It’s official: your girl is no longer single! I’ve recently started a relationship with a wonderful, wonderful man. Meet Mapa! My trusted partner and the man that I love. We’ve been keeping this under wraps for around a month, although everyone closest to us already knows at this point—so is a hard launch even necessary? (lol) These photos are from a picnic we went on a couple weeks ago—our 12th date by this point—although, if you follow either of our instagrams, you might have seen snippets of it. Honestly, to start telling stories about this relationship with a picnic is only appropriate. Well, if you’re keen, why don’t you sit tight and let me tell you the whole story? Let’s go!
It’s official: your girl is no longer single! I’ve recently started a relationship with a wonderful, wonderful man. Meet Mapa! My trusted partner and the man that I love. We’ve been keeping this under wraps for around a month, although everyone closest to us already knows at this point—so is a hard launch even necessary? (lol) These photos are from a picnic we went on a couple weeks ago—our 12th date by this point—although, if you follow either of our instagrams, you might have seen snippets of it. Honestly, to start telling stories about this relationship with a picnic is only appropriate. Well, if you’re keen, why don’t you sit tight and let me tell you the whole story? Let’s go!
📷 DJI Pocket Osmo 3 + ASUS ZenFone 10 50 MP f/1.9, (23.8 mm lens) + iPhone Mini 12 (app: Mood Camera)
An Unexpected Encounter
Here’s the short version of this love story:
I replied one of Mapa’s Instagram stories (because we follow each other) around a month ago, genuinely interested in what he shared—and, somehow, the conversation hasn’t stopped since.
Here’s the long version of this love story:
Mapa and I have actually known each other for years—at least five, to be exact—since he had been in a relationship with my long-time work friend, Uta. In fact, Uta and I still work together (our second office together, to be honest, although not for long) and are still pretty good friends. For years, Mapa and I had never talked and gotten to know bits and bobs about each other only through Uta…until Mapa showed me kindness when I just got my heart broken at Joyland Session 2025. Apparently, that stuck with me for longer than I realised.
When Mapa got his heart broken earlier this year, I keep thinking about doing something for him as he had done for me months previously. In the end, I decided against reaching out and being there for him, due to my connection to his (now) ex-girlfriend, but I kept tabs of his online activity anyway, just to make sure that he’s okay.
Fast forward 4 months later, the short version of this story happened. It felt like enough time had passed that it was okay for me to reach out now. I didn’t expect much from the interaction, to be honest. I thought either one of us would just leave the line hanging at some point…but neither of us did. It all started pretty casually at first—we even called each other the Jakarta way—but soon, it was clear that we built a connection that we hadn’t expected and we just kept the conversation going.
Here’s the short version of this love story:
I replied one of Mapa’s Instagram stories (because we follow each other) around a month ago, genuinely interested in what he shared—and, somehow, the conversation hasn’t stopped since.
Here’s the long version of this love story:
Mapa and I have actually known each other for years—at least five, to be exact—since he had been in a relationship with my long-time work friend, Uta. In fact, Uta and I still work together (our second office together, to be honest, although not for long) and are still pretty good friends. For years, Mapa and I had never talked and gotten to know bits and bobs about each other only through Uta…until Mapa showed me kindness when I just got my heart broken at Joyland Session 2025. Apparently, that stuck with me for longer than I realised.
When Mapa got his heart broken earlier this year, I keep thinking about doing something for him as he had done for me months previously. In the end, I decided against reaching out and being there for him, due to my connection to his (now) ex-girlfriend, but I kept tabs of his online activity anyway, just to make sure that he’s okay.
Fast forward 4 months later, the short version of this story happened. It felt like enough time had passed that it was okay for me to reach out now. I didn’t expect much from the interaction, to be honest. I thought either one of us would just leave the line hanging at some point…but neither of us did. It all started pretty casually at first—we even called each other the Jakarta way—but soon, it was clear that we built a connection that we hadn’t expected and we just kept the conversation going.
Back when both of us had been in separate relationships, Mapa and I would often run into each other at events—of course, back then I just thought I was running into Uta—so it was no surprise that we have a lot of common interests. In fact, we have more in common than I realised. But what surprised me a great deal was how much of him is exactly the kind of partner I have been manifesting all these months following my recent breakup. He is emotionally intelligent, incredibly thoughtful, secretly sentimental, intentional about everything, and unbelievably kind. He communicates his intentions clearly, calms my nervous system, and takes total accountability for his actions and feelings. With Mapa, I feel like I get what I manifested—AND MORE! He’s surprisingly expressive, adorable, and a great yearner. Everything he does makes me want to cry, ’cause what have I ever done to deserve him?
Back when both of us had been in separate relationships, Mapa and I would often run into each other at events—of course, back then I just thought I was running into Uta—so it was no surprise that we have a lot of common interests. In fact, we have more in common than I realised. But what surprised me a great deal was how much of him is exactly the kind of partner I have been manifesting all these months following my recent breakup. He is emotionally intelligent, incredibly thoughtful, secretly sentimental, intentional about everything, and unbelievably kind. He communicates his intentions clearly, calms my nervous system, and takes total accountability for his actions and feelings. With Mapa, I feel like I get what I manifested—AND MORE! He’s surprisingly expressive, adorable, and a great yearner. Everything he does makes me want to cry, ’cause what have I ever done to deserve him?
30-Something-Year-Old Teenagers
All these months that I’d been dating pretty religiously, I kept imagining how it would feel like to fall in love all over again in your 30s. I’ve seen a lot of people share their experiences or perceptions on social media, and they have kind of fallen short for me. Really? Is romance really dead once you’re in your 30s? Yeah, you fall in love, but it’s just practical now? The hopeless romantic in me couldn’t accept that. And then I met Mapa. Although we had somewhat known each other for years and years, I feel like I was meeting him again for the first time when we had our first date. Here is a Mapa that I’d never known, completely changed from the heartbreak but also exactly the same. This version of Mapa that even Uta—or anyone else from his past—had never known. And I constantly find out new things about him that bring me such awe of this man before my eyes.
All these months that I’d been dating pretty religiously, I kept imagining how it would feel like to fall in love all over again in your 30s. I’ve seen a lot of people share their experiences or perceptions on social media, and they have kind of fallen short for me. Really? Is romance really dead once you’re in your 30s? Yeah, you fall in love, but it’s just practical now? The hopeless romantic in me couldn’t accept that. And then I met Mapa. Although we had somewhat known each other for years and years, I feel like I was meeting him again for the first time when we had our first date. Here is a Mapa that I’d never known, completely changed from the heartbreak but also exactly the same. This version of Mapa that even Uta—or anyone else from his past—had never known. And I constantly find out new things about him that bring me such awe of this man before my eyes.
For the first time in my whole life, I feel like it’s okay to fall head over heels for someone, because that same person is falling head over heels for me too. We act like teenagers the way we steal glances of each other when we’re together, giggle cheekily about things that should be unremarkable to adults, and quote love songs like we’d written them ourselves—something that’s only possible because we’re both writers! But, of course, we’re also full-grown humans, who know the importance of taking care of our own mental health, believe that there’s always room to grow (individually and together), and understand that love is a choice and we keep choosing each other everyday anyway. It’s a sweet spot to be in, I find, to both believe in magic and be sober enough to stay grounded. I wanted to fall in love with both my eyes wide open…and we’re both doing it right now.
Here’s to forevermore with Mapa!
For the first time in my whole life, I feel like it’s okay to fall head over heels for someone, because that same person is falling head over heels for me too. We act like teenagers the way we steal glances of each other when we’re together, giggle cheekily about things that should be unremarkable to adults, and quote love songs like we’d written them ourselves—something that’s only possible because we’re both writers! But, of course, we’re also full-grown humans, who know the importance of taking care of our own mental health, believe that there’s always room to grow (individually and together), and understand that love is a choice and we keep choosing each other everyday anyway. It’s a sweet spot to be in, I find, to both believe in magic and be sober enough to stay grounded. I wanted to fall in love with both my eyes wide open…and we’re both doing it right now.
Here’s to forevermore with Mapa!