Winnie: I met Jon for the first time at Moreau Catholic High School when I was 15. He was incredibly kind, shy, and awkward. I was also a shy and awkward teen, so we became fast friends. Jon: I remember having a few classes with Winnie our freshman year of high school. I was very shy at that time and Winnie was one of the few people I could laugh with. Of course, I thought she was beautiful, smart, and kind — but there was zero chance I had the courage to ask her out or make a move, so I just enjoyed our friendship. Thinking that I would never be lucky enough to be with a girl like her.

Winnie: Jon and I grew really close during our high school years. We spent countless drives with the windows down, music blasting, and not a care in the world. Even in college, Jon often came down to San Diego to visit. When I moved to Seoul, we continued to stay in touch and share in each others' lives thanks to how he always made time for me whenever I was in California. In a blink of an eye, 20 years flew by... Jon: As our high school years progressed, I had fewer classes with Winnie, but we were part of the same friend group. We would regularly find ourselves hanging out on the weekends at our parent’s houses. When it came time for college, Winnie went to San Diego, and I went to Long Beach, which is only a 90-minute drive, making weekend trips to see each other possible. Still, much to my disappointment, we remained just friends. Then, Winnie moved to Korea, but every time she let me know that she was coming back to visit California, I always made time to see her. When she moved back to San Francisco, we had so much fun grabbing dinner in the city. I loved hearing about her adventures, making her laugh, and getting her advice. Still just as friends…

Winnie: I was surprised when Jon shared his feelings with me. He convinced me that we would be amazing together if I just gave "us" a chance. He was right! Our romance feels like a new chapter in a book that's been in the writing for the last 20 years. I am so grateful for all the love and laughter we shared, and excited for all the wonderful memories we'll create together in the future. Jon: During the pandemic I found myself in the Bay Area, so naturally I called Winnie to see if she wanted to grab dinner. That outdoor dinner changed my life. I finally told Winnie how I had always felt about her and how much her friendship meant to me. I told her that I couldn’t imagine a partner making me happier than she made me, and that we should give “us” a shot. Our foundation of 20 years of friendship has made our relationship so much fun, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life trying to make Winnie laugh as we build our life together.