I set down a potted plant, the last of the day, and removed my gloves, setting them down on the work bench beside the plant. Experimenting on plants in an enclosed greenhouse wasn't bad and I enjoyed my job, but still, I wondered what job I would prefer if I had a choice in the matter. I took off the apron strapped around my waist, picked up my dirty gloves and then started towards my designated locker where I could stash my belongings for the night. When this was done it was time to leave the greenhouse.

       Date night.

       The words hung in my head, dancing around as I thought of Dongwoo. I walked home with happy thoughts of that man in my head. I was anticipating a shower; to remove the muck and grime of a days work from myself so that I may rest, clean and safe in his arms. It was a lovely thought, one that I had no desire to rid myself of and one that I intended to keep to myself. I would never let him know just how much he means to me. The last time I had confessed my earnest feelings to a man my life had fallen apart right in front of my eyes. Crumbling and cracking, breaking to pieces that I could never imagine restoring on my own.

       But, Dongwoo had come along and he was what pulled the pieces back together. He was the one that made me feel complete again.

       I still remember it, the first time our eyes had met. It was a crisp morning, a fresh day and it was by mere coincidence that were met: he had called it fate. Those kinds of things didn't interest me. Fate didn't exist, no matter how much one believed, it just didn't. You couldn't force those kinds of things into existence and they couldn't happen on their own. There was no fate, no destiny – just coincidence.

       I brought my wondering thoughts back to myself, closing them off as I focus my attention on the path in front of me. I was close to home, not that it had been far to being with. The walls that surrounded and secured this Society made it easy for one to find their way if they were lost.

       It was an organized place and everyone had what they needed in order to survive; life was almost perfect. In a place like this how could something be perfect though? We had lived under the rule of a single family for hundreds of years. No one knew for how long exactly it had been – except for maybe the royal family themselves.

       The royal family was nothing special, at least in my own experience. In that thought lingered so many memories I wished I could wash away; but what was the point if neither party could forget?

       Wandering thoughts again... Something I do too often in my mind while going about my daily activities.

       I had almost finished bathing when I heard a knock on the door, followed by the entrance of the knocker. Does he have no shame? I finished rinsing off, turned off the water and then reached out for my towel. I patted the cloth against my face, riding my skin of droplets of water that were quickly becoming cold, and then opened my eyes to scope out the bathroom. I knew it was going to be a daring dash to my room for clothing as I wrapped the towel snugly around my body.

       I opened the door just a crack and peered out into the next room to catch a glimpse of him. Dongwoo spotted me, his brown eyes twinkling and a smile spreading across his plump lips. Then I knew I had been too hopeful to think I could get through this unnoticed. We had only been dating for a couple of months and I was definitely not ready for him to see me . So, I smiled awkwardly in return while shyly waving with one hand, the other clutching the towel tightly against my body.

       I stopped waving and held up a single finger. He stared at it curiously as I began to wave my finger around in a circle. He nodded in understanding but sighed deeply as he turned around, giving me the opportunity to rush off to my room and close the door securely behind myself.

       “You know, if you used your clock then you wouldn't get caught in these kinds of situations nearly as often,” Dongwoo called to me, his voice coming through the door loud and clear.

       I scoffed at his persistence to make me become a more punctual individual. I quickly pulled on my undergarments and then a pair of pants while my eyes scanned the closet for a shirt suitable for tonight.

       “You know, the same outcome can be accomplished if you didn't arrive precisely when you say you will,” I retorted. “Or if, I don't know – you didn't just walk into my house without permission!” It was normal to have these small arguments with him. Neither of us were ever offended by the words spewed from the others mouth. I pulled a causal top over my head and straightened it out as it covered my torso comfortably. Only the skin of my arms, neck, face and feet were visible. I was satisfied.

       “Quick with words tonight, I see,” he said. By how close his voice sounded I knew he had moved closer to my bedroom.

       I examined myself in the mirror as I thoroughly dried my hair with the towel. It wasn't perfect but it was close after I ran a brush through it.

       “No clever response?” he asked, taunting me.

       I walked over to the door and pulled it open to see him holding a bouquet of flowers out towards me. “Great,” I said, observing the colorful assortment of petals, “my life's work.” I smiled brightly as I took them from him to make clear that I was only joking. I lowered my nose to the bouquet and inhaled the flowers sweet scent, letting the familiar smell of nature overcome my senses. I peeked up at him through my lashes as I brought the flowers away from my face. Raising an arm to rest my hand on the back of his head I pulled him closer to me and pressed my lips against his. It was a brief kiss, but his lips were as soft and plump as they always were. He smiled down at me as I grabbed hold of his hand and pulled him along with me down the short hall.

       I only released his hand when I went in search of an empty vase for the flowers. I had plenty laying around but not many were empty. Flowers were my everything, my life. They were beautiful, came in all colors of the rainbow and smelled like heaven. It wasn't some superficial want of gifts that made me love the flowers Dongwoo gave me. I genuinely loved plants and he knew that.

       I gently set the flowers on the kitchen table and with vase in hand I filled it. I waited for the vase to fill, aware of Dongwoo's eyes on my back. I shut off the tap, carried the vase to the table and set it down. I slowly arranged the flowers in the vase and then scooted them across the table to sit dead center. I observed them for a moment longer, a content smile coming to my lips.

       Dongwoo wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him so my back rested firmly against his chest. He placed a light kiss on the top of my head. “So, you like them?” he asked. I knew he had put effort into the small, but thoughtful gift.

       “I love them,” I said as I leaned into him further.

       I loved everything that he gave to me. It was a sign that he cared even though just him being there for me was enough. But even knowing all that I hated every moment I spent with him because as each second ticked by, I was falling more and more in love with him. I often had to remind myself that he was different, that he truly cared for me. That he loved me. And even if he hadn't said it aloud yet, it was obvious from his actions just what he felt for me. I only hoped that not too much regret would come from me thinking these things.

       “Good. So, are you prepared to go on a late night walk with me under the beautiful stars?” He turned me around in his arms to face him as he asked this. His eyes locked with mine as his forever kind smile pulled up his lips. I stared up at him and nodded, his infectious smile forcing my own lips to curve up as I let him take my hand and lead me outside.

       We walked side by side, lightly brushing shoulders for awhile in silence. It wasn't awkward but nice; there was no need to say anything and that was something I valued about the relationship with him, it wasn't effortless, it was just nice. Even though I didn't know where we were going or what he could possibly have planned, I knew it would be perfect because he exceeded normal expectations when it came to things like dates – no matter how simple.

       Dongwoo pulled me along toward the center of this Sector and let go of my hand as he sat on the edge of a large fountain that decorated that place. He looked at me for a moment as I stood there warily. He beckoned for me to take a seat next to him. I took the few steps toward him and sat down, taking in a deep breath before looking up into his deep, soulful eyes. Those eyes that most times I never wanted to look away from.

       “Are you okay?” he asked, concern washing over his features and filling his voice.

       Usually, I didn't worry, but I couldn't help but remember the time I used to spend with Sungkyu at this exact spot. Thoughts of him usually made me angry but on that day I just felt worried and saddened. I bit my lips and looked into the water resting in the fountain for a moment as I tried to force the memories away. With a nod, I looked up from the water and back to Dongwoo with a smile.

       “So, what exactly are we doing?” I asked. If we conversed I would be able to push all my other thoughts away for the time being.

       A mischievous smile crept onto his face. He began to rummage in his pocket for something.

       He turned back to me with a slim, black box in his hand. My heart began to pound in my chest, so hard that I was afraid he'd be able to hear it. The loud pounding in my chest droned in my ears as I hoped he hadn't gotten me anything shiny.

       “I want you to wear this everyday and think of me,” Dongwoo said with a bright, gummy smile as he opened the box to reveal a simple yet pretty necklace. It was a small, cleverly designed heart hanging around a thin silver chain.

       I sat there, staring and speechless. What was there to say? I looked from the necklace to his face, taking in the gleeful expression he wore as he waited for me to say something. Of course I wanted something that made me think of him, but I couldn't think properly at the position this put me in. Jewelry was a big deal and not exactly something I thought I could handle, though I did feel strongly about him. All I could do was take another deep breath and try to calm myself down as I lost myself in his eyes.

       “I thought you might want other pretty things. Something other than flowers.” He sounded nervous and then he closed the box and withdrew from me slightly.

       “No. It's not that, I just...” I was stuttering. I closed my mouth and took another breath, inhaling deeply from my nose. I smiled and placed a hand on his cheek to gently force him to look at me. I leaned forward to kiss his cheek as I reached for his hand to hold it lightly in mine as I searched my brain for the right thing to say. “I like the thought of a gift like that – but I don't need them. I only need you.” I laughed then, feeling stupid for saying something so cheesy.

       He set the slender box down on the far side of his body and turned back to me to caress my face as his other hand wound itself in my hair, his fingers twirling the strands lightly.

       “I love you,” he confessed before he set his lips against mine in a soft, passionate kiss. His hand left my hair alone, traveling down my arm until he had his finger intertwined with mine. He gave my hand a squeeze as he deepened the kiss. I leaned into him, not wanting to waste this moment of peace. I felt a weight lift from my shoulders when I realized I could now tell him my true feelings too.

       The kiss broke and I brushed my nose against his as I pulled away, already missing the contact. We looked into each others eyes for a moment, his searching mine, as if looking for a testament to my own feelings for him. And I was just trying to gather my courage.

       “I love you too,” I said bravely, a satisfied smile spreading across my lips. Relief washed over me, my heart felt lighter.

        I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me until our foreheads touched lightly. The soft wave of his bangs brushed against my skin as I pulled away just enough to lean in to kiss him again.