We're getting married!

It was a beautiful afternoon on March 22, 2017, when our story began—an unexpected meeting that would turn into something so much more. Victor had just finished up with finals and our mutual friend, Brittany, messaged him to say hello. Victor invited Brittany and her friend Lizette to come visit and tour the UCI campus. When they arrived, it was clear from the start that Lizette had a wonderful sense of humor and energy. She greeted him by giving Brittany a playful piggyback ride to the door, a moment that instantly set the tone for the rest of the day. After showing them around his dorm, Victor took them on a campus tour, all the while sharing stories and enjoying the ease of new companionship. The afternoon was filled with joy and laughter, moments that would stay with us long after. One of our first memories together was posing in front of UC Irvine’s anteater mascot, hands clasped, flexing for our first photograph together. It may have been silly, but it felt special—an instant connection captured. As the evening unfolded, we shared even more unforgettable moments: singing along to our favorite songs during an impromptu carpool karaoke session, chasing each other in a playful game of hide and seek, and wrapping up the day with ice cream, a sweet treat to top off the fun. As Victor drove Brittany and Lizette back to their car, Victor, a bit shy but eager, asked Lizette for her Snapchat username, not realizing it would take weeks before she’d share her phone number with him. But that was the start of something wonderful, and looking back, it was the beginning of a journey neither of us could have predicted—but one we were both grateful to take.