How did your love story begin?
Our love story began in 2020, though our paths had crossed a couple of times before without much interaction. It was my best friend from university who officially introduced us. She and Hein had been friends since high school, lost touch during university, and then reconnected afterward. The four of us—me, my best friend, Hein, and his best friend—became an inseparable group, meeting almost three times a week. At that point, we were just great friends, nothing more.
Then came March 2020, and with it, COVID. Hein and I happened to live close to each other, and since I had a permit to drive around, I often found myself needing a break from a full house. That’s when I started visiting him and his family. They welcomed me with open arms—the warmest, kindest people you could ever meet. I visited a few times, and even then, we were just enjoying each other’s company as friends.
Once the strict lockdown lifted, we found another connection—our love for sports. Both of us are competitive, especially in racket sports, so we started playing against each other. The rivalry was fun, intense, and gave us another reason to spend more time together. Then, Hein went away to visit family on their farm, and when he returned, everything changed. He told me he wanted to explore something beyond friendship because, honestly, we just couldn’t get enough of each other.
I was hesitant. He wasn’t my "usual type," and I had my guard up. But I agreed. And from that moment on, we were inseparable. I started organizing sports days where our families would compete against each other, followed by a good old-fashioned South African braai. Our families clicked instantly, making everything feel even more special.
In January 2021, he officially asked me out, and what we had was something rare—something we both knew was extraordinary. Now, in 2025, we’re engaged and planning our dream wedding. Looking back, I can’t believe I ever thought he was a red flag. Turns out, he was the greatest green light of my life.
