bin and jinwoo have been dating for 3 years
and they’ve been living together for about 5 months
they’re still very much in the honeymoon stage of their relationship, but things are starting to settle down
jinwoo comes home from work one day to find bin sitting on the floor near the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room
he was very quiet when he entered, so bin doesn’t notice him right away
so jinwoo stands there quietly
just watching bin, wearing loose shorts and a bright yellow shirt, plucking away on a ukulele jinwoo didn’t even know he had
he misses a few chords and sighs every time, starting his song over again
bin immediately gets to his feet, holding the ukulele behind his back
bin: JINWOO you’re back early?
jinwoo: there wasn’t much traffic. what are you doing?
bin: it was supposed to be a birthday surprise
jinwoo: my birthday isn’t for another four months
bin nods solemnly, ducking his head, cheeks glowing pink
bin: i wanted it to be perfect
jinwoo walks to the couch and flops down
jinwoo: so, surprise me. show me what you’ve been playing
bin is stammering over his words, saying it’s not good enough, he isn’t ready to share it, he doesn’t even have the song done
and jinwoo just smiles and assures bin that he’ll love it no matter what
bin blushes, because, despite having been dating for three years, they haven’t used the L word for more than a year
and bin can’t hear it without blushing
but he sits on the floor again, legs folded and hands holding the ukulele
jinwoo thinks it looks almost too small, like a child with a guitar made for dolls
but then bin starts playing confidently, shoulders back but head bowed to see his fingers on the strings
and then he begins to sing
and jinwoo would be lying if he said he didn’t cry as he watched bin, yellow around the edges from the setting winter sun, singing about their experiences and their love
bin makes a few mistakes, making a face every time he does (and making jinwoo smile at all of his quirks)
and when the last chord rings through their small apartment
their small apartment, belong to them, adorned with knickknacks and clutter and bin’s college textbooks and books jinwoo bought but has yet to read
their small apartment, where they stay up pressed into each other’s sides until 3AM watching bad television, where they make breakfast together every morning, where bin uttered their very first “i love you” after a petty argument
their small apartment, where they’re beginning their lives together, for better or for worse, for as long as they may stay together
when the last chord rings through their apartment, full of memories and love, jinwoo sighs
and then he slides off the couch, walking on his knees to bin
and he sits on his calves, sliding his hands into bin’s dark hair
and he smiles brightly, taking in a deep breath
jinwoo: marry me, moon bin
bin stares at jinwoo, partly in awe and partly in shock
but jinwoo doesn’t need an answer
they’ve danced around the idea for long enough
so jinwoo takes bin’s hand off the ukulele and kisses his ring finger gently
and bin melts, grabbing jinwoo by his waist and pulling him into his lap
their laughter fills the apartment, separated by the sound of their lips meeting and parting
and as jinwoo shifts in bin’s lap, his forehead against bin’s
and as bin’s eyes peek at jinwoo over his glasses frames, one hand settled on his ukulele and the other on jinwoo’s jaw
they know one thing is certain
the love they have, the love they’ve shared for years before even the first verbal “i love you”
that love is here to stay
