We Are Getting Married!

🦋 Arianna’s Story: So my first day at my new job the office manager took me to security to get my key card and have a security photo taken. Well, Jesse and his coworker were the ones back there! When I saw Jesse, I was thrown aback. I don’t usually find white men attractive, but I instantly thought that he was super cute. His nonchalant cool boy persona also drew me in. I don’t think he said anymore than just “hey” but it was enough for him to get the nickname “sexy security man” with my friends. After this, I definitely was instantly crushing. I didn’t know Jesse’s last name for the longest time, and I ended up using Outlook Contacts through our work to find it. I found his Spotify, Instagram, and Facebook. That is how I realized he liked video games, and how I realized I had to be his girlfriend and had to make him realize I was a gamer too! After many very awkward encounters, as I was leaving on a Friday I finally got the courage to turn back and say “you game don’t you?” The next few days we started talking more, and I started to realize just how much fun he was to talk to. I had the biggest crush on him, but at this point still wasn’t sure anything would come of it. I assumed he must have a girlfriend or boyfriend, and I just needed to focus on myself! One night I went out to a bar with friends and left my car in our work parking lot, when I drunkenly found myself back to my car I decided to sit there for a few minutes to sober up. Out came Jesse, getting off work very late and parked next to my car. Maybe it was the drunken courage, but I thought I sounded so cool rolling down my window and “properly” introducing myself. I wanted to die of embarrassment the next day, but it seemed to have some positive effect as we started to have longer and longer conversations after that! 🍄 Jesse’s Story: Well… I mean, I made the key card for you but… when the crackheads came into the museum and I saw you freaking out and crying that was a big impression. When we had to come up and get the crackheads out of there and I saw how you freaked out and how free you were with your emotions I just thought that it was out of the norm for people to do that since most people don’t express themselves so openly. I also thought it was cute because that’s also how I am, and while I may not cry, I would definitely get that worked up about that sort of situation. When I would come into work and saw the video game stickers on her car I was like who is this chick?? Then one night when I was working late and went out to my car, I saw Arianna in the parking lot and then I was like… this girl is pretty cute. I thought Arianna was either trying to create a chance encounter or stalking me that night, but it was cute. Within the next week we started talking about video games and then when she asked for my Steam I thought that was so hot. What girl asks for a guys Steam?! So I knew I had to get her number.

🌹 Jesse’s Story: It was July Fourth weekend, and I had asked Arianna if she was doing anything that weekend. She said she didn’t have any plans. As I was closing the museum that night and most everyone had left, I noticed Arianna was still there at the box office. I felt like I knew Arianna already, and I wasn’t afraid at all to ask so I came up and asked if she was doing anything that night. I told her they did drag shows at a bar nearby, and asked her if she’d wanna come. 🌻 Arianna’s Story: After working there for about a month, Jesse and I had become pretty close! We played video games together online occasionally, and would have long discussions at work, but since he hadn’t even asked for my number yet I was worried maybe I had overthought it and he wasn’t into me. Well, July Fourth changed that! I can’t remember why I stayed later than everyone else, I think I was working on ticket sales and just wanted to finish or something, but I just remember Jesse coming up to the box office. One of my favorite rituals that past month had been Jesse coming up and talking to me before locking the building up. This night went the same, but he asked about my plans. Well, it ended there, at least I thought, until he came back after closing the building and asked me out to a drag show 🌸

💘 Jesse’s Story: I ordered a custom engagement ring months out, thinking it would be there for sure by the time we left for New York. It wasn’t. I was freaking out. What do I do without a ring? I ended up getting my mothers ring and then we got to Radio City in NYC to see Joe Hisaishi and I was trying to figure out the perfect time to propose. By the end of the concert they were forcing us out the doors and it wasn’t possible. We were starving, so we ended up in Koreatown at a Korean Bar. As we were eating our scallion pancake and drinking soju, I knew it was the right time. I put the ring in a shot glass and gave it to her, I made sure to tell Arianna to look in the bottom of the shot glass multiple times because I knew Arianna had said before she’d swallow the ring if someone had done that to her. Thankfully, she looked in the shot glads and saw the ring. I told her that she was the only person for me, and that I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I asked her if she would go on this journey with me and marry me. 💝 Arianna’s Story: To celebrate our one year anniversary, Jesse and I took a trip to New York to see my all time favorite composer, Joe Hisaishi! Not only did we get tickets to see him at Radio City Music Hall, but we also dressed up as our favorite characters from Studio Ghibli films! Howl and Sophie. I honestly had a feeling he may propose that night, and even tried to brush up against his pockets to see if I could feel a ring box multiple times. The concert was incredible, and the whole evening was just magical. But as the concert came to a close, I was honestly a bit surprised he hadn’t proposed! Everyone was quickly ushered out of the building, and I started getting a little hangry. We made our way down to Koreatown and went to grab a bite at a bar there. I was trying to pretend I wasn’t a little dejected that he missed such a grand opportunity to propose, but after being mildly tipsy, Jesse kept pointing down at my shot glass. Honestly, it took me a few times to realize what he was saying, but when I looked in my glass I saw the ring!