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The morning sun filtered through the cracks in the curtains, dyeing the room with warm, golden hues. The air still carried the silent lightness of dawn, but Jaehyun's heart was racing. He opened his eyes slowly, but instead of stretching or getting up immediately, he stayed there, watching the person he loved.
Taeyong slept with his head slightly tilted to the side, his lips parted and his chest rising and falling in a calm rhythm. His messy hair spread out over the pillow and, even asleep, he looked so beautiful that Jaehyun felt his heart tighten. Soon, he hoped that this simple moment would turn into something even more meaningful.
With a soft smile, he slowly moved away so as not to wake him and headed to the kitchen. The house was silent, and each step he took rang louder in his ears, as if his emotions overflowed with each gesture.
In the kitchen, Jaehyun began to prepare breakfast with care. He sliced strawberries and kiwi, remembering how Taeyong liked fresh fruit in the morning. The pancakes were soft and golden, covered in honey – a small detail that only someone paying attention to the other would notice. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee spread throughout the room, bringing him a strange feeling of comfort and nervousness at the same time.
When he finished, he took a small box from his pocket and opened it carefully. Inside, two delicate rings shone in the soft light. Inside one of them, he had something simple engraved, but that carried all the meaning: "My forever". With a deep sigh to calm his racing heart, he arranged the white flowers in the center of the table, symbolizing the purity and eternity of what he felt.
When everything was perfect, he went back to the bedroom.
Sitting down next to Taeyong, Jaehyun gently ran his fingers through his hair before leaning down to kiss his forehead tenderly.
“Baby…” he whispered, his voice soft as a caress. “Wake up, I made us coffee.”
Taeyong stirred slowly, his eyes blinking against the soft sunlight. His face was marked by the pillow, and he let out a lazy mumble before giving a small but affectionate smile.
“Hm…why so much pampering?” he murmured, his voice hoarse from sleep. “Is it my birthday?”
Jaehyun chuckled softly, feeling his chest warm at the sight of that smile.
“No, honey, it’s just because you deserve it,” he replied, pulling him by the hand. “Come with me.”
When they reached the kitchen, Taeyong stopped for a moment. His eyes widened when he saw the table set with such care: the pancakes covered in honey, the colorful fruits, the coffee steaming in the mugs they always used – his with a drawing of a puppy and Jaehyun's with a kitten. In the center, the white flowers gave a delicate and romantic touch.
“Jaehyun…you made all this?” The surprise in his voice was genuine, but there was something else – a sparkle in his eyes that reflected the love he felt.
“I made it for us.” Jaehyun smiled, leading him to the chair. “I wanted to start the day in a special way, did you like it?”
“Did I like it? I simply loved it, Jae!” Taeyong replied enthusiastically, kissing his boyfriend's cheek.
Jaehyun blushed at the older man’s actions, even after years, Taeyong still had an effect on him as if they were teenagers.
As they ate, Jaehyun took in every detail: the way Taeyong cut the pancakes into small pieces, the way his nose wrinkled slightly when he smiled, the warm glow in his eyes whenever their gazes met.
But behind all that cozy moment, Jaehyun’s heart was beating faster than usual. He knew he was getting closer to the moment he had dreamed of for weeks.
When breakfast was almost over, Jaehyun held Taeyong’s hand across the table, intertwining their fingers firmly and lovingly. The other’s warm touch always calmed him, but at that moment, it only made his heart race even faster.
“Yong…” he began, his voice slightly shaky but full of tenderness. “I…need to tell you something.”
Taeyong frowned slightly, tilting his head.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, with a touch of curiosity and concern.
Jaehyun took a deep breath, trying to control the emotion that threatened to overflow. His thumbs slowly caressed his boyfriend’s hands as he gathered the courage for the words he wanted to say.
“These three years by your side… were the best of my life.” His voice was low, but each word carried the full weight of his heart. “I remember the day we decided to live together… how nervous I was to ask you if you wanted to share your life with me. But since that day, every moment by your side has only made me more certain that you are the love of my life.”
He paused, his eyes shining with the intensity of what he felt.
“I love the way you take care of me when I'm tired. I love the way you laugh at my lame jokes even though they're bad. I love every single detail of you.”— The emotion in his voice was palpable as he leaned in slightly closer. —” I want to spend all my days with you. So... will you marry me? “
Taeyong was silent for a moment, his eyes wide and teary. It was as if words weren't enough to express everything he felt.
“Jaehyun…”— his voice came out in a shaky whisper. —” I... of course I do. I've always wanted this, love.”
Relief and happiness washed over Jaehyun at once, and he stood up, pulling Taeyong into a tight hug. They stood there, together, hearts racing and breaths entwined.
When they pulled away just enough to look at each other, Jaehyun slid the small box to Taeyong, who opened it with trembling hands. When he saw the rings, his eyes filled with even more tears.
“ My forever… “— Taeyong read quietly, the most beautiful and genuine smile appearing on his lips.
“Because you are, just as I am yours.” — Jaehyun replied, before kissing him with all the love he carried in his heart.
At the end of the kiss, pulling away slightly, but still holding the hands of his beloved who is now also his fiancé, Taeyong has an idea.
“ Do you know what this asks for, dear?”—Jaehyun looked at him with a look full of curiosity. — “A dance, come on.”
Taeyong pulls him with him to the living room, goes to his old record player and puts on the record that Jaehyun knows very well, that was the couple's trademark since they started getting involved years ago.
Stand By Me - Be E. King was the song that played on the day they had their first date, it was something that marked the couple ever since.
“Our song, my love. “ — Jaehyun's heart tightens and his eyes are filled with tears. There is no other place or person he would rather be with and share this precious moment.
Then they began to dance slowly around the room, a little clumsy, but that was not the focus, but rather the moment that will be in their memories forever as long as they are together.
Taeyong rests his head on Jaehyun's shoulder, feeling his natural aroma that he so appreciates and relaxes listening to the music while his fiancé sings softly.
“ I love you so much, I will always love you from the bottom of my soul and being with you is what colors my grayest days, thank you for giving me this more than special moment.”— Taeyong declares and looks at his future husband with a sparkle in his eyes.
“I love you more, my Taeyong.”
On that simple and meaningful morning, two hearts became one - and their future began there, in a request for love that would last forever.
The end.