Tinder isn’t just an app for hooking up (or finding a genuine romance, if you’re into that); people can and do make lasting friendships without ever meeting.
But this is the story of a couple of attractive young people, Josh Avsec and Michelle Arendas, whose running joke of delayed replies to each other via Tinder ended up going viral on Twitter in a big way.
You know how sometimes you’ll miss a message and reply to it a little late? Well, after one missed connection, Michelle and Josh started replying to each other, taking weeks or even months between replies in the messages that you’ll see below.
Each time, they’d make an endearing fake excuse — the sort that would explain a delay of a few hours or a day, not of a few months.
A sense of humor is a great relationship builder.
After Josh posted screencaps, the internet collectively delighted in their messages, and folks started retweeting them. That’s when the story started to blow up.
In fact, so many people passed around screencaps of their exchanges around that Tinder took notice, and opted to send the couple on a dream date — wherever they wanted. So now they’re planning a date in Hawaii.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Josh and Michelle were tweeting about sportsball and regular stuff. They had no idea that their story would have people rooting for them from all over the world.
So, you know, no pressure. …
This Is Josh

He’s a good-looking guy, trying his luck on Tinder.
This is Michelle

She’s as lovely as her sense of humor.
These two matched on Tinder three years ago

A Tinder match doesn’t tell you everything, but it’s a start.
It started with “Hey Michelle” and one very delayed reply

We’re guessing that she saw the message later and thought that it was new.
Then they started running with the joke

It’s really heartwarming to see how the two started playing off of each other with this joke.
The joke became more elaborate over time

They’re such goofballs.
Then Josh tweeted out the screencaps

After three years, he had to share this with people.
Michelle carried the joke over to Twitter

Michelle chimed right in, which is when you REALLY start to root for these two if you weren’t already.
Tinder took notice

Corporate PR over social media can be a beautiful thing. You smell and opportunity AND do something nice for people.
Seriously, Tinder offered them a dream date

That’s an astounding offer for two people who’ve never even met.
Michelle and Josh settled on Maui

Honestly, the fact that they could agree on a vacation spot says more than matching on Tinder ever could.
Josh was clearly blown away

This is Josh’s level of excitement just as the story took off — before we all heard about the trip to Maui.
It still doesn’t feel real to either of them

Maybe when they meet, Josh and Michelle can pinch each other to prove that they’re not dreaming.
Tinder’s out here handing out life lessons

Kudos to whoever’s running Tinder’s social media accounts.
And the world’s rooting for these two

One particularly observant person noted that these two almost seemed predestined.