Haneul’s POV

“I thought you said we’re going back?” I asked him as he stopped at the bookstore.

“Ya, but then I remembered I have not spoken to my baby yet. So we’re here.” He smiled.

“Why are you so weird today?” I asked.

“Am I weird?” He stuck out his tongue.

He held onto my hand as he opened the door to the bookstore. After we entered, he locked it. The bookstore has been close for quite some time because we were both busy. It became our own hideout.

“We should reopen this place again.” I said, dusting the table.

“Maybe.” He pulled me to sit down on the sofa.

“Tsk~ Why don’t you let me clean it a little? It’s so dusty.” I said.

“I’ll clean it later.” He said, lying down on my lap.

“Hi, Baby~ Do you miss me?” He asked, kissing my belly.

“What did you say?” He put his ear on my belly.

“Baby said he miss me.” He told me proudly.

I nodded for the sake of it.

“What?” He asked, but not to me.

“Oh. You’re hungry? What do you feel like eating?” He asked.

“Oh my god, Junroro. Shut it!” I covered his mouth.

He pulled my hand away, holding it tightly so I couldn’t move.

“Baby, you want samgyupsal?” He asked.

“Lionny, our baby wants to eat samgyupsal.” He said.

“NO! Don’t be crazy! Aigoo! Talking to the baby is fine, but responding to yourself is not!” I said.

“Haa~ If I keep talking and get no reply, I’ll feel lonely.” He said, his lower lip stuck out.

“Aww~” I touched his cheek.

“So Baby, what did you say?” He turned back to my belly.

I rolled my eyes and let him continue with whatever he wants to do. As he talked to the baby as well as himself, I played with his soft hair.

Junhyung’s POV

As I talked to our baby, I stole occasional glances at Haneul.

“Baby, your Mommy is asleep.” I whispered.

“Daddy will be back later. Be good.” I kissed Haneul’s belly before trying to get her hand out of my hair.

I tried to move away but she grabbed onto my hair tightly. I bit my tongue to prevent myself from yelping out loud.

“Lionny, let go.” I whispered.

I ended up having a few strands of hair pulled out in the process of freeing myself. I helped her to lie down properly before covering a blanket over her. I kissed her on her forehead. Lucky for me, she sleeps like a log.

I heard a soft knock on the door. I hurried to open it.

“Shhhh~” I gestured as I made way for them to come in.

They looked at me, and then at the sofa. They nodded. I pointed to the basement, and all six of us apparently crept down. The moment the basement door closed, we sighed in relieve.

“Woah.. Luckily she did not wake up suddenly.” Yoseob said.

“She wouldn’t.” I said, looking through the things I got them to help me bring over.

“Is this right?” Dongwoon asked.

“Perfect. Thank you.” I smiled.

“You’re really gonna do it?” Doojoon asked.

I looked at him, confused.

“You… You guys… supported me, didn’t you?” I asked, feeling scared out of a sudden.

“Of course, of course! I didn’t mean it that way! Don’t misunderstand! I mean, you’re confident? You’re sure? There’s no backing out.” Doojoon said hurriedly.

“I am sure. I was sure the moment I laid my eyes on her. She’s the one. I know she is.” I said.

“Good for you. It’s just so amazing.” Hyunseung said, hugging me.

“But what if… she said… no?” I asked.

They look at me.

“I mean… I don’t know.” I looked down.

“Remember when CUBE wanted to pull you out of Beast, what we did for you?” Yoseob asked.

“Of course. How could I ever have forgot that?” I said.

“We’ll do the same here. If she says no, we’ll make her say yes. If it takes three days, three nights of convincing, we’ll do it.” He smiled.

“Thanks guys. Really.” I said.

“We’re just here. The one doing the real work is you.” Kikwang smiled.

“No. I mean, for accepting and supporting. Thank you.” I said.

“If we don’t support you, who would?” Hyunseung smiled.

“Thanks.” I smiled.

“Come on! We have no time to lose. You sure you have this memorized? You don’t want to be talking out the paper in the middle of it.” Doojoon said, shoving a slip of paper to me.

“Oh yes. Thanks.” I said.

“Change first before you go through it.” He said.

I nodded. After I was done changing, we could only wait. I sat at the corner, looking through the words over and over again. As time passed, I got more anxious.

“Sit down, Junhyung.” Doojoon said, grabbing my arm.

“I can’t.” I said.

“Omo. Why are your hands so cold?” He asked.

“I don’t know. Hahaha~” I laughed nervously.

“Hey, hey! Relax!” He said, massaging my shoulders.

“Doojoon hyung! Don’t do that! I spent a long time ironing that blouse! It’s crumpled now!” Dongwoon scolded.

“Once he puts the suit over, no one could see the blouse.” Doojoon said.

“But I spent a long time on it!” Dongwoon said.

“Stop arguing.” Hyunseung said tiredly.

“It’s alright guys… It’s fine. I mean, thanks Dongwoon. And I…” My eyes widened when I heard a familiar voice call out.

“JUNRORO!!!!”

Haneul’s POV

I opened my eyes and found myself lying down on the sofa with a blanket over me. I must have fallen asleep while Junhyung was talking to the baby. How easily tired do I get these days~

I looked around, expecting to see Junhyung around, but no. I walked around the bookstore, thinking he might be in a corner reading or writing lyrics, but no. He wasn’t around.

“JUNRORO!!!!!” I shouted out.

“Are you in the basement!?” I shouted as I poured myself a drink.

I drank as I walked towards the basement. Before I could open the basement door, it opened from the inside.

He was all dressed up in a suit with his hair neatly styled. I gasped, but before I could say anything, the cup in my hand was taken away and I was led back up to the main area of the bookstore.

“What is…” Before I could finish, he put his finger at my lips, indicating for me to keep quiet.

He stood in front of me, not saying anything. He in a deep breath before holding onto my hand. His hand cold and I could feel him trembling slightly.

He stared deeply into my eyes, his cheeks slightly flushed. I was studying his face when he started rapping, startling me.

‘Other guys can sing, oh how romantic. I’m sorry, Darling, for I could only rap. Even so, I hope you’ll feel my sincere heart.

The first time I saw you, I had fallen for you already, although I could not specifically tell you whether it is the first, second, third or fourth moment. I just know I fell hard, so damn hard.

You made my courtship for you so difficult, but like they say, good things don’t just come by so easily. You have to work hard for it. You felt it, didn’t you? My hard work~ And then like those ridiculous dramas, our lives were turned upside down, left and right, inside out. Like a rollercoaster ride, it made us happy, sad and worried at the same time.

But you, my dear girl, you laughed through it all. Your smile, you don’t know what magic it does. Are you a magician? Because you have that ability to make any of my dull day bright again.

They say the human soul weighs 21 grams. I weigh myself daily. No, don’t worry, Darling. Your boyfriend has no eating disorder. I just happened to weigh myself the day I realize I fell for you, indeed, I was 21 grams lighter. Now, I do it daily, to make sure my weigh remains the same, because that would mean I have no soul, for my soul is with you, and I would like you to have it forever.

This bookstore here, we have had happy times and bad times, but whatever times, I don’t care. Any time spent with you is time well spent. Honestly, I am not much of a reader, but because of you, I’ve grown to love books too, not to look smart in front of you, but to go into your world, to be with you.

You don’t know your own value. You taught me so many things, things I cannot possibly learn from school or anywhere else. What do I do without you? Without you, I’ll be like a writer who lost his purpose. My story will never end, no matter how many times I rewrite it again, it’ll never end, because there will be no ending without you.

But we’re indeed two people from different worlds. You’re the bird that flies freely, while I am the bird that is locked up in my cage. You could have flown away, but you stayed. I’m sorry, for all the hardship I brought upon you. I’m sorry, for once forgetting you. I’m sorry, for all that I have not done for you. I’ve always been asking myself this. What did I do to deserve her? If I let her go, would she be happier? But I guess we’re meant to be, either that, I’m just lucky.

Darling, I just want you to know. Like the sun, although you don’t see it often, you feel its warmth. Like the stars, although they don’t always appear, you know they are there. I may not be with you 24/7, I regret that a lot. But Darling I want you to know, no matter how many miles we are apart, as long as you look up into the sky, please know that I am under the same sky as you are. We’re close, close at heart.

I may not be the best person for you. I may screw up at times. I may get angry and do stupid things. I may need you to have to take care of me more than I take care of you. But I want to be there when you need me. I want to sleep on the couch when I anger you. On rainy days, I want to play in the rain with you. When you’re unwell, I want to be taking care of you. When you’re bored, I want to be able to entertain you. I cannot promise you the world, but if it’s in my ability, I’ll get it for you. I am not the best person, but I want to be the best for you, I want to be the one for you. I love you, I love you, I love you

And remember what I said about roses? Remember I asked you to count? It’s not because I want you to realize the money I’ve spend. Money is nothing, we can earn it all back. Darling, do you remember the amount of roses I’ve got you since the first stalk? One-hundred and eight. Do you know what it means?. Do you know why I even gave you roses from the start? I did everything for a reason.'

As he reached into his pocket, he got down on one knee. He looked into my eyes, panting slightly from his freaking long rap. He pulled out the box, opening it, revealing a diamond ring.

“One hundred and eight stalks of roses mean ‘Will you marry me?’ Haneul, would you… please… marry me?” He asked in a trembling voice.

I gasped when he pulled out a huge bouquet of folded red roses from the back. I did not have to count. I knew it was one hundred and eight stalks. No more, no less.

One hand holding the ring, another hand holding the roses, looking at me with puppy eyes, he waited for my answer.

So is this what he has been busying himself all these while?

I turned to the basement when I heard shuffling sound. We were not alone?

Junhyung’s POV

Damn those boys. Can’t they wait? Why did have to spoil the moment? But I kept my eyes on Haneul, waiting for her answer.

She looked at me with no expression, and then her lips curl into a smirk.

“Why are you doing this, Junhyung?” She asked.

“H.. Huh?” I looked at her.

“You remembered when I asked you to marry me, how cold heartedly did you reject me in front of everyone. And now, you want me to marry you?” She said.

I bit my lips, knowing that I did not have anything to say.

“Is it because of the baby? You don’t have to, you know.” She said.

I shook my head frantically. It wasn’t because of the baby, of course. I’ve been planning this since forever.

“I can always raise the kid myself.” She said.

My knees were starting to shake. I wanted to drop everything and just walk out of the bookstore. 

***
Simply doing what he said he would do :)

Junhyung in a suit

Doojoon: Hey, hey! Relax!

Junhyung: Haneul, would you… please… marry me?

Haneul: “You remembered when I asked you to marry me,
how cold heartedly did you reject me in front of everyone. And now, you want me to marry you?

Haneul: Is it because of the baby?

Rejected Junhyung