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🌿🎄🌷
Jaehyun thinks it’s time to tie the strings of the apron because he wants to cook breakfast for the most beautiful red flower he has the privilege to wrap his arms around every morning. Although, it seems like he might postpone the plan for just a couple more minutes to indulge in the warmth.
Even though he feels the nudging on his arms and the mumbles of “wake up, Jae” and “Jae, baby, time to wake up” he buries his face more on the fluffy thing he is hugging.
Taeyong believes it’s time to say the words because it’s the right time to. He expected this to happen as they stayed up last night to watch the countdown and eat the Christmas fruit cake he baked with the sleeping log on their queen-sized bed.
He let out a tired but endeared sigh and then launched himself on top of the not-sleeping-anymore log.
Startled awake, Jaehyun has just realized that he is hugging the peach plushie Taeyong gifted him last night for Christmas. Wait, the gift, wait, he panicked internally as it slowly dawns in him what he postponed.
"Good morning," he says, petting the now soft brown locks of his favorite flower.
"Good morning~" Taeyong replies, lifting his head to meet Jaehyun's sparkly ones. "You said you would cook breakfast. Why are you still in bed?"
"Well, I will stay longer in bed if you lay longer on top of me."
"So be it," the last thing Taeyong mumbles before wriggling his way under their blanket and laying on top of Jaehyun, hugging him like a koala.
Jaehyun chuckles while pulling the blanket on top of them and then hugging Taeyong like a pillow.
The two of them ended up sleeping for four 10-minute snoozes. And that's how their morning usually goes through the holidays.
When they finally decide that it is really the time to wake up and start their Christmas morning like they planned yesterday, Jaehyun is the one waking Taeyong up. He is as unsuccessful as Taeyong's attempt a while ago.
He carefully moves Taeyong to lay on his side and then puts the peach plushie for Taeyong to hug as he continues to sleep more. It's a sight to melt over, like Jaehyun's heart is at the moment, but he still has to cook breakfast and tie the strings of his gift.
By the moment Taeyong slowly stirs awake, Jaehyun has finished cooking their breakfast (and tying his gift).
Taeyong sits up sleepily, yawning. Jaehyun can't help but lean and peck at Taeyong’s nose. “Good morning again,” he says, not leaning away.
“Good morning, again too,” Taeyong says back as he sleepily returns the peck on Jaehyun’s nose.
“I cooked breakfast, and I have a small surprise for you.”
Jaehyun moves out of the bed and reaches for the tray of breakfast. Taeyong’s soul wakes up as he sees a small pink gift box sitting at the corner of the tray.
“What’s this?” He asks while pulling one end of the ribbon then lifting the lid, seeing a—
“A house-shaped candle.”
Taeyong light chuckles at how shyly Jaehyun answered. “This is so cute!”
They lit the candle, which turned out to be tulip scented. And now, the whole bedroom and place smelled like a field of tulips.
🌿🎄🌷
After finishing their breakfast in bed and washing up, they head down to their apartment to start their Christmas day exploration and shopping. Their first stop is the small flower shop under their apartment. Taeyong walks inside, telling Jaehyun that he too has a surprise for him.
A wide smile and genuine giddy laugh erupted from Jaehyun as he saw the surprise.
“Paper tulips!” Taeyong exclaims cheerfully (and very cutely, Jaehyun says in his mind).
“What for?” He asks, stepping closer to see the bouquet of colorful paper tulips.
“Just something to make you remember our tulip date in the garden.”
“They’re beautiful,” Jaehyun says under his breath as he reaches for the yellow tulip bud. “But not as beautiful as the one holding them.”
“Ya,” Taeyong flusteredly exclaims, hitting Jaehyun on the arm (affectionately).
The next stop is the bakeshop where Jaehyun picks up the gingerbread house he ordered. Of course, they bought a few sweet breads too. And then they stopped by the garden.
As cliche as this story goes, they walk around the spots they took photos at, and then they stop by the small lake. It is frozen that is why it’s colder in the particular area, but the cold didn't bother either of them because of the warmth in their interlaced hands.
In the most unexpected approach, Taeyong quietly pulls a silver bracelet out of the picket of his jacket.
“Is this another surprise?” Jaehyun says with a shivered chuckle, startled by the cold touch of the metal to his skin.
Taeyong nods, then he pulls another and hands it to Jaehyun. Jaehyun immediately gets the message and grabs Taeyong’s hand. After he put on the bracelet, it just occurred to him that there are engravings on them.
He was about to ask about those, but the other beat him to it.
“Since we can’t stack up stones and make wishes, I thought why not wear the bracelets while we exchange promises,” Taeyong softly says, eyes glued on the bracelet around Jaehyun’s wrist, rubbing the engraved initials. “Promises or any words.”
“Like making vows?”
“Yeah,” Taeyong shrugs.
“Hmm, let me think, um . . . Oh, I promise that I will close the toothpaste cap after brushing my teeth starting the first day of next year.”
They both stifle fits of giggles at the memory evoked by the promise.
“Better keep that promise. Me . . . I promise that I will only buy one packet of sweet potatoes a week starting next year.”
“I know that that promise will only last for the first two weeks, but okay,” Jaehyun endearingly nods his head.
Taeyong giggles bubbly, leaning close, affectionately rubbing his nose on Jaehyun's. “Let’s go home now. I really want to see what the gingerbread house looks like.”
🌿🎄🌷
Jaehyun believes that it is indeed time to untie the ribbon of the box. The very moment he untied and lifted the lid, the sides fell, revealing a small traditional gingerbread house with a chimney and simple decorative details of icicles and a wreath at the door.
They are both in awe at the beauty in the simplicity of the gingerbread house
“Woow! This is so beautiful!” Taeyong exclaims.
“I know, right. Open the door, take a look inside.”
Taeyong, as excited as he was, still tried to be gentle at pulling the door open with its tiny doorknob.
Jaehyun watches him, smiling fondly and also equally excited. A gasp is a reaction that made him grin in satisfaction.
“Jae . . .”
“Hm?” He hums innocently, acting as if he doesn’t know why Taeyong is in shock.
“Wha—what’s . . . Jaehyun, what does this mean?” Taeyong asks, his voice shaking as his hand is trembling. In between his fingers is a shiny rose gold Filigree Leaf Diamond ring. “What’s this?”
Jaehyun walks around the small kitchen island. “You know what it is. It’s a ring,” he casually says as he places his hand on top of Yong’s.
He holds the slowly-teary gaze, letting his heart soften and his hand getting a bit sweaty by the sudden climb of nervousness. Without saying a word, he inhaled deeply before bending a knee, still holding Taeyong’s hand.
Taking another moment to breathe as this is it, the moment he has been waiting for.
"Lee Taeyong, would you let me be the person that will hold an umbrella for you even through the heavy storms and sunny days; that will do everything to give you all flowers even if I have to battle with strong winds, and that will eat ice cream with you even in a rainy day?”
“Who else will I ever want to eat ice cream on a rainy day with other than you, Jung Jaehyun? There’s no one else but you.”
“Is—is that a yes . . .?”
“Of course, it is a yes!”
Taeyong kneels to pepper Jaehyun with kisses while muttering ‘yes’ every time. He pauses for a second, placing his forehead on Jaehyun. Then he breathes four words like a vow.
“Let’s eat ice cream.”
Dumbfounded, Jaehyun chuckles in surprise. “As in right now, in the middle of my proposal and of a very snowy, cold weather?”
With a serious gaze but affectionate words Taeyong responds. “Doesn't matter if it's snowing or raining, as long as I'm with you, ice cream will never be cold.”
“Okay,” Jaehyun softly says. “Let's eat ice cream and the gingerbread house.”
They share a harmonious chorus of laughter, still kneeling on the floor of their kitchen, also laughing while on the verge of crying with happiness.