It’s 2017, Drake just released his heavily carribean inspired album “More Life”. Passionfruit is playing in the background. Life is good. Young Involved Philadelphia had a matching event for the graduating Spring cohort and local orgs that were seeking active board members. I (its me, Cece) volunteered with YIP to learn more about being a board member, how to fundraise, and all that good stuff. It was a warm afternoon at The Historical Society of Philadelphia. Peter was recruiting for the Asian Mosaic Fund. You can say he was my favorite person who I met that day. I joined AMF shortly after. Together we planned happy hour events which helped raise money for local non-profits. 6 months later... I gave Peter my number in a DM after a group plan to meet up at Tango. That meet up never happened; He was “tired.” But I remembered that he mentioned he liked scotch, so I saved him two Johnny Walker ice cube trays from my promo event. Then there was the AMF Christmas party that weekend. He walked me to my car after the party and I gifted him the promo swag that I swiped. The next day he texted me a video of a youtuber making sushi using ice cube trays with a message that read, “saw this video and thought of you.” I knew he liked me. He was giving me heart eyes since our first event.

There were many events that led up to the main proposal. The first event was when Cece met my parents during Thanksgiving. The next, in early December, I had the chance to meet Cece's parents for the first time over Korean BBQ. Needless to say, the parents seemed to really like us together. :p Then, right before the holidays, Cece and I went to Siesta Keys (Florida) for a quick vacation. Nothing serious. We just missed the sun and warm weather. Yet, on one beautiful Florida night, without any kind of planning, I thought of a crazzzy spontaneous idea, "What if we get married??" She without thinking was all smiles. From there, we just knew. Within 7 months later... And..after talking with my parents about the possibility of marriage. And.. after one day going to church with her parents, and then, during lunch asking Cece's parents for her hand in marriage. And.. after looking at all types of engagement rings. And.. after secretly "hacking" into Cece's hair, nail and eyelash schedules. And.. after consulting with Cece's best friends and secretly getting their input.. I thought up a plan that I thought would bring positive vibes, meaning, and memory. I popped the question in the town that Cece grew up in, and in the town I've grown to love.. Philly. We had a "day date" where the plan was to dress up and eat at a new local cafe and wine spot called Bloomsday. Bloomsday had the vibe and the look that reminded us.. of us (the place had all the elements and I worked with management to create a drink menu with a drink named "Cecilia"). Finally, the surprise was to bring her best friends to come over to surprise Cece when we were done with lunch. I signaled them to come over, our photographer was ready, and the rest is history.