Fairy-tale romance leads to ‘gangster proposal’

Following a viral social media video of what is being dubbed the 'gangster proposal', newly engaged couple Xavier Ricketts, 40, and Wendy Guzman, 31, say though their love is a fairy tale, they definitely had to work for it.

Last week, social media users saw love in an unconventional form. At an event, Ricketts got up on stage and professed his undying love for his 'Wendy Bonita'. Though his words were sweet, his delivery was that of a '90s 'gyalis'. Grasping his cup in one hand and the microphone in the other, Ricketts declared from the stage, "Mi will use every power inch mi body fi make sure you have a happy life, full a joy and love yuh, zimme. Real way! And you see right now, me a try express meself to you ... Bonita, will you marry me?" The crowd erupted in cheers amid camera flashes when a teary-eyed Guzman nodded her head and extended her left hand.

Ricketts, who migrated to New York City from St Andrew in 2017, met Guzman while acting as a plus-one on his friend's date. Recalling the night he didn't know would change his life, he told THE STAR, "Me did deh deh a try entertain har and a ask har what she wanted to drink and such, 'cause she isn't really a drinker. So she was just there and me deh there a be protective of her."

Clearly stifling their attraction, the pair were friends for a few months before they decided to take their connection to the next level.

"[I liked] just the way he was very attentive. He knew I don't speak much, I'm really to myself. So he took care of me in a sense and protected me, just watching my step, holding my hand, opening the door. And he smelled delicious and he had a great smile, so that really attracted me to him. [It was] just the way he took care of me," Guzman shared.

Though head over heels in love, Ricketts said his commitment issues initially created hurdles.

"Mi go through one messed-up relationship weh me literally decide seh me nah love nobody again, enuh. And me deliver it fi couple years well. Like, care zero 'bout people feelings, just bay barbed wire 'round me heart. A she tek time and pick dem, meticulously," he said. Now they are so inseparable that their friends are jealous.

Ricketts said, "More time mi just feel like fi kiss har, and me know seh everybody deh deh a watch we make out. Every time we go out, people see we and say, 'How long you guys together, like six months, right?' And I'm like, 'Nah, we going three years now.' Dem say unnu look like unnu just meet. Mi nuh wah deh inna nothing weh me nuh feel free and good and excited 'bout."

Hoping their bliss will last a lifetime, Ricketts said it was only natural for him to officially bestow on his lady the title she had already embodied in his eyes.

"A from Christmas mi buy mi ring, enuh, and have it a carry with me all 'bout, 'cause me cyah afford fi she find it. I was just waiting on the perfect timing," he said.

After much consideration, he decided that the best way to not blow the surprise was to pop the question at a party.

"When me go on the stage now, everything start jumble inna me head. Mi nervous like a embassy mi a go," he said, chuckling.

Now basking in their 'gangsta engagement', the pair have yet to set a date but have plans to say their 'I do's' in Jamaica.