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The day was supposed to be perfect. San had everything planned out, from the restaurant he was taking Yeosang to, to what he and Yeosang would wear on their date, even the words he would say as he revealed that very special box that would be hidden within his front jacket pocket. The gift he's had for months. The one that would change both of their lives forever.
This moment was everything to San and it needed to be perfect.
But there was one thing San didn't consider when he was planning out this perfect day and as he stood in front of the living room window that morning, the world outside completely covered in white, he quickly realized his mistake. What had supposed to be light snowfall throughout the day had turned into a massive snowstorm in the middle of the night, with big fat snowflakes still falling from the sky.
Normally San would love the sight, but not today. He was supposed to be taking Yeosang to a romantic dinner at a new restaurant that Yeosang has been mentioning for weeks and proposing to him as they took a stroll through the park, admiring the Christmas lights before heading home.
That was the plan. Simple and perfect and no longer possible.
Panic started to set in as San watched the falling snow, hands wrapped tight around his coffee mug, the rich liquid within warming his palms.
"Okay, San," he whispered to himself, desperately trying to keep the panic at bay. "Time to improvise. Come on, think of something."
After taking a sip of his coffee, San turned away from the window and walked into the kitchen, promptly opening the fridge and assessing his options. While there was food inside, there was nothing that would be acceptable as a romantic dinner. And with the amount of snow covering the streets outside, there was no venturing out for a quick run to the grocery store.
Abandoning his coffee mug on the counter, San slowly made his way back to the bedroom where Yeosang was still sound asleep on the bed. Pulling back the comforter, San climbed into bed and wrapped an arm around Yeosang's waist, tugging his boyfriend close enough that his back was pressed against San's chest.
San melted into the warmth, burying his face into the crook of Yeosang's neck, breathing in his scent. He stopped thinking about all the things going wrong, stopped worrying about how to fix it and simply enjoyed the silent moment of holding the love of his life in his arms.
It's been over two years since San took Yeosang on that fated road trip along the coast, a year and a half since they moved in together, and three months since San picked out simple matching gold bands from the jewelry store while Yeosang was at a meeting with his literary agent.
Some people might say that their relationship was moving fast, but neither San nor Yeosang felt that way. They've been in each other's lives since they were kids, have experienced all of the ups and downs with the other by their side. No one knows San better than Yeosang and vice versa. The moment they realized they were meant for each other, that was it. Honestly, San had a feeling that if he would have proposed the second they returned home from that road trip, Yeosang would have said yes.
But San was grateful for the past two years of getting to know Yeosang in a new way, learning how to coexist in the same space, waking up every morning to an angelic face lying next to him. They weren't moving fast. They were moving at a pace that was exactly right for them. And nothing, not even a snowstorm, was going to keep San from taking the next step in their relationship.
A soft sigh escaped Yeosang's lips before he rolled over in San's embrace, their faces mere inches from each other, and his eyes fluttered open.
"Morning," Yeosang whispered as he wiped the sleep from his eyes, a tiny smile on his lips.
He looked positively endearing and San couldn't help but lean forward to kiss the birthmark near Yeosang's left eye.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. Want me to make us some breakfast?"
Yeosang pressed a soft kiss against San's lips before cuddling closer, resting his head on San's chest. "Not yet. I'm too comfortable to move at the moment."
San smiled before closing his eyes, carding his fingers through Yeosang's hair as the two lingered in bed for as long as Yeosang wanted, happy and content in their own personal bubble.
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"That smells delicious," Yeosang said as he walked into the kitchen, his hair still slightly damp from the shower he had just taken.
"And it's almost done," San commented as he placed the cooked yachaejeon onto a plate. "It's not anything special, but that meal is reserved for tonight."
If San could figure out how to make a romantic dinner even happen, that is.
Yeosang beamed as he took a seat on top of the counter. "I'm excited for dinner tonight. I've been wanting to try out this restaurant for I don't know how long."
San's expression fell slightly. "I'm afraid you're going to have to wait for that specific meal a little while longer."
"What do you mean?" San gestured toward the window and Yeosang finally noticed the snow covered world outside of their warm and cozy apartment. "Oh. I see."
"I'm sorry."
Yeosang reached a hand out to San, beckoning him forward. After turning off the stove and removing the skillet from the hot burner, San walked over and accepted Yeosang's hand. "Why are you apologizing, San? You can't control the weather."
"But we both were looking forward to this dinner. Tonight was supposed to be perfect."
Wrapping his arms around San's neck, Yeosang pulled him closer until their foreheads were touching. "Being with you is already perfect, San, regardless of where we go or what we do. Have you forgotten that we started our relationship in the back of a van you rented for a week?"
A soft chuckle escaped San's lips. "Of course not. That week was one of the best weeks of my life."
"Mine too. So stop stressing. Everything will work out the way it's supposed to."
Their lips found each other naturally, soft in their movements as Yeosang reassured San that what he said was true and San eagerly believed it. As tempting as it was to lose himself in the kiss, San leaned out of the embrace and nodded toward the food waiting for them on the other side of the counter.
"We should eat before everything gets cold."
After placing the food on the dining table, San and Yeosang sat down to enjoy their late breakfast. San watched as Yeosang's gaze kept being drawn to the window, his rich brown eyes following the white flakes descending on the other side of the glass.
"You're really not disappointed that we can't go out on our date tonight?" San asked before taking a sip of his coffee.
Yeosang leaned back in his chair, releasing a soft sigh. "Not enough for it to ruin my mood. We'll just have to reschedule a visit to the restaurant when the weather permits." His right brow raised slightly as Yeosang stared back at San. "You seem more disappointed than I am, and the choice of restaurant was my idea. Why? Did you have some surprise planned?"
Heat began to prickle San's cheeks as he stuffed his mouth with yachaejeon. "No, not at all. It's just been a while since we've had the time to actually go out for a nice date."
Yeosang nodded as he reached across the table to interlace their fingers. "I know. But now that my agent has my draft to review, I'll be free until the end of January and we can go on as many dates as we want. When we're not being snowed in, that is."
San smiled as he lifted Yeosang's hand to press a gentle kiss against his palm. "You deserve to be spoiled with nice dinners at fancy restaurants every night with how hard you've been working over the past few months. I'm so proud of you."
Cheeks flushing, Yeosang pulled back his hand and distracted himself with another bite of food. "It's strange how different it feels writing these last two manuscripts now that I have a new literary agent. I was worried that terminating my contract when we returned home from that road trip two years ago would be a mistake, but it was clearly the best decision I could have made for myself. I'm always surprised with how different Mr. Yoon is compared to Ms. Han." Yeosang peeked at San through his lashes, an endearing smile on his lips. "But none of it means more to me than having you by my side through all of this. You helped reignite the spark I had for writing, and I feel like there's nothing I could do to repay you for that."
"There's nothing I need from you, Yeosang. You owe me nothing. I support you because I believe in you and I love you, and that will never change. You, my brilliant writer, are stuck with me."
Releasing an airy chuckle, Yeosang poked San's cheek with his chopsticks before the two men finished their meal in pleasant silence. After cleaning up the dirty dishes, San and Yeosang found themselves lounging on the couch – San flipping through channels on the TV until he landed on a trashy reality show, while Yeosang was lying down reading a book, his head resting on San's thigh.
Snow continued to fall outside as the day proceeded, a constant reminder that San needed to quickly improvise his plan if he was going to successfully propose to Yeosang later that evening. He could postpone the whole thing, wait until they were actually able to have the night San had originally planned.
But as San gently carded his fingers through Yeosang's hair while the other man got lost in the book he was reading, San came to the conclusion that they didn't need a fancy night out in order for him to be worthy of proposing to the person he loved most in this world. Still, San would like to have something to make it more romantic.
As mid afternoon approached, San's relaxation was interrupted by a soft knock on the front door.
"Do you think a neighbor got locked out of their apartment or something?" Yeosang lazily asked without even looking away from his book.
San leaned down to kiss Yeosang's forehead before rising to his feet, placing a pillow in his spot so that Yeosang still had something to rest his head against.
"Let me find out."
When San reached the front door and opened it, he was greeted by the gentle smile of their neighbor, Mrs. Baek. She was an elderly woman in her early sixties who has been doting on San and Yeosang since the two of them moved into the apartment complex, treating them as though they were her grandsons.
"I hope I haven't disturbed you, dear boy," Mrs. Baek said as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"Not at all, Mrs. Baek. Yeosang and I are having a rather lazy afternoon, thanks to the snow."
Even as he chuckled lightly, there was still a small amount of disappointment in San's voice. Mrs. Baek nodded in understanding.
"That's actually why I knocked on your door. I could really use some help with something, if you don't mind."
"Of course." San slipped on a pair of house shoes before glancing over his shoulder to Yeosang. "I'm running to Mrs. Baek's apartment real quick."
"Okay."
"Thank you, dear boy," Mrs. Baek said as she led San down the hallway to her own apartment. "This snowstorm happened at the worst possible time, didn't it?"
"Yes, it did."
Mrs. Baek's apartment was decorated about how you'd expect. Picture frames that held photos that spanned across decades, filled with family and friends. A rocking chair next to the fireplace, with a basket full of yarn and knitting needles placed next to the chair. There was always a pleasant aroma lingering in the air, as though she had just finished cooking a delicious meal or mouthwatering sweets. Walking into Mrs. Baek's apartment always felt like being embraced in a warm hug.
As San followed Mrs. Baek into her kitchen, he noticed a small suitcase placed in the living room.
"Were you planning on going somewhere for the holidays?"
Mrs. Baek sighed. "My youngest son and his wife were going to pick me up this morning so that I could spend the holidays with them, but there's no getting out in this weather. Don't worry about me, though. Ms. Lee down on the fifth floor has graciously invited me over for dinner every night until the snow clears. Which brings us to the reason I need your help." Mrs. Baek opened her fridge and began pulling out a bunch of fresh ingredients, placing them on the counter. "I need you to take all of this food off my hands."
San stared at the food in shock. "What?"
"Now that I'm having dinner with Ms. Lee for the foreseeable future, I no longer need to worry about making dinner for my son and his family. There's plenty of options – pork, beef, kimchi, I even have ingredients for stew and noodles. Surely you'll be able to cook up a delicious meal to make up for that special dinner you had planned."
When San looked down at Mrs. Baek, a knowing smile was on her face.
"How– how did you know?"
"Oh, my dear boy. You couldn't be more obvious. Anyone could see that you've been planning on proposing for weeks." Mrs. Baek chuckled. "Anyone except for Yeosang, that is. Always daydreaming. But that's part of his charm."
"Mrs. Baek, I really can't accept all of this."
The older woman waved San's comment away. "Of course you can. A warm, home cooked meal shared in the comfort of your own home, surrounded by soft music and hanging twinkle lights can be just as romantic as whatever you originally had planned. Trust me, dear boy. Your proposal is going to be perfect."
It took a couple of trips but soon San was standing in the kitchen, organizing the food Mrs. Baek had gifted him.
"What's all this?" Yeosang asked as he left his spot on the couch and walked into the kitchen, the book he had been reading still in his hand. "I thought you were helping Mrs. Baek with something."
San explained the situation as he grabbed everything he would need to begin prepping the meal. It was already half past three in the afternoon, and if San wanted to have dinner ready at a decent time, he needed to get started.
After putting his book back in the living room, Yeosang hopped onto his usual spot on the far end of the kitchen counter and kept San company while the other man cooked. That was Yeosang's role in the kitchen, even before the two started dating and moved in with each other. Some people just aren't skilled in the ways of cooking and baking, and Yeosang was unfortunately one of those people.
San didn't mind it, though. The kitchen was often filled with Yeosang chatting away about anything and everything, making San laugh as he mixed ingredients and grilled the beef. There were so many thoughts in Yeosang's brain that needed to get out, and San was more than happy to listen.
It's one of the things San loved most about Yeosang. How animated he got when he talked about something he liked, how he would get distracted mid-sentence and go on a completely different tangent. Then there were times when no words were spoken and the two merely enjoyed each other's company in silence. The chaos and the quiet, all wrapped up in one. San couldn't ask for a more perfect life.
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The soft glow of twinkle lights and the warm flames in the fireplace enveloped the apartment as San and Yeosang enjoyed their dinner a little over an hour later. Any sunlight had long since disappeared, moonlight now reflecting against the snowflakes that had not stopped falling from the sky all day. As much as it had ruined San's plan, he had to admit it was rather beautiful.
Looking across the table at Yeosang, he found his boyfriend staring out the window fondly.
"What are you thinking about?" San asked as he reached for Yeosang's hand.
"It's like a snow globe," Yeosang replied, a soft chuckle falling from his lips. "We're trapped in our own personal snow globe."
San smiled affectionately, his dimples deepening within his cheeks. "You just made being snowed in sound incredibly charming."
Yeosang raised their intertwined hands to kiss along San's knuckles before enjoying the rest of their dinner. Once the food was consumed, Yeosang insisted that he clean up. San protested, but it was more of an act than anything. With Yeosang distracted, San was able to decorate the living room for a cozy evening by the fire. He also had time to sneak into their bedroom and grab the red box he had hidden in their closet before returning to the living room without Yeosang even noticing.
Once the box was safe in its new hiding spot, San walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Yeosang's waist.
"Are you finished yet?" he asked as he pressed a kiss to the side of Yeosang's neck.
Yeosang leaned into the touch, letting go of the skillet he was holding to focus only on San's lips. "Just a few pans left."
San reached down to grab the hand towel draped by the sink and helped Yeosang dry his hands off before leading him out of the kitchen, the remaining dirty pans already forgotten. His gaze never leaving Yeosang's face, San watched as Yeosang took in the state of the living room.
The coffee table had been moved to a different spot in the room, leaving plenty of space on the floor in front of the fireplace for a few thick blankets and several pillows. The twinkle lights had been turned off, with the only light now coming from the burning embers. It was warm and cozy and romantic, and San watched as Yeosang's eyes began to glisten with tears.
"San, this– you recreated our time in the van."
Pulling Yeosang into his arms, San pressed a kiss to the birthmark on the corner of his left eye. "An updated version. I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner."
Reaching up to cradle San's face in his hands, Yeosang captured San's lips with his own in a tender kiss. They stayed like that for a while, lips moving against each other in quiet passion before San guided them both to the blankets waiting for them. Yeosang immediately curled up in San's arms, releasing a blissful sigh as he got comfortable. They watched in comfortable silence as the flames danced within the fireplace, San's fingers gently carding through Yeosang's hair.
"Are you finally going to tell me the truth?" Yeosang eventually asked, his fingers tracing patterns across San's chest.
"What are you talking about?"
"I might get stuck in my own head sometimes, but I know you, Choi San. Our cancelled plans because of the snowstorm rattled you more than it normally would have." Gently grabbing San's chin, Yeosang angled the man's face so that they could look each other in the eyes. "What made you so upset earlier?"
San rolled onto his side so that they could face each other properly, his hand cupping Yeosang's cheek. Looking into his boyfriend's eyes, seeing the concern and love staring back at him, San felt an overabundance of joy and warmth wrap around every inch of his being.
"I had it all planned out, Yeosang. With how important the night would end up being, I wanted everything to be special. Perfect. You deserve no less than perfect."
Yeosang's brows knitted together slightly as he processed San's words.
"What do you mean by 'important'? Why would tonight be different than any other date we've been on in the past two years?"
San kissed Yeosang's forehead before rising to his feet and walking up to the fireplace mantel. From behind the picture frame that held the photo San and Yeosang took on the last day of their road trip two years ago, San pulled out the red box. Yeosang was already sitting up when San turned back around, his wide eyes narrowing in on the box in San's hands.
"San, what is that?"
Taking in a deep breath, San joined Yeosang back on the blankets, kneeling in front of him on both knees.
"I had a whole speech planned as well, but at this moment I can't remember a single word of it. All I know is that I love you, Yeosang. I've loved you for years, both in the shadows and now happily in the open. Today was perfect. Tonight is perfect, because we're right where we began. But instead of being huddled in a cramped van, we're trapped in our own personal snow globe. And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way." With tears slowly streaming down both of their cheeks, San opened the lid and presented Yeosang with the pair of matching gold bands inside of the box. "Will you marry me, Yeosang?"
Yeosang didn't even hesitate, immediately throwing his arms around San's neck, pulling him close.
"Yes! In this life and the many more that we'll live, my answer will always be yes. Forever, you and me."
San pressed a chaste kiss against Yeosang's lips before taking one of the rings from the box and slipping it on his boyfriend's – no, his fiance's finger. It fit perfectly, just like San knew it would. Once the ring was in place, Yeosang slipped the second ring on San's finger as well.
They spent a few minutes looking at each other's hands before their eyes met, still glistening because of the tears that had been shed. But there was more than joy that radiated beneath the surface. There was intense desire threatening to break free. The only choice was to surrender to it.
San tossed the empty ring box aside before wrapping a hand around the back of Yeosang's neck, holding him in place as he surged forward and captured his lips in a heated kiss. Yeosang sighed into the embrace, losing himself in the way San's lips moved against his own. With a gentle nudge, San guided Yeosang back onto the blankets, his focus now on leaving a trail of kisses down Yeosang's neck.
"San," Yeosang sighed as the other man caressed his hands down Yeosang's body, his confident touches the promise of what's to come. "Don't tease me for too long."
A chuckle vibrated through San's body as he grabbed the hem of Yeosang's sweater and promptly tugged it off, tossing it to the other side of the room. He then made quick work of his own clothes before his lips returned to Yeosang's skin, moving across his sculptured chest and down the lines of his abs. Once he reached the button of Yeosang's pants, San wasted no time freeing Yeosang from the rest of his clothes.
A breath hitched inside of Yeosang's chest the moment San's lips grazed against his inner thigh, so close to where Yeosang wanted him. After one last kiss to his thigh, San lowered his head between Yeosang's legs, wrapping his wet mouth around Yeosang's sensitive skin.
Yeosang squirmed beneath San's touch, overwhelmed by the way San worshipped his body. So tender and perfect, every ounce of love present in every touch.
"Oh, San. I–"
San moaned against his skin, and it wasn't long until Yeosang was falling over the edge, chasing after his release. His breaths were staggered as San kissed all the way back up his body before resting their foreheads together.
"Good?" San asked, his hands now trailing to Yeosang's hips, massaging his soft skin.
Yeosang nodded. "Great."
They kissed each other tenderly as San worked his fingers with slow precision, Yeosang's moans getting more and more desperate against his lips as time went on. But when San finally started to align their hips, Yeosang pressed his palms against San's chest until he was now sitting on the blankets. San's confusion only lasted a short moment before Yeosang was crawling onto his lap, straddling his hips.
"Let me," Yeosang pleaded as he caressed San's cheek. "You've already done so much for me today. Now it's time to let me take care of you."
Yeosang raised his hips for a moment before slowly bringing himself down onto San, connecting their bodies in a way that would always feel right. San held onto Yeosang's waist as a steady pace was set, with Yeosang wrapping his arms around San's broad shoulders and burying his fingers through San's hair as he rocked his hips up and down.
As the intoxicating sensation flowed through him, San kept his eyes on Yeosang. The light from the flames washed him in a radiant glow, sweat glistening down his chest as more moans escaped his lips. Feeling overwhelmed by the love he had for the man wrapped in his arms, San leaned forward and kissed Yeosang wherever he could.
"So beautiful," San whimpered before kissing from Yeosang's neck to his shoulder. "I can't believe I get to call you mine."
"All yours. Always yours."
Feeling his release approaching, San began rocking his hips up to meet Yeosang's every descent, nothing but deep groans escaping his lips.
"Sannie, I– oh god." Yeosang leaned down to kiss San just before they found their release, their bodies shaking uncontrollably as they held each other close.
As their breathing began to settle, San collapsed onto the blankets, pulling Yeosang along with him. For a while, they simply laid there, with Yeosang resting his head against San's chest, their bodies aching in the best way possible.
Later, after cleaning up and getting a new set of blankets to lie beneath, San cradled Yeosang in his arms and held him impossibly close. Yeosang's left hand was tracing patterns on San's chest once again, and the two men watched as the fading light from the embers reflected against the gold band that now decorated Yeosang's finger.
"This is enough, San," Yeosang whispered into the quiet.
"Huh?"
"I don't need to be spoiled with fancy restaurants or fancy gifts. Nights like this, simple and passionate, are more than enough." Yeosang lifted his head so that he could meet San's gaze. "I'll take nights in a van or lying in front of a fireplace over anything else, because what makes those moments so special is you. It's always been you."
Fighting back tears, San leaned forward to press their lips together, the world fading away as they were consumed by the embrace and the many that followed. San had wanted a perfect night.
He got something even better.
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