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The apartment was warm, smelling faintly of the vanilla candle Sunoo had lit earlier. The only sound was the soft clinking of plates and the hum of the radio playing a slow jazz cover.
Sunoo was lost in his own world, his dark, silky hair falling over his eyes as he leaned over the sink. He looked soft—ethereal, almost—wearing nothing but one of Sunghoon’s oversized white dress shirts that hung halfway down his thighs, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
He was just reaching for a towel when a pair of strong, familiar arms slid around his waist.
Sunoo gasped, his heart leaping into his throat, but the tension vanished the moment he felt the cold press of a leather watch and the scent of winter air and expensive cologne. Sunghoon tucked his chin over Sunoo’s shoulder, pulling him flush against his chest.
"Happy Valentine’s Day, love," Sunghoon murmured, his voice a deep, vibrating rumble against Sunoo’s back.
He reached around, presenting a massive, hand-tied bouquet of peach ranunculus and white freesias—Sunoo’s absolute favourite.
"Hoonie!" Sunoo turned in his arms, his face lighting up with a glow that rivaled the sunset outside. He took the flowers, burying his nose in the petals. "I almost thought you forgot! You were so quiet this morning, I thought it was just going to be a normal Saturday.”
Sunghoon tightened his hold, his hands sliding down to rest on Sunoo’s hips, anchoring him. "I could never forget a day meant for celebrating you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me, Sunoo-ya. Every day feels like Valentine’s Day when I wake up next to you."
Sunoo’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink, and he leaned back against the counter, looking up at Sunghoon with pure adoration. "You’re being so sweet today. What’s the occasion? Besides the obvious?"
Sunghoon’s smirk was slow and devastating. He reached up, tucking a strand of black hair behind Sunoo’s ear. "The occasion is that I love you. Now, go put those in water and get dressed. We’re going on a special date tonight."
Sunoo tilted his head, his eyes narrowing playfully. "Special? More special than the rooftop dinner last year? Or the private cruise?"
"Much more special," Sunghoon promised, his eyes dark and shimmering with a secret.
"Why? What are you planning, Park Sunghoon?"
Sunghoon just tapped Sunoo’s nose and stepped back, refusing to spill. "You'll see. Wear that silk shirt I bought you. The blue one. I'll be waiting by the door."
Sunoo giggled, clutching the flowers to his chest as he scurried off toward the bedroom, his bare feet padding softly on the hardwood.
Sunghoon stood in the quiet kitchen for a moment, watching the doorway where Sunoo had disappeared. His hand drifted to his pants pocket, his fingers trembling just a fraction as he tapped the velvet surface of the small, square ring box hidden inside.
He let out a long, shaky breath, a soft smile breaking across his face. "Just a little longer," he whispered to the empty room.
The transformation from "homebody in an oversized shirt" to "date-night Sunoo" was enough to make Sunghoon’s heart stop. When Sunoo finally emerged from the bedroom, he was wearing the deep navy silk shirt Sunghoon had picked out. The fabric clung to his frame in all the right places, and his dark hair was styled back just enough to show off the elegant line of his forehead.
Sunghoon was standing by the door, already dressed in a sharp, charcoal-gray overcoat over a black turtleneck. He looked like a masterpiece, but the moment he saw Sunoo, his "cool" facade crumbled.
"Wow," Sunghoon breathed, his voice barely a whisper.
Sunoo blushed, fidgeting with his cuffs. "Is it too much? I felt like I should match the 'special' vibe you were talking about."
Sunghoon didn't answer with words. He stepped forward, his hands finding Sunoo’s waist instinctively. He pulled him in close, his gaze roaming over Sunoo’s face with a reverence that made Sunoo’s breath hitch.
"You look... incredible, Sunoo-ya," Sunghoon murmured, leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss to his temple. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone as beautiful as you are right now. I’m going to have a hard time letting anyone else even look at you tonight."
"Hoonie, you've said that three times already," Sunoo giggled, though he preened under the attention, leaning his head against Sunghoon’s shoulder.
"And I’ll say it a hundred more," Sunghoon promised. "Let’s go. Our table is waiting."
Sunghoon had pulled out all the stops. He led Sunoo to a high-end, glass-walled restaurant overlooking the Han River. The city lights twinkled like fallen stars below them, and the table was tucked away in a private corner, decorated with small, white tea lights.
Throughout dinner, Sunghoon was a complete gentleman—but a very clingy one. Every time the waiter left, Sunghoon’s hand would find Sunoo’s across the table, his thumb tracing circles over Sunoo’s knuckles.
"You're barely eating," Sunoo teased, taking a bite of his dessert. "You're just staring at me. Is there something on my face?"
"Only perfection," Sunghoon replied smoothly, making Sunoo hide his face behind his napkin. "I'm just realized how lucky I am. Six years, Sunoo. And every time I look at you, it feels like the first time I saw you at that dance recital."
"You remember that?" Sunoo asked, his eyes softening.
"I remember everything," Sunghoon said, his voice dropping into that serious, soul-piercing tone. "I remember the way you looked, the way the light hit your hair, and the exact moment I realized I never wanted to be without you."
Sunoo reached out, cupping Sunghoon's cheek. "You're being so sentimental tonight. You're going to make me cry before we even leave."
Sunghoon smiled, though his hand in his pocket was currently white-knuckled around the ring box. "Don't cry yet, love. The night is just getting started."
He paid the bill with a flick of his wrist, but instead of heading to the car, he led Sunoo toward the private observation deck of the building—a spot he’d reserved entirely for them.
The air was crisp and cold, but Sunghoon immediately pulled Sunoo into his side, wrapping his coat around both of them as they looked out at the shimmering river.
The observation deck was silent, the only sound the distant hum of the city and the wind whistling softly past the glass. Sunghoon turned Sunoo around so they were chest-to-chest, his hands trembling slightly as he held Sunoo’s smaller, warmer hands in his.
Sunghoon took a deep breath, his dark eyes searching Sunoo’s with a vulnerability he only ever showed in the dark of their bedroom.
"Sunoo-ya," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "I spent a long time being closed off and distant. I thought being cold and alone was the only way to stay focused. But then you crashed into my life with all your light and your noise, and you changed the very air I breathe. You taught me that I don't have to be perfect—I just have to be yours."
Sunoo’s breath hitched, his eyes already shimmering with the first signs of tears.
"Every morning I wake up and see you wearing my shirts, or every time I see you laughing with your friends, I realize that my world starts and ends with you," Sunghoon continued, his thumb grazing Sunoo’s knuckles. "I don't want a future if you aren't the center of it. I want to be the one who catches you when you’re tired, and the one who loves you when you think you’re at your worst."
Sunghoon’s hand finally reached into his pocket. He took a step back, his gaze never leaving Sunoo’s face as he slowly dropped to one knee. He flipped open the velvet box, revealing a stunning platinum band set with a diamond that caught every flicker of the city lights.
"Kim Sunoo, you are my heart and my home. Will you marry me?"
Sunoo let out a choked, sobbing laugh, his hands flying up to cover his mouth as the tears finally spilled over his cheeks. He didn't even wait for Sunghoon to finish the sentence properly before he was nodding frantically.
"Yes! Yes! Oh my god, Hoonie, yes! A thousand times, yes!"
Sunghoon let out a breath he felt like he’d been holding for months. His own eyes were misty as he carefully took Sunoo’s left hand and slid the ring onto his finger. It fit perfectly—a permanent circle of gold and light.
The second the ring was secure, Sunoo didn't give Sunghoon a chance to stand up properly. He launched himself forward, his weight sending Sunghoon back onto his heels.
Sunghoon caught him instinctively, his arms wrapping like iron bands around Sunoo’s waist as the smaller boy buried his crying face deep into the crook of Sunghoon’s neck.
Sunoo’s sobs were happy ones, muffled by Sunghoon’s expensive coat. "I love you so much... I love you, I love you," he whimpered against Sunghoon's skin, his tears dampening the fabric.
Sunghoon buried his face in Sunoo’s dark hair, inhaling the scent of the man who was now officially his fiancé. He squeezed Sunoo tight, swaying them back and forth under the Valentine's moon.
"I've got you, love," Sunghoon whispered, his voice finally steady. "I've got you forever."
The drive back to the apartment was much quieter than the drive there, but the air was thick with a new, sparkling kind of energy. The interior of the car was dark, illuminated only by the soft glow of the dashboard and the passing streetlights, but Sunoo didn't care about the scenery.
He had his left hand raised, tilting it back and forth so the diamond caught the light of every passing lamp. It sent little rainbow fractals dancing across the leather interior.
"Hoonie, look at it," Sunoo whispered, his voice still a little raspy from crying. "It’s so incredibly pretty. I feel like my hand is ten pounds heavier now."
Sunghoon kept one hand on the steering wheel and reached out with the other, lacing his fingers through Sunoo’s right hand and squeezing. He couldn't stop stealing glances at his fiancé, a permanent, toothy grin etched onto his face. "It looks exactly how it’s supposed to look. On you."
Sunoo bit his lip, turning the ring again. "It looks... really expensive, Sunghoonie. Like, really expensive. How much did you actually spend on this?"
Sunghoon cleared his throat, suddenly looking very interested in the road ahead. He tried to sound casual. "Oh, you know. Not that much. Just... around 10k."
"Ten thousand?!" Sunoo’s eyes shot open, and he nearly bolted upright in his seat. "Park Sunghoon! Are you insane? That’s a down payment on a car! Or a very fancy kitchen renovation! Why would you spend that much on a tiny piece of metal?"
"It’s not just a piece of metal, Sunoo-ya," Sunghoon defended himself, though he looked incredibly sheepish, his ears turning pink. "It’s the ring you’re going to wear for the rest of your life. I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted it to be as bright as you are."
"I would have married you with a plastic ring from a vending machine!" Sunoo scolded softly, though he couldn't hide the way his heart melted. He took Sunghoon’s hand and brought it to his lips, kissing his knuckles. "You're so extra. My silly, expensive fiancé."
"I don't care about the money," Sunghoon murmured, pulling the car into their apartment’s underground parking. "I’d spend ten times that if it meant seeing you look at me the way you did tonight. As long as my baby is happy, I’m happy."
The second they stepped inside their apartment, the "Special Date" energy shifted into something even more intimate. Sunghoon kicked the door shut and didn't even have his coat off before Sunoo was spinning around in the hallway, holding his hand up to the light of the chandelier.
"I’m your fiancé now," Sunoo said, the words coming out as a breathless, giddy giggle. He looked at Sunghoon, his eyes sparking with mischief and love. "You're stuck with me. Officially. No refunds."
Sunghoon dropped his keys on the table and stepped into Sunoo’s space, his arms sliding around Sunoo’s waist to pull him flush against his chest. He beamed—a wide, genuine, toothy smile that he rarely showed anyone else.
"Fiancé," Sunghoon repeated, testing the weight of the word. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against Sunoo's. "I like the sound of that. I like it a lot."
Sunoo wrapped his arms around Sunghoon’s neck, the new ring cold against the nape of Sunghoon’s neck, but the hug was the warmest thing in the world.
"Happy Valentine’s Day, Hoonie," Sunoo whispered.
"The best one yet," Sunghoon replied, before he sealed their night with a kiss.