You could say fate sat us next to each other twice—once as Freshmen (where we didn’t say a word), and again Sophomore year, when we finally noticed. I was the loud, outgoing one, and he was the shy, quiet guy who probably wondered why this random girl wouldn’t stop talking to him. At first, it definitely seemed like I was annoying him... but turns out I was just growing on him. Like a cute little barnacle. We started a Snapchat streak that same year (very serious stuff, obviously), and by Junior year, weekly lunch dates became our thing. Then came Teapot Park, ice cream in hand, on April 20, 2018. That’s where we confessed that we liked each other. A few weeks later—on May 12—we had our first official date watching Avengers: Infinity War in Dinuba. (Nothing says “romance” like intergalactic heartbreak.) That night, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes, and the credits haven’t stopped rolling since. Only a few weeks later, I asked my sister how you know when you’re in love. Love was unfamiliar territory for me, and I really looked up to her. She told me, “It’s when you know that you can’t live without them. If it feels like a piece of you is missing when you aren’t together and you can’t see life without them.” And suddenly, I knew—I was all in. (But don’t worry, I let him say it first.) From there, life just kept unfolding beautifully. We moved in together in August 2019, shared college stress, cozy nights, and promise rings that Christmas. And then—plot twist—on November 30, 2024, he pulled off the world’s sneakiest proposal. We were at a Friendsgiving, and I had zero suspicion (and I’m not easy to surprise). My sister asked me to grab something from the backyard, and when I pulled the curtain open, I walked into the most beautiful setup—lights, candles, roses, and him, waiting for me. My heart stopped, I cried immediately, and suddenly, the world faded around us. Now, here we are. Getting married, with hearts full of memories, laughter, and love.

<3