I remember seeing Eugene around campus before we formally met. I didn’t know his name, but I referred to him as the guy with the big headphones when my friends and I talked about cute boys at our school. I was so curious what kind of music he was listening to, and the intrigue and attraction turned into a secret crush. In my junior year of college, we finally had a small class together. One day, we were assigned to discuss a topic with the nearest classmate, and he happened to be sitting next to me. I didn’t have the nerve to ask him what he was listening to, and our acquaintance only developed into brief hellos as we continued to run into each other on campus. I discovered that he had a girlfriend, and I too was involved in a relationship.

Thanks to the digital age, we remained acquaintances through Xanga and Facebook for the next several years past graduation. I got to know a little more about him by reading his blog, and there I was pleased to discover that we shared the same musical taste, and I was impressed by his wit and humour. I grew pretty smitten, but presumed forever unavailable, I continued to date other guys. I would forget about him while in other relationships, but when there was a random encounter, the spark was still there.

About 7 years after we first met, Eugene and I were finally both single at the same time. Much to my surprise, he asked me to hang out, and our first ‘date’ was serendipitous in various ways. However, it also happened to be my last day in LA before moving away. Thinking I’d have nothing lose if he didn’t feel the same way and that it was a was a little too late anyway, I confessed to him my long-time attraction. A couple weeks later, he came to visit the Bay Area. We had our first kiss, he made me a mixtape, and for the next few years thereafter, my crush became the love of my life.

We met in a visual arts class in college. Now which class that actually was remains a hotly debated issue to this day and in the opinion of this narrator, it will continue to remain one of life's great mysteries- much like the disappearance of the inhabitants of Machu Picchu, or how dog paws smell like Fritos when they're sleeping.

But after initially crossing paths with Angela, we didn't hang out much other than maybe sharing an awkward 'hi' at a Shins show or exchanging glances during a long lecture on French New Wave. This was clearly because we both knew that in a decade's time we'd serendipitously cross paths again in a Koreatown dive bar, start dating, realize how awesome it was that we hated the same music, and then eventually get hitched. It was simple.

What’s probably closer to the truth is that it was more dumb luck than anything that a guy like yours truly is lucky enough to end up with someone as lovely as Angela. There’s always that (half-serious) debate- what’s more important: what a person is like or what a person likes? Well, it’s been a journey, but I can happily say I’ve found someone that is not only an awesome human being, but also a great designer (that I can’t imagine working without) and, more importantly, someone that won’t get sick of getting mixtapes from me.

I found a friend, a partner, that I would want to go with me to the ends of the Earth (like, literally the other end of Earth- Australia). And for that I am grateful.