ONLINE DATES - Cenona and Joebert would often spend time together through Zoom calls Photo Courtesy of Cenona Rodriguez 

COVID is in the air, but so is love! In a time where meeting people seemed like an impossible task, Cenona Rodriguez and Joebert Alforte, two freshmen Political Science majors from Adamson University, fell into an unexpected romance over the course of online classes. Talk about putting the LDR in distance learning!

Entering college life in an online setting was already awful enough, so finding love with all the restrictions and stay-at-home guidelines was out of the question for these two. Alas,  love really finds its way— even in a distance! Right through the first semester, Cenona was already eyeing (through the screen of course) the reserved and quiet Joebert, who was the complete opposite during class sessions. “Napapansin ko na talaga siya, kasi palarecite siya gano’n. Parang bet ko na siya no’n before kasi ang talino— kumbaga bibo talaga siya sa klase.”

But the romance did not start until the second semester when both became irregular students. You’d think it would be harder for a bond to happen, but the connection from the last term (or the lack thereof) is what triggered a conversation. The exchange sparked when Cenona sent an inconspicuous Facebook message to Joebert just to ask for a small favor. “Magkaklase kami sa isang subject lang. Since magka-block kami nung first sem, siya ‘yong naisipan kong i-chat para sabihin do’n sa class beadle na hindi ako makakapasok.” Cenona said.

Having a hard time attending class, this constant messaging from Cenona went on for about a week or so. Joebert didn’t mind, though he admits that he found the bubbly Cenona endearing at first. Soon enough, favors turned into innocent social media stalking then to late-night conversations. 

“Si Cenona laging nagsta-start ng convo, tapos nagtuloy-tuloy na hangga’t sa ‘di ko na alam kung paano kami nakarating sa ganito.” Joebert said. 

Being the gushy and quipster gal that she is, Cenona would often flirt with Joebert as a joke (needless to say, with a little bit of sincerity), saying things like “Akin ka na lang” or “Sana kasi ako na lang”. As the torpe and oblivious type as described by the other, Joebert did not have a clue of what was going on. He said that he had no intentions of shooting the fires back, but with the lack of non-verbals (being online) and no hint of sarcasm (again, the oblivious type), it seemed as though as if he did. Although the two agreed that friendships were to be made at first, the constant messaging and Zoom calls would soon blossom into a newly found internet love match.

Of course, dating online imposed challenges for the new couple. Cenona was no stranger to online dating apps, so she seemed fine with the set-up, but the other had his doubts. Joebert admits that during the start of the relationship, he had fears that Cenona was only pretending to like him, or that the feelings were not as reciprocated as he thought, especially when the two have never met in person.

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But both said that communication is key. For Cenona, receiving a simple “Ikaw lang” was already enough to reassure her that Joebert’s intentions were pure. “Halos everyday kailangan kong sabihin na seryoso ako, na gusto ko siya gan’on. Syempre iba yung anxiety mo kapag internet love  kasi tatanungin mo talaga kung magsta-stay ba siya kung makikita niya flaws mo.” Cenona said. 

Do they have plans to meet? Distance proved to be a problem as well as the strict quarantine guidelines. Cenona is now staying at Pateros city with her uncle and Joebert lives in Masbate, Bicol, approximately 557 kilometers apart. Hey, at least, they’re social distancing, right? The couple agreed that they would meet in June after the semester when hopefully, everything eases a little. 

As for everyone else? The unexpected “online couple” says to just shoot your shot and emphasized that love knows no time, place, nor distance. 

“The moment na na-recognize mo, ano man yung means of communication niyo, give it a try rather than spending half of your life regretting why you didn’t,” Joebert said. 

The pandemic has been a long and exhausting phase, and for many, a lonely condition. But Joebert and Cenona proved that a worldwide virus won’t stop the human connection. Be it a classmate on a Zoom call or a stranger 6 feet away —love will find its course.

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