Good things come to those who (pretend to) procrastinate. Just look at Michelle Arendas and Josh Avsec, two seniors at Ohio’s Kent State University who matched on Tinder nearly three years ago.
Last week, 22-year-old Avsec shared screenshots of his Tinder conversation with Arendas, a slew of belated messages spanning the years since they first matched on Sept. 20, 2014. “One day I’m going to meet this girl and it’s going to be epic,” Avsec tweeted. “Look at the dates of our Tinder texts.”
“Hey sorry my phone died!” Arendas replies more than two months after Avsec’s original message.
“Sorry Michelle I have made a horrible fist impression, [I’m] really caught up with finals,” Avsec replies six months later after a couple more exchanges.
Hahahaha one day I’m going to meet this girl and it’s going to be epic. Look at the dates of our tinder texts. pic.twitter.com/DASQK4c5cX
— Josh Avsec (@Wes_03) July 8, 2017
Hahahaha I specifically didn’t add it cuz it was more outlandish then the previous ones pic.twitter.com/PSI6uOoMOq
— Josh Avsec (@Wes_03) July 8, 2017
While Avsec told BuzzFeed News that he had sent Arendas a simple message because she stood out to him, she, a serial deleter and re-download-er of the app, often missed messages or noticed them later on.
“I wasn’t too serious about messaging — that’s why I messaged him something funny,” Arendas told BuzzFeed News.
Neither of them expected the other to play along for the years that followed, but their chat became a long game for the ages, one that quickly resonated with other would-be romantics who hoped the couple would meet IRL.
We are fully behind you in the Uk. I want to be at the same restaurant on your date
— Johnny Seifert (@JohnnySeifert) July 11, 2017
This is hilarious😂😂 please get married.
— lauren🌻 (@laurenmariee143) July 8, 2017
if you ever end up meeting, first round of drinks are on me (maybe even the second round, if you guys get to that).
— Louis Zúñiga (@LZuni) July 12, 2017
This actually seems like the most solid connection I’ve ever witnessed on Tinder
— Stu (@Kata_Ha_Jime) July 10, 2017
Within hours of Avsec’s post, Arendas had been tagged in someone’s reply, and spun out a typical response true to their Tinder chat: “Sorry I’d reply but I need to give it a few months!”
sorry I’d reply but I need to give it a few months !
— Michelle Arendas (@micharendas) July 8, 2017
Avsec said he felt embarrassed when he saw Arendas’ reply, but the pair DM’d each other and exchanged numbers.
“I thought it would be interesting to meet up with him but I didn’t want to be the one that gave in and broke the joke. But I was interested,” Arendas said.
Even Tinder caught onto the pairs years-long antics and offered them the date of a lifetime: one trip for the both of them to anywhere they pleased.
Good things come to those who wait ⌛️
— Tinder (@Tinder) July 10, 2017
It’s time you got together IRL. You have 24 hrs to decide the city you want to have your first date in and we’ll send you there! @mch_rnd https://t.co/7r2JQtcxKC
— Tinder (@Tinder) July 10, 2017
Avsec said Tinder is in the process of coordinating plans for him and Arendas to go to Maui, Hawaii, of all places. And though they’ve still yet to meet, they’re in the process of getting some IRL face-time before the big trip.
“Everything is going great and I love talking with her, but I don’t want to rush anything,” Avsec said. “Conversation has been so easy with her.”
H/T BuzzFeed News
