5 days before Christmas Jihoon's pov:
As I walked through the jewelry store with BaekHyeon, looking through the rings imagining them on Minji's finger.
"You've been looking at the rings for like 3 hours now, can't you just pick one?" BaekHyeon said. "They will all look good on his fingers, I just can't pick one." I said.
BaekHyeon let out a small chuckle, leaning against the glass counter as he watched me stress over every single detail. "I get that it's a big deal, but seriously, Jihoon, Minji's not gonna care about the ring as much as he cares about what it represents."
I nodded, but my eyes were still scanning the rows of rings. "I know, but I want it to be perfect. This isn't just about asking him to marry me; it's about showing him that I'm serious about our future. After everything we've been through... I need this to be right."
BaekHyeon sighed, folding his arms. "You've already done the hard part—working through everything and sticking by him. Now it's just about the promise."
I paused, my gaze landing on a simple yet elegant silver band with a small diamond embedded in the center. It wasn't overly flashy, but it had a timeless beauty. Something about it just felt… right.
"This one," I said quietly, pointing to the ring. "This is the one."
BaekHyeon stepped closer, taking a look. He smiled and nodded in approval. "Yeah, that's the one, Jihoon. It's perfect."
I asked the jeweler to take out the ring, holding it in my hand. It sparkled subtly under the store's lights, and I could already picture it on Minji's finger. The thought of slipping it on, of making that promise to him, sent a wave of emotion through me.
BaekHyeon clapped me on the back. "Finally. Now we can get out of here."
I smiled, but my mind was already racing to the proposal. How would I do it? Would Minji even say yes, especially with how things had been lately? There were so many questions, but deep down, I knew this was the right step for us.
"I want the diamond to be bigger then this." I said to the jeweler, "yes sir, but it might take a while for us to replace the stone." She said.
"That's fine, I just want the ring before Christmas." I remarked, "Okay sir, I'll take your information in the front."
As I followed the jeweler to the counter, BaekHyeon sighed loudly beside me. "You're really going all out for this, huh?"
I nodded, still thinking about how perfect it all needed to be. "Minji deserves the best. I need him to know that I'm serious about our future."
BaekHyeon leaned against the counter, watching me fill out the paperwork. "You think he's gonna say yes, right?"
I paused for a second before continuing to write my details. "I don't know," I admitted. "But I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he does. I've messed up before, but I want to show him that this is forever."
BaekHyeon gave me a reassuring pat on the back. "You've got this, Jihoon. He loves you. He might be mad right now, but deep down, I think he's waiting for this too."
The jeweler handed me the receipt and smiled. "We'll have your ring ready in time for Christmas, sir. It's going to be beautiful."
I thanked her and turned to leave, the weight of what I was about to do settling in. As BaekHyeon and I stepped out of the store and into the crisp winter air, I couldn't help but feel both excitement and anxiety swirling inside me.
"Just five days," I muttered under my breath. "Five days to get everything right."
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Later that evening: As I stepped into the kitchen, I saw Minji quietly washing the dishes, his back turned to me. The sight of him standing there, looking so calm and peaceful, made my heart ache with everything I wanted to say but hadn't yet.
"Hey," I said softly, as I hugged his back.
Minji glanced over his shoulder, his face a little softer than the last time we spoke. "Hey," he replied, turning back to the sink.
For a moment, neither of us said anything, the only sound in the kitchen was the gentle running of water. I wanted to say something, anything that could break through the tension.
"I missed you," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "A lot."
Minji chuckled, "you've only been gone for a couple of hours, what's there to miss."
"I missed my baby." I whispered as I hugged him even tighter.
"Well I'm almost done washing the dishes, so just give me a minute." He smiled. I shook my head, "I'll keep you company!"
Minji gave me a small smile before turning back to the dishes, the tension between us easing ever so slightly. I leaned against the counter, watching him, feeling grateful for even this small moment of peace.
"So, what did you get up to today?" Minji asked, rinsing off the last plate and placing it in the dish rack.
I hesitated for a second, thinking about the ring I had picked out earlier. "Just ran a few errands," I said, trying to sound casual. "Nothing too exciting."
He glanced at me, a knowing look crossing his face. "Errands, huh? You've been out a lot lately."
I shrugged, hoping to play it cool. "Just getting things ready for the holidays, you know."
Minji finished up and wiped his hands on a towel before turning to face me fully. "You're being suspicious," he teased, raising an eyebrow. "What are you hiding?"
I couldn't help but smile, "nothing, just helping mom with your outfit measurements. Ever since she found out that you were going to attend Christmas dinner she's been on cloud nine."
He laughed, "why does your family like me so much, even though they haven't seen me yet."
"You just have that natural charm, you're that loveable."
Minji rolled his eyes playfully, leaning back against the counter. "Lovable, huh? Well, I hope they're not disappointed when they finally meet me in person."
I stepped closer to him, cupping his face gently. "They're going to love you even more, trust me. You have nothing to worry about."
Minji's expression softened, his eyes flickering with a mix of affection and uncertainty. "I hope so. I just… I want things to go well, you know? Especially with TaeHyun being there."
I felt my chest tighten at the mention of TaeHyun, but I quickly pushed that feeling aside. "Well TaeHyun means nothing, as long as we keep our distance no problems will occur."
Minji smiled and nodded.
Minji smiled softly and nodded, though the lingering tension in his shoulders hinted that his worries hadn't completely disappeared. "Okay, I'll trust you on that," he said quietly.
I gently brushed a strand of hair away from his face, leaning in to kiss him softly. "We're only 5 days away until Christmas, do you have any gift in mind?" I asked.
He took a moment to think about it, "umm, I want…" he trailed off.
"I want you to be my gift." He teased as he kissed me.
I chuckled softly, wrapping my arms around him. "Me? You already have me," I teased back, pulling him closer. "But I'll see if I can put a bow on myself or something."
Minji laughed, resting his forehead against mine. "No need for the bow. Just… promise me you'll stay with me. That's all I really want."
His words tugged at my heart, and I kissed him again, this time deeper, more earnestly. "I promise, Minji. I'm not going anywhere."
For a moment, we just stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, engraved in the kiss the world around us fading away. The weight of everything seemed to lift as we held each other, our hearts beating in sync.
"Five days," I whispered, knowing I'd give him more than just myself this Christmas.
Minji smiled against my lips, his eyes fluttering open. "Five days," he echoed.
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3 days before Christmas at the Kim's family house:
"Did Minji like the outfit?" Mom asked, "Yes he did, it suited him perfectly." I replied.
"Oh great, I can't wait to see him in it!" She rejoiced.
"Also not to forget, I have a matching set for you two for new years!" She said, "I can't wait to Show him off to the whole world!" She added.
I shook my head, mom was always so interested in every aspect of her kids relationship.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "Mom, you might be getting a little ahead of yourself," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "We're still navigating things after everything that happened."
She waved her hand dismissively, a bright smile still plastered on her face. "Oh, come on! Love is something to celebrate. Besides, you two look so adorable together. I just want everyone to see how happy he makes you."
I felt a warmth spread through me at her words, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still so much left unsaid between Minji and me. "I know, Mom. He makes me happy," I admitted, my heart swelling at the thought of Minji. "But we need to take it one step at a time."
"Sure, sure," she said, rolling her eyes playfully. "But once you propose, you can't take it back. Just remember that!"
"What, how do you know that I'm going to purpose?" I asked my voice quite, "I know everything sweetheart, you can't hide anything from your dear mother." She smiled.
"Please don't tell anybody, only BaekHyeon is supposed to know!" I told her, "What about us your parents?"
"Of course, I'll tell you guys, but I want it to be a surprise!" I insisted, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness bubble inside me.
"Sweetheart, I promise I won't spill a word," she assured me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I just want to see you both happy. You deserve it."
I couldn't help but smile at her sincerity. "Thanks, Mom. It means a lot to me that you're supportive."
"Always," she said, her voice softening. "Just remember, if you need help planning anything, I'm here. You won't have to do it alone."
I nodded, appreciating her offer. As much as I wanted to keep everything under wraps, I knew I could lean on her if I needed guidance. But right now, I needed to focus on Minji and how to navigate the conversation he wanted to have later.
As my mom continued to fuss over the decorations, I felt my phone buzz again.
Another message from Minji.
Minji: where are you I'm home already?
I quickly texted back,
Jihoon: I just came to help mom with the dinner peprations, I'll be back in a few.
"I have to head out, Minji is back from shopping." I told mom as i grabbed my keys and headed out.
"I'll see you later, sweetheart! Tell Minji I said hi," Mom called out as I grabbed my coat and slipped my keys into my pocket.
"Will do!" I shouted back, rushing out the door and into the chilly evening air. My breath formed small clouds as I made my way to the car, the weight of the conversation ahead lingering on my mind.
The drive back was quick, but each passing minute felt like an eternity. I kept replaying all the possibilities of what Minji wanted to talk about. Was he upset? Was he having doubts again? Or maybe... just maybe, this was a step forward.
As I pulled into the driveway, I saw the lights on inside the house, a warm glow cutting through the cold night. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, walking up to the door. My heart raced as I unlocked it and stepped inside.
Minji was sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone, but he looked up the moment I walked in.
"You're back," he said, setting his phone down.
"Yeah, sorry for taking so long," I replied, walking over to him. "How was shopping?"
"Busy, but I managed to get everything I needed." He stood up, smoothing out his shirt, and gave me a small smile.
TBC