"Vitals & Video Calls: How My LDR Became the Plot Twist in My Nursing Life"

If someone told me a few years ago that I’d be living my very own Korean drama love story, I would’ve laughed it off while reviewing my nursing notes. But life had a plot twist waiting for me—and it all started on Instagram.

 Who would've thought my very first love story would unfold through Instagram? It all started one summer, just a couple of months before my first year of nursing school began. I wasn’t really looking for love, I’ve always been the type who takes relationships seriously, especially with strict parents and my own dreams to focus on. I was your classic NBSB girl (no boyfriend since birth), and I always thought, “Dile sa'ko kay makasagabal ra na pagskwela.”

But as fate would have it, love finds its way, even through mutuals and suggested friends on social media. A close friend of mine had moved to the UK to study, and through her connections, one day, a certain someone found me on Instagram. According to him, I popped up on his suggested friends because I was mutuals with our shared friend. He checked out my profile, got curious, and eventually followed me. For two years, he’d casually like my posts, react with hearts on my stories, and greet me during holidays. I noticed, yes—but I never thought too much of it.

Then came that one random summer day. I posted a simple story, and he responded with a message. And that one message? It changed everything. We started talking more, from light conversations to deep talks, and before we knew it, we clicked so naturally. After three months of getting to know each other, we made it official. He became my first boyfriend, and I became his first girlfriend—the first person he introduced to his family. We were each other’s firsts. It felt surreal, even too good to be true sometimes, but it was real. And nearly two years later, here we are—still holding on, still loving from miles away.

Of course, it’s not always easy. Like any relationship, we have our share of misunderstandings and hard days, but being in a long-distance relationship makes communication even more important. We always remind ourselves that it’s not just about talking, it’s about truly listening and understanding. Pride has no place when you love someone. One of us always takes the step to fix things before they get worse. And when things get heavy, we remind each other: it’s us vs. the problem, not me vs. you.

We also make sure to have things to look forward to—weekly movie nights (we take turns choosing), playing games like Minecraft and UNO, and watching sitcoms together. We just finished Friends, and now we’re watching Modern Family. It’s our little routine that makes the distance feel smaller.

Video calls aren’t 24/7, but we make time, even just to see each other’s faces for a few minutes. Updates matter too, not to control each other’s lives, but to make each other feel included. I never want to be treated like a parent, and he never asks me to act like one. We just want to be involved in each other’s day-to-day. It’s a form of respect and love.

Despite the 7-hour time difference, he’s never made me feel like I had to choose between him and my dreams. In fact, he became one of my biggest sources of strength. During late-night study sessions, he’d stay on video call with me, sometimes playing quietly, sometimes just watching over me until I finish. He’s always been supportive, never demanding. He prioritizes time with his family, and instead of being jealous, I admire it so much. Then when he’s done, he checks on me and stays up until we both fall asleep.

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Here are some things that have helped us stay strong, even with 7,000 miles between us:

Intentional communication

We don’t just message to update each other. We make time to talk properly, to laugh, to listen. He’s not just a "good morning" and "good night" kind of person—he asks about how my shift went, how I’m really feeling, or even what snacks I bought during duty.

Mini date nights

We watch movies together, pick shows to binge (currently Modern Family, after Friends), and play games like UNO or Minecraft. These small routines help us feel close even from afar.

We sleepcall

Because of the time difference, I’m usually awake during his bedtime. He stays on call while I study, and we fall asleep on the line. Sometimes we’re not even talking—it’s just comforting knowing the other is there.

We appreciate the little efforts

He reminds me that he’s proud of me, that I’m doing great in school. I let him know his support means the world. It’s not about grand gestures every day. It’s about making each other feel seen and loved.

We trust and respect each other

We talked about boundaries early on and made sure we understood what makes each other comfortable. We treat each other with maturity and respect. That’s how trust grows.

We dream together

We talk about real plans—about when we’ll meet, about our future. Not just “someday,” but actual timelines and goals we both want to reach.

We choose to grow, not just stay

When we argue, we don’t aim to win. We aim to understand. We apologize. We meet halfway. And we remind each other that we’re a team.

He’s seen me tired, stressed, and burned out—but he never made me feel like I was too much. He stays. He listens. He encourages. He’s my biggest cheerleader, especially with school. Even in silence, he’s present. He’s the one who reminds me that I don’t have to do this alone. I’m not just a student nurse, I am someone who’s deeply loved, even from across the world.

If you’re in a long-distance relationship too, here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t need constant drama to prove love is real. Sometimes, love is just someone staying on the call while you review for your next quiz. It’s someone believing in your dreams as much as you do. It’s someone reminding you to rest, to eat, to breathe. Be each other’s peace, not pressure. Long-distance isn’t easy, but when it’s with the right person, it’s worth every second.

Love, especially in long distance, is not about perfect timing. It’s about being willing to show up—even when it’s inconvenient, even when it’s hard.

And for me? I’d choose this kind of love again and again.

 From Seoulful Dramas to Real-Life Feels...

I never expected to meet someone thousands of miles away who would mean so much to me. Our love story may not have OSTs playing in the background, but it’s real, raw, and rooted in shared effort. And if you're in a long-distance relationship, know this: it can work—as long as both of you are willing to show up for each other, every day.

✨ Until next week’s blog, future RNs!

So, that’s the love story I never saw coming—plot twist talaga! 😂

But now, balik nursing mode muna tayo! In my next post, I’ll be sharing some helpful tips and rating my personal experience in all the major nursing subjects I survived during first year. Kasama na diyan ang highlights, horror stories, and the things I wish I knew sooner.

Stay tuned for:

"My First Year in Nursing: Major Subject Ratings + Survival Tips"

💉📚 Let’s get real about the journey—one subject (and one breakdown) at a time!