Life was perfect.

Ryeowook had a steady job, his family and friends were all healthy and he had a happy relationship with his boyfriend. Of course, there were occasional problems along the way – Like how he had to convince his mum and dad that Donghae wasn’t as bad as he looked, or that one time he had so much work he almost felt like quitting, or that time where Donghae accidentally dropped Ryeowook’s phone while they were trying to take a selfie together and he ended up having to go a week without a freaking phone- but Ryeowook was able to overcome those challenges.

Over the past year, the most significant moment was Ryeowook moving in with Donghae. After six months of being together, Donghae had suggested that he moved in and Ryeowook agreed and six months later, they were still happily living together. They had occasional arguments here and there but their fights never lasted for more than a day. At the end of the day, it was always Donghae who came back and apologized first even if it wasn’t his fault to begin with. This made Ryeowook realized that Donghae was a keeper. But then again, he always knew that.

Sungmin and Kyuhyun were surprised when they found out that Ryeowook had moved in with Donghae. They thought that it was too fast since they were only at their sixth months together. In that instance, Ryeowook thought about it too and wondered how he had said yes in a heartbeat when Donghae asked. Ryeowook was usually rational but Ryeowook realized, when it came to Donghae, his rationality always flew out of the window. But after some time, Ryeowook figured that it wasn’t Donghae that changed him.

It was love.

The words ‘I love you’ were always at the tip of Ryeowook’s tongue. He wanted to say those words to Donghae but he didn’t know why, he always stopped himself before those words could be uttered. He didn’t know why it was so hard. He loved Donghae with all his heart but those words just wouldn’t spill from his mouth. Perhaps, deep down, Ryeowook was still afraid. The possibility and insecurity of Donghae walking out on him any time bothered him and it was worst as Ryeowook realized that Donghae too had never say those words to him and on some nights, it bothered him to no end. On other nights, Ryeowook figured that all of Donghae’s little actions made up for it and that he was satisfied without hearing those words.

But Ryeowook was wrong.

Because after finally hearing it from Donghae once, Ryeowook wanted to keep hearing it. Again and again.

It was on their one-and-a-half-year mark anniversary that Donghae finally said it and it was enough for Ryeowook to know that this relationship with Donghae would last a lifetime. It was silly to think that Donghae would just up and leave because Ryeowook had all the faith and trust in the world in Donghae.

They were watching a musical and although Donghae hated watching musicals – He thought it was lame – Donghae went along with it since it was a date night and he had nothing better to do. Of course, Ryeowook had to also trick Donghae and told him that he would just go with Kyuhyun if Donghae didn’t want to and immediately, Donghae had went into the room to get changed.

It was nearing the end of the musical and the actor and actress were singing an emotional song about breaking up since their characters couldn’t get together. Ryeowook felt tears in his eyes as he was moved by the lyrics and the emotions delivered through the song and then he glanced over at his blonde boyfriend wondering if Donghae was moved by the song as well. To his surprise, as Ryeowook tilted his head to the right, he noticed that Donghae was staring at him. Donghae’s head was leaning against the seat and… He looked like he had been staring at Ryeowook all throughout the whole musical. There were so many emotions flickering in Donghae’s eyes as a he smiled when he met Ryeowook’s eyes.

“What are you doing?” Ryeowook quietly asked, heart beating slightly faster than usual. Donghae’s intense gaze on him had him feeling suddenly nervous.

“Watching you,” Donghae muttered.

Ryeowook bit his lips, “Is the musical boring?”

Donghae shook his head, smiling, “I don’t know. I haven’t been paying it any attention.”

“What’s wrong then?”

Donghae’s lips formed into a smile as he lifted his hands and then reached across the seat to Ryeowook’s cheeks, “I love you.”

Ryeowook could have sworn that it felt like his heart had stopped beating. His eyes teared with new found tears as he replied with a choke, “I… I love you too.”

Donghae smiled and grabbed Ryeowook’s hand, interlacing their fingers together. The musical was long forgotten as the couple’s love-struck eyes never left the other. By just one look at them, no one could deny how Donghae and Ryeowook were completely, undeniably, truly in love with one another.

***

On Ryeowook’s birthday,

Ryeowook found himself waking up to an empty bed. Ryeowook glanced around, yawing as he caught the sight of the time from his phone. It was almost evening. Blinking his sleepy eyes, Ryeowook pushed himself off the bed and stretched his sore limbs. He had gone out celebrating with a couple of friends last night for his birthday and when he came back, Donghae had surprised him with a birthday cake and they ended up bringing the cake to bed and well… Had some y time. They woke up earlier in the morning and then fooled around a few more times before deciding to take an afternoon nap.

Ryeowook looked around the room wondering where his boyfriend was. He got out of bed and pulled on one of Donghae’s long shirt over his body. Ryeowook walked out of their shared room and wondered into the living room, looking around. That was strange…

Donghae wasn’t home.

The house was empty and quiet. Ryeowook went back to the bedroom checking his phone to see if Donghae had left any texts or note telling him where he could have gone off to but they were none. Confused, Ryeowook walked out of the bedroom again and paused in his steps when he spotted something lying down on the couch.

It was a rectangular green velvet fabric box. There was an envelope next to it and Ryeowook picked it up, confused. His name was written messily on the top of the envelope and Ryeowook recognized that this