Our journey began in the beautiful setting of BYU-Hawaii, where our paths first crossed through a shared circle of friends. What started as casual group hangouts soon turned into something more personal when we found ourselves paired up to practice songs together. As we spent hours rehearsing and blending our voices, I began to see the depth of her heart beyond the music. Those practice sessions became the foundation of our friendship and the spark of our love. From the classrooms of Laie to the songs that brought us together, we are so grateful for the "common chords" that led us to April 18th. -Clyde and Eloisa

As summer break arrived, our plans to perform our songs for her home ward were suddenly put on hold. Eloisa headed back to the Philippines for her internship, and our daily practice sessions came to an end. Surprisingly, we didn't spend the summer messaging or keeping in constant contact. There were no long calls or daily updates—just a quiet distance between us. Yet, despite the silence, Eloisa never left my mind. For some reason, I found myself thinking about her constantly, even without a single text to bridge the gap. It was in that quiet summer, miles apart and with no communication, that I realized just how much she had already become a part of my world. -Clyde When summer called me back to the Philippines for my internship, our music was placed on a sudden hold. As a senior, I was focused on my future, trying to find my path alone. Distance usually fades a friendship, and we had no grand promises of constant contact. I sent updates to my friends, including Clyde, not realizing that in the quiet of that summer, my heart was already tuning itself to his. Even without daily calls, every time he reached out, I felt a rare sense of being truly seen. In the space between our messages, I began to realize that the "friend" I had been praying for was the one I had left behind in Hawaii. -Eloisa

While she was still finishing her internship in the Philippines, we finally found a moment to talk. I told her that I had made a decision: when the Fall semester started, I was planning to pursue someone special. Naturally, she was curious and asked who the lucky girl was. I kept it a mystery, telling her only that it was someone she knew better than anyone else. Little did she know, the person I was talking about was her. I told her my plan was to start my pursuit the very moment she stepped back onto the soil of Hawaii. As the summer wound down, the anticipation grew—not just for the new semester at BYUH, but for the moment she would realize she was the one I had been waiting for all along. -Clyde When I was finishing my internship in the Philippines, he dropped a bombshell: he was planning to pursue someone special as soon as the Fall semester began. I was so curious, wondering who this "lucky girl" could be, never imagining it was actually me. The moment I touched down in Hawaii, I messaged him, eager to catch up. I went to the temple and after I returned home, I got a message from him saying that what he had to say simply couldn't wait another day. -Eloisa

The moment she touched down on the island, the secret was ready to be revealed. That very night, I finally told her the truth: there was no other "friend" I was waiting for. It was always her. When I asked if I could officially pursue her, she said yes, and our real journey began. After many dates and shared moments, everything came together on a sunny Saturday afternoon. We were sitting on the beach at 5:00 PM when she asked a question that changed everything: "How do you know if the person pursuing you is the one? What is the basis for saying yes?" I told her that if you feel true peace and happiness in the decision, that is the best sign you can have. Right there, in the quiet of the afternoon, she found that peace. On September 27, 2025, we officially became a couple, starting the path that leads us to our wedding day. -Clyde That was the night everything changed. He confessed his feelings and revealed the truth: there was no other friend—it had been me all along. Hearing the sincerity in his voice as he described the girl he wanted to pursue (the same girl he’d told me about weeks before!), I told him he could pursue me. As we started dating, I realized he was different from anyone I had ever known. He was intentional, giving me clear direction on where he wanted our relationship to go, and he showed a genuine, deep interest in knowing the real me. It didn't take long to realize that the "mystery" he started in the Philippines was the beginning of our forever. There was a week where we never really talk because we decided to take our time figuring out what we feel towards each other. During that time, I kept on praying and as I do so, I have felt the warm and calm feeling, and I took it as God's reassurance that Clyde is someone worth loving and is worthy of being given a chance. That one Saturday on September 27, as he took me to the beach, I asked him "How can you be so sure with your feelings and with pursuing someone?" His answer comforted me, which led me to saying "Yes" to him and to our relationship. -Eloisa

Before leaving for a winter break trip to visit my uncle in Chicago, I made a secret stop to pick up something special: an engagement ring. I carried that promise with me, waiting for the perfect moment to return to the island and to her. Once I was back, I asked her to join me for a simple dinner at the Laie Hawaii Temple grounds. We sat together, sharing a quiet meal in the place we love most. As we ate, I reached into my pocket, pulled out the ring, and shared everything that was in my heart. Then, I asked the golden question: "Will you marry me?" and she said "Yes." Looking back, it’s amazing to see how our lives have harmonized. What started as two students simply practicing songs together at BYUH grew through a quiet summer and a secret pursuit into a love that found its peace on the beach. Now, sitting on the temple grounds overjoyed, we realize that those first notes were just the beginning of our forever. -Clyde When he returned from his trip, he told me he wanted to have a small celebration for our monthsary. I was just excited to finally be back together, having no idea he had a much bigger plan in motion. We headed to the Temple grounds for a simple dinner, but before we could even eat, he insisted that I read a letter he had written for me. I’ll admit, I was so hungry that I tried to put the letter aside for later, but he was determined! As I started reading, I came across a line that said, "When I ask you the question, I hope you'll say yes." I was completely clueless for a split second, and then he began to speak from the heart. Before I knew it, he was pulling a ring from his pocket and asking me to marry him. The surprise and joy hit me all at once—I could hardly contain how I felt in that moment. Of course, I said "Yes!" That night at the Temple changed everything, and it’s the reason we’re here today, ready to start our life together. -Eloisa