SINGAPORE - It started with a miss.
But then came the kiss.
In a romantic nutshell, Mike Kasem and Miss Mindy Chia are officially an item.
The pair met when we asked single women to write in to win Valentine's Day dates with the US DJ and fellow bachelor British-Chinese TV host Paul Foster in February.
Since embarking on this journey to meet his soulmate via The New Paper's date-a-celeb series, Kasem, 39, had his eyes set on Miss Chia, 32.
Her picture, he said, was stunning and he ended up picking her for the final one-on-one date after his group dinner with seven women.
But things did not go smoothly initially as they had reservations about each other.
Kasem said he had felt that Miss Chia was too shy.
On their one-on-one date, he was frustrated and bemused with the fact that she had refused to put her hand on his shoulder when taking a picture.
Miss Chia, who works in the service industry, admitted that she thought Kasem didn't put in enough effort to spend time with her after the series wrapped up on Valentine's Day.
The dates that they had gone on since then were to clubs where they had drinks, but never got to spend much quality time with each other.
Things came to a head on March 12 when she called him and they had a "two-hour-long debate".
Kasem told TNP: "I wouldn't say we had an argument, but we really talked honestly about everything.
"I told her that this wasn't going to work because there was an undeniable cultural gap between us.
"I'm much more Westernised and told her she was simply too shy.
"She then surprised me when she said that I wasn't trying hard enough. She was right.
"So we agreed to set aside the next two weeks and saw each other whenever we could to see if this would work."
The very next day, after they had THE conversation, the pair went on a date at Great World City where she accompanied him to cut his hair.
When he walked her to the taxi stand, magic happened.
Said Kasem: "I was saying bye to her near the escalator and I expected the usual good-bye from her.
"Like you know 'peace brother, I'm out of here' kind of thing.
"She kissed me on the lips. I was blown away.
"Things went great after that.
"It's like for us, we went through the marriage phase first before we got to the honeymoon phase."
Miss Chia said that she took the initiative to make the first move because that was her way of showing him that she was serious about breaking down her walls in front of him.
"I like everything about Mike, he's very manly and kind.
"My favourite thing is to rub his nose or smell his face, he smells very nice.
"I even like his 'dementia', Mike can't remember things like birthdays or names of places."
Read the full story here.
Click on the thumbnails for more photos.
(Photos: Mindy Chia, TNP)
Cannot believe someone had picked a koala-lookalike.
Mindy, where is your confidence and self-esteem, mind you, you are a flight attendant?
You have good skin, nice figure and character. Why throw yourself at him? There are better men elsewhere.
I know I am married, but too bad I cannot take you.
These people like exaggerate and declare how good and matching they are now and make known everyone. Later when they split, they just say opposite. So many living examples. People no learn.
No lah. die die also must put up for a few years, then see ....
Quote - http://www.divaasia.com/media_photo/20192
Kasem said he had felt that Miss Chia was too shy.
Kasem told TNP: "I wouldn't say we had an argument, but we really talked honestly about everything.
"I told her that this wasn't going to work because there was an undeniable cultural gap between us.
"I'm much more Westernised and told her she was simply too shy.
This Mindy will need to work harder on her shamelessness and bit.chyness .... Mindy need her daddy, her mummy, her sisters, her brothers HELP to excel and improve on this aspects to win Ah Mike's baton for her personal use .... :D :D :D