08. 08.26

Love stories do not always begin with a grand ballroom or a dramatic glance across a crowded room. Sometimes, they start with a swipe to the right on a dating app, as was the case for Rebecca and Brad, whose first meeting took place on the sunlit campus of Berkeley. A casual stroll, a shared pizza, and a visit to Moe’s bookstore seemed simple enough—but as they walked, something more profound quietly blossomed between them. Their first kiss, shared at Yogurtland, was soft yet electric, a promise of what was to come. Brad, smitten and certain, called his brother to talk about her, while Rebecca, in turn, felt a stirring in her heart that grew stronger with each passing moment. Their families, too, were quick to see the connection. On their first date, Brad presented himself to Rebecca's father, a gesture that solidified in her mother's heart that this was the man her daughter would marry. Rebecca, too, came to realize it in her own way when she watched all the Star Wars films simply to be in Brad's presence. As their love deepened, it was Brad’s mother who cheekily declared, “If you don’t marry her, I will,” after meeting Rebecca for the first time. Brad, ever the romantic, spoke the words “I love you” for the first time in a humble parking lot after a Korean BBQ dinner, but in that quiet moment, Rebecca knew those words were everything. Brad’s father, though quiet, also found a bond with Rebecca, sharing thoughtful discussions and videos, and the two would often come together over cooking family dinners. On December 15, 2024, Brad took Rebecca to the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, where, as the sun set over the skyline, he held her in his arms on the outdoor patio. With the city stretching out beneath them, he asked, “Will you love me forever?” To which she replied, “Yes.” But then, he gently asked, “Will you make a vow to it?” As she nodded, to her surprise, he dropped to one knee, presenting a ring, and she, in that magical moment, said yes once again. Together, Rebecca and Brad ventured across the world, from Germany to Italy, Austria to the Bahamas, with adventures aplenty along the way. With each trip, each shared memory, their bond only strengthened. And so, their love, which began with the modern-day serendipity of a dating app, flourished into something timeless, a partnership written in the stars and sealed with laughter, travel, and the unspoken promise of forever.