Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
When Alicia* first met Michael*, she was just 14 years old – but she took an instant liking to the handsome adult who was 14 years older than her.
Alicia, now 27, was visiting her friend at the time in 2007 when Michael, her pal’s uncle, was first introduced to her.
“I laid eyes on him for the very first time in 2007. I was only 14 years old and he was about 28 years old,” she said.
As Alicia was still a child at the time, nothing ever happened between the pair though the older man certainly caught her eye. “I became friends with his niece around that time and since then I’ve always had a crush on her cute uncle.”
“I don’t know what it was but it definitely felt like love at first sight. Since the first day I laid eyes on him, weirdly enough, I just felt he was going to be the one.”
Years passed and the pair had no contact – until 2017, when Alicia was 23 and about to go to America for 2 years to finish her studies.
“Shortly before I left, I randomly told Michael that I was going to marry him one day. Obviously, he just chuckled in response.”
“Little did he know how serious I was and I just knew that one day it was going to happen. He was also in a relationship at that time.”
Two years later when Alicia returned to KL, Michael noticed her homecoming and had been checking out her social media pages – but at 14 years older than her, he was still reluctant to make the first move.
Alicia explained: “He came by the bar where I worked one day and walked in behind the bar and gave me a hug.” The following day, the pair went on their first date – organised by Michael’s niece and Alicia’s friend, Nikita*.
“After our first date, he leaned in to kiss me and that’s how it all started,”
From then on, the pair continued dating and were inseparable
“We have a connection like no other. We understand each other, we are honest with each other and the sex is amazing,” Alicia said.
The couple are now expecting their first child together too, due next month. The couple says their family has largely been supportive of the relationship despite a few shocks early on.
“Everyone always knew I had a huge crush on Michael, so no one really thinks I was solely in it for the money or anything. But no one thought it would ever become anything serious. When it did, some people were surprised and others not, but we have been open about it since day one.”
“My parents were a bit shocked because they only found out on Facebook once we made it public – they accepted it pretty easy though as they have known him for years and loved him as a person.”
She added Nikita has been the most excited about the blooming relationship and has always supported the couple.
Luckily, the pair say they’ve never received any negative comments
Michael was previously married in his 20s but the relationship broke down and he got divorced 6 years ago.
Alicia explained their relationship works so well because Michael is old enough to have passed the “messing around” stage of his life and now knows what he wants.
“We both want the same thing when it comes to starting a family. We are so excited to be having a baby together and to start our life together as a little family of three.
“We love each other unconditionally and appreciate each other in every way possible. We each have our past yet we are able to open up and accept each other as we are,” she said.
The couple are currently long distance while Michael works in Singapore. But he’s planning to fly back in September for the birth of his child.
This age gap relationship worked out for Michael and Alicia but it doesn’t always work for everyone
Fortunately for Alicia, Michael was never interested in her because of her age or for her youth. There are those who vastly prefer their partner to be young and inexperienced because then their partner can be moulded into what they like.
It also helped that their relationship began when both of them were adults – and not in the situation where Michael “waited” for her to become legal.
But in a country where child marriage remains legal, it’s only natural to be suspicious of such large age gaps.
* Names have been changed for anonymity
For more stories like this, read: The Pitfalls of Dating an Older White Man in Malaysia and Dating Older Guys Were Great – Until These Realities Hit Me
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