Introducing CLEO’s Coolest Couple for 2017, Christabel and Joal aka @bellywellyjelly and @joalong.
Introducing CLEO’s Coolest Couple for 2017, Christabel and Joal aka @bellywellyjelly and @joalong.
Once upon a time...
In the not so far away land of Singapore, a bubbly girl was making a video. She held auditions for her on-screen partner and one potential suitor in particular caught her attention. Because he was late and texting her every two minutes to apologise.
Then, they met face to face... and sparks flew.
“I think what made me fall for her is that she’s a really bubbly person. When I first met her and within the first few days of meeting her, I felt she was really kind, even to strangers. She was really nice and passionate. It kind of inspired me to be nicer, whether it’s to old uncles or aunties or taxi drivers. So it was a very touching moment for me, and I think that paved the way to being trapped by her clutches,” says Joal.
It was the story of how they got together that sealed the deal for us, though. When you’re truly in love, you’re comfortable and able to be yourself 100 percent. And nothing says comfortable like tummy issues – right?!
On Christabel: Nylon parka, $99.90, cotton mock neck sweater, $39.90, denim pinafore dress, $49.90, all from Pull & Bear.
On Joal: Cotton knit beanie, $19.90, denim jacket with patches, $89.90, cotton tee, $19.90, distressed denim jeans, $55.90, all from Pull & Bear.
Joal: We actually hung out with our friends together as a group for a good time before I asked her out. One time, we went to a bar with my friends and her friends. When she wanted to go home, I walked her to take a cab. And when there was obviously a cab that was coming, she would see someone else trying to flag the cab and say “It’s OK! Let them go first.” In my heart, I was thinking “Wow she wants to act and spend more time with me.”
After nine months, it already felt like we were together. But after months of build-up, you would want it to be special, right? So I made sure to plan it on Christmas. I wanted it to be really sweet. I got, like... I can’t even remember what I got for her. Flowers?
Christabel: Flowers. A huge bunch and a very nice handmade card.
Joal: So we got to the car and I was like “These are my surprises for you” and showed her the surprises. I wanted to ask her to be my girlfriend and she interrupted me and went “Wait.”
Christabel: (laughs) I was, like, “Wait, I need to go to the toilet and I need Po Chai. Can you go and get Po Chai, please?”
Joal: (laughs) She had a tummy ache, and I was, like “Sure! But you know I’m going to ask you to be my girlfriend, right?” And she went “Ya, OK!” and went to the toilet. So that was all the preparation…
On Christabel: Shearling varsity jacket, $79.90, cotton tee, $19.90, embroidered denim skirt, $49.90, faux leather sneakers, $55.90, nylon cross- body bag, $39.90, all from Pull & Bear.
On Joal: Cotton knit beanie, $6.90, cotton canvas jacket, $69.90, cotton slogan tee, $29.90, cotton knit joggers, $35.90, paint splattered faux leather sneakers, $69.90, all from Pull & Bear.
Over the past three years, Christabel and Joal have been serving up serious couple goals on their joint YouTube channel JustAnotherCouple. Though, they are quick to point out that things aren’t always as perfect as their edited videos show.
“Obviously, it’s not a bed of roses,” Christabel says. “We do fight sometimes. I always believe if you allow yourself to feel extremely happy, you’ll also open yourself to feeling extremely sad. I think it’s very important to recognise that there will always be times when it won’t go well and you’ll feel like you would be better off not dealing with the negative parts of being in a relationship. So I guess it’s just about wanting to stay together.” Their weekends are also more low-key than you’d expect – spent getting bubble tea and watching movies; with family time on Sundays. They’re fortunate to travel frequently, though, which Christabel thinks really helps make the relationship stronger.
On Christabel: Suede heart choker, $14.90, cotton tee, $11.90, denim pinafore dress, $55.90, cotton parka with fur trim, $139, faux leather sneakers, $55.90, all from Pull & Bear.
On Joal: Tortoiseshell sunglasses, $19.90, nylon bomber jacket, $69.90, cotton slogan sweater, $29.90, cotton canvas joggers, $55.90, paint splattered faux leather sneakers, $69.90, all from Pull & Bear.
Christabel: I think, when you’re travelling, you actually get to know a person better. You get to see his habits, his idiosyncrasies…
Joal: Whoa.
Christabel: (laughs) Big word!
Joal: (laughs) I can’t even say that word, I would have to write it out! Anyway, travelling is something we enjoy and we usually come back from our trips with good memories.
Like in Japan, when Joal, who was only in a longsleeved tee because he’d given Christabel his jacket, sacrificed his body to the freezing cold to show her fairy lights.
Joal: We were actually in a cab. It wasn’t even on the way, but we drove past this alley full of fairy lights. Actually, we drove by twice. When we drove past the first time, I kept quiet because I knew if I told her she would be like “Can we walk back?” The second time, we were at a stop light and you could see the same alley. I was like “Oh, I guess I have to tell her.” So I said “Look at that?” and she went “Oh, can we go, can we go?” and it was – how cold was it?
Christabel: It was seven or eight degrees…
Freezing to make her happy – see what we mean about true love?
The very first time First kiss?
Christabel: Marina Barrage.
Joal: It was one or two months after seeing each other.
CLEO: Who initiated the kiss?
Christabel: (laughs) So proud…
First time saying “I Love You”?
Christabel: I don’t think I remember that as well…
Joal: I remember! I think it was the third or fourth month. It was during a period when we both already knew we loved each other but hadn’t said it yet. And on that day, we said it to each other.
When was the first time you met each others family?
Joal: For her parents, it was slightly later.
Christabel: Yeah, probably on the fourth or fifth month? My dad actually suggested “Oh, why don’t you ask him over for dinner?”
Joal: It was so stressful.
And finally, finish this sentence… I think it’s cuter than a puppy wearing a hat when…
Joal: Sometimes, she forgets where she is and stands in the middle of the road and scrunches up her face, asking for a hug. Those are the times when I cannot not hug her.
CLEO: Does that happen very often? Joal: Once a day?
Christabel: Really? Joal: Once every two days?
On Christabel: Paisley satin scarf, $14.90, pinstriped cotton pinafore with shirt, $55.90, nylon parka, $89.90, faux leather platform boots, $89.90, all from Pull & Bear.
On Joal: Cotton knit beanie, $17.90, cotton hoodie, $39.90. cotton chinos, $39.90, suede hiking boots, $119, all from Pull & Bear.
Photography Joel Lim / Fashion Direction Janice Pidduck / Styling Cheryl Chan / Hair Ash Loi/ Atelier Hair & Beauty using La Biosthetique Paris / Makeup Keith Bryant Lee using Dior / Fashion Assistants Syafiq Asyraf, Nicholas Chan. All apparel from Pull & Bear.
