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Nothing screams “marry your dumbass boyfriend” quite as loud as a big win at the Olympics. Or a big loss, especially if it’s said boyfriend’s doing. (By big he of course means the first round, it’s too early to think further than that and besides, he isn't about to wedge this whole thing on their team making it to the finals)
Well, Sunwoo has been praying the second scenario doesn’t happen for months now.
“Are you… praying?” Sangyeon asks in a slightly alarmed voice as they stroll through the streets of Tokyo. Their destination is still unknown to the older, which explains how calm he is at the moment.
Sunwoo appreciates the credit of trust the other gave him when he agreed to this not-so-casual outing so close to the most important match of their careers.
“Have been for a while now thank you for noticing,” he answers in a tone so casual it sounds forced. Sunwoo flinches. So much for staying calm and unbothered.
“If you want to somehow cheat during the game I swear—” Sangyeon’s little speech is cut short by a short laugh.
“I think I would feel somehow less stressed if that was the case,” he mumbles, all pretense of being calm now dropped.
“Now I’m beyond worried,” Sangyeon furrows his brows as if trying to imagine the worst-case scenario and stops for a second before Sunwoo grabs one of his sleeves and drags him down the street. “Kim Sunwoo what have you done?”
Sunwoo smirks as they finally round the corner and their destination becomes obvious.
“Nothing yet,” he answers innocently as Sangyeon takes the sight in and sighs in resignation. “Why did you think I was the right person for this is beyond me.”
“Moral support,” Sunwoo explains. “I considered Chanhee hyung but he would somehow spoil it to Changmin hyung for sure.”
Sunwoo's logic is too sound to argue and so they enter the store and start looking around.
"White gold," Sunwoo decides after just a few seconds of thinking. He lifts up his hand and points at the item that caught his attention. The glass guarding the exhibit must be closer than he expected it to be because his finger collides with it and leaves a small smudge. The sound makes Sangyeon jump.
"You want this one specifically?" the older of the two asks, eyebrows raised in question. Sunwoo can tell from his friend's body language that Sangyeon hopes that the answer is "yes" and they can wrap up this small secret meeting in record time.
Sunwoo can't really blame him. It's hot, they are both sweaty under their thin hoodies and most of their friends are probably relaxing at the pool right this second. Honestly, he's surprised the older even agreed to come at all.
"Yes, I think Changmin will like it," he says finally, and a bright smile breaks on Sangyeon's face. Sunwoo tries to keep a straight expression but he can't help a smirk that forms on his lips.
"I'm pretty sure Changmin will like anything you give him but, yes I agree, it's pretty and right up his alley."
This time Sunwoo doesn't hide the satisfaction that stretches his lips into a sly smile. It doesn't go unnoticed.
"You're the devil," Sangyeon comments but there's no real spice in it. "I hope you know that."
"Oh, I'm well aware," Sunwoo lets his eyes wander to what's beneath the glass again. His gaze stops at the same ring again and he leans in slightly to take a better look. Up close it looks even better, almost as if it was made exactly for the purpose of decorating the older's delicate fingers and Sunwoo can picture it perfectly in his head.
He has always thought that Changmin's fingers were made for something different than basketball. Piano perhaps. The other used to laugh at him whenever he voiced his thoughts out loud, saying that he's biased.
As if anyone can be unbiased when it comes to Ji Changmin.
Sunwoo sighs dreamily and it doesn't escape Sangyeon's attention.
"Are you buying it or not?" the older shifts his weight expectantly. Sunwoo notices that they have only about half an hour left before they're supposed to be back in the gym for their afternoon training session. It's their last one before the Olympic Games start and Sunwoo feels excitement and fear mix inside his veins, making them buzz as if ready to burst at any given moment.
He smiles.
"Would you happen to know Japanese?" he asks, tone serious but he can't help a giggle escaping his lips at the dismay that appears on his friend's face.
"If I were Changmin I would never agree to your proposal," Sangyeon gives him a disapproving stare.
Sunwoo can only laugh at his friend's words. There's a certain freedom in the way they can freely talk in their native language without caring too much about what they say.
Especially in this situation, it's something Sunwoo needed. He needed this trip to the jewelry shop with his friend where he can joke about his proposal to his boyfriend and the lady behind the counter still smiles at them friendly, unaware of the meaning behind their words. Sunwoo suspects Sangyeon knew it and that's why he agreed.
"Good thing you aren't Changmin then," he says brightly and lifts his eyes at the lady behind the counter who must have realized they are here for the Olympics and is now eyeing them curiously.
"I'll take this one," he says in perfect Japanese.
Sangyeon groans next to him.
Sunwoo smiles innocently.
xxx
Sunwoo is never late to practice.
It’s just that everyone is always so damn early.
"You're almost late," Chanhee crosses his arms and raises one eyebrow in a gesture of disapproval. It's almost comical how elegant the boy can look in the middle of a gymnasium smelling of sweat and rubber in his red and white sports uniform.
"How is that a problem?" Sunwoo gives his senior a small smile while his eyes wander to other figures present at the gym. His eyes desperately search for a glimpse of bright cherry-colored hair as if he was a man trapped in the desert and Changmin was his oasis, promising shelter.
"My god," Chanhee mumbles more to himself than Sunwoo or Sangyeon. "Changmin went to get us drinks, stop staring. It's disgusting."
Sunwoo shoots the older a warning look.
The only person allowed to call him disgusting is Changmin. Well, maybe Eric too at times but the younger gets a free pass since they've been friends since they were in diapers.
"Strongly agreed," the devil Sunwoo was just thinking about appears next to them suddenly, startling him and he jumps in place. Eric snickers at his reaction. 'He has a pass, he has a pass,' Sunwoo reminds himself but still, his mouth forms a scowl.
"You're just mad you're single."
"It's a choice," Eric puts emphasis on the last word as if he's trying to convince someone. And it isn't Sunwoo, he doesn't need convincing. It earns him a couple of raised eyebrows.
“Not your choice though,” Sunwoo fires back. Eric’s eyes shift to Juyeon involuntarily and he mumbles something under his breath. Probably death threats.
“Hook, line, sinker!” comes from somewhere to their right and Sunwoo spots a very happy Haknyeon entering the gym, a visibly less enthusiastic Changmin trailing behind him, arms full of drinks.
If Sunwoo expected a warm welcome it never comes. (He didn't expect it, he knows his boyfriend too well.)
“You made it,” Changmin scowls a little as he looks him up and down as if to make sure he arrived in one piece. Sunwoo can’t stop a lopsided grin from forming on his lips when Changmin's eyes finally land on his face.
“You disappeared without a single word.”
Ah, Sunwoo thinks briefly. Shit.
From the corner of his eye, he can see Chanhee tilt his head in their direction as if waiting for the drama to unfold.
Sunwoo almost feels sorry to disappoint the other but there's just no way he’s getting into trouble today of all days.
“Had to take care of something really fast and didn't want to bother you,” Sunwoo lies easily because under the right circumstances it would have been true. Changmin had that characteristic look on his face that morning betraying both his nerves and determination and Sunwoo knew it was better to leave the older alone. “I didn't miss the match, did I?” he adds for good measure, his signature shit-easting grin back on his face.
Changmin raises his eyebrows in silent judgment but then shakes his head and laughs.
Just from this one gesture, the atmosphere in the room seems to shift and everyone snaps out of it and gets back to practice.
Sunwoo gravitates towards Changmin who gives him a small smile and a gentle shove to the shoulder along with his drink of choice.
“Bought me one even though I was gone?” Sunwoo asks with a smile and playfully raised eyebrows.
“Couldn't have our most important player drop dead just before the most important match of our career,” Changmin laughs at the pout Sunwoo puts on his face. It’s all for the show but it works anyway. “Fine. I didn't want my boyfriend to drop dead. Before or during the match.”
Now, this is what Sunwoo likes to hear. It makes him feel good about his plans for later in the evening.
“That’s the way to go.”
xxx
The game goes something like this:
Sunwoo tries his best to calm his heart but it refuses to settle which results in him messing up a few times.
“Don’t mind!” Changmin tells him in passing, a warm hand finding Sunwoo's shoulder and lingering there for a second longer than normal. The younger sees the worry in his boyfriend's eyes. “Let’s get the next one.”
Sunwoo nods shortly and tries once again to calm his wildly beating heart.
This is it. This is the match and if he wants to keep playing at the Olympics he needs to do better. If he wants the evening…
No, it’s not the time for negativity.
“Hyung!” he yells after Changmin. The other turns around, a focused look in his eyes. “Give the ball to me.”
Changmin gives him a wide grin.
“Your wish is my command.”
Sunwoo feels his heart pick up speed for entirely different reasons now and he likes it. This is the adrenaline that will keep him going not leave him frozen in fear at the most important moment.
Changmin gets him the ball just as promised, trusting Sunwoo to score just as the match comes to an end. The older puts all his trust into his hands and in the moment of truth, Sunwoo's hands don't tremble as he scores the shot that secures their win.
His hands do however tremble a little as he puts them around Changmin’s waist as their teammates gather around them to celebrate the victory.
Everyone is speaking over each other, words and tears spilling all around them but the only thing Sunwoo can focus on is how steady Changmin sounds when he leans in and whispers in his ears.
“We did it.”
“Yeah,” he agrees even though he isn't sure the other can hear him. “We really did.”
xxx
“It was an amazing shot,” Changmin's words linger and make the hairs on the back of Sunwoo's neck stand up even when the older disappears from the room to get changed into something comfortable.
Sunwoo grabs his bag and takes out the shorts he had on before the game. There's not enough fight left in him to try to find something better to wear.
“It was an even better pass,” he fires back. It takes about ten seconds for Changmin to make an appearance, half his face peeking out from the other room.
They stare at each other for a moment before Changmin sighs, apparently not too happy about whatever he saw in Sunwoo's eyes. He turns away and leaves again.
Sunwoo sinks into the bed and sighs too, the nerves from before slowly coming back.
“How comes you’re so infuriating modest at the worst of times?”
“Do you want me to answer that?” Sunwoo asks as he observes Changmin walk around the kitchen in that post-match frenzy.
The older is not someone who easily calms down, who can just snap out of it and relax and get some rightfully earned rest.
And so he walks around and makes them drinks while Sunwoo watches, his limbs basically useless after the exercise.
It’s like someone has severed the rope connecting him too early and popped the balloon at the same time leaving him both ecstatic and beyond tired.
Changmin throws a look over his shoulder.
“Only if the answer won't be even more infuriating,” Sunwoo huffs which makes the other nod in agreement. “Thought so. Sugar?”
Sunwoo mumbles his answer but it doesn't really matter because Changmin knows how he likes his tea and in just a minute the older joins him on the bed.
“You really were amazing out there,” Changmin whispers softly as he sets their mugs down on the bedside table and moves closer.
Sunwoo laughs softly.
“I’m not going to argue this time.”
“Wise choice,” Changmin comments, his gaze resting on the crook of Sunwoo's neck.
It’s now or never.
"What if I asked you to marry me?" Sunwoo whispers in a low voice, his arms coming up on both sides of Changmin's silhouette. He carefully runs his fingers up and down his boyfriend's shoulders. Changmin's muscles tense up just to relax slowly as he sighs with contentment.
"What, right now?" he lifts up one eyebrow, his tone only slightly mocking.
"Not now, of course. I think you look breathtaking but I find it hard to believe your family wouldn't throw me off a cliff if I at least didn't get you a suit. Besides, unless you're hiding an official under your bed, I'm afraid there's no one who can marry us right this second."
The monolog earns him an eye roll and a short laugh. Sunwoo smiles.
"I would be offended if you said this was your wedding outfit," Changmin pointedly looks down at Sunwoo's old worn-out red shorts that had dropped down dangerously low, exposing a lot of naked skin. Changmin's stare lingers. "I just want to know if this is one of your extremely cheeky moments in which you just say whatever's on your mind without a filter or—"
Sunwoo momentarily sobers up.
"I would never joke about something this serious," he says and it seems to soften some of the sharp lines that had appeared on Changmin's face just a moment ago. Then, the other's previously worried expression changes to one of surprise as the meaning behind Sunwoo's words slowly sink in.
The younger of the two carefully pulls away and leaves the bed, his feet landing softly on the plush carpet of their Tokyo hotel room.
The sun has slowly started to set over the city, making all the glass of the skyscrapers shine brightly in the orange light of the sunset. Tokyo looks beautiful like this, suspended between day and night in a perfect moment just for the two of them.
Sunwoo looks back at the bed.
It really is the best moment possible with Changmin in his pajamas and the glow of victory still around his small silhouette.
Sunwoo reached inside his backpack left next to the entrance door and pulled out the small black box.
"Sunwoo—" Changmin's voice is quiet now as the older grasps the seriousness of the situation.
It makes Sunwoo pause for a moment, hands frozen mid-air. He feels cold fingers of fear gripping his throat.
Did he make a colossal mistake? Did Changmin—
"Hey," the boy in question moves out of the bed and joins him on the plush rug, his hand reaching out and resting on Sunwoo’s arm. “You’re gold to me you know?”
Sunwoo smiles. He does know it, the same way Changmin knows he’s gold to Sunwoo, too.
“That’s a really elaborate way to say yes,” Sunwoo can’t stop smiling now, not with the way Changmin’s fingers travel up his arm, urgent like they haven’t done this a thousand times before.
“Yeah, yeah,” Changmin mumbles. He lets his hands fall down from Sunwoo's skin and land on the rug instead, a breath away from the black box. “It was a really elaborate way of asking me.”
Changmin will be the death of Sunwoo one day. But not today. Not yet.
“Ji Changmin,” Sunwoo’s fingers finally relax and he opens the box, eyes never leaving Changmin's face. The other is staring back, one eyebrow playfully shooting up after the silence stretches for a moment too long. “I’ll save the sappy stuff for the actual wedding,” here Changmin snorts. “That is if you actually agree, of course.”
“Maybe if you actually asked-”
“I’m getting to it,” Sunwoo might be a little bit evil too because he enjoys the look of anticipation on his boyfriend's face. So much. “Changmin, you’ve been my person for so many years now I’ve lost count. Will you marry me?”
For a second there's silence and Sunwoo nearly faints but then Changmin’s face breaks into the most stunning smile he’s ever seen as he nods.
“Yes.”
Sunwoo smiles brightly in return.
This. This feels even better than winning gold.