I've Finally Found Someone

I've finally found someone, someone to share my life
I've finally found the one, to be with every night....

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44 months ago, I agreed to start a relationship. Fast forward to last Friday (5 Nov 2021), which was the day after Deepavali, and I am now.....ENGAGED!

What was supposed to be a relaxing weekend at a beach hotel with my sister and Ben, turned out to be one of the best weekends of my life. I checked into the hotel as a single person; and two nights later, I checked out as an engaged person complete with bouquet in one hand and the bling on the other.

So the story goes as follows....

I had won a 3D2N hotel stay voucher last year in a lucky draw. While I had planned to use it for my birthday, that plan had to be cancelled due to the Movement Control Orders. Thankfully, the hotel agreed to extend my voucher validity to the end of November. Come October, I decided to try my luck and tried to book the hotel right after Deepavali. Surprisingly, the hotel accepted and confirmed my reservation (although I must admit that I was very lucky as interstate travels were still prohibited at the time of my booking and was only lifted a few weeks later which by then, the hotel was fully booked).

I am not sure how I missed all the hints (yup...I guess being a 'ruler' and blur case helped Ben and my sister this time). It all started when Ben asked me who in my family could keep a secret better. Then there was the "requests" for me to get a manicure - which I refused! Lol! Both my sister and Ben tried to persuade me but I was adamant in my refusal, so they dropped it. Even when Ben asked me to email him the hotel confirmation, I did not suspect a thing. Yeah...you can all roll your eyes...

Anyway, Ben told me that he was working that Friday, and that he would meet my sister and I at the hotel after we had checked in. Traffic going up to Batu Feringghi was  bad and it took us about an hour from our house to reach the hotel. Thankfully, we managed to find a parking spot.  As we were walking to the hotel entrance, Ben texted saying that he was in the lobby and blur me believed him when he said he messaged the wrong person and that it was intended for the delivery man. Lo and behold, that message was meant for my sister which I later found out. He nearly blew the whole plan at the last hour! 

After checking in, we headed to the room to keep our bags then we headed to the coffee house for a late lunch. While my sister pretended to go to the toilet, she was in fact meeting Ben to pass him our room key. My sister tried to delay returning to the room for as long as she could as Ben was decorating the room. Unfortunately for her, it was raining and we couldn't walk to the beach which would have given Ben more time.

But before we actually went to the room, she had to go to the toilet - AGAIN! Then we went to the mini-mart to get water and stuff and I think here, my sister nearly killed me when I refused to get a plastic bag, insisting that we could carry two big bottles of water and two cans of coffee between us. In my defense, I was trying to save money and the environment! Hahaha!

So after the pit stop to the toilet and detour to the mini mart, up we went to the room. After juggling the bottles of water and coffee cans, we managed to open the room door and.......there were flower petals and candles on the floor. Some background music was playing (I only realised later what song it was when Ben told me and I watched the video).

There, beside the bed, in a full 3-piece suit, with bouquet in hand and a wide smile, stood Ben. On the bed were rose petals arranged into a heart, above the headboard were balloons spelling out "Will You Marry Me" and "Always and Forever". I did not know what to say or do especially with the stuff I was carrying. I kept repeating "Oh my God" and "I don't know what to say" until Ben asked..."So, will you marry me?" My answer: "Yes yes, of course of course".

And we hugged and kissed (more like a peck). And my sister had to actually remind Ben to put the ring on my finger. Hahahaha. She also asked him to kneel but I said no need. Luckily for Ben as he couldn't kneel anyway as his vest was too tight! Lol! The afterthought of how I looked hit me after that but thankfully, my sis insisted we wear something nice "so that we can take nice pictures on the beach before Ben arrives". I think I looked ok in the pictures considering my bare face and pinned up hair. 

And the ring....the moment he slipped it on, my first reaction was "It fits!!" and you can actually hear me say it in the video. So much so that "Of course of course" and "It fits" has become some sort of a joke amongst my friends.

After the customary photos, we called our parents and closest friends to inform them - much to their delight and happiness. We then sent out pictures and one friend even asked if I said yes....hahahaha! 

Once we settled down, we had to blow off all the candles and collect the petals. By then, it was dinner, so we went for dinner then just chilled in the room after that. Ben and my sister then gave me the whole story from the beginning.

The next morning, I woke up with the ring on my other hand as sometime during the night, I switched the ring to the other hand. I don't wear any jewelry except for my earrings. So wearing a ring almost 24/7 felt weird. As expected, I have not stopped looking at my ring hand, just to make sure that the ring is still in place. Haha!

The next two days went by real quick and it'll be a weekend to remember forever. I have of course Ben to thank for making it so memorable. But the weekend wouldn't have happened if not for my sister. She even wanted to leave the both of us but we insisted that she stay. She played an integral part in this and we love her for that! 

I still can't believe that I am now engaged! As when I first got into a relationship, quite a few people actually said FINALLY! Some even cried. 

So for my second entry of the year, I think this takes the cake! We have not really sat down to talk about the wedding (!!). I guess it's still pretty new and it'll take some time for us to accept this. 

2022 is going to be an exciting year!! Things are looking up especially since the end of the year is in less than two months! 

Till then.......

p.s. Our song: Finally Found Someone - Bryan Adams and Barbara Streisand

2021 – First Entry of the Year

If 2020 just flew by, 2021 is rocketing. It’s already July (!!) which means the first 6 months of 2021 has ended. What exactly happened in the first half of the year? More MCOs, more WFHs….

To be honest, I don’t really remember. I spent New Year’s eve this year at home with my parents. My sister was in KL; while Ben’s yearly family outing was cancelled due to the pandemic. Thaipusam was also a low-key affair with no procession or temple visits. CNY came and went in a blur; with the only redeeming factor being my neighbour giving us CNY treats. Sis, mum and I cooked for CNY just to get into the mood.

March saw Ben and I celebrating our 3 years together (!!); while Mursiah and I celebrated our 5-year work anniversary in April. Labour Day was spent cooking Thai food (tried to cook Green Curry which was successful). One thing that this pandemic has taught me is that even I can cook! Lol!

Then came June…my favourite month of the year. The month that makes me turn a year older every year. I had “grand” plans of spending my birthday at a hotel, courtesy of the hotel vouchers I had won last year. Alas….that was not to be. Thankfully, the hotel was kind enough to extend my voucher validity to November. So my birthday this year, just as it was last year, was spent at home. We ordered lunch from HRC and I had a string of gifts starting from the day before. June came; and June went.

And now it’s July…sighs. On a brighter note, my parents, sister and Ben have all gotten their first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine. I’ll be getting mine this Sunday. This is really something of a relief and to be thankful for, as getting an appointment was sooooooo difficult. Registering my parents for the opt-in was easier than when it was my sister’s and my turn. Nevertheless, we are all blessed and grateful to be given appointment dates. Even Ben, who did not get an appointment date but through luck and kind-hearted colleagues, he managed to get his first dose before me! Thank God!

Other things that I am working on are putting on weight (I’ve lost around 5kgs since the start of the pandemic due to WFH eating habits i.e. no breakfast of nasi lemak, kuih and teh tarik); reading more (current read is Obama’s A Promised Land); and practicing the piano (!!).

Let’s hope that the next 6 months bring better news and hope.