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THE DAYS leading up to Valentine's Day had been pure anticipation for Charlotte. Heeseung had asked her weeks ago to clear her schedule, a usual playful grin giving away little about his intentions. "Just trust me," he had said, voice laced with excitement. It wasn't like Heeseung to be so secretive, but she loved his spontaneity.
When the day finally arrived, Charlotte spent the afternoon nervously pacing her apartment. She had no idea what to expect, but knowing Heeseung, she trusted it would be special. When the doorbell rang at precisely six in the afternoon, her heart skipped a beat.
She opened the door to find him standing there, dressed in a crisp white shirt under a black coat, looking effortlessly handsome. In his hands, he held a bouquet of her favorite flowers; sunflowers and daisies. His smile was soft, warm, and immediately calming.
"Happy Valentine's Day, my love." he said, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a hint of nervousness. He extended the bouquet and a neatly folded letter.
Charlotte blinked, taken aback. "A letter?"
"Read it," Heeseung said, shifting on his feet, suddenly shy.
She unfolded the letter carefully, her fingers trembling slightly as her eyes scanned the words:
Charlotte, I sat down to write this letter, and I didn't know where to start because there's so much I want to say. Over the past year, you've become the most important person in my life. You make me laugh when I've had the hardest days, you believe in me even when I don't believe in myself, and most of all, you make me want to be a better person. I've never felt this way before, and honestly, it scares me how much I care about you. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.
You've changed me in the best ways, and I can only hope I make you as happy as you make me. I wanted today to be special because you deserve nothing less. So let me take care of everything tonight. I just want you to feel how much you mean to me.
Yours always, Heeseung.
By the time she finished reading, Charlotte's throat was tight with emotion. She looked up at him, her eyes glistening. "You wrote this?"
Heeseung nodded, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "I wanted to say it all out loud, but. . . well, you know how I get when I'm nervous."
Charlotte stepped closer and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
Heeseung's shoulders relaxed, relief washing over him. "Okay," he said with a laugh. "Good start. Let's go?"
He led her to a charming hole-in-the-wall restaurant, tucked away from the bustling city streets. Inside, the ambiance was intimate, with warm lighting, soft music, and the oddly faint aroma of freshly baked bread. Charlotte couldn't help but notice how thoughtful he'd been in choosing the place. It wasn't flashy or over-the-top; it felt like them.
