• Caleb and I walked around the park slowly 3 times passing by the children and their parents playing in the sand. It just turned 3:03 p.m. and still the warm summer air was gently blowing, carrying leaves and the small white and purple petals from the Verbena. We finally sat down on the bench viewing almost the whole park. I smiled at the site of the children and their parents, the trees dancing in the wind and just the bright colors of the summer flowers. I didn't noticed Caleb staring at me until I finally looked at him. He smiled at me and gently pulled me towards him. He kissed me softly and I kissed backed. "I love you" he said still smiling sweetly. "I love you too" I said smiling sweetly back at him.
    We held each other close for about an hour or 2 watching the sun set until it was hiding behind the mountains and we can only see the yellow and orange rays. We then got up and walked to the city of Pasadena. Cars zoomed from every direction and the sidewalks were crowed. It felt like you we're walking in New York City really. Mostly all the restaurants were packed with people even the fast food restaurants sadly until we finally decided to just get coffee at Coffee Bean.
    As we sat down with our warm coffee in hand, we talked on what we wanted to do with our life and what our future jobs were. I was amazed how much I talk to him ever since we meet. I told him that I'm usually the shy type and don't talk so much when it comes to meeting new people especially when it comes to guys. "Lauren…remember when I asked you how you would like to be proposed?" Caleb asked.
    "Yes, I remember. Why?" I asked looking at him with a bit of confusion. Caleb slowly looked down at his coffee. "Just wondering, what did you say? Sorry love I forgot."
    I giggled a bit and said, "I said that I didn't want it to be too romantic. I really don't care if it's in a public place that people can see or not but I just don't want it to be too…well…just too romantic…you know?" I laughed a bit because I didn't know what I was talking about. I just hoped what I said made since. "I'm sorry Caleb. You know how I am most of the time love." We both laughed.
    "And that's one of the reason's why I love you." He said smiling. "Lauren, can I ask you something?"
    "Um, sure. What is it?"
    He put down his coffee cup on the table in front of us. I put down my empty cup on the table also and waited for his question. Caleb then grabbed my hand and holds it firmly for a minute or 2. I didn't know what was happening or what was going on. He then finally got up slowly still holding my hand. His whole body shook as I watched him standing up. "Love…are you ok?" I asked worrying what was wrong. He looked at me with a nerves smile. "I'm fine." He answered nervously. "Lauren…" he slowly kneed down on one knee. Right when he kneeled I already knew what was about to happen. "…with all the girls I've been with you have been the one that made me feel special. I thought I would never meet a girl like you out in the world…I thought that they never existed. Well, when I meet you…I knew I was wrong."
    I was blushing like crazy and I felt like I was crying. Then when I felt a warm wet drop on my hand I realized I was. Then I noticed that everyone in the coffee shop was looking at us and crowding around. Some people shouted out "Just say it"! Caleb then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a black box and opened it. Right when he opened it I blushed even more and my eyes widen looking at the shinny 18k diamond solitaire with a gold band. He looked at me and smiled, "Lauren…I have loved you for the 5 years that we were together. I love you so much; you don't even know…will you marry me?" Everybody in the coffee shop gasp, some even awed. I was in total shock. The ring was so beautiful just sitting there in the little box.
    I slowly looked up at Caleb, warm tears streaming down my cheeks and dripping from my chin to my lap. I looked right into his eyes, ignoring everyone around me and Caleb. I smiled warmly at him and nod at the sometime saying "yes". Caleb smiled and we both hug each other and kiss each other lovingly. Everyone cheered and clapped. Some couples kissed each other.
    * * *
    The next day we told all our families the good news and they all jumped for joy. We brainstorm on where the wedding is going to be held and where the reception was. The wedding is going to be held at Holy Trinity in Atwater Village right across the street from my grandparents' house and the reception is at the Castaway in Burbank. The next few months was just brainstorming on what food we we're going to have, the decorations, the DJ, best man and maid of honor, where we're going for our honeymoon and what dress the girls should wear. Once that was all figured out, me, my mother, and some of my friends went to find a wedding gown at Mary Linn's Bridal & Tuxedos in Pasadena. After trying on millions of dresses, I found a wedding dress made from Oleg Cassini. The gown was a strapless champagne color, ruffles on the bottom of the dress and up to the thigh, flower designs made of white thread sowed in from the chest down, and a long champagne ribbon tied around the waist. It came with matching silk sandals and a small pearl white hand bag. Right after I bought the dress we looked for the dresses for the bridesmaids. The girls picked out a light reddish silk color.
    The next month later, Caleb and the guys went over to the same place and pick out their tuxedos. Caleb picked a black tuxedo with a red satin vest and tie with black shinny shoes.
    The last 2 months of the year come and gone until it landed on the day before the wedding. I was at the apartment that Caleb and I lived in for 2 years. I looked out the window while lying down on the soft bed daydreaming how tomorrow, the big day, will be like. I heard a soft, low knock and looked at the direction where the knocking came from. Caleb stood leaning against the door and smiling at me. "What are you daydreaming about this time?" he said walking towards me. "Just think about the big day tomorrow" I said. Caleb sat down right next to me still smiling. "You nervous?"
    "A little bit. Not really into being the center of attention you know."
    "Well, you're not going to be the only one Lauren. You're forgetting that I'm going to be center of attention as well." He lies down next to me and wraps his arms around my stomach. He leans his cheek against mine and kisses it softly. "You know, I'm not going to lie to you but I'm nerves too." I giggled at what he said. "I thought you were too 'manly' for that Caleb."
    "Well, men can't be manly all the time." He said laughing a bit. "Just don't think about it too much and get some rest. Don't want to faint on the chapel floor because then I have to bust out my CPR skills." We both laughed. I laughed even more just imagining it.
    "Alright," I said still laughing a bit, "let's catch some Z's. We have to wake up early anyways."
    We both got ready for bed and turned off the lights so all that was shinning was the full moon. I turned slowly at Caleb facing him. He smiled and said, "I love you…" I smiled back warmly at him and said, "I love you too…" I closed my eyes and all I could hear was Caleb whispering softly in his sleep he loved me again.
    * * *
    I woke up facing the clock. It was 7:58 a.m. 6 hours and 32 minutes until the wedding started. I tried to get up but something was holding me down. I started to freak out until I noticed that the thing that was holding me down to the bed was Caleb's arm. It took awhile to wake him up but after shaking him he got up. We got ready and drove to my grandparents' house. I went with my mother to the hair salon and Caleb went with his father.
    It was 11:41 a.m. and we went back to the house. Everybody got ready yelling to each other to hurry up. I quickly put on my gown and waited for the girls. The bridesmaid and I hurried to the church. Once we enter, the inside was already decorated. The priest came and showed us to the room to wait until the wedding started. All the girls were happy and excited about today.
    Finally it was 1:30 and the wedding started. All the couples got together; ready to walk down the aisle. The organ started to play and the flower girl came walking slowly down carrying a light brown basket throwing red rose petals on to the red carpet. The ring bear followed behind, then, one by one the couples walked slowly until they reached the alter and separated. Bridesmaid on the left and the men on the right with Caleb. The music stopped and changed to a different music. That was my qiu that it was my turn to walk down the long aisle covered with rose petals. My father stood right beside me and I locked arms with him and we both walked slowly down the aisle. Everyone got up and smiled. Some waved and some cried with joy as they saw me walking down. When we reached the alter, my father gave me a kiss on the cheek and walked to his seat next to my mother in the front row. I looked up and smiled at the man I'm finally getting married to and he smiled back. We hold hands and looked into each others eyes. The music stopped and everybody sat down. The priest started talking which seemed like forever but I really didn't mind. He then asks the ring bear to come up with the rings. The little boy came up and we both grabbed the ring. We said our "I do's" and put the ring on. "I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest said and looked at Caleb, "now you may kiss the bride." I smiled as tears or joy slowly rolled down my cheeks. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me lovingly and I kissed him back. Everybody clapped and cheered for joy. Some whistled. The priest rose up his hands and smiled, "Ladies and Gentlemen! I know give you Mr. and Mrs. Matson!" we both turned to our family and friends and their cheers became a little louder. We walked down the aisle and outside to the white limo. Our family and friends followed us still cheering and clapping. We still heard then as we shut the car door.
    The driver started the car and headed to the reception to Castaway in Burbank. Caleb hugged me tightly and I hugged him back. "We're finally married!" I said smiling and wiping away the tears.
    He kissed me and smiled, "Yes…yes we are."