It all started when Diego, a Spaniard, and Mali, a Thai woman, crossed paths in the lively Dutch capital of Amsterdam. Both Diego and Mali were certain that their native languages were the most expressive on Earth, despite the fact that none of them could speak Thai or Spanish. Worse yet, none of them had a strong command of English, the common language that could have helped them communicate beyond their language barrier. On a rainy afternoon in a quaint cafe, a connection grew between them, and this merely served to ignite it in the unusual and magical way of life.

Diego was an expressive guy. He made animated gestures with his hands, arched eyebrows, and belly laughs with every word he said. His whole being conveyed his excitement. Mali, in contrast, was the antithesis of him; she was mild-mannered and soft-spoken, yet her expressive eyes, loving smile, and graceful motions conveyed a thousand hidden meanings. In contrast to Diego's raging inferno, Mali's heart was a gentle, constant fire.

Their charming and unplanned first encounter was a happy accident. Without checking, Diego sat down at Mali's corner table, presuming it was free, after ordering his normal cafe con leche. As Mali sipped her Thai tea and fiddled with her phone, she glanced up to see an...