{ The Proposal }

People were thinning out from the aquarium. A relief…since the whole place earlier was packed with Latino parents trying to console their shrieking children. To them, it was the Fiesta Del Mar event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. To me, it was my engagement day. I just didn’t know it yet.

The Kelp Forest had been PJ’s favorite since he was little when he got to visit the aquarium all the time. He was even featured in World magazine. This was my first time in Monterey, and it was something I wanted to do since I came to California six years ago. Together, we explored every nook in the building. While Patrick recalled his childhood memories one by one, I was busy collecting vignettes with a camera frame by frame.

Patrick suggested going back to the Kelp Forest before closing time. A handful of people were still there, just staring at the massive tank. My eyes closed in on a lone starfish that had secured itself against the glass. I went up close, futzed with the camera, and took a few pictures of it. When I turned around, Patrick was right there. On one knee. He was tightening his shoelaces.

Wait, but he wasn’t wearing shoes with laces.

Then he asked me to marry him, punctuating his question with a pop of a ring box.

I yelled in disbelief, “SHUT UP!” The volume of my voice in was loud enough for the rest of the tourist dregs there to focus their eyes on me.

I said yes.

We kissed.

People clapped.

Old ladies got misty.

Then our stomachs growled.