We're getting married!We're getting married!

Once upon a time in 2016, at the bustling gym of Cal State Long Beach, two fitness enthusiasts were destined to meet. Alex was the epitome of dedication, with muscles that seemed to have their own personal trainer. Meanwhile, Emily was more laid back, enjoying her workouts with her friend Rajvi and cracking jokes between reps. Alex first noticed Emily during one of her laugh-filled workout sessions. He was immediately drawn to her radiant smile and the way she dedicated herself to her intramural job at the gym. “She’s way too cute,” he thought, trying not to get distracted as he lifted weights. So, he began smiling at her whenever they crossed paths, hoping to catch her attention. Emily noticed Alex’s charming smile and thought, “Wow, he’s really handsome! Probably too handsome to be nice.” She figured he must be a classic player, effortlessly charming everyone in sight. Little did she know, Alex was more of a hopeless romantic than a heartbreaker. One day, while Emily and Rajvi were using the rowing machine, Alex worked up the courage to approach them. “Can I work in with you guys?” he asked, trying to sound casual despite the gym butterflies in his stomach. Emily, not one to miss a chance to tease, shot back with a grin, “Oh, we’re all done! You can take it.” She figured that would send him packing, but he was not so easily deterred. Alex was persistent. After the awkward encounter, he decided to slide into Emily’s Facebook DMs like a ninja. “Hey, I’m the guy from the gym! Want to grab coffee and chat?” he typed, probably hoping he wouldn’t regret this bold move. Emily, intrigued but still playing hard to get, decided to agree. “Sure,” she replied, a hint of amusement in her tone. Their first date turned out to be quite the surprise for Emily. Instead of the usual light-hearted coffee chatter, Alex dove straight into serious topics: marriage, philosophy, and religion. Emily blinked, clutching her coffee cup. “Uh, I thought we were just here for caffeine!” she joked, but found his earnestness both refreshing and a little intimidating. As their dates continued, Emily maintained her hard-to-get approach, navigating the whirlwind of feelings Alex stirred up in her. But one fateful day, Alex had a brilliant idea. He strategically treated her to carne asada fries—her ultimate weakness—while casually asking, “So, do you want to be my girlfriend?” Caught off guard but charmed, Emily couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, you win this round. Yes!” And just like that, from a series of gym smiles to a journey filled with laughter and newfound confidence, the rest became history. Who would have thought that a casual gym encounter and some clever food strategy would lead to a love story? And that’s how Emily and Alex’s legendary journey began!