It all began on the very first day of classes in our master’s program at Manhattan College. Phillip couldn't help but notice the pretty girl sitting in the front row — someone he didn’t recognize — and he decided he had to know her. Not long after, he passed her in the hallway and introduced himself with an easy smile. Sarah was a little surprised. She wasn’t the type to talk to strangers in the hallway, and this rustic-looking man seemed a little…unexpected. But that first impression didn’t last long. As fate would have it, they soon discovered they shared nearly every class together. Sarah realized that Phillip seemed to know everyone. He was outgoing, funny, and clearly brilliant. It didn’t take long for her to realize he might be the most interesting person in the program. When she invited him to sit next to her in class, Phillip happily took the seat — exactly where he had hoped to end up. Their favorite class together was Computational Fluid Dynamics (not exactly everyone's idea of a romantic setting). They were project partners, sitting side by side in cozy two-person rows, whispering, laughing, and making countless jokes. It was as if no one else was in the room. Just two weeks later, Sarah casually mentioned she was going out for Korean BBQ that night with one of her best friends. On a whim and to not seem rude, she invited Phillip to join, assuming he’d say no to such short notice. Instead, he immediately said yes, noting that he also loved Korean BBQ. They took the 1 Train toward Port Authority, then caught a bus to Hoboken, where Sarah lived at the time. They spent the whole ride talking about their lives, finally getting a chance to really get to know each other other beyond the world of engineering classes. Somewhere on the last stretch of the commute, Phillip gently rested his head on Sarah’s shoulder — a small gesture that somehow felt both strange and perfectly right. That night, over sizzling Korean BBQ and soju, surrounded by friends and laughter, it became clear that their connection extended far beyond engineering classes. By the end of the evening, they shared their first kiss — and both of them knew it was the beginning of something truly special.