It was during our high school days in Maryland that I first crossed paths with Ting, thanks to a serendipitous introduction by some mutual friends. We quickly became good friends over the years. Fast forward to Ting’s medical school era, a transformative time when he encountered Katrina. As fate would have it, Katrina is the older sister of Teresa. Katrina swept Ting off his feet, and the rest, as they say, is history. I had the honor of being a groomsman at Ting and Katrina’s wedding. It was on that memorable day that I first met Teresa, one of the bridesmaids. She was stunning—poised, confident, and effortlessly charming. Meeting someone so beautiful can make anyone feel a bit nervous, and it took me a while (and a bit of liquid courage) at the reception to muster up the nerve to start a conversation with her. I remember finally walking up to her table after the speeches to commend her and Sandra’s heartfelt words they shared in honor of Ting and Katrina. As the night went on, the bride, groom, groomsmen, and bridesmaids gathered in a circle, chatting and laughing. That's when I discovered that Teresa, or Chacha as she’s affectionately known, plays Tekken and Call of Duty. My nerdy ears perked up immediately. Without missing a beat, I challenged her to a battle. And so began the epic countdown to our Tekken showdown—and the start of something even more legendary.

Ting brought Katrina, Teresa, Sandra, Richard, and Billy down for America’s birthday. In typical American fashion, we had a BBQ and games, stuffing ourselves with delicious food and enjoying some good chats. As the evening wore on, we decided to up the ante with some Tekken and Smash Brothers. Now, none of us could touch Billy in Smash Brothers—he's like a gaming sage—but I was feeling pretty confident in my Tekken skills and wasn't about to hold back against anyone. I won a few games and was riding high, ready to demolish Chacha as promised at Ting and Katrina’s wedding. But, much to my surprise and in front of all my friends, she handed me a resounding defeat. Naturally, I developed a crush on her immediately.

The Canadians, as I lovingly dubbed them, had a penchant for gaming, anime, and all things nerdy. We often played together as a group, having epic sessions of Call of Duty, Genshin Impact, and various other games. Occasionally, and with great hope, I would find myself and Chacha playing together, just the two of us. We would wander around the virtual worlds, talking about anything and everything until the early morning hours. Those quiet, virtual moments became some of my most cherished memories. I always looked forward to our next gaming or chatting session, just enjoying each other's company. At this point, Cupid's arrows started flying around my head, and I'd constantly bug Ting for hints on whether Chacha might have some interest in seeing me as more than just a friend. I pestered him often and joked about how cool it would be if we ended up as brothers-in-law. Sandra and Richard had graciously invited me to their beautiful wedding, and I saw it as the perfect opportunity to ask Chacha out on a chill friendly get-together—just a casual three-hour dinner at Alo, a Michelin-star restaurant we both had discussed about wanting to try during our chats together. Totally low-key, right? I wanted to make it happen after Sandra's wedding, and so I did everything in my power to snag one of the hard-to-get reservations. Luckily, I was able to get one, and Chacha agreed to go with me a few days after the wedding. Needless to say, I was ecstatic.

It was the day of Sandra and Richard’s beautiful wedding. I flew into Toronto and headed to St. Joseph’s Parish to witness their ceremony. I clearly recall seeing ChaCha again in person for the first time since 2019, looking captivating in her rose bridesmaid dress as she walked down the aisle. Our eyes met, and she tossed me a radiant smile—a seemingly small gesture that sent an electric jolt through me, one I won’t soon forget. After the ceremony, we all headed to the reception. Thanks to Sandra and Richard’s strategic seating arrangements, I found myself gratefully placed right next to Chacha. We had an amazing time, sharing laughs and enjoying the celebration. The night carried on but ended all too soon, but I remained happy and excited, knowing we still had our reservation at Alo. Fate, however, had other plans. Covid, in a cruel twist, forced Toronto to shutter many of its restaurants just before our reservation. The disappointment of missing our long-awaited one-on-one time was palpable. Thankfully, Sandra and Richard invited us to dine at their hotel which was still in operation. We enjoyed a lovely dinner that ended too soon. Shortly after, I had to return back to the US. While I did not get my much-desired one-on-one time, I remained hopeful for another opportunity to make up lost time in the future. The following months, Chacha and I continued to chat, play games, and continue to get to know each other better over the years. In a fortunate conversation we had (I’ll save Chacha the embarrassment of putting down full details), Chacha opened the door to potentially becoming more than friends. No longer holding back anymore, I asked her if I could take her on a real date. Chacha agreed, and fully floating on clouds, I set out a plan. I got back in touch with Alo, who graciously provided me with a prime-time reservation to make up for the cancellation years prior. We agreed on a time, and immediately booked my tickets.

I planned an epic first official date, hoping to make it an unforgettable experience for her. We began with a delightful spa experience at the Ritz, wandered through the enchanting streets of Toronto, and concluded with our long-awaited dinner at Alo. Early in the day, Chacha picked me up at my hotel. Snow was falling beautifully, like a scene straight out of a Korean drama. The entire day was magical—absolutely perfect. We shared wonderful conversations, played fun games, and savored delicious food. When I had to leave, it snowed as beautifully as the day when I saw Chacha for the first time. We shared our teary goodbyes, and I hopped on my flight home. I’m telling you, that weekend could have been a Netflix k-drama hit. We clicked so well. I knew then (and truthfully long before that) that I wanted to marry her.

Chacha and her siblings had invited me to join them for a vacation in Hawaii, and it turned out to be one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. The breathtaking scenery, the serene nighttime beach walks, and the incredible food combined with the warm company made it an unforgettable experience. I hope to return there one day soon. From that point on, I made it a point to fly in monthly to take her on dates, each one special and memorable. Chacha also came down to the US, where she spent time with my family and friends, seamlessly fitting into my world. Each meeting was filled with excitement and joy, making every moment we spent together an unforgettable memory.

Since so much of our relationship seemed to revolve around Alo, it felt like the perfect place to propose to her. With that in mind, I planned a special lunch and booked a private dining room. In that intimate setting, I got down on one knee and asked Chacha to marry me. She said yes! Her family surprised her by joining us for lunch shortly after, surrounding us with their love and warmth. It was a beautiful, heartfelt moment that made our connection even more special. At that moment, I became the happiest man in the world.