In 2021, Kam and Ava’s story began the way all great love stories do: awkwardly sitting across from each other at a Persian restaurant in Sydney, using a very generous spread of kebabs as both a centerpiece and an emotional support system (shout out to Nikan and their koobideh). They didn’t talk much that night. because sometimes destiny prefers a slow burn and somewhere between the saffron rice and the goodbye, a tiny spark slipped through. Also worth noting: Kam introduced himself as Reza. A bold choice. A fake alias. Smooth.

The real turning point came later, thanks to modern romance and a little courage: a sneaky Instagram add, followed by Kam very smoothly sliding into Ava’s DMs. Ava, understandably, had a brief moment of “Who is this guy ?” before realising it was, in fact, “Reza”… or rather, Kam.

What followed was a friendship that slowly leveled up, perfectly timed with COVID lockdowns and closed borders. While the rest of the world doom-scrolled and forgot what day it was, Kam and Ava bonded over memes, videos, and conversations about absolutely everything and absolutely nothing. Miles apart but somehow closer than they ever expected.

When borders finally reopened, Ava flew to the Gold Coast. Kam saw her again and immediately knew, this was no longer a “maybe.” What started across a table of kebabs (and a fake name) had officially turned into something very real.

Then came five years of long distance: countless flights, dramatic airport goodbyes, and an impressive amount of patience, trust, and FaceTime. And now, after all that waiting, they’re finally starting their life together. No borders. No distance. Just forever (and significantly fewer flight points to earn).