For Khoa, a top student in the English Literature department at Hanoi’s University of Languages, he often felt alone in his passion. His friends liked games and sports. He liked Shakespeare. He used OVFRIENDS not for dating, but to find a “soulmate” for books after class.
He connected with Isabella, a Philosophy student in Italy, whose profile picture showed her reading Dante’s “The Divine Comedy.”
Their first conversation lasted four hours, debating the tragedy of Hamlet versus that of Oedipus Rex. They quickly moved from books to sharing personal journal entries, deep-seated fears, and a mutual love of hiking.
Khoa started learning Italian on OVFRIENDS, not for communication, but because he wanted to read Dante in the original language. Isabella, in return, began trying to write Haikus and then six-eight Vietnamese poetry, asking Khoa to correct her mistakes.
Their bond was “sealed” when they joined a virtual book club, holding cross-continental online reading sessions. Khoa read “The Tale of Kieu” in English for Isabella, and she read the sonnets of Petrarch for him.
After 5 months, Isabella decided to come to Vietnam to meet Khoa. Together, they conquered Ha Giang. Standing on the peak of Ma Pi Leng Pass, looking down at the turquoise Nho Que River, Khoa turned to look at Isabella.
He felt true love when Isabella said, “I believe you will be a great writer. Never give up on your dream of writing a book.” She was the first and only person to ever say that to him.
Currently, they are building a small family together in Italy. Their first son was just born. OVFRIENDS didn’t just connect two literary souls; it helped them write the most beautiful chapter in the novel of their own lives.