A Promise

Engagement

After months of reconnecting and falling back into each other's lives, Earn and Fahlada found themselves in a familiar and thrillingly new moment. Their love had deepened, blossoming into something even more beautiful than it had been all those years ago. The memories of high school promises resurfaced, but now, they were ready to make good on the one they held closest to their hearts: the promise to be each other's brides if they ever found their way back to one another.

It was a quiet evening at Earn's home, away from the flashing cameras and bustling noise of their demanding careers. They had just finished dinner, the conversation flowing easily as they reminisced about their high school days and laughed over shared memories of sneaking earphones into class to listen to Earn's iPod. Now, they sat comfortably on the couch, the warmth of their love filling the room.

Fahlada stood up to set the mood for what she had been planning for weeks. She walked over to the turntable, her heart racing as she put on the vinyl for the song that would accompany the moment she'd been preparing for - At Last by Etta James. It was an old song, filled with the same kind of timelessness that defined their love. She had the engagement ring tucked away in her pocket, and after they danced, she would ask Earn the question she had long dreamed of asking.

But as she was preparing for the song to play,  a pair of arms wrapped gently around her waist. Fahlada smiled, thinking Earn was just getting impatient for their dance.

"Hey," Fahlada teased, "I haven't even set the music yet."

Earn didn't let go, her arms tightening slightly, and there was a new kind of tension in the air. "You don't need to," Earn whispered into her ear.

Fahlada turned in Earn's arms, confused but smiling. Earn's face was serious yet tender, her eyes filled with love. Before Fahlada could say anything, Earn slowly let go and reached into her pocket, pulling out a small velvet box.

Fahlada's breath hitched as she realized what was happening.

"I had a whole plan," Earn began, her voice a little shaky but full of emotion. "But then I realized I don't need a plan. I don't need anything grand or dramatic. I just know that I don't want to spend another day of my life without you by my side, just like we promised all those years ago."

Earn dropped to one knee, opening the box to reveal a stunning engagement ring. "Fahlada, will you marry me?"

For a moment, Fahlada was speechless. Her heart pounded, not just because Earn had just asked her to marry her, but because she realized she had planned to ask the same question. Without a second thought, Fahlada started laughing - soft at first, then growing into a joyous sound that echoed through the room.

Earn looked up, confused but smiling at Fahlada's reaction. "Is that a yes?"

Fahlada reached into her pocket, pulling out the engagement ring she had prepared. With a wide grin, she said, "I was just about to ask you the same thing!"

Earn blinked, her mouth dropping open in surprise, before laughing with her. "No way!"

Fahlada nodded, holding up her ring. "I was going to play At Last, and we'd dance, and then I was going to ask you to marry me right after." She dropped to her knees in front of Earn, still smiling. "But since you beat me to it - yes, of course. I'll marry you, Earn. I've wanted this since we were in high school. So... will you marry me, too?" 

They both knelt there for a moment, rings in hand, grinning at the perfect synchronicity of their hearts and their intentions. Earn smiled widely and nodded to Fahlada in response to her question. Speechless at the events unfolding. Slowly, they exchanged rings, their fingers trembling as they slipped them onto each other's hands. The room was quiet except for their breathing, and the world outside felt far away, leaving just the two of them in this intimate, perfect moment.