He Started It by Hitting on Me

The Way Dinasours Go

Maybe it hadn't been the greatest idea. The idea seemed so far-fetched and almost impossible to go through with, but I thought it would bring a unique twist to those old-fashioned ideas. Besides, this was Mi Young I had to impress. Her boyfriend doing something tedious wasn't exactly the way to go, so yes, I guess my concept was much better than what others did in the past. What I didn't realize was how much work was going to be put into it. Not to mention the embarrassment I would have to endure.
Onew eyed me weirdly, staring at me longer than I wanted him. "Are you sure you don't want to do something else? This little getup seems a bit desperate," he commented.
I took a look at to what he referring. My dinosaur potbelly was the first thing I saw. "I don't think it's bad," I shrugged.
"People are actually staring at you," Onew mentioned.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You can calm these kids down as I get my refund for this costume," I sarcastically replied, gesturing to the group of kids staring in awe at me.
Onew shook his head vigorously. "Fine, your idea is great. But are you sure you're going through with this?" he asked. I looked down to my huge white claws and green skin or scales or whatever Crong had on him. I knew kids had something for Pororo, so the second I saw that Crong suit in a store, my wallet emptied immediately. When I went to the store and picked that costume out, the owner warned me how much it was going to cost me. The damned thing was more than what Key's highlights were worth.
I glanced down at the little chipmunks. They hadn't been good sports since I took them out from their teacher's grasp a while ago, and I was supposed to get them back before their parents picked them up. I only had an hour or so. For forty-five minutes, these kids managed to crawl under my skin with their continuous yelling and irritating voices. Honestly, all I wanted to do was ran a good hand over their tiny faces.
However, thanks to my brilliant brainstorm and that lovely store around the corner, not to mention my resilient patience, Crong became the center of attention and all eyes were on me. I clasped my hands together, ready to make an announcement. "Hey, kids! Would you like to do something for me? I'd appreciate it if you do," I added on, batting my eyelashes in an attempt to capture their sour apple hearts. At the corner of my eye, Onew gagged.
"What do you want us to do?" a girl asked.
"Well, you see, I'm going to propose to my girlfriend and I need you guys to help me with that. I want it to make spectacular and something she'll remember. If you guys help me and cooperate, you'll make me very happy," I smiled at them.
"What will we get in return?" a boy asked, folding his arms.
I blinked once. "I got you out of school, what else do you need?" I responded bluntly, earning a hard jab on the shoulder by Onew.
"What are we supposed to do? Why couldn't you take your girlfriend to a restaurant and propose there?" a girl with ponytails suggested.
"That's what I said, but his brain doesn't function right enough to be normal," Onew said as he smiled, tapping on his head.
I exhaled sharply, "Okay, okay. Look, I just want it to be really special, okay? That's not too much to ask. I got you balloons so you could hold them as we go to Myeongdong. My girlfriend's waiting there with her friend and she doesn't know yet. So we'll surprise her with the balloons. Do you guys understand?" I asked between teeth, hoping they would listen to me for just once to get this over with. Thankfully, they nodded. I sighed in relief. "Good. Now, I only have you guys for an hour because I have to get you back to school soon. We have to make this quick, all right? So you have to, you have to, listen to me. Got it?"
"Just give us the balloons already!" a girl called out.
I jerked my head back, startled. "O-okay," I mumbled, stumbling over to the car to get the balloons. Onew and I handed out a balloon to each kid one by one. I had bought one too many, thus leaving me at least six more. Onew took the remaining balloons into the car. After balloons were done being distributed, I turned back to look at the kids, who were staring at their multi-colored balloons impassively.
"Why do we need balloons anyway?" some kid asked.
"My friend will tell you when to release the balloons in the sky. It'll make it really cool and stuff," I reasoned stupidly. They left it at that, thankfully. "Guys, you remember our plan, right?" I made sure. They nodded like the good little children they were. I nodded back, taking in a deep breath and then releasing it to lessen my anxiety.
"You'll do fine, Jonghyun. She'll say yes. It's been six years and you guys are still together. I'm pretty sure today's the day," Onew said behind me, giving me warm-hearted smile. I nervously smiled back, my heart performing several leaps. His words genuinely did encourage me, yes, however...I couldn't help but feel a small part of me shake of worry.
"I guess we should start..." I trailed off, looking down the street. I was sure Key and Mi Young were walking around by now. She couldn't have been in the mall for more than a few hours. Onew patted my back, rubbing it reassuringly.
"I'll be behind you. You will be just fine, dongsaeng." With that, Onew took his balloon and jogged behind the group of kids, giving me a thumb's up to comfort me again. I gave him another smile, nodding once. I stared down at the miniature dark blue velvet box in my paw. I kept my eyes on it for one good minute, contemplating whether or not my decision on this was the way to go. Making a fist around it, I began to turn forward. Well, it's better to go ahead and try.
Before I could fully turn to the front, a kid cleared his throat. "We were thinking...what if we ran as we got to Myeongdong?" he brought up.
My brow wrinkled at his sudden yet odd suggestion. "What?" I asked flatly.
"Get him!" the kid suddenly exclaimed. Somehow, all the kids obeyed him and began to charge after me in a bundle. In a panicky state, my legs instinctively began to sprint in order not to be trampled on. Are these kids for ing real? I thought frantically. The blood in my veins started to circulate rapidly, the beating of my heart increasing with each step. The children were screaming loudly, as if they were on a rampage, which they were, but for a reason I couldn't quite really grasp.
"Why the heck are you guys running?" I yelled at them. They didn't answer me. It wasn't like I could hear them if one of them did try to tell me; everyone was too noisy for me to hear any coherent sentences, let alone words. I looked back at them to see if any one of them would give me an answer. Sadly, the little monsters had their game faces on with the determination to run over me. I tried to scan for Onew somewhere in the midst of all this; however, my eyesight couldn't go so far, due to the children threatening to flatten me. "Stop running!" I demanded. They didn't.
"," I cursed under my breath. I turned back to the front as my legs darted as fast as they could take me. I admit I was rather fast for someone with not so much height, but the kids had more energy. Damn, were they fast.
We were already in Myeongdong, guessing from the crowds of people in several pockets of the area. This stupid costume isn't helping me in any way. I glanced down at my green scales and huge white claws. It's like a sauna in here.
My phone began to vibrate inside my costume, begging me to pick it up. After taking my phone out from my heat-consuming suit, I pressed the green button and held it against my ear. "Hello?" I answered.
"Where the hell are you? She wants to go home," Key hissed in the intercom.
I sighed in exasperation. "I'm already here. I'm running to save time. Can you see me? I can't see you," I replied, squinting to spot a blonde male.
"I can't see you. What are you wearing?"
"I look like Crong."
"What the hell."
"It's a long story."
"Okay, you can tell me when you arrive. What is it with your huge surprise that's got everyone pissed off? Like damn, I could have been home right about now-wait, are you with screaming kids?" he asked.
"Yeah! Can you see me? Where are you?" I wanted to know. It was rather difficult to hear him from the children's constant yelling.
"I can see you from the left of me. Damn it, look here!" Turning my head to the side for a bit, I noticed a guy in the distance waving his arm high in the air. He paused for a moment. "Is this your fantastic idea of a proposal?"
"Who are you talking to?" a girl's voice asked beside Key. Her voice set me into a short phase of frenzy as I immediately disconnected the call. Ah, , she's actually here, I thought with a click of my tongue. I knew she was here all along but still. I was actually going to go along with this absurd idea. I was really doing this for Mi Young.
Her stare averted from Key when her ears picked up the distinct sound of children screaming. Her stare directed towards me, eyes widening at a questioning level, one where she had no idea what was going on.
I slowed down in my tracks, my feet stumbling in the steps I took. In a matter of moments I stopped running on two feet with the air already squeezed out of me. I wheezed through my mouth openly, trying to expand my lungs. I felt my knees wobble slightly so my hands rested on Mi Young's shoulders for support as I got near her. She stayed quiet as she let me pant freely.
"What the hell is all this?" she finally spoke, her tone neutral.
I panted for several moments, not having the energy to answer her question. I gave away a few more breaths of air, inhaling and exhaling, until looking up at her. "It's for you," I explained.
Mi Young frowned at me. Before her mouth could open to ask about my brief explanation, I leisurely got on one knee in front of her. Her bewildered expression soon was replaced with an astonished one.
Here we go, Jonghyun. "I've been with you for six years now. It's amazing how I was still with you through college, even though we've had our ups and downs. I've taken this thought into consideration, and I'm afraid if I don't make this move sooner or later, you'll get bored of me and I'll have to drown myself in tears, thinking what kind of you are."
"There are kids here," Key muttered loud enough for me to hear, pointing at the children who were surprisingly silent. I ignored him.
"But um, if you really want to bear with me and if you really, really want to-there's no pressure or anything-" I opened the small dark blue velvet box that was secured in my hand and revealed a ring with an intricate floral design. She probably disliked flashy diamonds, so I avoided anything that had to do with that. Instead, I looked for a simple yet elegant ring she would wear, something that would suit her. "Will you marry me?"
Her surprise grew, as well as a light blush tickling her cheeks. She gazed at the ring, then back at me, then at the ring. Some people had even stopped to stare at us, waiting for Mi Young's answer. Others stared at my odd costume, possibly thinking there was no way in hell she would want to get married to a creep like me. Finally, she sighed. "Look, if we're getting married, you know that means forever, right?" Mi Young asked, hoisting an eyebrow.
I made a face at her. "Do you think I'd buy this ring if I knew that? Do you think I'm stupid?"
"Of course. But my answer is yes. I'll marry you."
"Really?" I blurted out. I jumped up on my feet, staring at her in disbelief, yet having a wide grin break out on my face. "Are you sure? Is this just because kids are here to put pressure on you? Because honestly, that was my first intention and I thought maybe it was a bit too much and that you'd think I was desperate-"
"Aish, you bastard," Mi Young chuckled as she gently cupped my face, placing her lips on mine. My heart leaped over in utter joy and triumph as I smiled against our physical contact, kissing her back.
"She said yes! Release your balloons, little ones!" Onew yelled from behind. I heard the kids shout in joy as they let go of their balloons into the sky. The crowd around us clapped in response to Mi Young's answer, congratulating us silently.
Mi Young let go of me and tapped on the costume's head. "Do you mind explaining me how and why you got into this costume?"
I suppressed an embarrassed grin. "Eh...I'll tell you later. Let's just enjoy the fact you want to stay with me for the rest of your life," I breathed, now at ease.
"God knows what you got yourself into, Mi Young," Key sighed.
"Amen to that," Onew agreed, pointing at Key, shaking his finger.
"Don't listen to them. What do they know? They're not getting married, the assholes," I muttered, giving them a dirty look.
Mi Young laughed at me, sweeping the bangs out of my eyes. "You're such an idiot," she commented, her nose scrunching at me. I bit my lip for an attempt to keep a smile off my face, but it failed inevitably.
Always.