TITLE: ringing in the new year SUMMARY: In which Jong Kook and Ji Hyo announce their relationship on their own terms. It being New Years' is just a bonus.      “Are you really sure about this, Ji Hyo-yah? I don’t mind waiting to do this as long as you’ll be okay with it,” Jong Kook made sure and asked his long-time girlfriend about her decision, grasping his phone on one hand and Ji Hyo’s hand on the other, lightly the promise ring on her pinky.   It was New Year’s Eve, about 20 minutes away from the countdown, and Ji Hyo suggested that they should announce their relationship to the world just before 2020 ends and 2021 starts. And also to get a head start before Dispatch does it for them.   Jong Kook was a little apprehensive about doing it, not because he didn’t want to (trust me, he’s been wanting to shout his love for her from the top of his lungs for so long) but because he didn’t want Ji Hyo to feel pressured or feel forced to do this.   He doesn’t mind putting off the announcement of their relationship if Ji Hyo doesn’t feel like it yet — his love for her outmeasures his need to let everybody know they are together. And even though it was tiring, it was also a bit fun to sneak around and be stealthy about meeting each other and leaving little hints here and there for the public to catch. It made him feel like they were teenagers in a secret romance or like Romeo and Juliet, but without the tragic ending of course.   Ji Hyo looked down at their joined hands and back up again at her oppa’s face, a soft reassuring smile overtaking her lips.   “I’m sure, oppa. I’m ready to let everybody know you’re mine already.”   Jong Kook can’t help but catch her lips in a sweet kiss. “And I can’t wait to let them know I’m yours too, love,” he said after they pulled away.   “So, how do you want to do this? Do you want me to just take a picture of our hands?” He raised their joined hands for emphasis. “Or do you want a selca? I’m down for whatever you want, love.”   “How about we do both, oppa?” Ji Hyo suggested with an excited lilt to her voice. They were finally doing it!   “Alright, love. Whatever you want, you’ll get.”   Jong Kook quickly took the pictures Ji Hyo wanted, sneaking in a shot (okay so maybe a lot of shots) of him kissing her cheek just for the hell of it. They weren’t going to post all the pictures they’ve taken, but he’s sure that if the public were to see everything they took and knew how many there was, they’d go wild.   After choosing the photos — one of just their interlocked hands, another of them smiling at the camera and also a wacky shot, and the final one being the cheek kiss picture — Jong Kook drafted the caption, and when he was fine with it, he showed it to Ji Hyo for the final checking.     [attached pictures] kjk76  Welcoming 2021 with the love of my life. Happy holidays from us to yours! #ItDoesntTakeMuchToBHappy #EnjoyTheNewYear #WithTheLoveOfMyLife     It was simple, but it still held the same amount of impact that a long post would’ve given as well.   “This feels a lot like I’m your PR manager reviewing your posts, oppa,” Ji Hyo chuckled, “and it’s funny because it’s a post about our relationship too.”   “I was serious about letting you take the reigns for this, Ji Hyo-yah. I don’t want you to regret the announcement we’ll make or anything related to it — everything’s your call. I’m with you and for you, 100%.”   Ji Hyo’s lips tugged up in