My story begins at UCSD. I was in my fourth and final year of college. It was the first day of class during the winter quarter, and I was taking a joint undergraduate/graduate course. I was running late and started to panic a little because not only was I late, but also I was lost and could not find the classroom. After frantically searching, I arrived a little sweaty and out of breath. I had to sit in the front of the room because all the back/middle seats were taken. The professor (Prof. P) was reading the syllabus and asking chemistry questions. Some students in the back answered. Now he wanted an answer from the front.

I panicked. I didn’t know the answer. I hoped he wouldn’t call on me. Then someone in the front of the room, whom I had not paid much attention to and thought was probably the TA, said, “Some of these students are undergraduates and may not be familiar with some of the topics we are discussing,” while looking right at me! I was a little embarrassed and still sweaty but relieved nonetheless that I would not be called out. The professor agreed and asked the undergraduates to raise their hands. I raised my hand and looked at the “TA” as he looked at me. Then Prof. P began to explain how the course would work for undergraduate and graduate students. He explained that he would lecture half the time and Prof. N would lecture the other half. This is when I realized that Prof. N is the guy I thought was the TA, and now I was even more embarrassed!

Weeks went by, and the class, although difficult, was very interesting. Both professors lectured very passionately because they loved the subject. I eventually started to notice Prof. N looking at me with a deep stare when he was not the one lecturing. I thought nothing of it because maybe I looked weird to him, or I might had something on my teeth. I only saw him during class time anyway, so it couldn’t possibly be anything else.

I also did research in the building his lab was in. My lab was on the 5th floor, and his lab was on the 4th floor. We had never crossed paths until one day as I was working, he came to my lab looking for the professor I did research with. He knocked on the door. I opened it, he looked surprised and gazed into my eyes as I stared into his. He asked me, “Do you work for Dr. D?” I responded, “Yes,” and he told me he was looking for him. I told him where Dr. D was.

The next time I had his class he waited for the class to end and came over to me as I was about to leave and said, “I didn’t know you work for Dr. D. How do you like working with him, and how is your research going?” I answered him, and we said goodbye.

For the next four weeks, we only looked at each other in class but never spoke again. That is until he began to wander to the 5th floor of the building we worked in. Now I constantly saw him on my floor, and when our paths crossed, he made small talk about my research. But that was all. The quarter was finished, and I took the final exam. I could feel him looking at me while I took the exam. I finished the exam, turned it in, and left. That was the last time I would see him in class. By this point, I was now attracted to him.

I only had one quarter left before I graduated. During Spring quarter, I continued doing research. The professor I worked with had an office on the third floor. This is where we usually went over how the experiments were turning out and how to improve them. On three separate occasions, I saw Prof. N walk by on the third floor. Was it me? Was I crazy? This professor didn’t have a lab or an office on this floor. Why was he here? Was the Universe trying to tell me something?

I am officially done with college. However, I never did see Prof. N again. It’s been more than a year, and for all this time, he has been on my mind every day. There wasn’t a day where he didn’t cross my mind at least once. Why was I thinking about him so much, you might ask? Not only did I find him rather good-looking but he is also incredibly smart. His intelligence is what had captivated me in college. I wanted to find a man with his qualities: incredibly intelligent, radiantly handsome, ever-so passionate about his work and his enjoyment of his work!

Every guy I met, I compared to Prof. N. Every day, I wished to find a guy like Prof. N. Well, then I thought, I cannot be waiting around to find a guy exactly like him! Maybe he has been the one all along!

So, I went to school and visited my former research professor. Then I went up to the 4th floor and went into Prof. N’s office. I introduced myself because he looked a little confused. He finally remembered me. Obviously, he had not been thinking about me as much as I had of him. Anyway, we chatted about what I was doing now and how his research had been going. He said he was glad I stopped by. This is when I did something rather crazy. I gave him my number on a pink post-it I had in my purse and said, “Here’s my number. If you’re ever interested in grabbing a drink. I walked out of his office and left.

For the next 3 days I waited for him to call or text me and was a bit frustrated and disappointed because he hadn’t called. But this was when I realized I did my part. I made the first move. Now it’s all up to the Universe, God, and the LOA to work their magic! I let it go!

I was hoping he would call and began to know that he would. I felt how it would feel when he did. I would get butterflies in my stomach and feel overwhelmingly excited. I visualized what it would feel like to kiss him. I visualized our dates, our relationship and eventually our life together. I knew he was the man of my dreams.

Guess what!? Before the week was over he called me! He wanted to go out to dinner!!!! I was beyond ecstatic!!!! We began dating, he was very busy at work, however, he always made time for me. At first I was anxious and nervous to be dating him because I was much younger than him and very inexperienced. On our third date, he asked me if I wanted to go to his place and watch a movie or talk. This is when I felt that lump in my throat. Okay, here it is, the usual deal breaker for most guys. I had to explain to him that I was still rather inexperienced and did not yet feel comfortable having sex and giving up my virginity for that matter. I told him this had always been a deal breaker for previous guys I have dated and I understood if he didn’t want to continue dating me. I just wanted him to be honest because it would only waste our time to continue dating if he did not think he could wait. He was surprised I was still a virgin but he said he liked me and my values and was willing to wait to have sex. That night, we went to his apartment and just talked, watched a movie, and ate ice cream. It was the best date ever! I felt accepted and cherished by him.

After several months of being together, I felt completely sure of myself and of our love, and we made love for the first time; it was definitely passionate. I just wanted to be all his and only his! Two months later he proposed. Now I am his soon to be wife!