The year was 2008. Howie and Kayla had both just enrolled at Cal State East Bay, excited to begin a new chapter of adulthood. Like many students back then, they used Facebook, the "college" version of MySpace, to connect with new people. Howie admits that in his quest to make new friends (and maybe meet a few cute girls), he started sending friend requests to women from the school. One day, Kayla opened her Facebook and saw a request from a guy named Howie. She accepted. Not long after, Kayla received a comment from him on one of her cotillion photos: "Damn, I thought I'd let you know you're pretty. I may be wrong, but I think I saw you walking toward the amphitheater this morning. If it wasn't you, that girl was pretty too, but so are you. You probably hear that a lot though." Kayla thought it was kind of cute, but she never actually saw Howie around campus. Years went by, and while they never met in person, Howie faithfully left a comment on Kayla’s Facebook wall every year for her birthday. Fast forward eight years to October 2016. Kayla, newly venturing into the dating scene, decided to give dating apps a try. She chose Bumble, where women make the first move. While scrolling through profiles, she recognized a familiar face: it was Howie. Finding his profile charming, she swiped right. To her surprise, they matched! They started messaging that same night and quickly discovered they had a lot in common. From that moment on, they were both stung by the Bumble bee. 🐝 After six months of talking, Howie made it official. On April 26, 2017, during a Chance the Rapper concert, while Blessings was playing, he turned to Kayla and said: "Would you be the blessing in my life and be my girlfriend?" Kayla, full of joy and excitement, said yes, of course. Seven years later, on April 5, 2024, surrounded by family and friends at his grandparents’ beautiful home, Howie got down on one knee and asked Kayla the big question: “Will you marry me?” She said ‘Yes!’ Over the past nine years, Howie and Kayla have grown, both as individuals and as a couple. They've gone on countless adventures, created endless memories, shared thousands of laughs, and built a deep love not only for each other but also for each other’s families. Now, they’re beyond excited to take the next step, officially tying the knot on March 27, 2026.