Written and Told by Rozie
It all began a couple of weeks before my birthday in March. One night Yen asked me if I minded that we go to his work event for my birthday. He worked at a Consulting firm so he told me all the big named partners would be there and this was a great opportunity for him to network. He knew it definitely was not how I wanted to spend my birthday, so quickly added that we would be able to stop by “Top of the Rock” which was where he took me on our first date and also right above his office. We hadn’t been there since and I had been wanting to go back. Lastly, he said, oh and you can wear that evening gown I got you for Christmas. Reluctantly I agreed.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, it was the day of my birthday. I had just worked 12 hour evening shift in the ER the night before, and Yen woke me up earlier than usual. “Time to get ready, we have to go early if we want to go to Top of the Rock.” I held back my feelings and went on to get myself fully ready for a night of small talks with people I didn’t know. Throughout the whole time, Yen would keep on rushing me and asking me if I was ready yet and that we would be late. To say I was annoyed would be an understatement. When he asked again 5 min later, I had had enough and just said, let’s go then! I didn’t even really get to finish doing my hair.
When we went out of the apartment, Yen told me traffic was terrible and we would have to take the subway. I almost killed him. I was in a full length evening gown with a fur wraparound coat, full makeup, and high heels, and he had the audacity to ask me to take the subway. By now, I was in full on b%*^# mode and giving him the dirtiest look I could. He said we had to get there early and the traffic was horrible. Having no choice, I agreed and began running to the subway in high heels. This was going to be the worst birthday ever!
When we finally got up to the observatory in “Top of the Rock,” I finally started to feel slightly better. Being at our first date spot brought back so many feelings. I walked over to the spot where we first held hands and looked out over NYC where we both grew up. He walked up besides me and started talking. “Baby, I know you didn’t think we would ever get this far...” I didn’t hear the rest because I saw him reach into his pocket. Omg - was this really happening?? And then he got on his knees as he continued to talk. Honestly, I don’t remember anything he said. I was completely stunned. So stunned that I didn’t even say yes and I gave him my right hand. And he told me “wrong hand!” I gave him my left hand and put the ring on. As he got up, we finally realized all the tourists had made a circle around us, taking pictures and videos of the whole thing.
Everything was still settling in when he said, babe, we still need to go to my event. I couldn’t believe it, in my head I was thinking seriously?!?!?! but I was still so shocked that I just nodded my head. So we went downstairs, to the entrance for the Rainbow Room and took it to the 65th floor where he said the event was. We were ushered to a private room, and just as the door opened, I saw my family, his family, and our closest friends in a private room that he had booked. Our room faced out over NYC and as the sun set we could see the Empire State Building lit up. And at that moment, I could no longer hold it back and started crying as my closest loved ones surrounded me, embraced me, and congratulated me.
And that’s how I got engaged and it was the best birthday ever!
