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“Do you still have the velvet box that your engagement ring came in? Like, from when Soobin proposed?” Beomgyu brought up suddenly, his mouth stuffed full of breakfast burrito. He and Yeonjun were sitting at a corner table at a small café just outside of town. Yeonjun had actually suggested this–he hadn’t seen the younger man in a while due to their conflicting work schedules and made a vow that the next time they were both free, they’d hang out. Yeonjun was enjoying catching up with one of his closest friends–until the weird ass questions that, honestly, were inevitable with Beomgyu, started to make an appearance.
“Um, yeah, I think so,” Yeonjun replied slowly, eyeing Beomgyu from across the table. The latter was currently washing down his burrito with his iced americano. “It’s somewhere in my drawer.”
“Can I borrow it?”
Yeonjun had to close his eyes for a second to process the question, lips pursed, before he opened his eyes again to see Beomgyu staring back at him innocently.
“Why would you need to borrow it?”
Beomgyu deflated immediately, breathing out a sigh. “We’d only use it for a few days and then you’d get it back. It won’t take long.” Yeonjun waited for him to continue, but the other boy just took another long sip of his coffee. When it was clear he wasn’t continuing, Yeonjun took another inhale in (and counted to ten in his head), before he slowly repeated his first question.
“Let me ask again. Why do you need to borrow it?”
Beomgyu looked like he was grappling with the idea of lying to Yeonjun, his eyebrows furrowing and head tilting to the side a bit. Yeonjun narrowed his eyes at him as if to say, “don’t even think about it” and Beomgyu rolled his eyes in reply.
(As much as these kinds of interactions with his might-as-well-be younger brother worried him, he was glad they still had somewhat of a connection–being able to talk through facial expressions was something they were known for doing back in college. He was glad to see that it hadn't disappeared with time.)
“Fine, but don’t get mad or anything.” Beomgyu relented, crossing his arms. Yeonjun sent him another look.
“Why would you assume I’ll get mad? Are you going to do something illegal?”
“No, of course not. Taehyun wouldn’t let me.” Beomgyu shrugged. Yeonjun started to count to ten in his head again. “It’s just…ever since we graduated you’ve acted more like my mom than my best friend who’d smoke weed with me at three AM on the balcony of our shared apartment in college.”
Yeonjun narrowed his eyes again. “I feel like you’re deflecting away from the question.”
Beomgyu scoffed, his voice unusually high. “I am not.”
“Beomgyu!”
“Okay, okay. Sorry.” Beomgyu pouted and sat up in his chair. “You know how some restaurants will give you your meal for free if you get engaged during dinner?”
Yeonjun made an unconvinced sound at the back of his throat. “They do?”
“Yeah, lots of the really expensive places do it downtown. Anyway, Taehyun and I’s three year anniversary is coming up and we’ve always talked about going to one of those expensive places downtown, but we don’t exactly have the money for it. I mean, I’m a part-time barista, part-time guitar instructor, and Taehyun’s still in med school. We don’t have a lot of money between the two of us that isn’t going toward our rent and other bills, you follow?”
Yeonjun nodded slowly, letting Beomgyu’s explanation sink in.
“So…I thought…we could get fake-engaged in one of these restaurants and boom! Free meal! Crazy good idea, right?”
“Crazy is definitely the right word for it.” Yeonjun laughed. Beomgyu stuck his tongue out in retaliation.
“Whatever, it’s going to work and it’s going to be flawless. I just need you to help me out by letting us borrow that engagement ring box.”
“And if I say no?” Yeonjun teased, taking a sip of his coffee.
“Please, Yeonjun. I will do anything, I swear. I’ll come by and do your fucking laundry for a month if you let me borrow it. I promise.” The younger begged, putting his hands together and shaking it in Yeonjun’s face to emphasize how badly he wanted Yeonjun to comply.
Yeonjun laughed again, nodding with a shrug. “Sure, you can borrow it.” When Beomgyu let out a happy yelp, Yeonjun pointed a jokingly accusatory finger at him. “Lose it and you lose your life.”
“Don’t worry boss–you can count on me.”
“So…why did Beomgyu come by to take an engagement ring box and leave? He didn’t even say hi?” Soobin questioned as Yeonjun closed the door after watching Beomgyu skip down the apartment complex hallway. Yeonjun closed his eyes and turned slowly to his husband, who was looking at him from where he sat on the couch, hands paused over the keyboard of his laptop.
“Beomgyu had the wonderful idea of getting fake-engaged with Taehyun at one of those really expensive restaurants downtown for a free meal. He needed to borrow our engagement ring box in order for it to work.” Yeonjun explained through gritted teeth, falling on the couch beside Soobin. The latter let out a bark of laughter, tipping his head backwards.
“Are you serious?” He asked through fits of giggles, to which Yeonjun solemnly nodded in reply. “That’s hilarious. I’m surprised Taehyun’s letting him do it.”
“ I’m surprised Taehyun agreed to do it with him. Being with Beomgyu really has rotted his brain.” Yeonjun glanced over at Soobin, a smile lingering on his lips as he began to giggle as well.
“True,” Soobin locked eyes with his husband. “College Taehyun would’ve lectured Beomgyu as soon as he brought up the idea. Ah, how times have changed.” He glanced back over at his laptop as he continued with his work.
“I am a little worried about it though,” Yeonjun hummed when they had stopped laughing together. “I don’t want them to embarrass themselves if it doesn’t work. You know Gyu–he doesn’t seem to internalize the repercussions of his actions until it’s too late.”
“They’ll be fine, Yeonjun. Worse comes to worse, they’ll just have to pay for the meal.” Soobin replied, eyes leaving his laptop again to glance at the older.
“You’re right, sorry. I’ve always worried about him, I don’t think I’ll ever grow out of that.” Yeonjun let out a laugh, although it sounded more like a sharp exhale. It was quiet for a moment between the couple, until Yeonjun scooted closer to the younger and leaned his head on his shoulder. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Do I act like a mom?”
Soobin let out another bark of laughter.
“You actually gave him the engagement ring box?” Taehyun’s voice crackled through the phone, full of surprise.
“Was I…not supposed to? Did you want me to talk him out of it? That is your job now, Taehyun!” Yeonjun cried indignantly, annoyed that the situation had once again been brought up to him.
“I know that, but I didn’t think you’d actually give him the box, Yeonjun. Plus, he brought this idea up months ago. I thought he forgot about it until he came home today with an engagement ring box and a fucking restuarant reservation! For a steakhouse! A goddamn steakhouse, Yeonjun!” Taehyun sounded very worried on the other side of the phone, his voice barely above a whisper. Yeonjun could see him now–huddled in the small guest bathroom in the apartment he shared with Beomgyu, trying to keep his voice quiet so the other didn’t hear him and therefore hurt his feelings.
“Okay, look. Tae,” Yeonjun started, closing his eyes in frustration. “I can still try and talk him out of it. Or, if you want, I can demand the box back, if you really don’t want to go through with it. But you know how excited he is for this, is there really that much harm in going through with it?”
“That’s the thing, Yeonjun. It’s weird! I told him months ago when he first brought up the idea that it probably wouldn’t work and usually he just drops it if we’re both not on the same page. But for him to be so adamant about something as trivial as a dinner is weird. Something’s up and it’s making me nervous.”
“I mean, it is your anniversary.” Yeonjun murmured, rubbing his head. He felt a headache coming on. From the corner of his eye, he saw Soobin leaning against the counter, listening intently to the conversation between him and Taehyun. He waved a hand toward him to try and shoo him away, but Soobin just laughed silently and shook his head.
“I know that, and I know I sound like an asshole about this, but I don’t know. Like I said, Beomgyu would just usually drop it if I was unsure about literally anything , but he hasn’t for this. Is it that important to him?” Taehyun spoke quickly, as if he was trying to get his words out in one breath. Yeonjun stayed silent, knowing where this was heading. If it was anything like the last few times he’s had to talk Taehyun down from a panic, the younger would just figure out his problem by voicing it out loud. “God, it probably is. Look, I’m gonna do it, but I’m going to be so pissed if we have to spend $300 on dinner. We do not have that kind of money between the two of us.”
“You do what your gut tells you, Taehyun.”
“Yeah, whatever. I’m doing it because I love Beomgyu and I want to see him happy. You better hope and pray I call again tomorrow night without $300 missing from my bank account.” The younger one hung up then, the dial tone beeping in Yeonjun’s ear. He pulled it from his face, turning to look at Soobin with a blank stare.
“Not even a thank you for listening to him. I hate children.” Yeonjun sighed. Soobin opened up his arms for a hug and Yeonjun leaned into him, pretending not to notice the quiet fits of laughter Soobin tried to hide with his mouth to the older’s head.
“We do not belong here.” Taehyun whispered to his boyfriend from across the table, looking around him at the other tables full of rich old people murmuring amongst themselves. There was mellow mood music softly playing from the speakers around them and the lights were dimmed low. Taehyun would’ve relaxed and enjoyed himself if he wasn’t so goddamn nervous about their plan.
“Hey,” Beomgyu said, reaching a hand across the table and interlocking his fingers with the other. “This plan is full-proof, believe me. Got the box in my pocket and everything. I’ll probably do it sometime after we get our food, by the way.”
Taehyun, as nervous as he was, couldn’t help but swoon a little at the sight of his boyfriend from across the table. Beomgyu, with his long brown hair styled nicely and his suit tailored to fit him snugly, smiling warmly at him. His thumb gently rubbing Taehyun’s hand, to soothe him. Taehyun’s heart skittered in his chest, and he smiled back at the older man, nodding. “Okay, you lead and I follow.”
“I love you.” Beomgyu pressed a kiss to his hand as their waiter approached to collect their drink orders.
Forty-five minutes later, the couple sat with their wine glasses half full and food half finished, smiling at each other. Beomgyu raised his eyebrows, gesturing to his pocket with his fork, and Taehyun shrugged. Now or never , he mouthed to the older, before taking another sip of his red wine. Beomgyu nodded, taking one final bite of his perfectly cooked steak, before sitting up a little in his chair.
Weird , Taehyun thought as he studied his boyfriend’s actions. Why does he look so nervous? He was fine this whole time.
“Taehyun,” Beomgyu started, one hand going to rest on his pants pocket and the other intertwining their fingers atop the table. “I can’t believe it’s been three years with you. You are the most important person in my life, and you’re my rock. I don’t think I’d be here without you.”
Since Beomgyu was talking a bit loudly, he had already captured the attention of some of the patrons around them. Taehyun let out a small laugh, squeezing Beomgyu’s hand in encouragement.
Beomgyu cleared his throat. “So, I want to make sure you’ll be my rock for the rest of my life, if you’d let me.” He then stood up from his chair, kneeling down in front of Taehyun. There were a couple gasps around them, conversation halting, with some of the restaurant staff having stopped to watch as well. Beomgyu pulled the familiar velvet burgundy ring box out of his pocket. “Will you marry me?”
But when Beomgyu opened up the box, Taehyun froze. Inside the ring box, instead of the plastic gold ring from a coin prize machine they had agreed upon, was a shiny silver band with entirely too real crystals engraved in it. Taehyun’s eyes widened, going larger than they usually were, and he glanced up at his boyfriend, whose face was split into a smile. “Surprise.” He whispered, hands shaking a bit.
The room was silent–the restaurant staff, customers, and Beomgyu all staring at him in anticipation. Taehyun felt himself snap back to reality, then his face split into a smile. He nodded first, before feeling tears fill his eyes. Beomgyu’s grin got wider, letting out a whoop when Taehyun softly whispered yes back to him.
The restaurant exploded into cheers, but it all faded into the background as Beomgyu pulled Taehyun out of his seat and into a tight hug. They may have been the center of attention, but the two men could only focus on the other as they pulled away from the hug and immediately pressed their lips against each other. Taehyun’s hands rested on Beomgyu’s cheeks, pulling him as close as he could.
Beomgyu had slipped the ring on Taehyun’s finger shortly after that, and the excitement died down. They sat back down in their chairs to finish their dinner, and neither of them could take their eyes off the other. Some of the other restaurant goers had approached them to congratulate them before they left, and Taehyun’s smile never faltered once the rest of the night.
He was actually engaged, really engaged to Beomgyu.
“Oh shit,” Yeonjun mumbled, eyes widening when he picked up his phone from where it was ringing on the table. “It’s Taehyun.”
Soobin raised his eyebrows, nodding at him to pick up the call as he paused the show they were watching.
Yeonjun bit his lip and answered the call, putting it on speaker phone so Soobin could listen in. “Hello?”
“We’re engaged.” Taehyun’s voice announced, letting out a laugh. Yeonjun rolled his eyes as Soobin grinned in response.
“Okay, yeah, whatever. Did you get your meal for free like you wanted? And when am I getting my ring box back?”
“No, Yeonjun, listen. We’re actually engaged.”
Yeonjun sat up from where he was leaning against Soobin, eyes widening. “What?”
“Beomgyu. He…he surprised me. He actually fucking proposed to me, we’re really engaged.” Taehyun’s voice was breathless, as if he was still in awe. Yeonjun looked at Soobin, who was just as surprised as he was. They were silent for a few moments. “...Yeonjun?”
“Oh my god!” Yeonjun shouted gleefully. “The motherfucker actually proposed? Congratulations!”
“I knew it!” Soobin chimed in right after.
“Thanks,” Beomgyu’s voice came through the phone suddenly, sounding proud and cocky. “Genius plan on my part right? Taehyun was so surprised.”
“Choi Beomgyu, you’re absolutely crazy. That is so impressive.” Yeonjun, too excited for his friends, hadn’t even realized how much he was boosting the younger’s ego. Beomgyu let out a triumphant hmph! from the other end of the call.
“I should be offended that you all doubted me, but I don’t care. Taehyun and I are engaged!” He yelled, and Taehyun’s soft giggle was heard through the phone.
“Enjoy the rest of your night, you two. Congratulations again.” Yeonjun sighed happily, leaning against his husband again. “You get to join us on the marriage train.”
“Yeah, except we’re not old like you. Goodnight!” Taehyun quipped, causing Yeonjun to scoff in fake-offense. He hung up shortly after, leaving Yeonjun and Soobin to discuss what the younger couple’s future wedding may look like.
On top of the engagement excitement of the night, Beomgyu and Taehyun had their entire meal free, just like the older said. Beomgyu’s plan had worked out perfectly; Yeonjun figured he should stop doubting Beomgyu from now on.