Our story began at Boba Time in Burbank on Victory Blvd, where I had already been working for 4 months when Ken joined the team. Our manager told us a transfer from Glendale was coming, & soon enough, he was going around introducing himself to everyone…except me. For a while, he tiptoed around me—glancing over but never making eye contact—until a shift lead finally introduced us. After that, we somehow ended up on the same shifts week after week. At first, I thought he was a little too confident, but over time I realized it was simply who he was: uplifting, encouraging, & always ready to help. His kindness slowly turned our awkward beginnings into a real friendship. Coworkers teased us constantly, but since I was in another relationship, he never crossed boundaries & stayed respectful. Then the pandemic hit, & everything stopped. And so, my relationship at that time came to an end too. We both chose to stay home, & suddenly our daily interactions disappeared. But during that time, our friendship deepened—texts became hours-long conversations, & late-night calls became our new normal. We talked about our current worries about the world, & conversations about faith opened doors neither of us expected. In that still, uncertain season, I learned about his past in ministry, & he learned why my faith is the anchor of my life. God used that time to deepen our connection in ways I didn’t yet understand. Ken eventually became my best friend & confidant—the person I leaned on without hesitation. He knew I was going through a painful breakup & the weight of the pandemic, & he held space for me without ever judging my heart or mind. Even at my lowest, in one of the darkest seasons of my life, he remained patient, steady, & kind. As we grew closer, I felt the need to set boundaries. I could sense he was developing feelings for me, dropping small hints here & there, but my heart wasn’t ready. I told him honestly, & he understood. He promised to stay by my side simply as a friend, setting aside any thoughts of more—for my sake. During that season, all I wanted was solitude. I felt so broken that the only thing I could cling to was God. There was a gentle tug on my heart pulling me back to Him, inviting me to cry, to pray, to surrender. Worship became my refuge. It was a battle just to get out of bed, go to work, or shake off the heaviness that lingered. One morning, I found myself praying a different kind of prayer: “There’s a reason You placed this man in my life. I’m focused on healing—not romance. But if he’s the one You have for me, then he’ll wait. He’ll wait until I’m ready. Until I feel like myself again.” I prayed it once & never said it again. But I prayed for him—for his faith, for his journey, & for him to see that even in the seasons he wandered, God had never stopped being faithful. Months passed. Then, on the Fourth of July, he asked if I wanted to hang out. I said yes. We went to Urth Café & spent hours talking & catching up, slipping back into the ease of our conversations like no time had passed at all. Afterward, we headed to Arlington Garden to enjoy the evening & the quiet beauty around us. We sat on our favorite bench as the summer air settled in—days longer, nights shorter. Our conversation grew deeper, & we could hear early fireworks popping from the surrounding neighborhoods. Before we left, he said he had an important question to ask. He looked at me and said, “I prayed before we met up. I prayed for this moment, asking God to give me the strength to speak from the deepest part of my heart...Debbie, would you be my girlfriend?” I paused—partly shocked, partly amused, partly savoring the moment. I let the suspense hang for a minute before finally saying yes. And right then, I watched the biggest smile spread across his face. That smile..that moment..that “yes..It brought everything full circle— from boba, to friendship, to healing, to the beginning of the love story that led us here. - Debbie

Marriage was something we had been talking about since our second year together. But if I’m being honest, back then… I knew I wasn’t ready. Not in the way she deserved. I needed time to grow into that kind of commitment and really understand what it meant. Then 2024 came, and a lot happened. It wasn’t an easy year. She lost her dog, then her uncle—someone really close to her heart. And seeing her mom go through lung surgery… that hit differently. It made me slow down and really think about life. How fast everything moves. How, out of nowhere, things can change. One day everything feels normal, and the next, you’re reminded how fragile it all is. I found myself becoming more reflective. Talking to God more. Opening up to a few close friends. And somehow, this topic—marriage—kept coming up. Not in a forced way, but in a way that just felt… right. Like something was settling in my heart. And for the first time, I could say it and actually mean it: this is the year. Thanksgiving felt like the perfect moment. Her family had rented an Airbnb, especially with her mom recovering—it wasn’t just a holiday, it felt like a celebration of life and being together. Earlier that day, I called one of my best friends and told him my plan. He prayed for me and told me, “You’ve got to do it tonight. It’s the perfect moment.” If you know me, I’m not big on rehearsing speeches. I usually just go with what I feel in the moment. But that night, I won’t lie—I was nervous. Dinner was great, everyone was laughing, there was so much food, then games with her siblings and cousins… and the whole time, I’m just in my head, building up the courage. After the games, I asked everyone to come into the dining room because I had something to say. My heart was racing. I started by thanking her family—for welcoming me, supporting me, and loving me over the past five years. I really meant it when I said I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them… and without the love I’ve come to understand through God. Then I pulled out the ring. Got down on one knee. Looked at her—and I could already see tears in her eyes. And then… I said, “Deborah Gianzon Ruth Guiuan, will you marry me?” And instantly, I knew I messed up her name because I was so nervous. The whole room started laughing and cheering at the same time. Honestly, it broke the tension in the best way. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt real. And through all of that, with tears running down her face, she said yes. As I put the ring on her finger, everything just felt right. There was so much joy in that room, so much love—you could really feel it. And just like that, that was the start of our next chapter together. - Ken