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how we got here

A little timeline of the moments that kept finding us — even when we weren't looking.

  1. ~a year before spring 2026

    The first hello

    Rose Bowl

    We met at a table and talked about research. It was loud — we could barely hear each other — but we exchanged numbers afterwards anyway.

  2. Spring 2026

    Remembered by feeling

    Syamantak's party

    The first time we'd seen each other since the Rose Bowl. We talked research and did some things — but Esther remembered almost none of it. Except how it felt when I pulled her in by the waist, and a few random thoughts that wouldn't leave.

  3. Two days later

    Just friends?

    LaTea

    We met to talk about what happened at the party. We left with the idea that we'd just be friends — but I thought about it, and sent a text saying we should actually just distance ourselves.

  4. ~two weeks later

    A bump, then a workshop

    The Bread Company

    She was walking out of the restaurant; I was walking down the sidewalk. We bumped into each other and just said hi. That same day she texted me about a virtual workshop she thought I'd like. We both attended — then texted until we fell asleep.

  5. A few days later

    Until sunrise

    Hub · iSchool

    I studied in the Hub while she finished grading for the semester. We stayed up until sunrise.

  6. The next Wednesday

    A very serious research chat

    Espresso Royale

    We planned a research conversation. We talked about not much research for about three hours — and got kicked out.

  7. A couple days later

    Another run-in

    Main Library

    We ran into each other again, randomly, in the library.

  8. The next Monday

    No mixed messages

    Café Paradiso → Bangkok Thai → Foellinger → Hub

    I saw her at Café Paradiso and asked if she wanted lunch. We went to Bangkok Thai — there was an awkward moment. That evening she texted that we needed to talk. We sat behind Foellinger and agreed: no mixed messages. Then we talked about our childhoods in the Hub until morning.

  9. The next day

    Pizza at Manolo's

    Manolo's

    She asked me to get pizza. We talked there for a couple of hours.

  10. A few days later

    Guitar night

    My apartment

    She brought her guitar over. We sat and talked about relationships, what love is, music, movies, and random other things — until morning. She made that illustration of the house and the nature around it.

  11. Days later

    The union, again

    Union basement

    We ran into each other randomly in the basement of the Union. Of course.

  12. The next week

    What is this connection?

    Legends → the Quad → Foellinger → my office

    We were going to talk at KFT, but ended up grabbing drinks at Legends instead. We had a great conversation, walked around the quad, and ended up behind Foellinger again — talking about this weird connection we were both feeling. Soulmates? We went to my office and really drew out what we were feeling. She was giving me signs I should kiss her.

  13. The next day

    The first kiss

    Grainger → Burrito King → my apartment

    We studied together at Grainger and got Burrito King when they closed. We walked around the quad and talked. When it started to rain we went to my apartment and talked for a while about meaningful stuff and places. I finally kissed her.

  14. Wednesday

    Studying together

    My apartment

    She came over and we studied at the table in my apartment.

  15. Friday

    Cooking instead of our first date

    My apartment

    We were going to have our first date, but she needed more time to process everything. So she came over instead — and we cooked a meal together.