Reader X Uchinaga Aeri (Aespa)
Genre: fluffy (?)
Words: 1384
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In the bustling heart of Seoul, where the modern and the traditional often dance in a harmonious blend, Aeri Uchinaga and Y/n found themselves, like many others, caught in the rhythm of city life. Aeri, a young woman with a passion for photography and an eye for the subtle beauties of her cosmopolitan surroundings, sought to capture the essence of Seoul in every snapshot. Y/n, on the other hand, was a musician, a soulful singer-songwriter whose melodies often echoed through the small cafes and bars of Hongdae.
Their story began on a spring afternoon in the vibrant streets of Itaewon. Aeri was there to photograph the eclectic mix of cultures while Y/n had just finished performing an intimate gig at a local coffee shop. As fate would have it, their paths crossed when Aeri, enchanted by the soulful strains of Y/n's voice drifting through the air, followed the melody to its source.
"Excuse me," she said, approaching him after the last chord had faded, "I hope this isn't too forward, but I couldn't help but be drawn to your music. Would you mind if I took a few photos of you? Your passion, it's palpable, and I'd love to capture it."
Y/n's eyes met hers, and in them, she saw a reflection of her own creative fervor. "I don't mind at all," he replied with a warm smile. "But how about we make it a fair trade? You photograph me, and I'll write a song for you. Deal?"
Aeri's lips stretched into a smile. "Deal."
Over the following weeks, their collaboration blossomed into a beautiful friendship. Aeri would attend Y/n's gigs, her camera always at the ready, while he would listen to her stories, finding inspiration for new songs in the way she saw the world.
The more time they spent together, the more they found themselves drawn to each other, not just as artists, but as kindred spirits. One evening, as they were walking along the Han River, Y/n took a deep breath and broke the comfortable silence between them.
"Aeri, I've been thinking," he started, his voice slightly hesitant.
"About what?" she asked, tilting her head to look at him, her camera slung over her shoulder.
"About us. I don't wanna think too much, I just wanna feel," he confessed. "You know that it ain't no rush, but I want to keep it real with you."
Aeri's heart fluttered. She had felt the same way but was afraid to put it into words.
"I've been feeling the same," she admitted, "I don't need grand gestures or anything. Just let me be in your life like that. In your life like that."
Y/n's eyes lit up, mirroring the golden hues of the setting sun that painted the river. "I'll bring the light right back," he promised. "I'll bring the life right back into both our lives."
Their conversation continued into the night, each word weaving a more profound connection between them. They shared dreams, fears, laughter, and silence, all the while feeling as though they were the only two people in the world.
"I'm gonna make you want more," Y/n said at one point, a playful tone in his voice. "I'm gonna be your new favorite. Tell 'em you're closing the door on the past because I am the only for sure."
Aeri laughed, "Oh, babe, you're confident. But I like that."
As autumn arrived with its palette of reds and golds, their relationship deepened. Y/n would often serenade Aeri with the song he had written for her, and in turn, she presented him with a photo album filled with images of their time together-each photograph telling a story of its own.
"Hold up," Aeri would say whenever Y/n's doubts crept in, often about the future of his music career. "There shouldn't be no hold up. There's more love if you follow emotions."
Y/n learned to trust in her words, in the wisdom of her spontaneity. "Show up," she would encourage. "Now if you're down to roll up, meet me on the west side for me."
And he would, every single time.
As winter's chill wrapped Seoul in its embrace, they found warmth in each other's presence. One chilly evening, as they cuddled under a blanket in Y/n's rooftop apartment, Aeri whispered, "I don't want it if it ain't your touch. It's better every time we chill. You ain't gotta bring no stuff; we got all we need right here."
Y/n pulled her closer, his heart resonating with her words. "Just let me be in your life like that, be your wife like that," he murmured, a playful seriousness in his tone. "I'll bring the light right back, I'll bring the life right back."
The idea of marriage hadn't been on their minds, or so they thought, but in that moment, the playful banter seemed to carry a weight of sincerity. Neither of them pushed the conversation further that night, but the seed had been planted.
As the year cycled into spring once again, Y/n and Aeri found themselves at Namsan Tower, a place teeming with lovers' locks and promises of eternity. They had come under the pretense of taking photos, but as they stood there, overlooking the city, they realized it was more than that. It was a moment of decision.
Aeri fiddled with the camera in her hands, her thoughts racing. Y/n watched her, trying to gauge what was going through her mind. Finally, he broke the silence.
"Aeri, do you remember what we joked about that night on my rooftop?" he asked, his voice steady, but his hands betraying his nerves as they fidgeted with a small, unattached padlock.
She nodded, a gentle blush coloring her cheeks. "I remember," she replied softly.
"What if we didn't just joke about it? What if we took that step, not out of necessity, but because we want 'more'?" Y/n's eyes searched hers, looking for a glimpse of fear or hesitation, but all he found was warmth and quiet anticipation.
Aeri's response came in the form of actions rather than words. She placed her camera down and took the padlock from him, her fingers brushing against his as she did. "Let's do it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let's not just be each other's favorite. Let's be each other's only."
They wrote their names on the padlock, along with a simple, yet powerful date-the day they met. With careful hands, they locked it onto the fence among thousands of others, throwing away the key into the depths of the city below.
The following months were a whirlwind of planning, excitement, and the occasional nervous breakdown that inevitably accompanies the lead-up to a wedding. They chose a small traditional hanok for the ceremony, wanting to celebrate their love in a way that honored the culture that had brought them together.
On their wedding day, Aeri was a vision in a modernized hanbok, her hair pinned up elegantly, adorned with simple flowers. Y/n waited for her at the end of the aisle, his heart beating a rhythm that only she could complete. As she walked toward him, their eyes met and everything else faded into the background.
"Never thought I'd find someone who could truly see me," Y/n said, his voice filled with emotion as they stood face to face, ready to exchange vows.
"And I never thought I'd find someone who could compose the melody of my heart," Aeri replied, tears glistening in her eyes.
With their vows spoken, their lives entwined, and the blessings of their loved ones enveloping them, Aeri and Y/n stepped into their future together. It was a future uncertain, as all futures are, yet filled with the promise of more love, more life, and more music.
Every so often, they would return to Namsan Tower, finding their lock, a little weathered but steadfast-just like their love. And each time, they would smile, knowing that they had followed their emotions to a place where there was no need for hold-ups, a place where they showed up for each other, time and time again.
