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“Let’s move in together.”
He’s lucky you don’t spit your udon noodles right into his face. With wide eyes you suck the noodles into your mouth, too stunned to even register their chewy texture and the delicious broth that clings to them. Which is really saying something about the grade of your surprise.
You had chosen this particular restaurant for your fourth (FOURTH!!!) date with Hoseok, because you wanted him to experience the satisfaction of a wheat induced food coma and the delicious crunch of shrimp tempura. What you didn’t expect was his proposition and his endeared smile as he registers your very comically grimacing face gaping at him in shock. There are probably still crumbs in the corner of your mouth and your skin is probably shiny (not in the dewy, glowy sense) from the steaming soup.
So you hide your face behind your fingers, after you swallow the mouthful of noodles without really chewing them.
Gently he pries them off. “Hey, hey, hey, don’t hide that beautiful face.” He holds them a little tighter, as you try to put them back onto your face again. “You know, I love you.” You feel heat climbing up your spine and you don’t know if you’ll ever get used to these words leaving his mouth, and you don’t know if you’ll ever get over knowing that he knew he loved you after your first official date. (You’ve decided together that all the shitty coffees in your university’s cafeteria didn’t count, because back then you were just friends.)
“I know it’s early, and I know you’re not ready to say it back. And that’s okay. I’m not in a rush.” He presses a kiss to your knuckle. “But I know this. You’re it for me. I want to share your address, I want to be your emergency contact, I want your mess to be my mess, and I’m so sure about it that I could shout it from the rooftops.”
As he’s saying this and you’re getting lost in the sparkle in his eyes, a vision materialises in front of your inner eye. A rooftop terrace, the sun setting, a picnic blanket on the floor, two glasses of wine, and you nestled between his legs, leaning into his chest.
“And I hope that I’m it for you, too.” He looks away, a little bit of his bravery seeping out and a little blush makes its way to his cheeks. “I’m not saying, let’s do it today. Move in, get married, have kids, or anything.”
You see him waking up next to you, a soft smile and sleepy eyes.
He takes a big breath, directing his gaze back to you. “But I’m saying this. I’m ready whenever you are. Be it today, tomorrow or in three years. As far as I’m concerned our life together has already started.”
You see yourself, carrying a big box up a flight of stairs and it makes you giddy.
Now it’s your turn to pull your joined hands towards you and press a gentle kiss to his knuckle. It’s not an “I love you”, but you know he knows. And then you groan.
“What? What is it? Are you not feeling well?” Hoseok would have jumped to his feet had you not tugged on his sleeve and pushed him back into his chair.
“No, no. Everything is fine. I was just thinking about all the hassles of packing up all my books and moving them across town.”
“So,” His smile is cautious, but also hopeful. “You’re not saying no.
“No.” Your smile mirrors his. “No, I’m not saying no.”