Claudine and Michael grew up in the same area and knew the same people, so they were familiar with each other without really knowing each other. Their first real interaction happened at the basketball courts at Morrill Middle School. It was one of those moments where everything just clicked—except for the fact that Claudine forgot her basketball at home. She was there to play and, of course, had no ball. She noticed Michael had an extra one that wasn’t being used, so she asked if she could borrow it. He kindly let her use it, and that’s how it all started. Fast forward a couple of weeks, and they run into each other again at a Battle of the Tribes mixer with students from all the local high schools. It was a quick "hi" and "bye," but nothing that made them stop and talk. It wasn’t until the next week that things really took off. Michael stopped her at Battle of the Tribes to congratulate her for being part of the Indo Mob team that won first place. After that, he finally asked for her number. She nervously typed it into his phone… except she forgot the last digit. Classic move, right? Later that night, Claudine was out celebrating, wondering why he hadn’t texted her yet. That’s when she saw a message on Tumblr—Michael had messaged her saying, “You gave me the wrong number!” She couldn’t stop laughing. She then gave him the correct number, and from there, they texted all night long, talking about everything and nothing. And that was it. The start of something pretty amazing.

The Fernandez family planned a trip to Disneyland — little did Claudine know, Michael had managed to convince his own family to visit the very same weekend, with a secret plan in mind. All day long, it turned into a bit of a cat-and-mouse game as Michael tried to find the perfect moment to meet up with Claudine and finally ask her the big question. But, as anyone who’s been to Disneyland knows, it’s not the easiest place to find someone! As the sun began to set and the day wound down, Claudine finally had a window to meet up with Michael. But there was one small problem… Remember when Claudine accidentally gave Michael the wrong phone number (off by one digit)? This time, it was Michael’s turn for a mishap — he lost his park ticket! Luckily, he borrowed his cousin’s pass and sprinted back into Disneyland before his chance slipped away. Meanwhile, Claudine was hurrying to make it to a ride using their fast passes when her cousin Cameron suddenly got lost in the crowd. (We guess Michael owes Cameron a big thank you for that!) The delay gave Michael just enough time to catch up to Claudine, and right there — in front of the castle — he asked her to officially be his girlfriend. She said yes… and then promptly ran off again! But that magical Disneyland evening marked the start of something truly special.

They went to different high schools — Claudine at Independence High and Michael at Milpitas High — so after-school hangouts quickly became their thing. From grabbing Wendy’s by Independence, to burritos near MHS, to study sessions at the Milpitas Library, they made the most of every moment together. Weekends were spent wandering Great Mall, riding coasters at Great America, or sharing Chili’s famous 2 for $20 deal. And when they weren’t out and about, they loved staying in — watching sports, playing Mario Party on the GameCube, and just enjoying each other’s company. No matter where they went or what they did, they always had a blast together. Then came the very long-distance stretch — a whole hour apart — when Claudine went off to the University of the Pacific for four years. But honestly, with how often Michael visited, you might’ve thought he went there too! In 2017, they became proud dog parents to the sweetest (and most side-eyeing) Meeko Bean, who quickly stole their hearts. Caring for Meeko tested their patience at times, but no disagreement ever lasted long — not with Meeko always stepping in to bring them back together. The years that followed were filled with music festivals, family events, and countless memories — but also some challenges, heartbreaks, and lessons along the way. Through it all, they never gave up on each other. Through the pretty and the ugly, they grew, learned, and came out stronger — together.

May 19th began like any ordinary day. Michael headed off to work while Claudine stayed home, patiently waiting to see if their baby was finally ready to make her grand entrance. Sometime that morning, Claudine texted Michael, asking him to message her on his first break—but almost immediately sent a follow-up: she thought her water had broke. She told him not to panic, but of course, that was easier said than done. The moment Michael read the message, panic set in. He began frantically searching for his lead or supervisor, but no one seemed to be around. Unsure what to do, he told a fellow technician what was happening and rushed out of work without another word, racing home to pick up Claudine..who had just calmly finished her makeup (lol). At the hospital, time lost all meaning. Hours blended into one another—moments of anticipation, hope, exhaustion, and love all tangled together. Neither Michael nor Claudine could have prepared for the whirlwind of the next 20 hours. As the early morning light of May 20th began to rise, their baby girl finally decided it was time. Claudine asked the nurse to check her progress, and to everyone’s surprise, the baby was starting to make her appearance. The nurse quickly called the doctor to begin the delivery. Claudine glanced at Michael—fast asleep, completely unaware of the commotion—and briefly debated letting him rest a little longer. But with a bit of convincing from the nurse, she agreed to wake him before the big moment. After what felt like an endless 20 hours of labor, the delivery itself was astonishingly quick—just two minutes. And at 4:23 AM on May 20, 2023, Celine Isla Fernandez Galinato was born. It was the moment that changed everything—the greatest blessing Michael and Claudine could have ever asked for.

It was a beautiful day in the middle of a week filled with family gatherings, laughter, and celebrations. Claudine and Michael were on the island with their loved ones for Claire’s cotillion — a trip full of joy, connection, and memories in the making. Among the many plans that week, Michael had arranged a photoshoot at a place that already held deep meaning for them — the very same spot where they had shared their gender reveal before welcoming Celine into the world. To Claudine, it was simply a sweet “before and after” photoshoot — one to capture their little family now that Celine was finally in their arms. The day began a little hectic, with everyone meeting up at Turtle Bay to unwind and enjoy the island breeze. Later, Claudine, Michael and Celine made their way to Kualoa Ranch Regional Park for what she thought was just another photo session. But this time, the moment was different. As the ocean shimmered and the mountains stood in the distance, Michael turned to Claudine, took her hands, and dropped to one knee. Some of their family members — who had secretly followed them under the guise of taking photos — got to witness the beautiful moment unfold. (Special thanks to Audrey for safely flying in with the ring!) Completely surprised and overwhelmed with emotion, Claudine couldn’t stop smiling — and without a moment’s hesitation, she said yes. That day, surrounded by the beauty of Hawaii and the love of family, began the next chapter of their forever.