BIRTHDAY.

11

[ MARKDY ]

it was finally their date night and the couple set up mark's kitchen like a restaurant. scented candles surrounded them, the table cloth was white and there was a small vase at the center. mark played some instrumental music in the background to set up the mood, they wanted to have a fancy date for this month but was too lazy to go out so they decided to bring the fancy date they wanted here.

they had fun preparing everything, hours prior before their 'date'. wendy decorated the kitchen while mark prepared their meal. they played music as they did it and maybe acted out some of the songs in between.

they just finished their main course and was time for dessert, which excites wendy the most because she was craving for banana split. the moment she heard mark was preparing it earlier, she tried her best to control herself from sneaking a few spoons. mark stood and got their desserts and placed them in front of her dramatically, making wendy laugh out loud.

"here's the most awaited part of the dinner, banana split for my lovely date." mark said with a smile and wendy instantly returned it, thanking him as she took a spoon beside her.

mark ate his dessert longer than wendy but she didn't mind, she could just eat his if he doesn't want to eat it anymore. wendy was too preoccupied with her dessert that she didn't notice mark move nervously in front of her, he was too nervous to even eat his dessert.

he wrote something on the bottom of her plate, the question that he has been dying to ask her. mark just turned thirty-five a few months ago and as a promised, he made when he was twenty-five, he promised to marry when he found the girl for him. and she was sitting right in front of her, happily eating her dessert.

it didn't take long for wendy to finally finishing everything on her plate, "huh?" she asked as she tried to understand the words written on her plate, "wait..." she whispered and look up to see mark's reaction but was shocked to see him kneeling on one knee in front of her, "m-mark..."

"i wanted to do this when we're just alone, i feel more comfortable. i feel more intimate with you. people tend to practice out their speech but knowing how i'll probably ruin everything if i memorized a speech, i'll just say whatever my heart and mind tells me to...

... my love, we knew each other for more than ten years now but we've been together as a couple for six years now. people always ask me why haven't i asked you to marry me in the early years, they knew how serious i was with you, they knew how much i love you, but still, i never once thought of kneeling down in front of you before. i wasn't ready but i still wanted to spend my whole life with you, and only you...

... it took me so long before i got ready and i still feel bad about it. i made you wait for me to finally ask you. i was getting scared, my love. i thought you were going to leave me if i don't ask you any sooner but the reassurance you gave every time someone asks us, it helped me. it helped me a lot...

... i worked hard until i was stable, work-wise and mentally-wise. marriage is so much different from dating, it has a lot of responsibilities and i took my time into preparing myself. it took a bit longer than i anticipated. i just needed time to figure things out with myself. i don't want you to be tied with me as i was still unsure of me being a wonderful husband, father, grandfather...

... but now, i am ready. i'm ready to be your support system for the rest of my life, to be your lifetime partner, to be the father who will guide our children to the right path, to be a person who will always love and take care of you...

... after that long-ass speech, i will officially ask the question again. wendy son, will you do me the honors to be your lifetime partner?" mark asked and opened a velvet box that contains a ring.

wendy was crying and was left speechless, she expected to only have dinner with him but got a proposal instead but she wasn't complaining.

"yes. it's a yes, mark tuan!" wendy voiced out and mark started crying at this point. his hands shake as he place the ring on her finger before wrapping his arms around, gently lifting her up from the ground.

"i love you so much, my love." mark whispered.

wendy smiled and wiped the tear from his cheeks, "i love you so much too. you were worth the wait, my love."