In a now-viral TikTok video, Sam Jackson (@_samjjackson) captured a moment that would take on unexpected significance.
The clip shows Jackson leaving for a second date, and is captioned “Last year, as a joke, my friends filmed me leaving for a second date in case he was my future husband.” But what started as a lighthearted joke turned into reality when, 10 months later, Jackson and her boyfriend moved in together.
A regular TikTok chronicler of her dating life, Jackson had asked her friends to record her departure as a playful gesture. Looking back, she shares exclusively to PEOPLE, “I think it’s hard to say if he’s the one after one date, but I kind of saw how many green flags there were…”
“He was a complete gentleman with manners and how he approached the date,” she continues. “We had lots in common. It was just a very nice, easy date, with lots to chat about. Obviously, the attraction was there.”
But their connection went beyond initial chemistry — it was about something deeper. And as their relationship grew, moving in together felt like the natural next step.
“I think it’s been great,” she notes about the transition to living together. “I was nervous about moving out only because I’ve never lived with a boy before … But it’s been like living with my best friend.”
While their lives are now intertwined, the pair remain committed to maintaining their independence. “We both still have our own things going on. We both go out and have our own hobbies and see our friends,” she says.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Her viral TikTok video not only captured a hopeful moment but, in a way, served as a manifestation of sorts. Jackson wonders whether recording it influenced the outcome of the relationship, though she remains cautious about jinxing things by speaking about them too soon.
“Sometimes I think manifestation works, and other times I think, ‘Do I want to say this before it’s happened just in case it doesn’t?’ ” Jackson says. Despite these reservations, her relationship blossomed in an unexpected way.
For now, she and her boyfriend are focusing on settling into their new home and enjoying life together, with the possibility of starting a family in the future.
To those looking at her relationship as inspiration, Jackson emphasizes the importance of going with what feels right in the moment and not imposing a timeline.
“Dating can be negative,” she says, “but, I do think that if you go into dating knowing exactly what you want and set certain boundaries, you’ll attract the right kind of people that you want to attract.”
Read the full article here