twelve

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Ji Young

As soon as I got home from school, I set my stuff down at the bottom of the stairs and began walking around the house to find dad. He promised we would go out tonight to celebrate my birthday, and I was looking forward to it all day.

"Dad?" my calls echo around the house "Dad??"

Unable to find him on the main floor, I then head upstairs to look around more. Maybe he was asleep? Just as I was about to check his bedroom, I found a note taped to his door. Opening it, the note read:

Ji Young, 

If you're reading this, something came up with your grandparents and I had to leave town immediately. I'm sorry, but I'll be leaving you alone for a night or two. 

It's probably nothing new since you're usually on your own a lot, and I'm sorry for that. I left some money in my study in case you want to buy food or go out with friends.

We'll celebrate your birthday when I get back. I promise. 

Happy 16th, sweet pea.

Love, Dad.

I was a little bummed at the last minute change of plans,  but at least he cared enough to write out an explanation to me as well as apologize and promise to make it up to me when he gets back. 

Going back downstairs to grab my bag, I then head back up to my room to put everything away. Checking my phone, I met with over 100+ notification from a group chat with some friends. Mostly wishing me happy birthday and possibly scheduling a group call later while we all watch a drama together.

I reply to as many messages as I could while more messages came barreling in, smiling at all the lovely messages they sent. I say my thanks with a bunch of hearts before telling them that I was going to have my phone on silent so that I could finish my homework on time before our group call later tonight. 

Locking my phone and placing it face down, I reached for my homework booklet when dad's journal caught my eye.

I mean... The homework is due two weeks from now, what's one more day of reading?

Grabbing his journal, I open the book and picked up where I left off.

.

.

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Wonu - third year of college

I've been going back and forth on the topic of marriage and settling down with her--It's been on my mind for weeks and I am now at the point of feeling torn. With the future I dream of in mind, I can only picture her by my side; that alongside getting married, buying a house, having kids-

Though I'm worried about mentioning it to her. We've only been dating for a little under two two years while living together for almost a year, but something inside me was so determined to make this woman my wife. Of course, that was an end goal of mine, but it seemed a little too soon to even pop the question. We haven't even officially hit two years yet!--well, we will be soon, actually. Our anniversary is next week!  

Anyway I'm worried that if I bring it up, she'll be repulsed by it and maybe even break up with me. She and I have already built a comfortable life together, and we just started talking about getting a cat. She may not want to have kids nor to get married- and although I would have no problem about it if that were the case, but it may complicate our relationship with conflicting goals.

All I want is to spend the rest of my life with her, but I also want to take her feelings into consideration too. Only thinking about what I want is so... selfish.

Curious, I decided to bring up the topic one night while we were getting ready for bed.
I had just finished brushing my teeth and walking into our shared bedroom to find her brushing her hair and her back to me.

Seeing my opportunity, I then take a deep breath and ask "Seo Hyeon, could I ask you something my love?"

Not moving from her spot, she hums "what's on your mind, babe?"

I hesitated for a moment, but I knew that this was probably the best chance I got to ask the biggest question about our relationship; specifically about our future. Sitting on the bed with my back facing her, I then ask the question that's been on my mind forever:

"It's probably too soon to ask about this, but... Would you want to get married someday?"

I'm only met with silence, so I continue to say what's been on my mind.

"I know it's sudden, but it's been on my mind for months now. With all honesty, there's no one else I would want to spend forever with. Getting married, loving in a nice house, starting a family- all of that with you. Though if that's not something you want, I completely understand and we could forge-"

I then felt the mattress dip as she shifted to turn her body and wrap her arms around me from behind as she snuggled her face into the nape of my neck, she then quietly whispers into my ear "I would love that, Wonu. More than anything in this world."

"Really?" Was all I could muster up.

"I can't picture married life with anyone except you," She then places a kiss on my shoulder "I've been meaning to say this for so long, but with how comfy our current living situation is, I was worried you would hate the idea and break up with me."

I then chuckle "Funny how you say that, I was worried that YOU would break up with ME for the same reason."

She was in disbelief "What? There's no way I would."

I then turn my body so that I could give her a proper hug, giggling as we both felt a huge weight be lifted off our shoulders.
I felt so relieved that we were finally able to talk about it, and now that I know that we're in the same boat, my decision was set in stone: I'm going to marry her.

Winding down for the night, we cuddle up against each other before I pulled the blanket over the both of us.
Feeling my eyelids gets heavy, I made a mental note to start ring shopping this weekend before falling asleep.

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