Our Story
Our story began with a friendly debate—more like an argument—about her favorite food, moi-moi. That disagreement led us to exchange numbers, and soon we were talking every day. Because we met during the COVID-19 pandemic, our relationship blossomed through phone calls, texts, and creative “mini dates,” like playing Nintendo Switch and watching movies over video chat. During these dates, we were intentional with the questions we asked each other—so much so that Gioia’s mother wondered why our conversations sounded like interviews.
After many of these, I wanted to ask her out in person, but she was living with someone vulnerable to COVID, so I patiently waited, grateful for the time we shared. Nearly a year later, she finally asked, “Are you ever going to ask me out on a date?” Our first date at the botanical gardens—even with me losing my wallet—led to many more, and in April 2021, we finally became a couple. On August 9, 2025, at that same place, I proposed, and she said yes!
For all the days along the way