It all began when Yu-Hua and Raymond matched on the dating app. For Raymond, the app had become a frustrating cycle—endless introductions, awkward small talk, and constant letdowns. He was close to giving up, thinking love just wasn’t meant for him. So when he matched with Yu-Hua, he didn’t expect much. He kept his replies short and infrequent, emotionally distant and guarded. But something about his messages caught Yu-Hua’s attention—they felt sincere and thoughtful. Still, his once-a-day replies made her wonder, “He seems different… but what’s with the distance?” She stayed open but didn’t linger. She continued meeting others while keeping an eye on what might come of this slow-moving exchange. A week later, Raymond finally asked her out. He had just returned from a hike and mentioned seeing baby owls. He told Yu-Hua he’d love to take her to see them. But just as plans were forming, Yu-Hua came down with a cold and had to decline. Assuming it was a polite brush-off, Raymond told her to rest and left it at that. To his surprise, the conversation didn’t end. A week later, Yu-Hua let him know she was feeling better and ready to hang out. Raymond, trying to be considerate, told her to rest more— missing the cue. Yu-Hua, mildly baffled, decided to give it one last shot a couple days later, casually mentioning she’d like to see the owls but didn’t know where to find them. That did it. Raymond finally got the hint and set a date. Nearly a month after their first message, they met in person. From the start, something clicked. Raymond was struck by Yu-Hua’s warmth, confidence, and strength. He even secretly noticed some impressive muscles from her body shape. She made him feel unexpectedly comfortable, even safe. Their first date was full of laughter and deep conversations that felt anything but first-time awkward. Raymond knew he wanted to see her again. After going on a couple dates, on the night before Yu-Hua’s birthday, they went to karaoke. Raymond had planned to sing a heartfelt song and to ask her to be his girlfriend. But the night flew by, and they ran out of time. Not wanting to lose the moment, he sang to her warmly in the car. They exchanged personal stories and reflections, and in that quiet, intimate space, he asked her to be his girlfriend. Yu-Hua hesitated—not because she didn’t care, but because she didn’t want the memory to be tied to her birthday. Raymond understood. He promised to ask again—soon, but when the time felt right. That moment came in August 2023. Walking along Carmel Beach, waves brushing at their feet, they reminisced about their journey so far. Raymond turned to her and asked once again, “Will you be my girlfriend?” This time, with a smile and no hesitation, Yu-Hua said yes. Since then, their story has unfolded with laughter, travel, quiet nights, and shared dreams. What began with guarded texts and mixed signals grew into a relationship full of depth, joy, and connection. They had found in each other something rare and steady—a love they didn’t expect, but one that felt just right.