Fated to Love

The star-crossed couple of the year, Reino Barack and Syahrini, exclusively reveal to us the story behind their destined journey and the red thread that binds them together.

Reino Barack and Syahrini open up about their relationship and the love behind it

Reino, please help me look for a partner,” syahrini once said as friendly banter a year ago during a dinner just before eid al-fitr. sitting nearby among their big group of mutual friends, he pondered for a while to answer the jest with equal zest: “perhaps you’re too exacting with high standards.”

She then flew off to spend the long Lebaran holiday in Los Angeles, while he spent time with his family in Japan—after which Syahrini was busy again to prepare for her concert in September, and Reino went to. “I never actually planned to go attend the concert, but her sister, Aisyahrini, asked me to come,” Reino said. After that, Reino wanted to congratulate Syahrini but didn’t have her number; Aisyahrini then gave

Syahrini’s number, and the rest is history. Following more life events both unplanned and planned that put the two together, Reino and Syahrini became sure that these moments are the answers to their prayers.

“God works in His own special way,” said Reino, “I prayed that if she was the one for me, then help us get closer—and we did get closer each day.” Similarly, Syahrini also prayed with her parents and listened to God’s guidance alongside her parents’ advice and approval, should he be the one for her.

Furthermore, Reino and Syahrini have similarities in their ways of thinking, and when it comes to life philosophies, such as a passion for the welfare of orphans and elderly. “We care a lot about education, be it for our future children or the orphans we

help out,” Syahrini said. “This is among the topics that we discuss often because, although our work might be different, we are at the stage of settling down after fruitful years in career and travelling times during our single years,” Reino added. Both also agreed that communication in marriage is important, and theirs, in particular, is always heartfelt, which helps learning about each other a breeze.

“When you find someone who lights up your soul, you just know it; time is just a matter of numbers on the clock,” said

Syahrini. For Reino, he found a big heart that is patient, gentle, and comical—respectful to, and loved by, the young and old alike in his extensive family in Japan. Their short and sweet courtship was followed by a serious discussion about life ahead, rather than the usual on-one-knee proposal, and how to best line up the busy schedules between two families for the marriage dates. “There were the proposal in Bogor; the Sundanese- and Japanese-style engagement ceremonies; the wedding and dinner in Tokyo; and then the reception in Jakarta for close friends and work colleagues,” Syahrini said.

Now happily wedded, the lovebirds often surprise each other, such as Syahrini, who occasionally cooks dishes from scratch especially for Reino. Her joyful soul, which delights in small, daily pleasures, became even more apparent when he took her honeymooning to Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Syahrini’s tears fell freely for, yet again, her prayer to be a bride on white sands was answered and became even better with Reino now by her side, hand-in-hand to build a better future together.

“we care a lot about education, be It for our future children or the orphans we help out.”