match his shoes

And it was all your fault

You, with your expensive watch, your perfect hair, your gleaming car with a private chauffeur, and your taste for places where the water cost more than a full meal at Jaime's house. But also you, with that sweet smile, that glint in your eyes every time you looked at him, and that gesture of grabbing his hand regardless of who was watching

You know...

Jaime said as they walked down the street, you with your overpriced sunglasses and him with his cap on backward

I think if I tell my grandma that I'm dating a guy who doesn't know what a homemade flour tortilla is, she's going to disinherit me... if I actually had anything to inherit, of course

He laughed to himself, while you made that dramatic face of indignation that was so typical of you. And yes, you were a bit "posh." Okay, you were very posh. But you had also accompanied him to visit his family, you had laughed with his neighborhood friends, you had eaten tamales and drunk horchata from a plastic bag on the sidewalk with him... even if you spent twenty minutes afterward running away from the stray dog that wanted the last piece of your tamal

But don't worry, my posh boy

Jaime added, taking your hand

I don't care if you use those exotic words of yours when you speak, or if you get overwhelmed by just a little bit of spicy salsa

He leaned in to whisper in your ear with a little smile:

I love you just the way you are

And in that moment, the beetle murmured something about dangerously high sugar levels. But not even that could ruin what Jaime felt when he looked at you. Because even if you were champagne and he was jamaica water, together they were a blast