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It was a wonderful, sunny day in the middle of August during the F1 summer break and while this day was just a regular day for most of the people, it was different for Yuki. Four Years ago he told his childhood best friend that he fell in love with her and was scared that she'd reject him and the friendship would end. But contrary to what Yuki expected, Linea reciprocated his feelings and they ended the night with holding hands, cuddles and intense kisses started while the sun set at a waterfall some hours away from Faenza and ending back home in Yuki's flat.
When Yuki woke up the memories immediately came back to his mind and he somehow still had to remind himself that everything about this day and their whole relationship was real. He hoped to be able to make today at least as memorable as the day four years ago. Before he wanted to get up and ready, he quickly messaged Linea.
"Happy 4th anniversary sunshine 💕 I have a surprise for you. Wear something you feel comfortable in for indoors and outdoors and be ready by 12pm 😊"
Linea smiled when she saw the message and immediately replied.
"Happy 4th anniversary sweetheart 🥰 Excited to see you later <3"
Yuki sent a heart emote back, before he put his phone down, got up and went to the kitchen to make himself some breakfast. His thoughts were racing and he felt nervousness creeping up in his body. Everything had to be perfect today from start to finish. While eating his breakfast, Yuki watched some Youtube videos and quickly sent Michael a message that contained the grocery list for the meal he had planned to cook for Linea and himself later today. Michael just sent a thumbs up emote back and after Yuki put his dishes away, he started to get ready, eventhough he had more than enough time before Josh would pick him up.
In his bathroom, Yuki undressed himself and hopped into the shower. As soon as the water had the perfect temperature Yuki made one step forward and let the water flow down his body. In his mind he went over the plans he had made for today. First of all they would drive to the little lake close to the waterfall and start part of today's big plan, a photoshoot of both Yuki and Linea. Afterwards the plan was to hike to the waterfalls and hope that it wasn't as crowded as it could be. Yuki was sure that Josh would also be prepared to take pictures of them along the way to the waterfall. At the waterfalls Yuki would take it slow and make a little picnic with Linea as well as Josh, since he didn't want Josh to be hungry or dehydrated before the most important part of the day. The plan he and Josh made for the waterfalls was to get back to taking more couple pictures with the waterfall or the forrest in the background and at some point Josh would distract Linea enough to give Yuki time to prepare himself for the most important moment, him proposing to Linea. He really hoped that Linea will say yes, but deep inside he has also been scared ever since the day he bought the ring, that Linea didn't want to marry him and he would screw up everything they had. Yuki wanted to finish of the day with cooking and eating and cuddling afterwards.
"No time to be scared. She will say yes.", Yuki said to himself and continued to wash his hair and his body. After his shower he dried himself off and put on a fresh pair of boxers. Yuki blow dried his hair and continued his usual bathroom routine.
At the same time, Linea was standing under her shower, washing her long, light brown and was mentally going through her possible outfit choices. Since she at this point was so used to wearing team wear, Linea usually didn't put that much thinking into any of her outfit choices anymore, but today wasn't usual. Additionally it was hard to find the best outfit, not knowing anything about the surprise Yuki had planned.
About half an hour later, Linea stood infront of her opened wardrobe and looked through her clothes. She went through her clothes and freaked out a little, but when she grabbed linen shorts in navy blue, she suddenly knew exactly what she'd wear. At first she put on a bra that almost matched her skin color. Then she put on her shorts and pulled a light blue blouse out of her wardrobe and put it on, before she tucked the overlapping parts into her trousers. On her way back to the bathroom she checked her phone, but since there weren't any new messages, she put it into the pocket of her shorts. Linea dried her hair and looked at herself for a moment. After she had cut her hair before christmas last year, it grew back fast and was now even longer than before. Her freckles became more visible within the last few weeks and she loved it.
Linea just put some mascara on, while debating what to do with her hair. She searched for a hair tie and braided parts of her hair away and together at the back of her head to prevent it from falling into her face. A final look into the mirror made her smile at herself. She was happy and excited to see what Yuki had planned.
"Do I need to take anything in particular with me apart from the obvious", Linea messaged Yuki.
"I don't think so. But put on sunscreen and I think a cap is also good.", answered Yuki.
Linea went into her bedroom and took one of her smaller backpacks. She put one of her neutral caps into it and added a bottle of sunscreen as well as her powerbank and her wallet. It was 11:15am. If Yuki was going to be on time, Linea still had 45 minutes to just sit around. She sat down in her living room and decided to just watch some videos.
When Yuki was ready, he walked through his flat and packed everything he needed into his backpack. He packed all the snacks, something to drink and his wallet and hid the little box with the ring somewhere in between. His heart raced and Yuki almost screamed the moment his doorbell rang. Yuki got up from his sofa and went to open the door.
"Hey.", said Josh with a smile and looked down at Yuki.
"Hey." said Yuki and pulled Josh into his flat before he hugged him tightly.
"Nervous?", asked Josh. Yuki looked up and nodded.
"I'm scared something goes wrong.", said Yuki.
Josh petted Yuki's shoulders. "Everything is going to be alright. I'm sure of it.", he said and smiled.
They sat down for the remaining time and talked about what they had planned and especially how they'd do the moment of the proposal. "I think we really need to distract Linea so I'm gonna take pictures of her, faced away from wherever we will have our bags and then you get the ring and we'll just see what happens I guess.", explained Josh.
Yuki nodded. "Sounds amazing.", he said with a bright smile.
Time passed by quickly, so Yuki and Josh took their backpacks, left the flat and climbed into Josh's car. Yuki sat in the passenger seat and hummed to the songs in the radio to stay as sane as possible and to not overthink everything.
After some minutes of driving, Yuki and Josh arrived at the building Linea lived in. "I'll stay here.", said Josh. "I would have suggested that.", countered Yuki and took some deep breathes before hopping out of the car. He quickly entered the house and walked up the stairs to Linea's flat. Close after he rang the bell, the door swung open and Linea stood in front of him. They both just looked at eachother for a moment. Linea pulled Yuki into a hug. "Happy anniversary, beauty.", said Linea. Yuki smiled against Linea's shoulder. "Let's go.", said Yuki and kissed Linea. While Linea kissed him back, she grabbed both of Yuki's hands and squeezed them a little. Yuki smiled and ended the kiss. "Let's go. Josh will be our driver today and I don't want him to wait for ages.", said Yuki. Linea laughed a little. "Oh a personal chauffeur, how exquisite.", said Linea.
Back outside, Yuki opened the door of the car and held it open. Linea again giggled. "I don't know where all of this is leading, but I like it already.", she said and hopped into the car. "Hey Linea.", said Josh and looked at his best friend's girlfriend. Yuki closed the door, went around the car and sat down on next to Linea. "Ready to go, friends?", asked Josh. Yuki and Linea looked at eachother. "Ready?", asked Yuki. "Ready!", answered Linea and smiled. Josh started the car drove out of the parking lot and on the driveway. Linea leaned back and looked at Yuki. "Are you going to tell me anything about what we'll do today?", she asked him. Yuki shook his head. "You'll find out soon enough.", he said and placed one hand on Linea's knee.
After some time they left Faenza. "Josh, I need to connect my phone with your radio.", said Yuki and Josh immediately understood the assignment and switched the radio to bluetooth mode. Yuki typed some things on his phone and not even a second after that, 'Hello' by Adele started. Josh laughed a little and theatrically rolled his eyes. "Which playlist is this?", asked Linea. "Your playlist.", answered Yuki and smiled. Linea smiled back and put her hand on top of Yuki's.
Linea and Yuki sang some songs together, sometimes even joined by Josh and just listened to some other songs. Whenever a german song or norwegian song started and Linea vibed and sang, Yuki looked at her with even more loving eyes than usual. He might not understand any of the words, but it didn't matter. What matters were Linea's smile and the shining blue eyes, every time Linea she was feeling those songs. "For how long are we going to drive?", asked Linea and looked out of the window. "About two hours. So just sit back and relax.", answered Josh and smiled. Linea nodded and just smiled at Yuki.
The time passed by quickly and after a little more than 2 hours, Josh turned into a big parking lot next to the street. "Let's head to the lake first.", said Yuki while getting out of the car. Linea hopped out of the car and looked around. "Are we where I think we are?", she asked and looked at both Yuki and Josh. "Well what do you think?", asked Yuki after he grabbed Linea's hand. "It's the lake we randomly stopped at. And are we going to the waterfalls as well?", she answered. Yuki smiled and squeezed Linea's hand. "I thought it would be nice to get some couple pictures at the place we became a couple.", explained Yuki and looked at Linea. "Oh my god, this is amazing.", said Linea and just kissed Yuki. Josh smiled while he looked at his friends. "I'm gonna be your personal photographer for today."; he said and started to walk closer to the street to look for a good moment to cross it. After a quick look around, Yuki and Linea kept holding hands and followed Josh across the street.
At the lake they looked for a good spot to start taking pictures. Following the finding of a good spot, they put down their backpacks. "How about we take some pictures of you alone as well?", Josh suggested. Yuki smiled knowingly and nodded. "You'll go first.", he said and looked at Linea. "Well, it's nice to not be behind the lense for once.", Linea said and laughed a little, before she stepped closer to the sea and started to pose. Josh took picture after picture and Linea naturally switched poses from time to time. "I love that I don't need to give you any commands to switch to another pose.", said Josh after a while and Linea laughed a little. "One can truly see that you know what to do.", said Yuki and smiled. Linea looked at him and smiled. "Would assume I know a lot, after being a photographer for more than 10 years.", she said and winked. As soon as it was Yuki's turn, Linea sat down and watched him. He looked amazing as ever and his smile to Josh's camera was simply contagious. Linea took her phone out and took a picture of Josh and Yuki and then decided to take a decent picture of herself to post in her instagram story.
"Enjoying the day", she wrote and just hit post. Linea looked back up the exact moment Yuki looked at her. Their eyes instantly locked. Josh smiled and stepped a little away to capture it. "How about you two pose together now?", he asked after some seconds and got both of them back out of their thoughts. Linea jumped up and just got over to Yuki, to immediately kiss him. "Can't last some minutes without a kiss?", Josh thought and captured it. "Just pose, I'm gonna take the pictures.", said Josh. Yuki and Linea looked at eachother and Linea walked over to stand closer to Yuki. They both wrapped their arms around eachother. A lot of hugs, kisses and poses later, they decided to hike to the waterfalls.
On the way to the waterfalls, Josh stopped them from time to time to take a picture, but after around 20 minutes they arrived. "Oh no one is around here.", Linea said and smiled happily. "I hoped so.", said Yuki and pulled Linea to go to a good spot for their little picnic. Josh understood his assignment, put his back down and pulled the blanket out of it. Linea watched him and Yuki putting the blanket down and their three bags onto it. With a little confusion, Linea watched Yuki rumaging around in his bag and pulling out some tupperware. "Wait, is this? Is this going to be a picnic?", she asked. Yuki looked up and smiled. "Yes, this is so going to be a picnic.", Yuki answered and gently petted the spot next to him. Linea understood and sat down, followed by Josh, who sat down with a little gap next to them.
"I made some salad and sandwiches.", explained Yuki and showed the boxes to Linea. "You are absolutely insane, sweetheart.", countered Linea and leaned her head against Yuki's. They quietly enjoyed food and drinks while leaning against eachother. Josh smiled. He didn't feel like there was a world in which Linea would say no to Yuki. "This place is magical.", mumbled Linea while looking at the waterfalls. "It's even more magical with you.", whispered Yuki and kissed Linea's cheek. "And with your amazing food.", said Linea and took one of the boxes with salad and started to eat. "It's good to have a cook as best friend.", said Josh and laughed a little. Yuki laughed and almost dropped his salad. "I didn't lie about my dream and you know it."; said Yuki and smiled brightly. "And I'm gonna help you achieve it.", countered Linea and petted Yuki's knee before she continued to eat.
As soon as they had finished their food and put the boxes away, they continued to take pictures. "How about we stand here and I take some pictures of Yuki and then Linea this time.", suggested Josh. "Sounds good to me.", said Linea and went to stand somewhere behind Josh. Linea got lost in her thoughts, while watching Yuki pose. Every little moment and detail every day reminded her about why she fell in love with her childhood best friend and today she felt their connection even more than usual. Linea looked at Yuki with love sparks in her eyes. He simply was the most perfect-imperfect to Linea. Yeah Yuki was perfect to Linea the way he was, but in the end no one was perfect.
"Sunshine, are you with us?", asked Yuki and got Linea out of her thoughts. Linea laughed a little. "Your beauty is kinda distracting.", she said and pulled Yuki close to kiss him intensively. "Can't keep my eyes away from you as well.", countered Yuki and made her blush. "I love you.", said Linea with a smile, before she walked over to be in front of Josh's camera. Linea simply looked away and at the waterfalls, while Josh took pictures from different angles.
At the same time, Yuki became nervous and was scared to fuck things up, but he decided to go get the ring. Josh realized it and tried to keep an eye on both of his friends. "How about you turn around now and look at me?", Josh asked. Linea nodded and turned around. She smiled and tried to not have a weird stance. Yuki rummaged around in his backpack with shaking hands and drank a bit of water, before getting the ring and going back. He took some deep breathes on the way back and gestured that Josh should make Linea turn.
"How about you turn to your left and I'll take pictures of you like that?", Josh suggested after he understood Yuki's gestures. Linea did it immediately and decided to do another pose than she did before. Yuki came closer until he was maybe two steps away, holding the box with the ring in front of himself the whole time. Suddenly Linea realized that Yuki was behind her. "Wait, has Yuki been in the pictures now?", she asked with confusion. "Might be.", answered Josh and smiled. "But why?", asked Linea. "Well, turn around.", said Yuki and prepared himself to kneel down. Josh twigged immediately and walked two long steps, to be in a perfect spot for pictures.
Linea turned around slowly and looked at Yuki with a confused smile. Yuki looked at Linea, smiled and kneeled down, holding the ring up towards her. Linea's eyes widened and she started to smile even more. "Linea, I now know you for almost my whole life and have in some way loved you ever since we've met all those years ago. And suddenly, some years ago, I don't know how long before we became a couple, I really fell in love with you. At first it was hard, but then today four years ago came and after just driving around, we somehow ended up here and I remember how we were sitting here in silence, looking at other people. I was so scared the whole time and then, when we've been alone you suddenly started to talk about your feelings and I sometimes still can't believe that you feel the same for me as I do. I got lost in my words, Linea, do you want to marry me?", Yuki ended his speech and locked eyes with Linea who was crying at this point. "Yes, fucking Yes.", said Linea and sobs a little. Yuki smiled, gently grabbed Linea's hand and put the ring on her finger. Linea looked at the ring and couldn't believe it. The ring was a pretty simple one and people who didn't know better probably wouldn't even notice the difference of this ring, engraved waves, filled with lightblue. "This ring is so beautiful.", she said and hugged Yuki, who had gotten back up, tightly. "I love you.", he just mumbled. Linea let of him and cupped Yuki's face in her hands. "I love you even more."; she said and kissed him intensively. Yuki kissed her back and still tried to not start to cry, but when they looked at each other and it all sank in, Yuki shed some tears as well.
Josh who watched them the whole time and took some pictures here and there, was smiling brightly and remained in silence. For a moment the waterfalls and the silent sobs of Linea and Yuki were the only sounds. "How about we search for a bigger flat and move in together or just move into one of our flats?", Linea suddenly asked. Yuki looked at her and couldn't believe it for a seond. "Are you serious?", he asked. Linea giggled a little, while wiping away her tears and calming herself down. "I absolutely am. Now that we will be husband and wife at some point in the future, we maybe should think about it.", she answered. "Let's do it. I'm ready.", Yuki immediately countered and again hugged Linea.
"I hope one of today's pictures will be on the wall then.", Josh casually dropped into the silence. Linea and Yuki looked at him and both nodded. "Deal.", said Yuki.
After they took some more couple pictures, they decided to pack their backpacks and walk back to their car. Yuki and Linea, hold hands and Josh again took some pictures. "I still can't believe today happened.", Linea mumbled when she sat down in the car. "I have a lot of proof I can send to you soon.", said Josh and smiled.
The drive home was again full of music and Yuki and Linea cuddled in the backseat as comfortable as it was possible. Two hours later they arrived at Yuki's flat. "Thank you for everything, Josh.", said Yuki and opened the door of the car. "Thank you and see you soon.", said Linea and then followed Yuki out of the car.
Up in Yuki's flat, they both stood around for a moment. "Get comfortable in the living room, I'm gonna cook dinner.", Yuki said and took his backpack to get the leftover food out and into the fridge. Linea laughed a little and sat down in the living room after she took her shoes off. "Do you need any help?", Linea asked. "No, you can chill out, I'm gonna cook.", he answered.
Linea turned on the TV and decided to watch something on Netflix. After some time, she started a documentary about animals and nature and watched it, while also going through some messages on her phone. Yuki chopped some vegetables and fried them, boiled some rice and then made a delicious curry sauce.
About an hour later, Yuki entered the living room with two plates of vegetable curry and rice. "You cooked vegetable curry?", Linea asked. "I thought this was the best out of your favorite meals to cook today.", Yuki answered and put both plates on the table, before he sat down. They started to eat and watch the documentary series and smiled at eachother from time to time. "As delicious as ever.", said Linea and licked her lips. Yuki smiled and looked at her. Some sauce was still there, just a little left of her mouth. He moved closer and gently kissed it away. "Some sauce got lost.", he whispered, before he really kissed Linea.
They both finished eating and decided to get something to drink and then cuddle and listen to music, while watching the sunset.
Out on the balcony they put their drinks down at the table and sat down on their little bench. Linea immediately snuggled up to Yuki and leaned her head against his. She connected her phone with the music box and just started their shared playlist. The music was mixed with the background music of the city and mixed with Linea's humming.
Yuki and Linea sat outside until they could already see the stars, but as they got tired they decided to go to bed. "Today has really been a perfect one.", said Linea and looked at Yuki who was already lying in bed. Yuki smiled at her and nodded. "It was even more than perfect, because you said yes.", he said and blushed. "I would have never said no.", Linea smiled and laid down beside Yuki, who immediately snuggled up to her. They cuddled until they fell asleep, snuggled up close together now as an engaged couple, who had a future as husband and wife just in front of them.