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Asa came home from another job interview. He had been surprised at the invite, delighted to finally have an on-location interview. But he clearly hadn’t fit in the company, and he had been sent home much earlier than planned. It hurt, being rejected over and over again. Even if he hadn’t wanted to work there anyway. Rejection still stung.
Disappointed, sad, and a little hopeless, the angel returned home. The only comfort was the knowledge of the presence of Anthony back home. The second lock-down was lasting long, and Anthony had been stuck at home once again, teaching classes. The only difference was that he now taught them from Asa’s living room. One morning, Asa had heard Anthony’s students ask about the change of scenery. But, instead of giving them anything, Anthony had smiled smugly at them, saying, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Asa turned the key in the lock, and the door swung open. He sighed, happy to be home. He couldn’t wait to feel the arms of his loving partner around him. He really needed it, especially after another difficult day. But, walking into their now shared apartment, Asa found that Anthony was nowhere to be found. He was likely in bed, napping. The poor man had been grading through the night for the past days. He smiled at the houseplants now lining his wall; how good it felt to have Anthony’s few belongings now scattered around his, their, apartment.
Anthony had cancelled the lease last month. Just a few more pieces of furniture needed to be removed, and his apartment would be empty, ready for new tenants to move in. It had surprised Anthony at how easily it all went. Ever since that first morning in Asa’s apartment, when he woke up with the love of his life in his arms, he knew that home was definitely not a place but a human he had now found. And now, living with that man, he knew more than ever that he wanted to marry him. They hadn’t really talked about it yet, as their relationship had been moving a bit faster than either of them had planned, so Anthony was filled with anxiety when he decided that he was going to propose. But he knew that there was no turning back, not anymore. He loved this man with all his heart, and he would wait no longer to tell him that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him. So much of his life he had spent waiting for things within his reach, and he wasn’t going to waste any more time now.
And that is how Asa Fell found himself staring out of his window at a small whiteboard with the four words “will you marry me” and a small, hand-drawn heart underneath. Asa blinked and blinked and then blinked again. Was he hallucinating? A slow smile crept onto his face as he realised that, no, this wasn’t his deepest desires being projected onto a very real-life feeling dream, but instead it was reality. A reality that Asa had suddenly started liking much more since the failed job interview.
He turned, half expecting to find Anthony down on one knee behind him. But the apartment was still just as empty. He looked through the window once more, checking if Anthony was still in his old apartment, just leaving to come back after having placed the sign. But the rooms were just as dark as always, and no movement was to be seen. So, Asa went to check the only other place where Anthony had to be, the bedroom.
Just as he thought, he found the man asleep on the bed. Part of him wanted to run and jump onto the bed like the young boy he once was, screaming, "Yes, of course I will marry you” until the man had woken up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. But the other part of him was completely intoxicated by the vision in front of him. Red hair spilling over the pillow, a peaceful smile rested on Anthony’s beautiful lips. So, Asa stood there in the door opening, staring at his adorably ignorant fiancé, and he couldn’t bring himself to wake him just yet. Then his eyes found the small box in Anthony’s hand, tightly clasped in his right hand. It was a ring box.
“Oh, my dear,” Asa whispered, taking the box and placing it on the bedside table. “You must be absolutely exhausted. He wiped Anthony’s hair from his face and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “I’ll go make us some dinner.”
Asa made his signature crepes. Mostly because Anthony adored them. Especially the ones with strawberries and cream. He set the table and fished a small box out of his bag, placing it next to Anthony’s plate. He had been carrying it around for a week now, waiting for the perfect moment to propose. Well, he now understood that there was no time like the present.
“Angel?” Anthony’s sleepy voice carried across the kitchen. “Didn’t think you’d be home so soon," he said, leaning against the doorframe, desperately trying to play it cool. Had Asa seen the sign? Had he noticed the ring box on the bedside table?
“Anthony! The interview wasn’t a success. But I made crepes!” he exclaimed, already having forgotten the horrors of this afternoon. How could one remember such misery when he was filled with the indescribable joy at the sight of this fiancé, sleepily panicking in the doorway?
“You seem awfully smug for a failed interview. Anything wrong?”
“Certainly not,” Asa said, barely containing his smile.
“Angel,” Anthony continued, now stepping through the door and into the kitchen. “Have you seen anything out of the ordinary today?”
“Not much,” Asa pretended to think. “Though I did notice you got a new whiteboard. Whatever was that for? Was the other not perfectly fine?”
“Yes, well, about that…” Anthony ran a hand through his hair.
“I mean, I understand you needed it to propose, but can you not just reuse it after? Certainly, you have no classes to teach now, this late in the evening.”
Anthony blinked at Asa. “Wait, you, I, did you already see it?” Anthony’s voice came out much higher than normal. “And you couldn’t bother to wake me?”
“Really, my dear, did you think I wouldn’t look out of the window? And you were sleeping so peacefully, I couldn’t disturb you.”
“Bastard,” Anthony mumbled, but he was grinning now. “I take you still being here as a good sign?”
“See for yourself,” Asa replied, waving at the table.
Anthony walked over, confused at first. But then his eyes locked on the black box, so similar to his. For a moment he was confused. Had Asa already taken the ring out? But then it dawned on him. Asa had a ring as well. Asa had also been planning on proposing. Asa was now his fiancé.
He half-stumbled, half-ran into the kitchen, straight into Asa’s arms.
“I see you found my present.” Asa laughed into Anthony’s hair.
Anthony leaned back, staring into those beautiful eyes. “So, you’ll have me? You’ll marry me?”
“Of course." Asa smiled. “But only if you’ll marry me too.”
But Anthony couldn’t answer. He was too busy kissing him.