When I was in San Francisco, Rhoel spent weekends with me at Albert's house in Arlington. Monday afternoon, he'd pack up to go back to work in San Jose. On one of those Monday afternoons in October, I volunteered to get things done for him. Engrossed in a book, he simply nodded. So I stuffed his clothes in his backpack, got his key and told him "Uy, andito yung susi mo ha" pointing to a small pocket. He didn't even look up, just said "Okay, thanks B."

When I opened the pocket, I found this little red box with the label "HELZBERG DIAMONDS." I was stunned. And then I panicked, thinking "OMG, may ring! Totoo na 'to!" and then I felt the blood rush to my head -- all in a span of two seconds. I didn't open the box.

When I recovered my wits (Rhoel was still reading), I suddenly thought: Why in the world would you carry around a freakin' diamond ring in your backpack??! What if it gets lost? Or stolen? But I shut my mouth and pretended I didn't see anything.

Of course, a girl can't really keep her mouth shut about these things, so I told my friends Ivy (in Australia) and Cher (in Hong Kong). What I didn't know was that Cher immediately called Rhoel (she's more loyal to him!) and told him of my little discovery.

Which explains why my boyfriend kept bugging me to go to the Palace of Fine Arts every weekend until November. But it had been raining and I didn't feel like going out. Finally, on the weekend before I left for Miami, I gave in.

Just before I saw the dome of the Palace, Rhoel told me to close my eyes and just follow his instructions. So I did. For a while I heard him dish out directions like "Ok, step, turn left" or "Just keep walking", etc. When I didn't hear from him anymore, I simply continued walking, until I stubbed my toe hard on the pavement and nearly fell over. I shrieked from the pain. Seriously, it HURT. I guess that's when Rhoel remembered he was supposed to be guiding me.

[NOTE: I had a feeling he was going to propose at the Palace of Fine Arts, as he once wrote on Cher's multiply account (can you be any more open??!). And later he admitted that that was the plan, but since I was so mad at him for my semi-injury, he figured it wasn't the best time. (roll eyes here!)]

Fast forward to Christmas. We were at the Courtyard by Marriott in Milpitas (I had to spend the night at the nearest hotel because Rhoel was on duty). We woke up around 4 a.m. on Dec. 25 and ate the cold Jollibee spaghetti and chickenjoy that Rhoel especially requested me to buy for our noche buena. (He so misses Pinas).

When I went back to bed around 5:30, Rhoel suddenly announced, "I know how much you love gifts, so... may gift pako sayo!" (He had given me my Christmas gifts, plural, before Christmas). He fished out something from his backpack and you guessed it, the RING was finally, legitimately out!

R: Alam ko nakita mo na to, but... (I burst out laughing)
B: Oo nga, eh bakit mo ngayon binibigay iyan?
R: Because it's Christmas and I just felt it's the right time
B: (Still laughing)
R: Para 'pag nagbago ka ng isip, hindi mo pwedeng ibalik sakin yung ring. Kung ayaw mo pang-engagement, Christmas gift na lang.

Rhoel slid it on my ring finger and yakked on about how he got it as early as July (one month after we got back together) and had to ask the company to customize a size for me because I have really small hands, and how he got in touch with my sisters to see if I would like the design he chose, etc, etc.

I was beginning to think he wouldn't ask the question that usually comes with a diamond ring. But he did, as an afterthought. The details are a bit fuzzy now but it went something like:

R: (AFTER he placed the ring on my finger) It's nice naman diba? Will you marry me?
B: (laughing) No. But I like the ring, thanks.

He feigned hurt. I laughed some more. When I could finally stop laughing long enough to speak, I gave my funny guy a hug:

B: Of course I'll marry you! Can we have a beach wedding?
R: We can have any wedding you want.
B: Aww...

Now the story would have ended on a romantic note here, but my fiance just had to make one more hirit.

I was about to doze off when Rhoel, on his way to the bathroom, turned back to me and asked in a somewhat urgent tone: "B? Nagsabi na ako ng 'will you marry me' diba?"

ROFL. I am so going to have one happy life with this man...