Work Text:
Donghyuck wakes up with the sunlight seeping through the windows.
He turns his head there then contemplates after, thinking if he forgot to close the curtains yesterday night. The boy might look like the human embodiment of the sun but he doesn't like the sun rays nor any light when he sleeps. It must be pitch black in the room in order for him to sleep, though sometimes his body must have forgotten it especially when he's tired.
It was the breathing sound beside him that made Donghyuck realize he was not in his own room. Mark is sleeping soundly, curled up beside him, lips parted a little. Donghyuck wants to giggle at the sight, Mark always sleeps peacefully when they're together. This also explains the curtain, it was set the way Mark does. The older prefers not to cover the whole window so the sunlight will wake him up when his alarm doesn't.
The morning in Canada is quite different in Korea.
Donghyuck flew 10,594 km, pretty much the reason why his head is kinda throbbing right now. He has jetlag, and his body is still adjusting to the new environment and new timezone. However, he knows this will just take for a day and he's sure he can easily adapt in Canada well.
Especially if he can have a sight of Mark sleeping serenely beside him everyday.
No longer through the screen. Not through phone calls. Beside him, in flesh, where he can feel and touch Mark.
Donghyuck traces Mark's cheekbones, admiring the older's face as he also unconsciously fall back to sleep.
When Donghyuck woke up again, Mark was no longer beside him. He is hugging a pillow tightly instead of his boyfriend. Donghyuck sighs, he was expecting that he could cuddle with his boyfriend and maybe kiss a lot for today to cover the days they're far away from each other. But Donghyuck understands that the guy has and needs to work. Mark has promised him a dinner later in the evening though and it's much to compensate.
Donghyuck's trip to Canada was actually spontaneous. Mark didn't know he's coming and was so shocked when he saw his boyfriend standing in his front door in the middle of the night. That's why Mark plans to use all his vacation leave for this year so he can be with Donghyuck while the younger is still in Canada for a week.
Being in a long distance relationship is hard. It takes a lot of sacrifices, it requires so much trust and strong communication. But they're Donghyuck and Mark, Mark and Donghyuck, nothing or no one could break them apart. If it wasn't because of Jeno's birthday party, Mark won't meet Donghyuck. And without meeting him, Mark doesn't know if he is still the same Mark now.
Mark already messaged Donghyuck the location of the restaurant they planned to dine in for dinner. He doesn't need to fetch Donghyuck after work so they can go together there because Donghyuck knows the city on the back of his hand. Toronto has been Donghyuck's second home since he and Mark started dating nine years ago and his visit every summer pays off with another knowledge about a certain part of Mark. Donghyuck wants to familiarize himself to the country where Mark was raised and born.
After finishing a degree in Korea, a multinational company offered Mark a promising job. The salary and opportunities are much higher and bigger though he will be based in Canada, which is on the other side of the world --- too far from Korea. He was truly hesitant, a position in a large company is tempting, plus it's Canada too, the county he was accustomed to after his family migrated to Korea when he's 15 years old. However, if he accepts the job, he will be away from his family and friends in Korea.
Most especially from Donghyuck.
Canada might have a special part in Mark's heart but he's happy in Korea.
He's always happy when he is with Donghyuck.
Donghyuck is sure that the restaurant is new. It was nowhere to be found in this street when he went to Canada last year. As soon as he gets inside, he scans the restaurant and he's already loving it. There's a collection of LPs at the corner, the walls are decorated with different posters of bands and music icons. There's a grand piano on the other side too that wraps up the whole vibe of the restaurant. Donghyuck smiles as he imagines Mark choosing this place because of his love for music. A place where Donghyuck can definitely gather inspiration to write and produce more songs.
"Excuse me, are you Donghyuck Lee?"
Donghyuck was startled, when the waiter asked his identity first rather than his order. He was confused but the waiter was looking at him eagerly to find an answer so he nodded. The waiter turns his back to him immediately and now Donghyuck is starting to regret that he gives his identity to anyone easily. Though the waiter came back a minute after, with a bouquet of lilies in his hands.
"Congratulations" The waiter smiles and hands out the flowers, leaving Donghyuck speechless.
There's a note peeking between the flowers and Donghyuck did not waste any time to take and open it. Mark never fails to send him flowers every anniversary. Even if they're not in the same place or country, even if they're far away from each other, Mark doesn't forget.
Happy 9th year anniversary baby. I love you so much and I wanna prove it to you every single day in this lifetime. :)
Donghyuck snorted when he saw the familiar handwriting and a crooked smiley at the end. He quickly dialed Mark's number as his fingers played with the petals of the flowers. Donghyuck is not the emotional and sentimental type of person but he's at the verge of crying over a bouquet of lilies now.
"Baby?" Mark's hoarse voice registers in Donghyuck's ears. He can kiss the hell out of Mark right now.
"Where are you?" Donghyuck clears his throat, to get rid of the forming lump there for trying not to cry.
"I'm just right around the corner. Is there something wrong?"
Donghyuck is aware how much effort Mark does in every flower he gives on their anniversary. There is meaning behind those flowers and Donghyuck doesn't want to ask Mark on the phone. He wants to ask and hear about the flowers from him personally.
"Nothing babe. Get in here as fast as you can, okay? Love you"
"Okay. Love you too"
After Mark hanged up, every minute that passes feels like an hour. There's something bubbling inside Donghyuck's chest that he can't even pinpoint. He needs to see Mark, to realize what is this thing that's bothering his heart, making the beats faster than normal.
The sound of the piano made Donghyuck whip his head towards it.
Mark, with his tailored and perfectly fit black suit, plays the piano on the west side of restaurant. Donghyuck was surprised that the note he's holding fell to the ground. His boyfriend is dashingly handsome there, and he garners all the attention of other people inside the restaurant too.
처움 느낀 그대 눈빛은
혼자만의 오해였던가요
It was also when Mark starts to sing that people inside the restaurant gasps and coos, some are even taking pictures and videos. Donghyuck knows the song, he knows it very well. But it is not the only thing that's making him squelch his tears, because it's been a long time since he heard Mark sing. Mark might have helped Haechan sometimes with the demos of songs he produces but he always insists to only take the rap part. Mark is not really confident with his singing although Donghyuck ardently disagrees. He will not get tired and can hear Mark sing forever.
The song is now on climax and the memories of him and Mark flashes on Donghyuck's mind. How they met, their first kiss, first date and first fight. Their 9 year relationship is not always sunshine and rainbows, and being together for that long is not easy. There were misunderstandings, fights and differences but as long as you meet in the middle, everything will be alright.
Mark pours his heart and soul into the song. And no matter how much Donghyuck tries not to cry, tears start to fall down on his cheeks.
나 오직 그대만을
사랑하기 때문에
The song ended with cheers and claps. Mark directly looks at Donghyuck's eyes after and lets out a chuckle when he sees his boyfriend sitting there like a crying mess. He did not break eye contact when he walked toward the younger. Donghyuck does the same, whose cheeks are stained with fresh tears.
Mark swipes Donghyuck's tears on his cheeks as he settles himself to Donghyuck's side.
"Hey, what happened to I'm-not-a-weak-bitch-I-dont-cry Donghyuck?" Mark tries to lighten up the mood. He can't go on if Donghyuck is staring at him like that -- too heavy and serious.
"Uhh.. Did you know that was the song my dad sang to mom when he proposed?" Mark decided to go on with his prepared speech before he forgets everything. He held Donghyuck's hands and thumbs the back of it.
"I think I've mentioned it to you before. My mom brags it to me everytime and I know she also bragged about it to you, right?" Donghyuck smiled when he remembered that memory, when they visited Mark's parents for the first time.
Mark leans forward, this time meeting Donghyuck's watery eyes.
"Can you brag about it for the rest of your life too?"
Maybe in other circumstances, Donghyuck would probably clown his boyfriend for this and his cheesy lines. But everything is different right now. The energy, the atmosphere, there is no space for jokes or teasing. Mark's eyes are full of emotions that Donghyuck has never seen before.
"No" Donghyuck softly answers, almost a whisper but it still registered into Mark's ears. The emotions in Mark's face completely turned into shock and sadness. Donghyuck takes the seconds passed to gather and calm himself.
Mark was still dumbfounded when Donghyuck stood. He got more bewildered when the next thing that the younger did was to fall on his one knee as he fished a velvet box in his pocket.
Emotions can easily reflect in Mark's face. If he feels sad, hurt and confused earlier, his eyes are now on the brink of crying and his cheeks are flushed red. His eyes are wide, enough for Donghyuck to mumble something between dork and cute.
"Would you brag this reverse proposal for the rest of your life too?" Donghyuck is staring intently at Mark, with a glint of mischievousness but mostly pure of love towards the older.
"W-what? Did you already know I'm going to propose?"
Donghyuck shakes his head. He doesn't really have a clue actually. He woke up one day in Korea and realized how badly he wanted to marry Mark so he went to Canada spontaneously. He already told his plans to Jaemin, Jeno and Renjun but this morning his friends just sent him a Congratulations, You should say YES, and Both of you are stupid and disgusting from Jeno, Jaemin and Renjun respectively. It was strange at first, especially what Jaemin said because instead of cheering him, he's pushing him to answer a yes to what?
He only shook away that thought because it would be very strange if his friends would be sweet and cheer him for his proposal. Their friendship dynamics are not like that.
"Are you going to answer or what? My knee is hurting babe" Mark chuckled and guides Donghyuck up then proceed to kiss him. The crowd erupted in cheers again, the two aren't aware that people inside the restaurant are still watching them.
When they part, both of them put the rings they bought for each other making their engagement rings two. Maybe that's why Renjun sent a message that they're both stupid, stupidly in love with each other.
"You're still cheeky even in your proposal" Mark finds Donghyuck's hands where the rings lie and intertwines it to his.
"You're still cheesy even in your proposal" Donghyuck barks back and Mark can't help but to roll his eyes to his boyfr--- fianceé.
"But you love it!"
"Uhuh. But do you know a thing I love more than that?"
"What is it?"
Donghyuck leans to reach Mark's ear.
"I'll show you at home later" Mark turns beet red when Donghyuck winks at him, grinning wickedly towards his flustered fianceé.