Love came unexpectedly for BCIT Computer Systems Technology (CST) alumni, Stephanie Cosacescu and Josh Abe. What began as a simple class connection turned into a lifelong partnership.
In her first semester of CST classes in January, Stephanie had no intention of falling in love. She was solely focused on her studies, but she couldn’t help but notice a tall, handsome classmate who caught her attention.
“I noticed Josh our first day of school and thought he was very cute,” she recalls, “But I had no interest in a relationship, and I wasn’t looking for a distraction.”
Josh, on the other hand, doesn’t remember Stephanie from that first day, but he soon found himself drawn to her.
“Maybe it was because we are so different from each other,” he reflects. “I’m usually more reserved, so being around someone who is energetic felt refreshing.”
Although their chemistry wasn’t immediate, they began to get to know each other through group work and mutual friends which gave Josh a reason for sitting behind her in every class.
The Coffee Shop Moment
Things took a turn after Valentine’s Day. While grabbing coffee at the library kiosk, the barista casually asked Stephanie if she had any plans for the day.
“Nope, nothing for me,” she responded, unaware that Josh was nearby and overheard.
Josh was elated. This was his chance!
“I was like, oh my God, she’s single!” he admits. “I can ask her out!”
From that point on, Josh began spending more time around Stephanie, texting and flirting. But as time went by, Stephanie waited for Josh to make the first move and ask her out. Eventually, she couldn’t wait any longer and decided to take matters into her own hands.
“I decided to be direct,” explained Stephanie. “I texted him asking, ‘Are you actually going to come hang out with me?’”
Josh didn’t need to be asked twice. From there, their romance blossomed. Their first date was of them hanging out together after class, which turned into a seven-hour chat session that solidified their connection.
Balancing Love and Studies
Although Josh was enamoured with Stephanie, she wasn’t ready to dive into the relationship yet. She was determined to stay focused on her studies, to get through midterms, and prove to herself and others that she could succeed on her own.
“I didn’t want anyone to think I was relying on Josh to pass the program,” says Stephanie, “Once I knew I could pass my midterm, that’s when we made it official. From that moment on we were pretty much inseparable.”
After graduating, starting their careers, and moving in together, they tied the knot in 2023.
Although they have been together for over eight years, Josh still likes to keep the romance alive by celebrating their anniversary of when they first started growing close on Valentine’s Day. A few years ago, he surprised Stephanie by bringing her back to the BCIT library kiosk where it all started.
“The kiosk was closed, but that was that was a really cute gesture,” says Stephanie, “It was like a stroll down memory lane to remember what it was like to walk to class together and realize just how far we’ve come.”
Their relationship is a reminder that sometimes we can find love in unexpected ways.