In late 2017, we met the loves of our lives — only we didn’t know it. We were hiding in plain sight. In fact, we’d been friends for almost a decade. 

INITIAL MEETING & STAYING IN TOUCH

The first time we met, it was Spring 2009 — Jae was a high school senior and Lajuanda was a fourth-year at UC Berkeley. We became friends through community events on campus and kept in touch through the years, having lunch or dinner once or twice a year and texting well wishes on birthdays. 

FROM CASUAL FRIENDS TO A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP

In 2017, that all changed. After a few back-and-forths, we connected for impromptu drinks with friends in late September. We began talking and texting every day since then. Our conversations ran the gamut as we began forming a deep connection through our individual musings about life events, pizza preferences, and the role of human connection of various types. This often included discussions about the underlying (and oftentimes unaddressed) traumas that each person brought into their relationships that ultimately affected those connections. As we broached topics from pop culture to patriarchy, it was obvious we'd become more comfortable and vulnerable with each other. What we didn’t realize was where that vulnerability would lead us.

A MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSE

When we began examining our individual intentions and feelings on a spiritual level, our friendship began transforming into a deep, complex romance. This period of our relationship swung from moments of profound realization to paradoxical denial as we both desperately tried to rationalize away our feelings, but one thing was clear — the universe wanted us to be together. No matter how much we tried to deny it or run from it, we seemed to be continuously put in situations where we’d be in each other’s presence. That’s when we individually learned to surrender because fighting what felt like the will of the universe was futile and illogical.  

A PATH FORWARD & BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP

Once we stopped looking for an escape route, we realized how strong of a foundation we’d built through our friendship. It was as if we’d unlocked a new level of connectedness and the answer to all our questions had been sitting in plain sight. As two operations-minded and highly logical individuals, we utilize that approach and lens to help define and improve our relationship.

Logic in Love is a collection of the practical tools and stories we’ve gathered during the continued discovery, growth, and maturity of our relationship.