I have been dating this amazing guy since 2010…yeah, that long. We were both undergrads in medical school then. He was 2 years ahead of me in school.

Anyway, fast forward 5 years. I tease him of how he can never surprise me with a proposal cos I know him too much.So we made out time to come for a short weekend hang out in Atlanta from two different cities.

We went to this awesome aquarium there. So many different marine life and fishes all around, you kind of feel you’re in the water, very serene. Just what I needed after months of grad school stress.

There was this whale-shark show going on with about 200 people seated. The hosts told us about the history of the fishes and various fun facts.

He suddenly raises his hand to ask a question, something he never does. I thought in my head, what  does he want to ask that is so important. Anyways, he asks something about hearing whalesharks can get as big as a school bus, how true that is?

The host of the show apologizes for not mentioning that. And says since he asked the question, he should volunteer himself for a demonstration. She said she needed someone else, and asked for who we came with.

Cut a long story, she asked our names and called us up to help with demonstrating how big a whaleshark can get. I was asked to hold a tape while someone pulls at the other end to get to 30 feet.

I was busy pulling the tape. Trying to show the crowd. Since my boyfriend decided to ask questions. When we got to 30 ft, the host said ‘ thank you for showing us how big a whaleshark can get, but if you turn around, I have something else for you.

As an ibo girl, I thought I was to be given a cash price for participation in the show. I turned around only to see my boyfriend on one knee with a glittering piece of metal. I screamed in shock and started crying. Yeah, I cried. Strange. So much for I can never be surprised. The crowd started clapping. He mouthed some words,I didn’t even hear it,  I just nodded and stretched out my left hands and he put the ring in.

The crowd was screaming and clapping, I was actually a bit shy, we hugged and kissed and loads of people came up to congratulate us.

I later found out that he came a day earlier to plan it right down to the professional photographer that has been taking pics without my knowledge. I didn’t  know that he missed his flight so had to drive 24 hours to and from Texas with his friend, who had been a huge part of the planning. I went really emotional knowing how much effort he put in just to surprise me and make the proposal beautiful and I look forward to spending my life with someone who put so much effort into planning something as little as a proposal so well just to put a smile on my face.