About Proposing (Warning, Crazy Post)

 
Moments After "The Moment" 

Well, since I've made a hardly-subtle-at-all post about how a friend of mine just proposed, I've effectively wasted my effort on a not-so-incriminating photo. But it brought back nice memories for me. Which is nice.

Mine's a long-ish story, which I usually use to fill the void of "catch-up" sessions with old friends. As I invite more friends over to view this blog, I thought I'll give the longish one here - click only if you want to read (warning: this post was written at 4am, when I was overdosed with caffeine. Forgive me, but I think I'll keep it just the way it is, raw and unedited). 

Technorati Tags: adrian, angela, diamond, engagement, proposal, wedding

The Day Before
Okay, well, it actually starts a week before, when  the lady had arranged for a meeting with some of her close friends at one of our favorite places, The Mind Cafe. Since I was meeting them in town, I decided to take a quick look at the diamond ring selection at the holiday sale at Wisma Atria. I had been doing my research on what to look out for when buying a ring, and had spent the days prior asking for advice from friends. In the end, I had some recommendations, and some special staff discounts - but I knew I had to see it first.

Budget, Setting, Diamond
I initially had a small budget in mind. Still, I was looking for something special, and I wanted something she would like at first sight (though it's hard not to like a diamond proposal ring at first sight). I had narrowed down my choices to two retailers, and I skipped down to Wisma after work to make a decision.

Not so Easy
I got off work an hour early, knowing that I would probably take a long time to choose a ring. When I finally got off at Orchard MRT Station from a frustrating ride on the local transit, I got me a drink to calm my nerves. I took a look at a popular range of diamonds, which had something like a 70% sale, some of which were very pretty.

Brilliant
Somehow, all those rings didn't look rightt. Most of them were clumsy looking or far too wiry. Until I strolled into one of the shops, where they showed me their "premium" range. And then I saw it - the Ring.

 "Two-and-a-half Your Monthly Salary, Is A Good Guideline".
Okay, so it was out of my budget by about $2000. But I couldn't take my eyes off it. One look and I knew that it was the one. The magnificent solitaire was firmly clasped in a beautiful setting, complementing the cut perfectly. With my trusty pinky finger guide (which is a close match to Angela's ring finger size), I tried on the ring - again, perfection.

But there was the issue of "cost" - it was seriously over-budget.

"Let Me Do Something For You"
And the salesman was on his way. He wasn't the most articulate of salesmen - but he was quick to help and even quicker to offer a pricing solution. In about 5 minutes after I voiced my concern, he whipped out a customer loyalty card and 2 cash vouchers. It amounted to a discount that I've still not yet seen matched for any jewelry I've ever bought. I was seriously impressed.

"Here's My Debit Card"
It must had been a hour after I saw the ring. I took a breather, came back, gestured at it, gestured at the salesman, and sat down for 2 cups of tea. There was no other ring possible in my mind. So I let him swipe my salary away,

This was perhaps the most money I've ever spent on anyone apart from myself, ever. And what a gift it was.

Dinner Time
I was 45 minutes late for dinner, by the time I reached the restaurant where Angela was, with her friends. I blamed the stormy weather, but was not easily forgiven. I was given the bill, which I promptly paid (ouch). I couldn't keep from having a knowing grin on my face. I was so pumped, I could have given her the ring right there just to relieve the excitement. But something told me to wait. For the perfect time.

Games at The Mind Cafe
We sat down at one of the nicer seats in the house, where the chairs were little footstool-like things and the tables were low. After we had a few rounds of games, suddenly, as if on cue, one of Angela's mostest bosomest buddies, Miss Shuz, came in to the cafe. 

It hit me like a ton of bricks. The moment was perfect.It was our favorite cafe. It was a holiday night. All her bestest friends were there. I was there. She was there. I had the ring. So - I had to do it. No two ways about it! The choice, as Fido Dido mimes, is clear.

So I went up to Shuyi, and told her, "Ma'am, at 10:30pm, I am going to propose to Miss Angela. Do you think you could schmooze over while I get everything set up?"

"Yes! No worries, is there anything I can do to help?" She offered.

"No, I'm good. Everything's just perfect. Let's do this." I replied, slipping the ring into a box of "Fluxx" game cards - a favorite of ours.

Ten-Thirty
So the clock dangled its minute hand above 6, beckoning. All her friends were there. The game table was cleared. Time must have frozen,as everything came into place. I handed her the Fluxx box and asked her to play one last game, and asked her to shuffle the deck (something she rarely does). "Okay, I shuffle" she said, prying open the box. "What's this?" She said, most certainly recognizing it, her mouth gaping into a wide smile.

I kicked the small footstool thing beneath me (it was the perfect height) and was immediately on one knee. "I've been waiting a long time for this, dear" I said. I took the box from her hands, and opened it to reveal the perfect ring. "I know we've been together for so long, and we've been talking about this a long time - but I want to ask you today, WILL YOU MARRY ME?"

"Of course lah," she replied demurely, and almost imperceptibly. My heart, as was hers, was pounding - and with those words from her, was set in stone.

"Um... I have a camera, guys," volunteered Jit, who was there, who supplied the picture above. "I... I must take picture." Perfect. I didn't even plan that - but it was happening. Jit began to take a few hundred pictures, and video shots. Indubitably, perfect.

We weren't the only ones there. Everyone there was in a state of shock too. No one expected it - a complete surprise, even for the couple. But it was done, and we were engaged. Twenty-second December, Two-thousand five. 7 years in the making. 2 more years to wait, though.

And that, dear reader, is  the longish story.

Comments

[germ]

*swipes tissue* Awww... that was really heart-warming :)

[Adrian Koh]

I was in a daze for a whole week, I think! :)