The Distance

A Lovely Evening

         -3 years later-

JR smiled as he fixed his tie, then turned to Ren. "How do I look?" He asked. Ren smiled and undid his tie taking it off.

"Handsome. But you don't need a tie, we're just going on a date. Not a meeting." Ren said as he fixed JR's hair. JR chuckled and kissed his forehead.

"Not just any date. Our anniversary date, but I agree I look too business like." He said smiling. Ren smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Ready?" He asked smiling. JR nodded and took his hand leading them out to his car. They'd moved in together a year ago, they struggled a bit and argued about how things should be organized. Ren wanted it most presentable to least, and JR didn't organize anything. But soon they got accustomed to how the other did things and it just worked smoothly.
"Where are we going anyway?" Ren asked. "You refused to tell me. Can't you just give me a hint?" He begged. JR shook his head.

"No, it's a surprise." He said as they drove, he reached into his glove compartment and pulled out a blind fold handing it to Ren. "Put it on. I want you to not know where we're going. " he said smiling. Ren raised a brow but took it anyway putting it on. Once they parked JR quickly got out and helped Ren out and led him through the trophy garden, to the gazebo they had added in mid last year. JR arranged with the people who took care of the garden to set up a dinner table for them. They had lights wrapped around the railing, with the roses growing around it. They had hanging lanterns from the roof, in the center was a candlelit dinner for two. JR smiled and slowly took the blindfold off Ren. "Okay... Now open your eyes." He said. Ren blinked his eyes open and his jaw dropped.

"JR.... did- did you do this?" He asked turning to him. " It's beautiful!" He exclaimed hugging JR tight and kissing him. JR smiled and kissed him back.

"I had some help, but I arranged this." He said smiling at Ren.

"It's unbelievable...." he said smiling wide. JR took Ren's hand and led him to the table pulling out his chair for him, then got in his own. They both began to eat. "Do you remember how we met?" He asked .

"How could I forget?" He asked chuckling. " middle school, our most awkward years, we tripped over each other." He said laughing softly. " had our notebooks swapped. And didn't realize it till a week later?" He asked. Ren nodded smiling. "I noticed when I got like ten pages in? And just pictures of fashion, magazine clip outs, and little hearts" he said smiling. Ren blushed and chuckled.

"I figured out the first day. I opened it up and half of the pages where song lyrics, all original." He said smiling. JR blushed and laughed.

"I must have sounded like a sap... " he said embarrassed. Ren shook his head.

"I thought it was sweet." He said softly. "I didn't want to give it back. But when you tracked me down and told me you had mine, I had to..." Ren said sighing. JR nodded and smiled touching Ren's hand gently.

"Yeah and then you got made fun of for your notebook, and your clip outs and I-" JR began.

"And you defended me. That's when we got close... You'd walk me home. Make sure I was okay, walked me to class sometimes. That's when I fell in love with you..." Ren said blushing. JR smiled and kissed his hand then slowly got up from the table. Ren gave him a confused look.

"And I fell in love with you. Every time I saw you smile.... even though I only realized this when you stopped being by my side. I realized... I always had you there, always supporting me and caring for me." He paused and got on one knee pulling out a small black box. Ren's eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly. "That first 'date' we had... Was the best moment of my life, when I almost lost you... I didn't... I didn't know what to do. I couldn't bare with that thought. Now I know I want you by my side forever." He opened the box revealing a gold band with a diamond in the center with carvings in it. Ren's eyes welled up with tears of joy, he covered his mouth with his hand nodding as tears streamed down his cheeks, before JR could even ask. "Choi Minki, Ren... Will you marry me?" He asked.

"Yes! Yes.... a million times yes." He said happily as JR slipped the ring onto his finger. JR stood up and kissed Ren deeply.

"I love you." He said smiling as he held Ren.

"I love you too."

End~