Victoria and Tu technically "met" in 2021 at Smile Avenue, when Victoria first started working there. But for an entire year, they somehow existed in parallel — coworkers with mutual friends, unknowingly moving in the same circles, and never really crossing paths outside of work, with very little interaction between them. Until July 2022. At their friend Michael Kwan's birthday, Victoria was surprised to see Tu out- and even more surprised that they had shared so many mutual friends all this time without ever truly meeting. That night sparked easy conversation, and soon after, the two began grabbing casual after-work bites as "just coworkers." But it didn't feel casual. Conversation came naturally. It was thoughtful, effortless - different. During one of those dinners, Victoria mentioned her favorite fantasy book series she had read in college, The Demon Cycle series, and how she had never found anyone to talk about it with, despite recommending it to countless people. Then one day, out of the blue, Tu texted: "What was the name of that series again? It's kind of slow... it gets better, right?" That message started something unexpected. They began reading the series together, sharing a Kindle account and leaving notes for each other- racing ahead, teasing, reacting in real time. Some couples text. We left footnotes. It became their own private book club. A fantasy world filled with corelings, wards, and magic — and between late-night notes and highlighted passages, their walls slowly came down. Somewhere in those pages, Tu told Victoria she was the "Renna to his Arlen." It felt almost "Inevera" — like it was meant to be, as if their love story had been unfolding before they ever called it one. What started as coworkers turned into friendship, and friendship quietly began turning into something more. In September, Victoria's birthday trip to Austin became the weekend that changed everything. They stayed with Nicole (one of Victoria's best friends and now bridesmaid) and Eric, who graciously hosted them and immediately saw what they were still pretending not to admit. Despite their constant jokes about being "just coworkers," Nicole and Eric saw right through it. They asked the real questions, teased them just enough, and created a space where everything felt natural and easy. Being around them felt like a glimpse into what it would be like if they stopped overthinking and just let themselves be together. The comfort, the laughter, the way they gravitated toward each other - it already felt like they were dating. And of course, there was also a special appearance by Michael (yes, that Michael- now our officiant), who unknowingly played a role from the very beginning. That weekend erased any lingering doubts. Somewhere between the teasing, late-night talks, and the undeniable ease between them, that trip confirmed what they had already begun to realize: this wasn't just friendship. After Austin, they were inseparable. In January, they took their first trip together to Maui. Under the beautiful Hawaiian sunrise, Tu officially asked Victoria to be his girlfriend — and the rest has felt like the natural unfolding of a story that had been writing itself all along. Somewhere along the way, they realized the best stories were never just about heroes — they were about the people who stand beside them. From coworkers... to book club partners... to best friends... to forever.