It all began in Memphis, TN, during the height of COVID. We met under strange circumstances, with masks on and social distancing in full effect. Our first date at a cozy pancake house was a blend of nerves and laughter—Jong was adorably anxious, which only made Molly like him more.

We quickly became close friends, deciding that romance wasn't in the cards as Jong was set to move away soon. But as weeks passed, we couldn’t deny the growing chemistry between us. Before we knew it, we were in a long-distance relationship, spanning over two years until Molly made the move closer to Jong.

One of our favorite memories involves Max, Molly’s sweet but storm-phobic dog. During one intense thunderstorm, Jong was away from home, but as soon as he heard about the storm, he raced back through the rain to comfort Max. Soaking wet from running in the downpour, Jong found Max trembling in the kitchen, and as he sat beside him, Max curled up next to Jong. In that moment, the bond between all three of us grew even stronger.

Fast forward to a magical night in Austin. After a romantic omakase dinner, Jong had Molly convinced that they were heading to an escape room, one of her favorite activities. With some time to spare, we took a stroll through Butler Park, our go-to spot for walks with the dogs and a perfect view of downtown Austin. Then, in the middle of the park, Jong confessed—there was no escape room. Instead, he got down on one knee and asked Molly to spend forever with him.