One step closer...

Like many positive love stories, ours started with a message. Back in 2019, Charissa messaged Alaine right before she started nursing school. At that moment, they were merely two strangers getting to know each other, but the conversation flowed effortlessly and the connection was already established. It all commenced with a daring (and somewhat iconic) gesture—Charissa shared a Steph Curry shooting the hoop meme and inquired, "Hey, are you single?"—and thus, their story was set in motion. However, life had its timing, and our plans didn't align perfectly, and we ultimately parted ways due to our divergent life objectives and obligations. It felt like one of those stories where two people briefly cross paths and then continue on with their lives. But God wasn’t finished writing our story yet. In August 2022, our paths crossed again. This time, it began simply as a friendship. We started catching up, talking about life, and realizing that the conversation between us still flowed just as naturally as it did years before. Then came the talking stage. There were many late-night FaceTime calls—the kind where you say, "Okay, goodnight,” but somehow end up talking for another hour. We were both still somewhat shy around each other, learning each other’s personalities again. Sometimes we would just sit there smiling at our screens, somewhat awkward but completely comfortable at the same time, like two people slowly realizing that something special was unfolding. By October 2022, we finally went on our first real date. By then, it was already clear that what started as a simple reunion was slowly becoming something much more meaningful. Alaine was trying his best to impress, showing up wearing Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, hoping Charissa would notice the warm scent. Meanwhile, Charissa arrived looking effortlessly cool, rocking her Yeezys and bringing that natural confidence that always made her stand out. We probably expected the usual first-date awkwardness, but somehow it never came. The conversation flowed easily, laughter came naturally, and everything just felt comfortable—like two people who had found their way back to each other at the right time. It felt a little like a quiet K-drama moment: nothing dramatic, no big scene—just two people realizing that being together felt right. Then in December 2022, we shared our first kiss and made our relationship official. What once felt like a missed connection suddenly made perfect sense. The timing, the distance, and the waiting all guided us back to each other. Through every step of our journey, we have kept God as the foundation of our relationship, trusting His timing and guidance. Looking back, we can see that our story didn’t begin when we reconnected—it began the moment our paths first crossed. What started as a message between two strangers slowly became a friendship, then a love story… and now, the beginning of forever. 💍