It seemed like the smiles would never end. Baekhyun ate with Kyungsoo, sipped on wine while their families conversed across the table before them. Palm trees came out black against a sunset sky, light dimming, gathering in candles and glass jars where fairy lights were glowing. Lanterns were wound on strings between the trees overhead. Small. Made of paper. Soft.

They were wearing black now. Matching tuxedos and bowties. Baekhyun loved looking at Kyungsoo and feeling like they were one and the same. He loved looking at him and knowing he was the reason he was smiling.

Next, soppy speeches, where Baekhyun stood up and read out his cards. “I don’t think I could ever be without you,” he said. “The day I proposed was a week after I caught myself thinking about jobs I could get and places we could live. I realised that everything I had thought about pertaining to the future had you in it.

“So I ran out and bought a ring. Totally rushed and unbelievably broke. It was raining, and I had this moment where I just stood on the street and thought ‘Wow, this is happening. I’m going to propose to Kyungsoo and I’m going to make him marry me’.” That roused a few chuckles. To his right, he felt Kyungsoo’s hand slip around his thigh, just holding, comforting. “When I got home I was completely drenched and Kyungsoo thought I was crazy.” Baekhyun smiled at him, breathless. “And I remember him saying ‘What the flip have you done now, Baekhyun?’ and… Who the hell ever