Where The Desert Met My Heart

After the most magical 48 hours in Singapore, the kind where time doesn’t feel real and every look feels like a promise, I hopped on my first flight to Dubai to see him again. It was only our third date, but somehow it already felt like we had known each other for years.

The moment I landed, everything felt right. The skyline glittered like a welcome, but it was his smile at the airport that made the city feel like home.

On the second day, I found myself settling naturally into his world and his apartment by doing what I love most: baking. I made my signature brownies, and watching him take that first bite, then immediately go for a second, made my heart melt. There is something about cooking for someone you love that feels like speaking a secret language without words.

The next evening, we got dressed up and went to Sushi Samba for dinner. I tried the Pornstar Martini, smooth, sweet, and just the right kind of indulgent. The sushi was unbelievably fresh and delicate, each piece melting in my mouth. Every dish reminded me how beautiful it is when taste, company, and conversation all flow together effortlessly.

The next day was all sunshine and laughter at Nobu by the Beach. The weather was perfect, warm but gentle, and the water sparkled under the Saturday sun. We matched in red outfits that day, unplanned but perfectly us, and I sipped on another Pornstar Martini while we lounged by the pool, soaking in the calm.

By then, Dubai had started to feel like our place. We even found our cozy little food spot, Timeout Restaurant Dubai, where we fell completely in love with their Thai food. It became our comfort meal, our “let’s not overthink it” kind of dinner. Simple, delicious, and full of heart.

And then came the sweetest surprise. While I was preparing dinner one evening, he appeared behind me with a bouquet of flowers. No special occasion, no reason, just love, pure and simple. It caught me completely off guard and left me smiling for hours.

Before I flew back to Singapore, we had one last lunch at Nammos. I love Mediterranean food, and every dish was perfection. The pasta and hummus were divine, each bite reminding me why I adore that cuisine so much. It was the perfect ending to a week that felt like a dream, filled with sun, laughter, connection, and warmth.

As the plane took off, I looked out over the city that already felt like a second home. Dubai wasn’t just where we met again. It was where I realized that love doesn’t always take years to grow. Sometimes, it just feels right from the very beginning.