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“What are you making?” Elio asks, looking up over his own pumpkin at Oliver, who is concentrating too hard to look back. “You still won’t tell me?”
“You’ll see.” Oliver grins, the mischief on his face only making Elio more curious.
For their first Halloween together they decided to carve pumpkins, and that year they had stuck with a couple simple Jack-O-Lanterns. But in the following years they had carved out cats and bats, Elio had even tried his hand at carving out. E.T.
It had become a bit of a tradition to spend a day doing this, and to surprise each other with the result when they were done, but Oliver had been so secretive about his plans this year that Elio couldn't focus on his own pumpkin. He is too curious, and he almost gets up to check it out, but he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise for himself.
“Is it an animal?” he guesses - as they have discussed getting a pet. Maybe Oliver wants to surprise him with a puppy at the end of the day?
Where would he have found the time to adopt a puppy though? They’ve been together all week.
“Is it a movie?”
“Elio!” Oliver laughs, shaking his head as he finally looks up at him. “Just wait, okay? You’ll see."
Elio opens his mouth to object, because it’s really unfair to tease him like this and expect him to sit and wait for this long. But he knows it will only take longer if he keeps Oliver from his work, so he flashes a sheepish smile as a way of apology before turning his focus back to his own pumpkin. The movie scene he was supposed to carve out really looking more like a bunch of random slashes with a random face in the middle.
“It’s…,” Oliver tries when Elio reveals his work later that day. “What is it, exactly?”
“It’s nothing.” Elio shrugs. “It was supposed to be…” He points at the pumpkin, but then he shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. Can I see yours now?”
“We could have dinner first…” Oliver teases.
“Oh no!” Elio laughs. “I’ve waited long enough for this. Show me!”
Oliver turns the pumpkin around, and it takes a moment for Elio to process what he’s seeing. He was expecting a puppy, maybe his own face - it took Oliver long enough - but when he sees the villa where they met, he is at a loss for words. He can feel himself choke up, not just at the memory of that summer, but because of the words carved underneath.
“Will you marry me?” Oliver asks nervously, reaching to get the small jewellery box out of his pocket.
For a moment Elio thought he was misreading the words, but now that Oliver has said them as well, he knows that he isn’t misunderstanding it. This is why Oliver was keeping his plan a secret - why he had that stupid grin on his face all day.
Oliver kneels down, chuckling awkwardly because Elio still hasn’t answered, “Will you?”
“Yes, of course!” Elio laughs, finally snapping out of his shock. He pulls Oliver up to his feet and he gives him the biggest hug. A little nervous that once he lets go, he will find out that he has imagined all of this.
“Hey, babe?” Oliver laughs after what feels like forever. “I’m struggling to breathe here…”
“Sorry,” Elio mumbles, finally letting go of him. He looks back at the pumpkin, the image of the villa making his heart skip another beat. Memories of that summer, and all the summers after, flashing before his eyes.
Oliver pulls him into his chest and he kisses the top of his head, a teary smile on his face as he whispers, “I love you.”