Always Be My Maybe (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Marcus decided to skip college because he was emotionally overwhelmed after losing his mother. The grief from his mother's death was still fresh, and the intimate moment with Sasha made him feel lost and uncertain about his future. Rather than going to college like planned, he chose to stay close to home and process his emotions, which hurt Sasha who felt he was abandoning their future together.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Marcus's mother had just died, leaving him emotionally vulnerable.

• marcus
• college
• grief
• mother death
• sasha

Sasha broke off her engagement because she realized she still had feelings for Marcus. When she returned to San Francisco and reconnected with him, old emotions resurfaced. After spending time with Marcus and reflecting on their history, she understood that her engagement to Brandon was holding her back from what she truly wanted.

Foreshadowing: Sasha's decision to return to San Francisco to open her restaurant was prompted by her dissatisfaction with her LA life.

• sasha
• brandon
• engagement
• break up
• feelings

Marcus and Sasha stopped talking because of a heated argument after their first intimate experience. Marcus revealed he wanted to skip college, which hurt Sasha since they had planned to go to college together. Sasha felt betrayed and abandoned, especially given how close they had become after Marcus's mother died. She stormed off, and neither reached out to reconcile, leading to 15 years of silence.

Foreshadowing: Their argument happened immediately after losing their virginity to each other, making the betrayal feel even more painful.

• marcus
• sasha
• separation
• argument
• 15 years

Marcus was working as an HVAC installer with his father because he never left San Francisco after the argument with Sasha. While he continued playing in a band, he needed a steady job to pay the bills. His life took a more relaxed, grounded path compared to Sasha's ambitious career climb, which is why he was still working in his hometown rather than pursuing music professionally.

Foreshadowing: Marcus never left San Francisco after his argument with Sasha, staying in his comfort zone.

• marcus
• hvac
• music
• job
• san francisco

Marcus felt uncomfortable because he wasn't used to the celebrity world Sasha now lived in. Attending red carpet events and art exhibits felt inauthentic to him. He was used to his simple life in San Francisco playing in a band and working with his father. The glamorous lifestyle made him feel out of place and insecure about his own achievements.

Foreshadowing: Marcus had always lived a relaxed, low-key life in San Francisco while Sasha pursued an ambitious career.

• marcus
• sasha
• lifestyle
• insecurity
• authenticity

The car held deep sentimental value because it was where they lost their virginities to each other. When Marcus's girlfriend Vivian drove Sasha home in that same car, it triggered memories of that pivotal night. The awkward ride home symbolized how their past kept resurfacing and how their connection transcended time and circumstances.

Foreshadowing: The car scene was referenced multiple times throughout the film as a turning point in their relationship.

• car
• virginity
• memories
• first time
• sasha marcus

Keanu Reeves played himself in a comedic cameo as one of Sasha's celebrity friends. When Sasha wanted to set up a double date, she called in a favor from her famous acquaintance. His presence added humor to the film and played into the rom-com trope of the quirky celebrity friend helping advance the relationship.

Foreshadowing: Sasha mentioned having celebrity connections during her LA career.

• keanu reeves
• cameo
• celebrity
• double date

Marcus realized he hadn't processed his grief when he saw his father James moving on with a new relationship. Seeing his father happy again made Marcus confront why he himself was still stuck. He recognized that his inability to commit to Sasha and his general lack of direction stemmed from never properly dealing with his mother's death years earlier.

Foreshadowing: Marcus's mother died when they were teenagers, and he never discussed or processed that loss.

• marcus
• mother
• death
• grief
• father
• realization

When Sasha bought all of Marcus's band's merchandise at her restaurant opening, it showed Marcus that she had been supporting him all along, even when they weren't talking. This small act of love and encouragement proved she still cared about his dreams. It was the gesture that motivated him to pursue her in New York.

Foreshadowing: Sasha had always supported Marcus's music, even during their years apart.

• sasha
• marcus
• merchandise
• band
• support
• love

When Marcus asked to hold Sasha's purse, he was symbolically showing he was willing to support her success rather than compete with it. Previously, he felt insecure about her glamorous world, but by asking to hold her purse, he demonstrated he wanted to be part of her life and embrace her achievements without feeling threatened.

Foreshadowing: Marcus had previously struggled with feeling out of place in Sasha's celebrity world.

• marcus
• sasha
• purse
• support
• awards
• gesture

Sasha's restaurant was dedicated to her mother's kimchi because her mother taught her how to cook. During their childhood, Marcus's mother introduced Sasha to cooking, which inspired her career. The tribute honored that legacy and connected her success back to the mother figures who shaped her love of food.

Foreshadowing: Marcus's mother taught Sasha how to cook during their childhood dinners together.

• sasha
• mother
• kimchi
• restaurant
• tribute
• cooking