Michelle befriended Cesar's younger sister Cindy, in the fifth grade. The two remained good friends all through the years and although sights of Cesar were brief, the two never really interacted, never even said hi to each other once. The two went about their lives until one day when Cindy mentioned to Michelle, "Hey, by the way, my brother moved to San Diego a few months ago." Michelle didn't give it much thought. Shortly after the new Year, a text came in that said "Hey Michelle, this is Cesar, Cindy's brother, we should meet up and grab some coffee or maybe if you're hungry we can go grab a bite." Michelle didn't entirely read the message and she replied "driving home txt you in a bit." As soon as Michelle settled home she realized he had invited her out for dinner and she was embarrassed. "I'm sorry Cesar I just read the entire message let's set a time so we can meet up." The meet up was just as friends, the intention was never as a date. Just two people who knew of each other and now happened to be in the same city. Cesar decided to meet in Balboa Park on January 4th in the afternoon. Michelle arrived there a few mins late and saw Cesar waiting for her in the steps that lead toward the Pavilion. The two gave each other a hug and were very happy to see each other. "Hey long time no see!" exclaimed Michelle. Somehow it felt as if the two had always spoken or been close. After that hug, Michelle and Cesar walked and talked and walked and talked, they went to mass at Our Lady of the Rosary, then made their way to Filippis Pizza, where the talking continued. Eventually they both realized the restaurant was almost empty and about to close at midnight! After that day, it didn't take long before the two realized they were meant to be. Two souls who had been through life's ups and downs had finally found each other on that fateful day of January 4th. Sometimes what you're looking for is closer than you may think.

On a Sunday morning, December 15th, Michelle and Cesar made plans to go to one of their favorite brunch spots, Claytons, in Coronado. Unbeknownst to Michelle, Cesar's friends were setting up for a surprise. As far as Michelle knew, the plan was to hang out as usual on their mutual day off. Across from Claytons is a coffee shop, Cafe 1134, where they both met on their second ‘friend’ date, (THE place where she realized “He's the one!”). They made their way to the coffee shop visiting memory lane then walked and talked down to the beach just as they did that second date. Afterwards, Cesar asked Michelle if she would like to go visit one more place. Michelle said, "Sure, where did you want to go?" Cesar responded, "Since we’re revisiting the past, how about Balboa Park, where we first met?" Michelle excitedly agreed. On they went to Balboa, revisiting the same steps, the same memories, where they first met after 20+ years of life's journey taking them in many different directions, twist and turns, around the world and back to that fateful day, January 4, 2019, where they first met on a Friday afternoon, at 3PM. Now there they were, once again, on the same steps leading to Spreckels Organ Pavilion at the same time, 3PM. Time flies; it was only just earlier that year that they had just met as friends and now here they were, two love birds, closer than either of them could've ever imagined. It was on those steps that Cesar offered Michelle a gift, a book titled "The Story of Us Pt. I". As Michelle read each page, the story of how they met unveiled, things they did, places visited, and everything leading to Cesar's heart on ink asking for her hand in marriage. It was then that Cesar dropped to one knee and presented her a diamond ring asking her, "Michelle, would you marry me?". Michelle readily answered with a face filled with happiness and tears of joy, "Of course, but you already knew that." Soon after, applauding and cheering from friends broke out. #Always&Forever