Tell us the story of how you met.
Reuben: We met at the Arts Orientation Week [when we were] in the same Orientation Group. We became closer as we had the same clique of friends and even ran for office in the Faculty Club together (and got in)! The Club had a grueling camp that was a rite of passage. We stuck together and helped each other out. When I got tired, looking at her invigorated me.
What were your first impressions?
Eileen: I didn't think he was a freshman as he looked much older. He was also going around telling everyone that he was a senior. This meant that a lot of the 'information' about NUS I heard from him turned out to be rubbish. My first impression was that he was confident but full of s***.
Reuben: She was cute and made adorable faces which is a soft spot of mine.
How did you become a couple?
Eileen: He was funny and it was easy to spend time with him. Also, he was always following me around and I guess it was natural that we got together.
Reuben: I just followed her everywhere and that strategy seemed to work, apart from having to fight off the other suitors. Yeah, there were quite a few. Popular girl, this one.
The story I would tell people was that I wooed her for nine months before succeeding. The truth is, we were both on the same management committee for the Faculty Club and I was in the Executive Committee, so we didn't want people to know that we were together. We didn't go official until May 2006 just before handing over duties. At that point, everyone around us basically said "erm we knew from the start lor".
How did you know your partner was the one?
Eileen: I don't believe there is such a thing. You choose who to be with and work on it. We got along well and I could see us growing old together.
Reuben: We always had lots to share among ourselves and never really kept secrets from each other. We had lots to talk about and even after almost 20 years, we still haven't run out of topics.
What do you love about your partner?
Reuben: She's good at keeping me in check when I behave in less-than-socially acceptable ways. She doesn't always set out to critique but when she does, it cuts deep and I learn from it.
Eileen: My favourite thing about Reuben is that he is a positive thinker. I can be quite pessimistic, especially when things get challenging. It helps to have someone who can pull me out of my negative thoughts and help reframe my mindset.
Give us your best relationship advice.
Eileen: All relationships are different, so try not to compare your relationship with others.
Reuben: Something not cliched? Hmm... getting into a relationship isn't about what you want to get but what you want to give.
Do you have any memories as a couple in NUS?
Eileen: We got together very early on in NUS, so almost all my memories of NUS include Reuben!
Reuben: I think we ate at every canteen and restaurant on campus. We were also part of a tonne of activities. In fact, the majority of the guests at our wedding were our common friends from NUS.