happily ever after

Kelvin wasn’t originally part of the plan for the Lake Chelan trip that summer—he was a last-minute invite from a mutual friend. But as soon as he showed up with his laid-back grin, it was clear he belonged. The group welcomed him in, and what began as a spontaneous addition quickly turned into a friendship that felt like it had always been there. Some trips give you sunsets and laughter; this one gave us each other.

Kelvin and Cindy fell in love through a series of delightfully chaotic, unexpectedly tender moments. It started with a poke date in Kirkland, where Kelvin braved the spiciest sauce on the menu, quivering between bites as Cindy giggled at his determination. Their second date brought sushi and an overly flirty waiter, but Kelvin quickly and confidently claimed Cindy as his—then casually stretched the evening with a trip to Costco for Vietnam trip essentials, as if comfort had already set in. Rain couldn’t dampen the third date: after an hour-long wait for poke, Kelvin nearly dropped their trays, redeeming the clumsy moment with reflexes Cindy admired more than the meal itself. The fourth date—Korean food after his return—featured a harmless parking mishap and a hilarious water-spitting incident that left Cindy glowing with joy at how easily he laughed with her. By the fifth, at a Mariners game, they were holding hands as Cindy rested her head on Kelvin’s shoulder, a quiet and certain kind of love sealing itself beneath stadium lights.

Kelvin had planned to propose the day before, during a quiet moment exploring North Shore in Oahu. But nerves got the best of him—especially when Electric Beach failed to deliver the turtles Cindy adored. So he waited. The next day, with family in tow, they returned to the same beach, and this time, the ocean delivered: turtles dotted the shore, and Cindy was radiant with joy. As she stood mesmerized, Kelvin dropped to one knee behind her with a ring in hand and a smile full of certainty. “Cindy,” he said, “I’ve gotten to witness you in your 20s. Now that you’ve entered your 30s, can I join you in your 30s, 40s, and every era of life together?” With the ocean beside them and family just steps away, it was the perfect moment—worth waiting for.