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two years had passed since that night on the beach, and so much had changed. moonbyul and riki had graduated from high school, stepping into the bustling world of university life. but through all the chaos, the late-night study sessions, and adjusting to a new routine, there was one thing that remained constant—their relationship.
they were inseparable, like two halves of the same whole. even when their schedules got busy, even when life tried to pull them in different directions, they always found their way back to each other. their love had only deepened over time, strengthened by the hurdles they'd faced together.
riki, with his ever-present charm and quiet thoughtfulness, had become moonbyul's rock. she couldn't imagine life without him now, couldn't picture a future that didn't include his hand in hers. they were no longer just teenagers in love; they were partners, best friends, and confidants. they had grown together, and every step of the way, they had leaned on each other, navigating the uncertainty of adulthood side by side.
but today was different. today, riki wasn't his usual, calm self. no, today he was pacing around their shared apartment, fidgeting with his shirt collar, trying and failing to tame his slightly unruly hair in the mirror.
"does this look okay?" he asked for what had to be the tenth time, his voice betraying just how nervous he was.
moonbyul, leaning against the doorway with an amused smile on her face, raised an eyebrow. "riki, you look fine. they're going to love you."
he gave her a doubtful look, running a hand through his hair for good measure. "yeah, but what if i mess up? or say something stupid?"
moonbyul chuckled, crossing the room to stand in front of him. she placed her hands on his chest, smoothing out the fabric of his shirt before looking up at him with a soft smile. "you're not going to mess up," she said gently. " my parents aren't going to judge you for it. they're going to see exactly what i see—a guy who's kind, thoughtful, and means the world to me."
riki let out a slow breath, his nerves settling just a little as he stared down at her. "you really think so?"
"i know so." she stood on her tiptoes and pressed a light kiss to his cheek. "besides, you've met me, and i'm way scarier than my parents."
he laughed at that, the sound easing some of the tension that had been building inside him. leave it to moonbyul to find a way to make him feel better, even in the most nerve-wracking of situations. it was one of the many reasons he loved her.
"okay," he breathed, giving her a small, shaky smile. "i guess i'm as ready as i'll ever be."
they left the apartment together, riki's hand gripping hers a little tighter than usual as they walked down the street to meet moonbyul's parents. despite his nerves, there was something comforting about having her beside him. with moonbyul, everything felt manageable—even the terrifying prospect of meeting her family for the first time.
as they approached the house, riki's heart began to race again, but moonbyul squeezed his hand, shooting him a reassuring smile. "we've got this," she whispered.
he nodded, his stomach doing flips as they reached the front door. moonbyul took a deep breath before knocking, and within moments, the door swung open.
there they stood—her mom and dad, welcoming smiles on their faces. riki's nerves hit an all-time high, but before he could even open his mouth to introduce himself, moonbyul beat him to it.
with a radiant smile, she stepped forward, her voice filled with warmth and pride as she said the words that made riki's heart soar.
"mom, dad, meet riki, my boyfriend."
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