He Asked, She Answered
The unexpectedly-turned birthday party...
the handsome fella in black and white...
(wait, I didn't know you played guitar?)
the three words she waited so long to hear...
the perfect question...
shock
shock
shock
- as narrated on behalf of HER side; the proposal:)
We're gonna drink milk tea like it's your birthday!
It was November 25th, 2009. Matt Hux's 24th birthday, actually.
Leading up to the day, there were many things to prepare for; and being the very good girlfriend that I (Mel) was, I wanted the entire day for Matt to be perfect. This desire may or may not have also been influenced by Matt, who, for a few times weeks before his birthday, found the impulse to always remind me, "You know Mel, LAST YEAR's birthday was the best. JUST so you know."
Talk about PRESSURE.
So on with my duties, I joined with our two good friends, Shea and Sarah, to plan Matt's huge 24th birthday extravaganza. We greeted him the morning of with balloons, homemade breakfast, posters with his face plastered all over our building, and even a birthday "surprise" (I would found out later that this really wasn't a surprise at all) for Matt in his classroom.
As this is all going on, Matt is on a completely different agenda:)
PIC: One of the first pics we took of Matt after his "surprise" in his classroom.
Dinner attire: black and white
As Shea, Sarah and I were planning for the evening half of Matt's special birthday, the both of them agreed on wearing black and white for our evening attire. I agreed to please them:)
That evening, the three of us picked Matt up in his room before heading out to a dinner place across campus. I remember showing up to Matt's door first. He caught my sneaky eyes through his window, came out to greet me, and had the brightest smile on his face; kissed me, and said, "You look beautiful."
Shea and Sarah joined shortly after, and we all headed out. At dinner, we ate, opened presents, and simply enjoyed each other's company. Very soon after Matt's last bites, though, I caught him checking his cellphone and texting. A lot. What made this situation even more strange was that Shea and Sarah were doing the same thing. How odd:)
Very soon Matt broke the news: "Guys, one of my students has a gift to give me. He needs me to meet him at Maike's cafe on campus. I'll meet him now and meet you guys later, k?"
I was a tad bit ticked by the idea, knowing that it would likely throw off the rest of our evening plans, but insisted Matt go anyway since, well, it was his birthday. Matt left. We waited. For 30 minutes (or so). At this point I am getting slightly impatient.
But at last! A text to all of us!
From Matt: "Hey guys. My students are awesome and threw me a surprise birthday party! Come check it out. We'll take some pictures and leave later."
Not thrilled but trying to remain positive, I got my coat and the three of us headed back to Sias to Maike's cafe to join Matt and his "party"...
"Tonight is about you, tonight is about us"
We arrived to Maike's cafe and there was no party. But Shea and Sarah suggested I check out the bigger rooms on the side.
I opened the door and the room was completely dark, and quiet. Not only this, but the floor was covered in 51 pink roses, scattered about, forming a path. Black tables aligned the side of the room, which resembled a little black tent. On the tables were more than 100 tea light candles and picture frames of Matt and I together then (2007), and now (2009). I became really confused. I remember saying over and over again, almost angrily, "Matt, this is your birthday! What are you doing? Come out wherever you are!" I thought that Matt had planned a date for us on his birthday! Shea and Sarah tried to take my jacket and purse off from me, and after some reluctance on my part, they finally got their way:)
Shea instructed me gently to sit on the chair at the end of the room. The chair was facing Matt's computer on a table. Shea played what was a video on the computer, and both he and Sarah left the room.
Matt (looking and dressed very handsomely) appears on the screen. He explains to me how the entire night was planned so that I arrived in that room in that moment. He had waited for this night for a long time. He begins to sing a song that he wrote for me, "Tonight is about you, tonight is about us..." but suddenly STOPS. This was not right, he says; I deserve much more. Why doesn't he sing this song to me in person?...
The video closes and Matt, to my uncertain somewhat-confused excitement, walks into the room...carrying a guitar...
the best. for last.
"You play the guitar?"
Matt explains to me how he's taken an entire month to learn the guitar from scratch (wow!). And not only that, he wrote me a song. Matt sings the song to me. It was beautiful. It speaks of the time we were apart, but how God's hand was in it from the start. And then, he says he loves me for the very first time:) I couldn't believe I finally heard those words from his mouth! Even at this point I'm still not expecting him to propose. It wasn't until he mentions in the song that he's "ready to get down on one knee" did my mind finally switch gears. I was shocked - oh my goodness, was this really going to happen?!
Matt finishes his song, puts the guitar down, and takes my hands. I must have looked like a deer in headlights.
Matt says a few words to me. First, in CHINESE. When he spoke in my mother language, a very deep part of me was moved inside. It meant the world to me. Then, he says a few words in English, words I always dreamt of hearing. He recognized the fact that this could be his last chance to be with me forever.
Matt then moves the stool aside, gets on one knee and asks (first in Chinese, then in English), "Mel, will you marry me?"
I take a few milliseconds to gain my composure and sink in what he just asked. I say, "Matt, of course I'll marry you! Yes! Yes! Yes!" He tells me that he talked to both our parents a month ago and that we had both their blessings. I started crying! I felt like my parents and his were with us celebrating in that moment!
Matt then puts on the most delicate, beautiful ring on my finger. I kiss him, and we dance to two of our favorite songs (the first which will be played for our first dance at our wedding). We talk, laugh, kiss, dance, and Matt tells me all the ways he lied to me for the past eight weeks:)
Sarah and Shea then come back into the room, and we embrace them and take pictures around the room. Both Shea and Sarah did so much to help with the engagement; it was so special to know that they were a part of the whole thing! I love them both.
"The Future Mr. and Mrs. Hux"
Shea and Sarah then graciously offer to stay behind to take down the room while Matt and I go off.
Matt takes me back to his room - he has a surprise for me! He pulls out a wrapped present. It's a journal that he's kept for me since October - records of his thoughts of me and prayers for us, with words from God to the both of us and even records of the engagement-planning process! This man did more than I could of ever imagined! I was stunned, and incredibly touched. This was the perfect gift because I love words. Reading the journal, I found out that Matt started loving me long ago, but he wanted to wait until it was the perfect moment - our engagement. I was blown away!
We then go for a long walk around campus - talking some more, but mainly just processing. I was holding the hand of my future husband:)
Shea calls us, telling us to meet him and Sarah in his room - they were finished with the cleanup. I look forward to just hanging out with my friends and celebrating when I'm surprised AGAIN! A surprise ENGAGEMENT PARTY! Shea's room is all decked out with a huge "Congrats" sign on the wall, heart balloons all over the floor, a beautiful cake on the table, and champagne! I am STUNNED. We celebrate together over champagne and take pictures. Then Shea and Sarah do a little skit for Matt and I and place 7 little Chinese children on our cake (as a joke because I want 7 children in the future:))
I am the happiest woman in the world. The proposal was perfect in every way and incredibly drawn out so that it could all really sink in. Matt made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the entire universe. He went above and beyond what I could have imagined! I had an amazing future husband and loving friends who had supported us every step of the way.
What more could I have asked for? God is so good, isn't He?
