Living with my grandparents, I had been on Bumble BFF for a while before deciding to give Bumble Dating a shot. I swiped through profiles for months, not knowing that one simple right swipe would change my life forever. That swipe led me to Noah. From the moment we matched, something felt different. We decided to meet at Thai Hutt, where he enthusiastically showed me hundreds of photos (a true storyteller at heart) and convinced me to try Pad Thai for the first time. Over laughter and shared bites, we instantly clicked. After dinner, we went to see Evil Dead—my choice, strategically picked in hopes that he’d "comfort" me during the scary parts. My plan flopped spectacularly, but it didn’t matter. He still invited me over afterward to meet his fur child, and from that moment on, we were inseparable. Noah started driving me to work every day, turning our commutes into extra pockets of time together. Late nights blurred into early mornings as we stayed up until 3 AM watching movies I had never seen, discovering new favorites side by side. His family welcomed me with open arms, making me feel like one of their own. Then, on December 31, 2024, at exactly 11:50 PM, Noah got down on one knee. With just ten minutes left in the year, he asked me to spend forever with him—promising a life filled with adventure, new experiences, and a love that only grows stronger. And of course, I said yes.

Like many others, I hoped to find a lifelong partner—someone I could one day call my wife. A coworker, having found his own love story through Bumble, recommended the app to me. I was skeptical at first, but months later, I finally downloaded it, expecting little more than another scroll through endless profiles. Between work and school, I’d check the app occasionally, never too invested—until I stumbled upon her profile. Something about her drew me in instantly. There was just one problem: I wasn’t even sure how to pronounce her name. I hesitated before swiping right, nervous about rejection. But to my surprise, she had already liked me too. I held off on texting much at first, wanting to focus on finishing a school project. But every time I saw the little typing bubbles appear on my screen, my heart raced. She was quick-witted, thoughtful, and effortlessly funny. Each answer she gave only made me want to ask more questions. It didn’t take long before I was completely hooked. We finally set a date—at my favorite restaurant, the very place I had once told a friend I’d love to take someone special. That night, I rode my bike there, hoping she’d feel the same spark I already did. When we met in person, I was nervous. So was she. I did my best to put her at ease, telling jokes, sharing stories, and—most importantly—advising her not to eat the flower on her plate. Conversation flowed effortlessly, and when the check came, I didn’t want the night to end. I asked if she wanted to see a movie, and she agreed. We ended up watching an over-the-top violent horror film. She dropped hints that she wanted me to comfort her—not that I noticed, since I was just as terrified as she was. (A missed opportunity, in hindsight.) Afterward, she agreed to come back to my apartment. We spent the rest of the night watching goofy YouTube videos, swapping stories, and learning more about each other. Somewhere between the laughter and the easy silences, it became clear: I hadn’t just met someone I liked—I had met a long-lost best friend. She liked video games, Pearl Jam, and memes. And somehow, despite my awkwardness, she liked me too.