John and Elena met in an art & design class at the University of Illinois in 2018. What - at the time - was one of the most boring classes they’d ever taken, turned out to be the best 3 credit hours of their lives. Paired together for a group project, they quickly bonded over niche interests - the nostalgia of childhood video games being one example. The group project provided a convenient “excuse” to spend time with each other, and what began as library hangouts soon turned into nights playing cards at KAMS and chasing Victory Royale’s in Fortnite. Before heading home for the summer, John finally mustered up the courage to ask Elena out on a "real" date (college town sushi) and the rest is history. Since then, they’ve been inseparable, growing closer every day through their shared love of March Madness (go Illini!), their dog Maverick, and their deep gratitude for the incredible friends, family, and life they’ve built together in Chicago.