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Euijoo never thought that he'd get married.
He didn't believe in falling in love, soulmates, or something as trivial as fate.
What do you mean there's some invisible string tying two people together for all of eternity? No matter the mishap, no matter the misfortune, they're always bound to fall in love.
It was as real as there were mermaids in the ocean and aliens in the sky.
But discovering Nicholas—loving Nicholas, made it all possible.
Their meeting was nothing of big grandeur.
Euijoo had booked a study room when he decided he wanted to play classical study music in the background. But no matter how much he reset his phone, as well as the cheap speaker that sat uselessly in the corner, it didn't connect. In search of help, he opened his door the same time as someone beside him, "Oh, hello," he spoke.
His entire face was hidden beneath a beanie and mask when he stared down the hallway and at Euijoo.
Admittedly, Euijoo cowered, quickly said hello back, and returned back to his room.
He didn't bother with the speaker anymore or try to listen to music. No, he spent the rest of his studying session in complete silence.
The next time he saw the boy was in passing. Apparently he also knew some of his friends, Yuma and Harua to be exact, and talked minimally with him as they waited for their cafe drinks.
"Want some chocolate?" He asked, holding out the half-melted chocolate bar as a offering. As.. appetizing (?) as it did (not) look, Euijoo only replied back, "No, thank you."
He just shrugged and the bar retreated.
He was scary.. but cute?
Surprisingly, the two of them kept meeting. Whether it be as they passed each other for class or actually being in the same room together.
This night was the latter.
They all sat outside, the cold air too biting to actually withstand but they sat in a comfortable silence. Euijoo didn't want to disturb it just because he was feeling a little cold.
On the other hand, Nicholas, whose name he only learned a couple days ago, sat across from him on the canopy, snuggled in a blanket.
The fire that blared fiercely in front of them was nothing but a front, offering no actual heat that would have warmed Euijoo's near frozen skin. Nicholas, though, seemed to have noticed, "If you're cold Euijoo we can share the blanket. You don't have to suffer by yourself." Then as if the thought of Euijoo enduring the cold weather was funny, he laughed. It was rich and unwarranted and warmed him up more than the fire ever could.
He wanted to hear it forever.
Euijoo stood and walked over to the canopy Nicholas sat in as the older boy lifted one side of the blanket, making space for Euijoo. He sat, allowed himself to be wrapped up, and leaned his head back.
The blanket didn't help much, as thin as it was, but Nicholas was so naturally warm and cozy he found himself leaning more into him than the blanket that draped over him.
Nicholas made no protest, didn't say anything about how Euijoo was definitely melting into him despite the freezing temperature around them, or when the younger's breathing evened out and they sat in continued silence.
The next day Euijoo woke up with a cold.
But it was worth it because he still felt so warm from Nicholas.
After that, it wasn't so surprising when he and Nicholas would meet, not in passing. Sometimes it'd be Nicholas calling for study dates or Euijoo asking if he'd like to come over to tend to his many, many plants.
Nicholas noticed one plant Euijoo seemed to give particular care to and asked: "What's so special about this one?"
They were bent down, face to face, nearly touching cheek to cheek, as Nicholas arched his wrist so he could pour water into the surrounding pots.
Euijoo didn't look away from its green sprouts when he responded: "When I was first becoming a father, he was the only one that survived my ruthless overfeeding. Pepe: my wonder child, the only one who fought to survive."
"Does that mean that one day i'll be his father too?"
Still, Euijoo didn't turn. Maybe he was scared, because this was becoming too real—as if letting Nicholas into his home, his life, his heart, wasn't real enough.
"Yes, one day you'll be Pepe's father too, Nichol'."
It came as a surprise to absolutely no one when Euijoo finally got his head out of his clenched ass and asked Nicholas if he wanted be his boyfriend. And to make matters impossibly better, it came in the form of a poorly done poster and a strawberry cake.
Yeah, you can sew fabrics but you also sew us together. As you can see, I like you berry much, can I be your boyfriend, Nichol'?
On the inside of his decorated trunk—pink balloons and party streamers taped messily around it—was a cake with nine candles.
Euijoo had almost shit his pants numerous times as he watched people leave the complex, each one having the possibility of being Nicholas.
Then finally, his now blonde hair peeked from higher up.
"Juju, is that you?" He called from his balcony.
Did he forget to mention that this was at like 11:00 P.M.?
What—he kept getting butterflies last minute!
Then quickly he played Nicholas' favorite song. One he'd sing as he showered, studied until his head lolled to the side, or when they'd spend many evenings watering Euijoo's plants.
"Nicholas," He spoke, at first low and then when his voice was not louder than the speaker, he had to yell, "You have made these past 8 months the best i've ever had. Though I still wouldn't have taken that nasty, melting chocolate bar from your hands, I wish I would have gotten to know you when we got our speakers mixed up. I can't redo the past, unfortunately, but I can work on our future and if you'll let me.. If you'll let me i'll make it a future that many can dream of. Wang Yixiang, can I be your boyfriend?"
By the time he was finished, his voice was strained and throat raw and he's pretty sure he heard someone yell, "Shut the hell up!" But nothing could stop Euijoo from professing his love, no matter what.
Nicholas didn't say anything as he walked back into his apartment. Euijoo thought that he failed, maybe he came on too strong, maybe he read the signs wrong.
Just then, Nicholas ran from the stairs and into Euijoo's arms, "Of course you can be my boyfriend."
The kiss they shared was so tender and beautiful. A simple slotting of lips but they way they twisted and leaned into each other could only be described as intimate.
Euijoo would forever cherish that day—the day he became Nicholas'.
The years that followed were nothing short of incredible.
Loving Nicholas was basically second nature.
Memorizing his favorite food was like counting to three and covering his eyes when especially scary parts of a movie came on—even though Euijoo was scared himself—didn't require a second thought.
Euijoo had officially gained a 6th Nicholas sense and honed it as sharpest as he impossibly could.
Which is why he didn't hesitate about asking his father for his hand in marriage.
He didn't speak Nicholas' mother tongue nor did his father speak his, but before his trip to Taiwan he made sure to spend an extra amount of time learning how to say the syllables in a way that his father would be able to digest.
After a long dinner and a night shopping around the street market Euijoo pulled Nicholas' dad to the side. "Rúguǒ nǐ yuànyì dehuà, wǒ xiǎng hé yǐ xiáng jiéhūn, bìng dédào nǐ de zhùfú." (Only if you'll allow me, I want to marry Yixiang, only with your blessing.) He said it slowly, but so sure of himself and his words that nothing could be mistaken.
His father only looked at him and nodded his head.
There was no big smile, no dramatic yelling just a simple, "Wǒ yīzhí xiāngxìn nǐ huì shàndài tā, xiànzài wǒ shènzhì kěyǐ zài hūnyīn zhōng." (I've always trusted you to treat him well, and now I can even in marriage.)
Nicholas came in later. A big smile on his face and a gentle tan settling along his neckline from spending way too much time in the sun without proper sunscreen. "Hope my baba hasn't grilled you too much," He teased as he placed a kiss to his cheek.
"Just talking about some things." He said plainly.
Nicholas had talked, in passing, of a small proposal but big wedding. How he wanted a private moment for the two of them and then celebrating their getting together by doing it grand.
Euijoo would give him just that.
He hired a small photographer off to the side and deceived his boyfriend with a date to the beach, "Just something to celebrate us." Is all he said as he drove down to the coast. Though the ring's box was weightless in his pocket, he still felt the shift it'd have on his life.
They walked some way where the clear, blue water of the sea met the dry, burning of the sand when they saw a picnic.
A pink patterned blanket, candles, a food basket, and fairly lights all around it.
"Juju, what is this?" Nicholas asked as he bent down to examine what was in the box that sat in the far corner.
In it was polaroids Euijoo had collected throughout the years. In one Nicholas was laid against Euijoo's chest as he tried to hide his face in the blanket; a habit the younger boy had noticed Nicholas would do whenever he fell asleep. In another, Nicholas had just graduated college and was standing beside Euijoo, who'd also just graduated, but the younger boy wasn't focused on the cords that lay heavy against his neck or his degree that was slack in his hands, but the boy who couldn't seem to contain his excitement. In the small photograph, Nicholas was blurry because he just couldn't stop moving.
As Nicholas took a trip down memory lane, Euijoo was quick to take the box out his pocket and position it in front of Nicholas, one knee bent and the other behind him.
"Juju—I told you to delete this picture of me. I mean look at my hair every—" The wind seemed to be knocked out of him as he saw what was in front of him.
"Nichol'." He started,
"Juju—Euijoo?" As if he still couldn't believe it.
"Nico, Nichol', Nicholas, my love, my everything; you have made my life a better place to live. Before, I had nothing. I mean yeah, I had friends but nothing to truly live for, nothing to come home to—hell, even my plants kept on dying on me. But you, you somehow made yourself a constant in my life. Somewhere along the way, my day would be off if I didnt see your bright smile or hear your cute giggles buzzing in my ear. I want to hear that for the rest of my life, but not only that. I want the bad with you as well, Nichol'. I want you to tell me what's bothering you even if it'll bother me too, I want you to nag me just 'cause you can, and continue telling me your dad jokes even if they're genuinely not funny because I'll always laugh, no matter what. Because seeing your cheesy smile will always be better than seeing your lips poke out in a pout, even though that's cute too." He paused for a breath, "I guess what I'm trying to say is: I can't imagine my life without you—I don't want to—so, if you'll do so, will you marry me, Wang Yixiang."
Nicholas was shaking by the time Euijoo was done and he couldn't tell from what.
Was he scared because Euijoo's love knew no bounds, was he smothered by being woken up everyday to an I love you, or was the kisses throughout the day too much?
All of his bad thoughts were put to rest when Nicholas' eyes welled with tears and a high pitched yes, followed by many more yes's, was yelled into the air. "Yes, Byun Euijoo, I will marry you!" He exclaimed as he bent down, meeting Euijoo where he was.
"Wait, baby—let me put the ring on." He laughed as he watched the older boy tremble and fidget.
He ran around the beach yelling, "I'm gonna be a husband! The love of my life just asked me to be his husband!"
Though the whole get-up was mighty expensive and was definitely more than a pretty penny, he'd do it all again for even more if it meant he got to see Nicholas run around with nothing but happiness and a permanent smiled painted on his face.
When the day finally arrived he couldn't believe it. Euijoo allowed Nicholas full reign to do whatever he wanted, and that also included pale pink suits with gold accents.
Euijoo could only describe the color as the shade Nicholas' cheeks turned whenever he was complimented.
He stood in his changing room, his best man to his side, and a mirror in front of him telling him this is everything he'd been waiting for.
"Are you ready?" Kei asked.
"I've been ready. I just want to see him. I know he's probably flipping out at Harua or Maki right now. He always said he'd be a bridezilla." Euijoo laughed to himself remembering all the times they'd laid down on the couch together, so close that it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began, watching brides yell at their mothers and bridesmaids alike for the smallest things. Euijoo judged but Nicholas never could, always saying that he could see himself in the agitated women.
"You sound in love."
Euijoo didn't have to think before he spoke again, "I hope I always sound that way."
People always think they know how they'll feel at the altar. First they'll feel nervous, some start to wonder if they'll regret such a big decision, and others worry over their changing future.
But Euijoo wasn't nervous. Even as the tears fell from his eyes and a tissue was handed his way, not as he watched his mother, sister—the flower girl—and his groomsmen walk down the aisle.
Then the violin softly played in the background as Nicholas' mother walked down the aisle, followed by his sister, and his own groomsmen.
Still the tears fell. Broken, but silent, sobs fell from Euijoo's parted lips.
He was so happy and that's what was so beautiful. Knowing that he's about to get married to the love of his life, the man that—without knowing—changed his life for the better and will continue to do so because they're together, forever.
The mere fact that they have the rest of eternity to be each others and learn and love the new things that they will be and the things that they will do.
They have the entire eternity to wake up early mornings and kiss with otherwise nasty morning breath and spend late nights showering each other with meaningful I love you's and I'll forever love you and as proof you have my promise in a ring that will forever adorn your finger.
Then Nicholas walked down the aisle, arm and arm with his father and God, was he beautiful.
Euijoo hadn't ever had the chance to voice it, but even seeing Nicholas' scary demeanor above the weight of his beanie and mask he knew the older boy was beautiful.
As sharp as his jawline and eyes, his eyes were so soft and welcoming.
Euijoo shut the door as quickly as he did not out of fear, but because his eyes were so pretty he didn't know what to do.
This was no different.
Kei had to remind him to control his breathing as the tears continued to fall.
Euijoo didn't want Nicholas to cry too, though he knew even something as small as an ant being killed would evoke the waterworks, he wanted this to be a happy day for him. Didn't want him to be sad later when they lay in bed together, the high of being someone's forever still fresh in their systems, whining about how streaked his makeup was because he couldn't keep it together.
Nicholas was handed off from his father as he stood before Euijoo.
When the officiant spoke Euijoo didn't listen to a single word. All he could focus on was the way Nicholas' glittered eyes welled with tears and softened at Euijoo's own. He wanted to reach out and wipe them, so he did.
"The two will now share their vows."
Nicholas was the first to take a small notepaper from his pocket, his fingers already trembling as he cleared his throat to speak, "Byun Euijoo, do you want to know what I thought the first time I saw you—or rather the impression that stayed with me? It was your politeness. How despite it being the very first time we've ever seen each other, and you didn't owe me anything, you still bowed like 9 times as if it was second nature to be that kind. I wanted to return the favor so I asked my friends if they knew who you were. I remember I asked Harua, Do you know a guy about ye' high, cute, pinchable cheeks, and resembles Ponyo like no other. I tried to be nonchalant and offer you chocolate but you said no, who says no to someone offering chocolate to them for the first time? But that's who you are, you're unique and special to me. Every time something big has happened to us, you're the one confessing—asking if I can be your boyfriend, asking if I want to marry you, as if i'd ever say no—so now it's my turn." Nicholas slowed, trying to make sure his tears don't make it too hard for his words to be understood, he continued,
"You always make it seem like loving you is something that's hard, like I have to actively choose whether to love you or not—but that can't be further from the truth. Honestly, I don't think I could stop loving you even if I tried. Euijoo, my Juju, waking up next to you, getting to be loved and cherished by you, is something I will forever have to thank the universe for. You making me your first choice, thinking of me every step of the way, is something I used to have to beg for, but you do it as if it's not even something worthy of being thought of. I have no idea how I got lucky with you, but I will spend the rest of my living days proving that I deserve you, that by you loving me everyday, choosing me everyday, wasn't a mistake. Byun Euijoo, you never had to ask me to be yours, from the very first day, i've been yours, where i'll forever be and stay."
The claps from the crowd mellowed out as he leaned forward to place a small peck to Nicholas' lips.
He couldn't help it!
It was then his turn, "Wang Yixiang, we made it haven't we? I remember sitting in your apartment, swarmed with work, on the verge of failing my classes because of how much time I slacked off to be with you, and even then you were the only thing on my mind. How even though you were mere seconds away, I still missed you as if you were across the sea. Will you always make me feel that way? When we're grey and old, and blessed with children, will I still crave your love like a starved man? Yixiang, do you remember that night we sat across from each other, the fire burning in front of us? Do you want to know what really burned me, leaving a mark on me? It was you. You were so warm and I was always so, socold. Was it because I knew that one day I'd find you? I think I was always meant to be so freezing because one day the universe knew we'd find each other."
"I remember one day, as I lie on your chest, you spoke of how we were fated together. I didn't believe in that stuff before, but you explained it to me not in a way that made me feel dumb, but in a way so that you made sure I truly understood. The opposite birthdays, the contrasting personalities, yet we seem to make it work. I hope we always make it work." Then Euijoo folded up the rest of his paper and tucked it back into his pocket, "I want to say this next part without the paper because I spent so many nights practicing I want to prove to you that I know it, that I know you, and that i'll forever make the effort to continue knowing you. That even if someday I know all of you i'll go back and relearn the parts i've forgotten."
Euijoo took a deep breath and rolled the words around on his tongue before he spoke out, "Wǒ ài nǐ, wǒ de zhàngfū, wǒ de yǒngyuǎn, ByunYǐxiáng." (I love you my husband, my forever, Byun Yixiang.)
The officiant then gave them their rings to put on each other.
"You may now kiss—" Euijoo didn't waste anytime as he surged forward.
Sure, Euijoo had all of eternity to kiss and smother and love on Nicholas, but he wanted to do it now.
As they had their reception—danced with each other, sang loudly with their friends, smudging each other with cake—and went off to enjoy their honeymoon, Euijoo wondered what they were doing in other universes.
They were so destined in this lifetime, it only made sense that they found each other in other ones as well.