"Why do you need my father's approval?" she mumbled nervously with a sigh, resting her hands on my chest before closing the space between our bodies. I locked my eyes with her chocolate orbs and moved strands of her soft, brown hair away from her angelic pout. My heart skipped a beat as she rose on her toes to press her pouty lips to mine for a small kiss.

"Well, I want his blessing." I gingerly rested my hands on her hips as she messed with my hair. I mirrored her pout. "Why? Do you think he will disapprove?"

She pursed her lips looked to the side, sighing again, this time heavier than the last. Her head rested against my chest and I s my arms around her, pulling her closer. She hummed a little tune and I rocked her back and fourth, a habbit we had. Whenever she would hum, we would dance. We never really spoke about it, it just would happen. Almost like a reflex.

"Jagiya, you shouldn't worry so much. You fell for my charm within a split second. All I had to do was smile. What makes you think I can't melt your father in the same way I did you, if not more? I'll try not to, though." I grinned and she clicked her tongue at my joke, playfully scowling and looking up at me. I could see the smile twitching at her lips.

"All I'm saying is that really..." She paused and chewed her lip for a second, averting her eyes from me once again. "It doesn't matter what he says, I'd marry you either way." her voice lowered, head lowering as if she were ashamed of what she had said. I frowned.

"D, I want his blessing." I tipped her chin upward to meet her gaze once more. I loved making eye contact with her when we spoke, I felt as if I could see into her soul, and I hoped she could mine.

There was that pout again. "You don't need it, you have me."

I sighed, looking at her sternly. "Who would you have walk you down the aisle?"

She pursed her lips once more, like she always did when she thought. I cocked an eye brow at her, waiting for a response. would open and only shut again to resume her reverse pucker. Soon, her pout returned and I smiled knowingly. She only glared at me for it.

"I want him to be there for your special day." I flashed her a reassuring smile, the one I knew she loved. Her eyes immediately softened and she smiled softly back.

"Alright. I have faith in you."

---

There I was, on the doorstep of their cosy little town house where her parents lived. I took a deep breath and rang the door bell. It buzzed quietly and I cheked nervously on my cheek. This was one of the hardest things that I ever had to do. Even as a lawyer, a lot of the things I had to do were hard, defending people in cases that I knew they were guilty. But this, this was far worse than anything that I have ever had to do in my life. My motivation had always been my ideal lifestyle, all of the hardwork I had put into law school for a life I had dreamt of: not in mediocracy, but in luxury with a nice house, a nice car, and the perfect woman to share this with.

Dara was my motivation this time, the woman of my dreams. I'd climb the highest mountain for her, even this one. I was determined to get over it successfully, my biggest obstacle: her father.

It seemed like a century that I stood on the worn welcome mat placed before the creamy, pale door. I ran through what I would say milllions of times, but of course right then, when I was at their doorstep, I had to forget everything that I had planned. I swallowed the nothingness in my dry throat. A small mint sat on my dry tongue as I waited for the door to open still. It had been a while since I rang the doorbell.

But that was okay. No rush. I can wait. Take your time.

Just then, the door swung open and I was welcomed with a warm smile.

"Jiyong! What a pleasant surprise!" A familiar woman grinned at me, her hands clasping together enthusiastically. The sides of her eyes wrinkled joyfully as she looked me over with shock and gladness. I smiled and bowed before her.

"Good morning, Mrs. Park, it's good to see you again." I rose to stand once more. "Is your husband available by anychance?"

She flashed me a knowing smile and giggled, her eyes giddy. "Oh, yes! He's just in his room. I'll tell him that he has a visitor! Come in, come in, make yourself at home, darling..." She sidestepped to let me into the house. I bowed my head in respect as I entered and removed my shoes at the door. Mrs. Park ushered me to the couch and insisted I took a seat. I obliged.

"I'll be right back." With a little wink, she skipped out of the room and down the hall. I chuckled quietly to myself. I had talked to her about this ahead of time and she was completely for it. But, like Dara, she was hesitant to allow me to do this. After some persuation, a little bit of my charm, she was all in.

I sat up straight on the edge of my seat, my insides doing summersalts inside of me. I tried to steady my fast-paced heart with slow, deep breaths as I waited on the couch. I heard the soft hum of distant voices through the walls. I adjusted my tie, feeling myself break into a nervous sweat, a wave of cold washing over me as I did so, then back to heated intensity.

"Yeobo, I-I, uhm... Can I go back to my room now? I-I don't want to... I mean, I-I'm tired--."

"Nonsense, you've been resting all day. Please, for our Ssantokki?"

"B-b-but I-I-I..."

I greeted the sources of the coming voices with a smile as they approached my seat on the coach.

"Good morning, Mr. Park."

See in this box is a ring for your oldest.
She's my everything and all that I know is
It would be such a relief if I knew that we were on the same side
Very soon I'm hoping that I...

I bowed just like I had before at the doorstep, the same smile on my lips. I was so happy to see him, to have both of their attentions. Something just made me feel so instantly at home with them, the same way I did with their daughter, the love of my life.

Although, I was a bit unnerved at his uneasy stare. He looked so scared.

I bit my lips. Unsure what to do, I looked to Mrs. Park who had seated herself next to me. She looked worried, reaching out to touch his hand rested on the armrest of his chair. I knew he didn't need the chair, he only wanted it. None of us wanted to be the ones to tell him to get out of it.

"Honey, say hello to Jiyong. He came here to see you." she cooed.

Still, nothing.

"Is this a bad time?" I asked, beginning to lose hope. Perhaps Dara was right. Maybe I couldn't do this.

"Yes, m-maybe you could s-stop by later..." He began to turn himself around. I dropped my head in defeat.

"No, this is a fine time, dear."

I looked up to meet Dara's mother's smiling face. I smiled back thankfully. She passed her dazzling smile onto her daughter, that much I knew.

I could only imagine how much more beautiful it was going to be when she walked down the aisle, smiling at me. Even more motivation for me to stay and make this happen. I wanted him to be there, by her side, leading her down the aisle.

Can marry your daughter
And make her my wife
I want her to be the only girl that I love for the rest of my life
And give her the best of me 'till the day that I die, yeah
I'm gonna marry your princess
And make her my queen
She'll be the most beautiful bride that I've ever seen
Can't wait to smile
When she walks down the aisle
On the arm of her father
On the day that I marry your daughter

Another deep breath and I turned to face Mr. Park once more. I managed to keep a small smile on my face.

"Please, sir, I think you would want to hear this. It's about your daughter."

His eyes flickered with interest and a smile broke out on his face.

"S-sandara? That's my daughter, so you must be talking about her!" he paused and seemed surprised by his own outburst of excitement. "I-I mean, what about her?" I felt my smile widen. I was glad to see that we shared one thing: a love for Dara so strong that the mere mention of her brings joy uncontainable to our hearts. "You know her well?"

"Dear, this is her best, closest friend." his wife answered, smiling assuringly at him. He smiled back softly before looking back at me expectantly.

I nodded. "She's very dear to me, you see."

He only nodded, finally looking interested in our conversation. This was a relief, a big weight lifted from my shoulders from his waiting expression. He wanted me to continue. Reaching into my pocket, I couldn't help but smile like a fool as I brought out the small, midnight blue, velvet box and held it out in front of me.

"...I wanted to see you today for your blessing."

She's been hearing for steps
Since the day that we met (I'm scared to death to think of what would happen if she ever left)
So don't you ever worry about me ever treating her bad
I've got most of my vows done so far (So bring on the better or worse)
And 'till death do us part

Mrs. Park gasped and covered with her hands as I opened the small box to reveal the ring, but I was more interested in what her husband was thinking. I already had shown her mother the ring, before we had picked it out. I watched carefully as his eyes widened and he marveled at the object in my hand. For a moment he shied away from it, but he soon relaxed as he smiled and reached out for it, looking to me for permission to grab it. Gently, I set the box in his hand.

"Y-you want to marry my S-ssantokki?" he whispered, his smile disappearing, replaced by a sad frown. His eye brows furrowed with concern. "Why should I let you take my princess?" suddenly, his voice was low and stern, his nervous stutter vanishing. I kept my composure, only understanding his position and condition.

"I do. I love her with all of my heart, almost as much as you probably do."

"Oh, nonono, I love her much more than you do!" he defended, snapping the box shut. Not wanting to provoke him, I forced a small, understanding smile.

"I don't doubt it. But if there were to be anyone two is next in line, it's me. I love Dara, and we love each other." I replied softly. I began to lose hope once again. It didn't seem like it was going too well.

"H-how do you know that s-she loves you?" he asked, staring hard at me.

And suddenly, I got an idea. A huge smile broke out on my face and I grinned.

"Why should I j-just give you my p-princess?"

"Because I want to make her my Queen, if that's alright with you."

---

There's no doubt in my mind
It's time
I'm ready to start
I swear to you with all of my heart...

---

"So, how did it go?"

I smiled and placed a tender kiss on her forhead.

"Wonderful to be home, thank you." I chuckled and gently took her hand, pulling her outside. "Come, help me with the groceries. I ran to the store to get a bottle of wine to celebrate, and a few other things for the dinner I'm going to make you tonight."

"Dinner? Wine? Jiyong, please, we're not yet married, don't get any ideas..." she teased with a smirk. I only rolled my eyes at her and grinned.

"I've been caught." I joked, earning a small giggle. I released her hand to push in the code to open the garage. Then, I waited.

"A-appa?"

"My ssantokki!"

I turned to watch as he leaped from his chair and walked effortlessly towards Dara. She giggled with glee and wrapped her arms around his body as they joined in a touching embrace. I smiled at the sight and took my spot at her side as her mother approached us.

"Omma, what are you two doing here?" she asked after releasing her father from her hold. Her hands were in his, holding them infront of her as she smiled and kissed her mother's cheeks. I grinned as winked at her behind Dara. She smiled and winked back subtly.

"I invited them over." I explained.

---

I'm gonna marry your daughter
And make her my wife
I want her to be the only girl that I love for the rest of my life
And give her the best of me 'till the day that I die, yeah
I'm gonna marry your princess
And make her my queen
She'll be the most beautiful bride that I've ever seen
I can't wait to smile
As she walks down the aisle
On the arm of her father
On the day that I marry your daughter
 

---

"Would you believe me if she said it herself?"

He nodded thoughtfully, suddenly smiling again. "Y-yes, of course, if my ssantokki said so, then it must be true. B-but I have to hear it from her, of course!"

"Of course. Now, I want to surprise her, so let's keep why we visited to ourselves." I waited for him to nod and held my hand out for the ring. He shook his head vigorously, glaring at me once again.

"No! Not until I approve."

I smiled and stood up, nodding in agreement with him. "It's settled then. We're paying her a little visit."

And yet what was just under their noses they didn't know what would happen at our little get together.

---

The first time I saw her
I swear I knew that I say I do
I'm gonna marry your daughter
And make her my wife
I want her to be the only girl that I love for the rest of my life
And give her the best of me 'till the day that I die
 

---

"Why?"

I chuckled and gently took her hands from her father's side-stepping to create a bit of space, enough for me to stand as I pleased.

"Dara, do you love me?" I asked, finding her gazing into my eyes as I stared at her with all of the love in my heart.

She smiled and didn't hesitate to raise to her toes and peck my lips, not minding so much that her parents were only a foot or so away.

"Of course I love you, with all of my heart." She admitted, blushing as she glaced at her parents. Her mother looked as if she was about to cry, her fingers laced as she held them against her chest and smiled at the scene before her. I averted my gaze to her father, whose eyes lit up and he began to laugh and rock with his giggles. He smiled widely and threw his hands up into the air with exuberance.

"Oh, my Ssantoki! You said it! He was right, you said it just like he said you would! He knows you very well!" He took my hand in his and brought it to his face, kissing it with amusement. "Wonderful! Here, here!" And he returned the small box to me. I quickly took it from him, easily hiding it from Dara's view as she looked lovingly on her father. She pulled him into her arms for another hug and laughed with him.

"What has gotten into you, Appa? I know you love being happy but I haven't seen you like this in a long time." She smiled at him as she combed his hair back affectionately. "You're even out of your chair... After your accident you never wanted to be out of it."

She was the only one who he wouldn't blow up at when they spoke of his accident. Her once daring, self-sufficient father had gotten into a crash on his motorcycle eight years ago, a year before we met, two before we started dating. Knowing for a while of our plans to be wed, I had so much time to think of how this would all unfold. And to think I came up with this plan on the spot. The things I did for this woman. I love her so much, with everything I am. I don't know what I would do if he would have said no.

"Well, how else am I going to walk you down the aisle? In my wheelchair? Certainly not, that would be silly! Can you imagine...?" he laughed more. Whenever he wasn't talking extremely fast, he would whisper and stutter. For whatever reason, his stutter disappeared almost completely around Dara.

"So, you really are giving him your blessing, Appa? And you'll walk me down the aisle?"

He pursed his lips, the same way Dara did as he pondered the question.

"Well, I haven't heard him say that he loves you yet!" he pointed out. I grinned at the convenience of his statement and decided to take full advantage of this opportunity.

"Why don't I show you?" I reached for her hand and held it gingerly in my own, lowering myself onto one knee, smiling up at her, that smile she always told me she loved.

The sparkle in her eye made my heart beat even faster than it already was. Her free hand flew to , just as her mother when I had shown her the ring, and she gasped as I stared up at her.

"J-Jiyong-ah, I--"

"Park Sandara..." I stared, smiling all the while. I pulled my hand from behind my back and watched her reaction as she laid eyes on the box in my palm. Her eyes grew wide and tears leaked from the corners of them. Her lips quivered as she smile, her eyes urging me on.

"I love you with all of my heart and soul, and I want you to be the only woman I ever love, forevermore. Will you marry me?"

I'm gonna marry your princess
And make her my queen
She'll be the most beautiful bride that I've ever seen

I can't wait to smile
As she walks down the aisle
On the arm of her father
On the day that I marry your daughter