During April of our first-year of college Marcus was in SMU’s spring play, Polaroid Stories. Myki and a group of friends decided to go to the “pay what you will night” because being a broke college student is a real thing. While watching the play, Myki saw Marcus walk onto stage in a leather jacket and the sides of his head shaved with the top being pulled into a messy man bun. She had always seen him around campus and even tried to become friends but he being the quiet soul he is, was more laid back and did not spark up a friendship. Myki always thought Marcus was cute and something about watching him act made her want to talk to him. Being the awkward person she is, Myki decided to blurt out “You know, if you need make-up wipes to take off the stage make-up, I got you covered cause, you know, I’m a girl. Feel free to swing by my room or message me on Facebook and I can bring them by”. Myki left with her friends and was kicking herself for looking like a fool in front of a cute boy. However, her awkward encounter worked. Marcus returned back stage to get changed. He noticed that there was a fresh Costco size box of make-up wipes but Marcus waited till he returned to school to take off his make-up. More specifically, he wanted to wait till he returned to school to talk to the cute girl whose flirting somehow worked and intrigued him. Marcus had always seen Myki around campus and thought she was cute but just didn’t talk to her when he saw her even though they had mutual friends. They were however, Facebook friends. When Marcus got back to campus, face full of stage make-up, he decided to shoot Myki a message that said “Hey is it cool if I come by to take that make-up wipe from you?”. And the rest, is history!

Myki was unsure if Marcus actually liked her. One night, while sitting on the staircase talking and holding hands, Myki decided to say “Look, do you like me or not? Because, I like you and I’m willing to do this whole long distance talking thing, but I’m not going to just sit and wait for you if you don’t feel the same. If you just want to be friends then that’s fine with me but I’m not about to wait the entire summer for someone who doesn’t feel the same.” Marcus was a bit floored. He didn’t know what to do. He decided to hold up their interlocked fingers and calmly reply “Well, yes I like you. Why else would I be sitting here, holding your hand, and spending so much time with you?” After that, they became inseparable.

They were hanging out in Myki’s room when Marcus, out of the blue, said “I love you”. Myki was shocked! Marcus began to nervously ramble and try to change the subject but Myki replied “I love you too". On April 28, 2018, Marcus had officially asked Myki to be his girlfriend in the field behind Cebula Hall while they were star gazing and of course, she said yes.

Myki had constantly asked (pestered) Marcus when he was going to propose but he constantly replied “that you don’t have to know”. Myki’s dad has a tradition of having Myki’s boyfriends write him a letter as to why he should allow them to date his baby girl. Marcus had written letter number one when he met first him but he wrote letter number two when dad came up to Washington for Thanksgiving in 2019. In that letter, Marcus expressed how he wanted to marry Myki and asked dad to call him so they could talk. Dad gave Marcus a heart attack and told him he needed to think about it. After asking Marcus to wait a few years, and Marcus saying that he did not want to wait to marry Myki, dad gave Marcus his blessing. Myki is also very close to her mom and step-father Gerald. Marcus had asked mom and Gerald to talk on the phone at which point Gerald had a feeling as to what the call was about. Mom just assumed that Marcus was going to surprise Myki with a visit over winter break. Upon asking the two, mom was extremely shocked and a bit frantic and began to ramble. Gerald cut her off and said “Honey! It’s Marcus! Marcus, of course you have our blessing.”. With that, Marcus continued with his plan of proposing.

Marcus had the ring purchased, picked up, and hiding in his backpack for over a month before he proposed. He kept it on him at all times to mitigate the risk of losing it and making sure Myki didn’t find it because she is nosey and goes through his things. Marcus was also spending hours on end in the Lacey MakerSpace on campus making a custom box made of Koa wood that was flown up from Hawai’i by a friend’s uncle. Marcus’ original plan was to propose in Leavenworth where they had planned to go after they completed their finals. However, the laser printer in the MakerSpace broke the day Marcus was going to finish the box and he had to change plans on the whim. The night before Marcus actually proposed, Marcus shoulder tapped his best friend (best man) Atlas to help him finish the ring box. The two stayed up to make sure that everything was perfect. The first step was retrieving a branch from the tree next to where Marcus asked Myki out to have the ring sit up in the custom box. Marcus climbed on Atlas’ back and tore down two branches to make the right piece. Step two was going to the MakerSpace to make the cut branch to the right height and put a slit into the round so the ring could sit in it. The final step was finishing the box with a coating of wood stain.

On December 14, 2020 in the grotto of Saint Michael’s Parish’s Westside Chapel, where the two regularly attend Sunday Mass, Myki sat with her eyes closed as Marcus said how much he loved her. While her eyes were closed, Marcus dropped to one knee and asked her to open her eyes. At first, Myki thought Marcus had made her a handmade jewelry box as her Christmas gift with their two islands interlocking into a heart but he then opened the box to a beautiful ring nestled into the birch tree round and an engraving in the cover saying “Will You Marry Me?”. And with that, the water works happened and she nodded her head yes as she covered her face in shock.

Since our beginning, we have had many adventures that have been added to our memory book. We traveled to the United Kingdom, went on spontaneous adventures (even to Portland at 11pm on a Saturday night), made many trips to Marrowstone Island, and a trip to Hawai’i nei for Marcus to see Myki’s home. We have also overcome many obstacles such as long distance for months on end, misunderstandings, and being stressed out from our studies. Nonetheless, we prevailed and are here today. Now we're here, preparing for one of the most special days of our lives all thanks to make-up wipes. August 29 couldn't come soon enough. We can’t wait to share in this Sacrament of Holy Matrimony with our closest family and friends. Thank you for being instrumental parts in our lives. Let the countdown begin #BuffordsToBe.