Tao & Tong
韬 & 彤

Once upon a not-so-ordinary day, nearly a half-decade plus one ago, in the hallowed halls of USC, destiny decided to play matchmaker in a classroom. Enter Tong, a human dynamo of curiosity, always parked in the front row, her hand shooting up so often you'd think she was trying to signal passing aircraft. Then there's Tao, the quiet observer, a middle-row maverick who preferred the art of silent judgment over the thrill of public inquiry.

Tao couldn't help but notice the girl with the seemingly endless supply of what he deemed 'beginner level' questions. Despite his initial amusement, he found himself intrigued by her relentless quest for knowledge. Fate, being the cheeky puppeteer it is, one day made Tong late for class, forcing her to abandon her front-row throne and plop down right next to Tao. Suddenly, the girl who had questions for everyone had questions just for him. By some cosmic twist, Tao found the courage to ask for her contact. They didn't talk for a week, because, well, modern romance thrives on suspense.

The midterm loomed like a dark cloud, and Tong, who apparently wasn't as academically invincible as her question-asking might suggest, was in a pinch. They decided to join forces, because nothing says romance like the mutual desire not to fail a class. Study sessions turned into daily rendezvous, where the books slowly closed and conversation blossomed. They shared meals, laughter, and eventually, a movie outing to see 'First Man' – because nothing ignites romance like a good ol' space drama.

Post-movie, in a scene straight out of a rom-com, Tao, fueled by the spirit of Neil Armstrong taking that giant leap, asked Tong to be his girlfriend. The timing? Impeccable. A rainy night, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Tong, ever the enigma, left him hanging in a silence so awkward it could have its own soundtrack. It wasn't until they reached Tao's place that Tong, ever the dramatic, broke the silence with a "I'd like to try," followed by a kiss that sealed their fate.

And that, my friends, is how two contrasting souls found harmony in the comedic symphony of life, proving once and for all that love, indeed, works in mysterious and hilariously unpredictable ways.