Rob's Perspective: My first memory of Ranada was seeing her as in the back of the church we were attending while at Ball State University. I thought she was very pretty and I knew I wanted to get to know her. As fate would have it, I ran into her again while visiting a mutual friend in her dorm room. Imagine my surprise when I saw this beautiful, brown skinned girl right before my eyes. Now mind you, I had ZERO game and was nervous as all get out on the inside. Nevertheless, I overcame my shyness and invited her and her roommate (RIP Misty) to hangout with me and my friends. I developed a crush on her almost immediately and did what I could to win her heart, culminating with the best Valentine's Date that a broke college student could provide. I shot my shot and it missed, but ultimately we became friends. Our lives went separate ways with both of us getting married and divorced, but we remained distant friends. In May 2023, we reconnected at Melanin in May. I had this funny feeling that she would be there and, sure enough, I caught a glimpse of her out the corner of my mind. I must have spent 10-15 minutes walking that parking lot looking for her and finally found her. She was as sweet, kind, and beautiful 20 years later as she was in undergrad. I could feel the feelings I had for her in the past come rushing back and I wanted another chance to win her heart. During a time where I was reestablishing myself, Ranada was truly a breath of fresh air and she had such a positive impact on my life. After our third date, I shot my shot again and this time she gave me a chance. Ranada's warmth, patience, genuine sense of love and care immediately attracted me to her. It wasn't long before I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. On Christmas Day 2024, I asked Ranada to be my wife, and she said YES! I couldn't be happier that God has blessed me with such an amazing and godly woman! Ranada's Perspective: Rob and I met at Ball State our freshmen year. Although he was such a gentlemen and gave me one of the most romantic Valentine's Day, I mainly viewed him as a friend. We both went off and married other people, but remained distant friends. In 2023, we reconnected at Melanin in May. I gave him my phone number and was like we should meet up. We hung out a few time and got to truly reconnect on a more intimate level. Several friends and my therapist realized I was falling for Rob, when I thought we were just reconnecting as friends. Him being his romantic self, he got me yellow and red flowers. The yellow represented our friendship and the red for the passion he had for me. I figured I've always known him to be a good guy so why not. Eventually we became a couple. The mutual friend that unofficially introduced us pointed out I fell in love with Rob and didn't realize it. On Christmas 2024, we went over my grandma's house to celebrate. Rob asked me to open my gifts in a specific order. I didn't think much of it. When I got to the phone box, I caught a slight attitude because I was like why would you buy me a phone (There's a whole backstory about phones lol). My aunt was cracking jokes about how I needed a new phone and glad I finally got it. Mind you Rob is on his knee, but I was thinking he was helping to pick up the trash. He called my name and was like finish opening your gifts. Unbeknownst to me, there was a ring box in the phone box. Mind you, my sister starts recording and I'm yelling let me get the tissue out my nose. Of course I said yes and the rest is history.