Sungmin sat on a fluffy rug, his back leaned against a couch, as he peered at the list in his hand. A list of ‘Ways to propose to the Love of Your Life’… featuring dumbest ideas from Sungmin’s so called friends. As he went through the crossed out ideas- for the hundredth time, he might add- Sungmin couldn’t help but sigh dejectedly.

Sungmin still cringed to remember that day when Minho had practically pushed him to go on with his ‘Splendid Idea’. Hire a skywriter- a guy Minho was friends with since college- and display the message on the day Saeun had a CF shooting going on… which was by luck an outdoor shooting.

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Saeun devoted her life to theatre but once the opportunity to star in a CF arrived, she was beyond ecstatic… as Suho had told Sungmin. Thus after much practice and planning, Minho had introduced his college friend to Sungmin. God only knows what that guy had been high on, because when everything was set to go… things didn’t exactly go as planned.

Sungmin had arrived at CF set; beaming wide smiles in Saeun’s baffled face director. Sungmin had patiently waited for a break to come in between shooting to start his plan, perfectly aware of the glares Saeun was tossing him before the start of every new scene… in return Sungmin would always be ready to flash a big bright smile at her.

Just when the director’s loud ‘CUT!’ had echoed in the still air around them, Sungmin practically skipped toward the girl of his dreams.

“What are you doing here?” Saeun hissed after Sungmin was within hearing distance.

“Suho told me about you starring in a CF,” Sungmin exclaimed with stars shining in his eyes and awe transparent in his voice. “You know, I love seeing you act and sing.”

If Sungmin attending each and every theatre play Saeun starred in didn’t say how Sungmin was absolutely addicted to the girls deep singing voice, then he didn’t know what would. But apparently Saeun was a hard nut to crack, she was hell bent on ignoring Sungmin's whole existence even if her father and brothers- and most importantly, Xiumin- were always singing praises for Sungmin’s manners, his intelligence and his great knowledge and command on business… needless to say, Saeun was not impressed.

“I have a surprise for you,” Sungmin cried out once Saeun turned to walk away, successfully gaining her undivided attention. “Will you please give me a couple of minutes of your precious time?” Sungmin pleaded, bringing his intertwines hands in front and tilting his head to give a cute effect.

Saeun rosed a skeptical brow but nodded nevertheless. Sungmin guided her toward the edge of the building, the filming was going around. Wordlessly he pointed at the specific spot on the clear blue sky. They both waited with breath held… Sungmin tossed a discreet look to his watch…

Damn! The stupid sky-writer was two minutes late!

“What am I supposed to be looking at?” Saeun voiced out her confusion since all she could see was blue sky stretched in front of her… nothing special about it.

Sungmin chuckled nervously before reassuring, “Just wait for it!”

Then it happened. Out of nowhere a jet climbed the silent sky and gave expert circles around the pale sky and in a blink two linked hearts were formed with white gas. Saeun’s gasp of surprise was audible, making Sungmin’s to smile with satisfaction… but soon that smile slipped to be replaced with horror when next course of action started.

There in big bold letters were the words Sungmin was surefire would haunt him for the rest of his life…

BOY Friend?!?!? Sungmin shouted mentally, horror etched on his features as he tried looking for a hole to crawl into because the disdain yet scandalous look Saeun threw him pretty much spelled out ‘NO LOSER! Go DIE!!’

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Sungmin had not been able to face Saeun for two whole weeks after that fiasco. It was only after Xiumin had assured him that Saeun had found that whole scene quite hilarious… later on, that is… then Sungmin gathered enough courage to move on to another idea.

Sungmin’s parents had long gone back to America; leaving Sungmin to pest and follow Saeun around until the girl gave in and agreed to marry him. At first Sungmin had been all about scoring her as his girlfriend, but Kyuhyun was kind enough to make him realize that Saeun would never be comfortable with a long distance relationship… what with him being in America and she in S. Korea… pointing out it as the main reason of Saeun’s rejection. Thus, now Sungmin opted to make Saeun fall in love with him and agree to marry him. Needless to say the ‘Falling in love’ part was not working out as he had hoped.

Nevertheless, Sungmin had quite daringly asked Saeun out on a date after the steam from his first proposal tone down a little… and by steam he meant his jackass of friends teasing the hell out of him at every available opportunity. As expected, Saeun had flat out rejected him when Sungmin had ventured to knock on Kim’s residence and politely ask for the ‘pleasure of her company’. Suho and Xiumin had laughed their asses off when Saeun had unceremoniously shut the door at Sungmin’s face, making the rose bouquet he clutched in his hands to hit him square in the face.

It was at seventh try- YES! Sungmin had counted all his humiliated moments- when Saeun had heaved a long suffering sigh and agreed to the planned date in an irritated manner. The first movie date had went without a hitch- if you forget the fact that Sungmin had forgot to bring (meaning the devils Kris and Chanyeol had stolen) his wallet… along with his credit cards and Saeun had to pay for it. The second date at Namsan Tower was purely magical until an unexpected storm had hit them, thus ruining their plan for the night. The third date was probably the most beautiful and splendid one… a sweet coffee in a cozy café with cinnamon rolls… Saeun’s smile had been quite plastic all along but apparently Sungmin was too love sick to realize. Saeun had fallen sick later that night and a screaming Heechul had called Sungmin at 2 in the morning to tell him that his sister was allergic to lactic acid… the very reason why she had insisted to drink black coffee rather than the ‘Romantic latte’ Sungmin was hell bent on making her drinking. Thankfully her allergy was not sever thus she recovered in a couple of days.

After several other dates, with a little glitch here or there, they had gone around for nearly a month until that fateful day arrived. Sungmin still curses himself for letting Siwon and Kyuhyun talk him into their ‘flawless’ plan. They said it would be cute and humorous… they said Saeun dig humorous guys… of course the jerks were lying.

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It was an important day. Sungmin took extra care to get dressed and gel his hairs to perfection. Nothing should go wrong today.

After ten dates, where some had sought him disastrous results and some had ended with a parting polite smile from Saeun, Sungmin knew today would go without a hitch. Or at least he hoped today would go without a hitch.

He had picked Saeun from her house, like the gentleman he was, and opened the car door for his lady to settle in. The bouquet of daisies- Saeun’s favorite, he had learned along the course- was presented wordlessly… which were accepted with a shy smile. Sungmin didn’t knew if he succeeded in making Saeun fall in love with him or not but he could have sworn that Saeun didn’t hate him as much as she used to before… now she at least didn’t glare at his lame jokes but actually chuckled a little bit.

The fancy restaurant Sungmin had chosen for their sweet and romantic date was perfect and so was the food- nothing with even a pinch of lactic acid in it. The red wine they devour was the main and quite welcomed topic to be discussed because it turned out Saeun was as much of a wine lover as was Sungmin. The slight grazed of their hands brought shy blushes to decorate their milky cheeks. Everything was going smoothly and effortlessly… the most perfect date of all… Sungmin almost wondered if he should hold up Siwon and Kyuhyun’s plan… but then again, Sungmin couldn’t wait any longer to pop up the question.

in a deep breath, Sungmin readied himself mentally and physically.

It happened in a blink of an eye. One second Sungmin sat on his chair, talking and laughing with Saeun and next he was seen crunching his facial muscles and slipping down- unceremoniously- from his seat. A panic cry resonated around the suddenly silent hall. Sungmin was perfectly aware of Saeun’s hysterical cries and soft hands cuddling his face.

The hired- and quite fake- cardiologist, that just so happened to be there, having dinner on the table next to Sungmin and Saeun’s stepped in to perform a hand-on defibrillator exclaiming how the ‘Patient’ was under ‘cardiac dysrhythmias’… Sungmin couldn’t bother with the weird biological terms; to be very honest… he was silently waiting for that precious moment while enjoying Saeun’s hands caressing his face ever so lightly.

Just then the so-called ‘Doctor’ ripped opened Sungmin’s shirt… revealing a big bold ‘WILL YOU MARRY ME?’ splashed across his chest in striking red letters. Sungmin waited with breath held… waiting for a weak shove across his chest and a happy sob before Saeun would declare a teary plus smiley ‘YES!’ But when nothing happened, Sungmin slowly and carefully opened his eyes.

Maybe he expected to see relief in her eyes… or shock at Sungmin’s over the board proposal… or amusement at his silly attempt of getting her to say yes… but he most definitely didn’t foresaw the anger that dripped from Saeun’s detestable glare.

“How can you joke about something like this?” Saeun demanded; fury visible on her face. “Marriage is not a thing made for children… so grow up and act like a responsible adult before asking me to marry you.”

Saeun words had left Sungmin feeling ashamed and embarrassed. He didn’t even have enough strength to call out for her name when she walked out on him in rage. The hired doctor- a close friend of Changmin’s- helped Sungmin up and cover his torso.

Sungmin had not lost a second in calling Siwon and Kyuhyun to tell them how their brilliant plan had not worked… on the contrary, Sungmin felt like he was back on square one… just like before all those sweet dates he had invested in earning and owing Saeun’s heart. All he received in reply was a booming laugh along with an ‘Ahh, revenge is sweet’ before Siwon hung up on him.

Sungmin belatedly realized he had been played with… and after what he had done with Siwon and Kyuhyun’s wedding night, Sungmin supposed he deserved it.

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Sungmin had no idea how he gathered enough courage and shamelessness to approach Saeun once more… of course, this time with the intention to say how sorry he was. Saeun pretended not to hear when Sungmin continuously gushed out his chain of ‘Sorrys’. After much trying and not succeeding, Sungmin opted to sneak outside Saeun’s room’s window one night and use candles to make a big SORRY with a sad face on the ground under the window…

SORRY

Saeun smiled down from her window in an endearing way… before giving a short nod at the acceptance of the apology.

That was the moment Sungmin realized that IF he had used this same method to propose to Saeun then maybe they would have been already married and rolling around in a king size bed of a luxurious hotel in Paris, on their honeymoon. But all he could do now was face-palm himself and kick Kyuhyun in shin for ruining his already failing life.

Now as Sungmin sat, reminiscing all the plans and efforts he had made to gain Saeun’s affection and attention, he couldn’t help but pity his own self. His father was continuously calling him back to America because the chosen day when the Senior Lee would step down from his post as the CEO and Sungmin would step in to fulfill those duties was fast approaching but Sungmin was still sitting in Korea, running behind a girl in order to woo her. But where his father was insistent on his return there his mother would threaten to cut his balls off if he returned without Saeun or at least gain surety of Saeun willing to become his future wife… needless to say Sungmin valued his jewels a lot.

But after his last attempt of proposal had gone down the drain, Sungmin did wondered if he would ever be able to gain his desired results… or if Sungmin was indeed wasting his time here…

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Donghae and Hyukjae had assured Sungmin that the idea they were presenting was foolproof and they had seen many people imply it and get desirable results. Donghae was Sungmin’s cousin, something Sungmin was over the moon for since from the first time Sungmin had met Donghae- on Kyuhyun’s Birthday party- Sungmin had been quite taken with the guy and admired him for his thorough knowledge of technology and industrial equipment… thus, it came as pleasant surprise when Yunho told him that the cousin he sought was someone he already held dear to his heart… and business as well. But Donghae was as novice when it came to best proposal as Sungmin, and this was not a comforting thought… and Hyukjae’s ideas were childlike and quite common.

Yet Sungmin had gone along with their idea once nothing seemed to be working for him.

One evening, knowing Saeun had a late practice to go through in the theatre, Sungmin had ordered 5000 fizzy drink cans from the brand Saeun liked a lot, in ordered to make a wall of said cans and spell out words ‘Will you marry me?’ with different color cans. Everything was going according to plan… the message was ready… placed right in front of the theatre’s back door- the door that actors used to enter and exit. Sungmin knew exact timings when Saeun would get off from practice- curtesy of Xiumin. Just a mere of five minutes were left before Saeun would walk out of those doors…

Sungmin could almost imagine a surprised Saeun rooted to her spot as she reads the words of proposal… no gender swapping thing time and no shocking agendas… just Sungmin and Saeun and the simple words of proposal that might change their lives.

CRASH!

Sungmin watched in horror as the great wall he had created with utmost love and care came falling down with a loud cry of help slipping from Xiumin’s lips. It just so happened that Xiumin had tagged along with Saeun today… in hope to see and hang out with Luhan. The chubby face boy had seen Luhan arrive at theatre on his new bicycle… exclaiming how he always wanted to learn how to ride a bicycle- but not having one in his early age of time- Xiumin had pleaded Luhan, with as much cuteness as Xiumin could unleash, for elder to help Xiumin learn said skills.

Xiumin and Luhan had been rolling around in the parking lot, playing around with the bicycle- while Sungmin worked on creating the proposal wall- until Luhan had let go of the hold he had on the back of bicycle and urged Xiumin to ride on his own… unfortunately he lost his balance and control and crashed right into the wall of cans.

As on cue, the back door opened and Saeun stepped out- talking and laughing with second lead female actress. It had taken a second for Saeun to comprehend what was happening… another to blame Sungmin for her precious nephew’s ankle sprain… before she had marched away, with a dark scowl and a heaving and sniffling Xiumin leaning his weight on her…

Leaving Sungmin blinking blanking…

Fate sure hates me, he finally concluded.

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It was after two or three days of Sungmin sulking in his bedroom after his last fiasco proposal that he came to learn how the so-called novice-about-romantic-proposal-Donghae had filled the hallway of his small cozy hut, for Hyukjae- after bribing his sister and father to stay away for a night- trailing the way with rose petals leading toward Donghae’s bedroom. There on the white sheet of his small bed were the words- also adorn with red rose petals-

All the punches Sungmin landed on Donghae’s strong arms had proven futile because the jerk of his cousin had gone and got himself a fiancé… along with a hot steamy night in the same small bed, that had helped with the proposal… while here Sungmin was, rejected and very single. Life was so not fair.

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