I first told my parents on 12th. It was around 2pm, I think. 6am in Japan, following day. I made Ficus talk at first. My mom picked up the phone, he asked for my dad. I think my dad was still sleeping. I totally forgot this was a bon week, when most Japanese have summer vacation.

I made him say it in Japanese.

“Ojou-san o Kudasai.”
(Please give me your daughter.)

Since my dad was half asleep, and Ficus being ultra shy for asking it AND in Japanese, my dad didn't understand it. Ficus said it for the second time, then started to speak in English. I don't know at all if my dad understood the Japanese part. At least I hope he slowly understood what's going on in English part.

After Ficus finished talking (kind of) to dad, he gave me the phone. My dad asked me what's going on. Lol. I explained, my dad still being in a shock somewhat, then later he gave the phone to my mom. I explained to my mom, too. She was still in disbelief. Probably because Ficus always jokes around.

Probably it wasn't until I sent them pictures that they really believed it.

Since the ring box is pretty big, Ficus had to think up a place to hide it. Putting in a jean pocket is out of question; it was just-fit jeans. Nor in his shirt pocket. I thought he might've put it in the sand or on top of sandal that we saw when walking along the water earlier. No. That'd be too risky.

During the dinner, he hid it in his jacket. That's why when I asked for the jacket, he didn't want to give it to me.

I guess when we went back to the hotel to get more cloth, he hid it in his… SOCKS! @_@

But then, if I think about it, I guess that's the most safest place, and I probably won't find it. Later on, Ficus told me that I kicked his leg once and he suspected that I noticed about thing. No, I didn't. He also told me that sometime earlier when we were in Pismo beach, he gave me the jacket while waiting for him to use the bathroom, he feared that I might notice the box in the jacket. My memory's failing me around here. I remember he used the bathroom at Pismo, but when was it??

Either way, the box was in his socks.

It was on August 11, 2007.

Ficus and I went down to SLO for the weekend get away, where we went to school together. We met up with our friends to hang out some time. We walked around the downtown, ate at MO's and Firestone, visited CalPoly store and some other stores, went to some festival in downtown area, went to Bon Festival at Buddhist temple. Honestly, I had no idea they have Buddhist temple over there. Oh, we saw Chinese garden, too, though it was very small.

Then we went to CalPoly campus, where we studied together. Well, kind of. We went to UU and played some ping pong, visited classrooms, stopped by at the library (too bad it was closed), etc. Honestly, I was a little cranky because we were supposed to climb “P” but ended up not doing it. Visiting school made all that up though. I love the campus over there.

After that, we parted our ways w/ friends, then headed to Shell beach, where we stayed at. After dropping off our laggage, I took a short nap, while Ficus took shower (or something that I don't know). Dinner reservation was at eight, so after while, we changed and walked towards the restaurant, Lido. We were walking along the coast. Now that I think about it, Ficus was looking down on the shore, mentioning something. Maybe he was looking for a good place – place to be.

Dinner was pretty good. I had Italian seafood stew kind of thing, while Ficus had steak. We both had local red wine, though I couldn't finish it. After the dinner, we were walking back the coastal line again. It was really cold, probably half because of the alcohol (I don't really take it well), and I asked for Ficus' jacket. He didn't want to give it to me. I wasn't probably thinking anything. If I were, then I probably noticed something's wrong.

We went back to the hotel, wore more cloth, then headed out again to enjoy some walk around the beach. We were going to go Shell beach at first, but it was too dark. I said “no, it's okay, I can see, let's go!” but Ficus didn't want to risk it. We ended up drove out to Pismo beach.

When we got to Pismo, we walked around for a while. I went into the water, came back, walked along the sea with Ficus for a while, then went to ride swings. On the swing, we talked a little serious stuff.

Ficus really wanted to buy a motorcycle. I was always against it. I told him the reason – as much as I worry about his safety, I'm also concern about him not growing up. He always buys stuff as soon as he wants to buy. He doesn't wait. I remember back in school, he bought stuff just because they were cheap. Now he just buys whatever he thinks good, which is usually good, but without any financial plan in mind. I said at least show that he tried on something. I offered the choice to save up every month with the rent money. Whatever we have left each month after using them for usual expenses, he can keep it, save it up, then buy motorcycle when he has enough. That way, at least he will learn how to save.

He also asked me what I will do if he decides to go get an MBA degree. Will I support him fully? What if he needs to go somewhere else for it? What will I do with my job? … I said, as long as he works on it hard, I will support him. My concern was that I will not wait for him forever. And that I will be depressed as well if Ficus keeps being depressed, like how he was when he first started his master's degree.

After talking for a while, I guess I got a little upset, then walked away. I was also a little feeling chilly and tired, and wanted to go back. Ficus asked me to walk a little more. He said let's go touch the water again. On the way to water, he took my hand, took off the dating ring from my right hand, and put it on left hand. I said “don't be cheap.” At the bottom of heart, I probably wouldn't mind having a cheap ring, but not reusing a ring. No. I tried to put it back to where it was, but he stopped me. We went to the water, and walked along the water again. It was when I tried to go back that Ficus said his shoe is wet. He crouched down and pretended to take off his shoes. Then he turned around on his knee, and asked me the magical phrase.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting it at all. I was a little frustrated by that time. I really wanted to go back to the hotel and rest. While he was crouching down, I even put back the dating ring to the right ring finger, too.

So when he asked, I couldn't believe what's happening, and stepped back couple of steps.

He said, “please?”

I don't really remember what exact phrase I said. When I come to realize, Ficus was holding my RIGHT hand, trying to insert the ring on my RIGHT RING FINGER! I guess in his mind, the dating ring is still on the left ring finger, and naturally that's where the engagement ring should be. Little did he know I switched back not too long ago. I probably kept saying “no, no,” and tried to withdraw my right hand. He kept trying to insert it on RIGHT RING FINGER.

After a while, I said, “no, that's right hand. You're supposed to put it on the left.”

Then he realized it and inserted the ring to the correct finger.

Before we went back to the hotel, we sat down in the middle of the beach, and prayed together. Prayed for our future. Thank you God, to be there with us.

I realized after while that I'm happier than I expected I would be. After all, I've been waiting for it. Sometimes it was depressing whenever I heard my friends got engaged. But not any more. I feel like I'm the happiest person in the world, and I kept smiling/grinning to the point I probably looked very spooky.

On that night, it was hard for me to fall asleep. Ficus told me that he was nervous all day long and so he fell asleep right after getting back to the hotel. I layed there, staring at the ring, a very shiny one, and … I just couldn't stop staring at it!

Next morning, I woke up when Ficus said “good morning, fiancee.” Fiancee! That surely sounded very pleasing.

We went to 11 o'clock service at FBC SLO, went to eat at Chili Pepper's (my favorite restaurant! Chimichanga!), then drove around the town. We went to Faith House, where we first met. We went to the newly constructed shopping area. Then we met up with friends again to eat champagne cake and iced tea at Madonna Inn. Before going into Madonna Inn, loving pranks and all, we decided to take off the ring. When friends saw me, I heard B whispering to E “I don't see it.” I tried hard not to smile too much. We all pretended nothing happened, and appreciated the cake and tea.

Then we went to Pismo beach, we walked around the beach, took many pictures of “the spot,” walked down the pier, took more pictures of “the spot,” and after while, I showed them my ring. My ring <3 B helped us take many pictures of us together. The day was great.

After the beach, we went to Crab Shack, and had excellent crabs. It actually got the guys addicted, so they're having another crab session this Friday.

It wasn't until close to midnight that we came back to Palo Alto, but I really enjoyed the trip after all.