Once upon a time in high school band, there was Karen Fan and a mysterious boy everyone called Pudding. For the longest time, I had no idea what his real name was not for one, but for two whole years. Then, fate decided to intervene. My junior year and Justin’s senior year, we found ourselves in the same Calculus class. Suddenly, we couldn’t just pass each other by anymore. Conversations turned into laughter, and laughter into late-night talks about a little indie game called League of Legends. Our time together that year was brief, but the bond we formed lingered long after he left for university in South Dakota. What started as a friendship built on shared jokes and game nights would one day grow into something far greater. The beginning of our forever.

In the midst of the pandemic in 2020, Justin moved back to Southern California. To celebrate his return, we planned what I thought would be a simple hike followed by some well-deserved KBBQ. Little did I know, that “small hike” turned into a ten-mile mountain trek that lasted five hours. By the end, my feet were covered in blisters, and I spent the next two days unable to walk. Perhaps the true beginning of my lifelong distrust whenever Justin suggests a “short” hike. But maybe that hike was worth it after all. Because not long after, we had our first official date at the Long Beach Aquarium in the spring of 2021. Surrounded by twinkling lights and shimmering sea life, Justin asked me to be his girlfriend on the night of June 8th, 2021 the day our real adventure began. ✨

I didn’t think much of it when we decided to take a quiet stroll along the cliffs of Carlsbad State Beach. The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of gold and rose. It was peaceful...well, mostly. Off in the distance, we noticed about ten police cars surrounding a parking lot. Using our better judgment, we decided it was probably time to head back to the car. As we started walking, I heard Justin breathing heavily and asked, “You okay?” He simply replied, “Yeah…” so I brushed it off and kept walking. Then, out of nowhere, he stopped. When I turned around, he was down on one knee. For a moment, I was completely speechless, the sirens were flashing, my heart was racing, and somehow, it was still the most magical moment of my life. And of course, you already know my answer and the rest is history. 💍✨