Chapter Text
– Ten Years Later –
“Take a deep breath in.” A stethoscope was put to the little patient's chest as she inhaled. “And let it out.” A big blow of air was given in a typical child-like manner. The doctor grinned, kneeling down beside his patient, patting her head gently. “And you’re all good to go, Soo-ah.”
The little girl gave a pout. “I’ll miss you Doctor Jeon. You're the best doctor in the whole wide world ever!”
Little arms were thrown around the doctor’s neck, while pigtails swished against his glasses, causing him to smile. Jeon Wonwoo loved his job and all his enthusiastic patients.
“I won’t be gone forever, Soo-ah,” Wonwoo soothed, patting the girl on the back before she let go and took a step back, hands on her hips.
“Mom said that too. She said you’d be gone for like two years helping other kids in a different place but that seems like forever to me .” A small frown was etched on the young girl's lips and it caused Wonwoo to laugh, patting her head again.
“I promise to be back. You're my favorite patient after all.”
Beaming, Soo-ah hugged her doctor one last time. “Thank you for helping me, Doctor Jeon. You’re my favorite too.”
Waving the young patient and her mother good-bye, Wonwoo watched until they left before grabbing his charts and walking the familiar path he often took before ending his Friday evening shift, one hand tucked inside the pocket of the white coat he wore.
It had been about a year since he completed his residency and got a job at the same hospital in the pediatric ward and he absolutely loved it there.
If you asked him ten years ago what branch of medicine Jeon Wonwoo wanted to pursue, he’d probably rotely say cardiology; the same as his father, the same as his grandfather. But, over the years, as he opened his heart, discovered what he was truly interested in and what made him happy, Wonwoo decided to focus on pediatric hematology-oncology medicine and research.
“You’re welcome for being so inspirational to you and your career,” his brother cheekily said when Wonwoo had told his family what field he chose to specialize in. The comment earned the younger Jeon a pinch to his cheeks, which was brushed off with an annoyed whine. His grandfather was supportive and proud and while his father wasn’t ecstatic, he wasn’t disapproving, which gave Wonwoo a sigh of relief.
All of his friends were of course encouraging, many of them going into the medical field themselves, and Mingyu… well…
“One more song Doctor Kim! Just one more for tonight!”
Sitting on a tiny elephant-shaped child’s chair that was unbelievably too small for the man’s large frame, Kim Mingyu sat with an acoustic guitar in hand, a small circle of young patients around him in the ‘playroom’ of the children’s medical wing that was decorated in an animal theme.
“Okay. One more and then it’s officially bed time, got it?” the man said, a finger pointing to the kids who giggled and nodded.
A chorus of “yes!” rang through the room before Mingyu played and sang another beloved song for his youthful audience.
Leaning a shoulder against the entrance, Wonwoo watched the scene with a small smile etched upon his face. Anytime they had a shift that ended around the same time, Wonwoo would routinely make his way to where Mingyu played music for the little ones who absolutely enjoyed it just as much as Wonwoo did, the tension from a long day’s work slowly easing away with the quiet music and just the other man’s presence in general; his once silly rival was now the one person that could melt away any hardships he felt and bring about a sense of peace to Wonwoo.
Kim Mingyu had also pursued pediatrics, specializing in pediatric cardiology and completing his residency at the same hospital as Wonwoo, where he also landed a job.
They were barely separated since the two began dating – moving into an apartment together, finishing all their schooling, entering residency while purchasing a home together and now working in the same hospital… Wonwoo couldn’t imagine being apart from Mingyu who had become his other half.
Except… maybe they’d have to experience a long distance relationship soon.
The thought sent a chill through Wonwoo’s body which was quickly relieved when chocolate orbs met his own obsidian pair, Mingyu giving him a wink as he softly finished the song he sang. Ending with a loud set of strums to the guitar, which the children always went crazy for, Mingyu gave each kid a hug or high-five after the little performance, ushering them towards the awaiting nurses and parents.
While Mingyu’s former roommate and bandmate, Lee Seokmin, continued to sing and perform, even signing with a music label a few years back, Mingyu had said goodbye to the band he played with through college, the focus on medical school taking priority. But it didn’t mean his talent went unpolished or forgotten. On special occasions, like when Seungkwan (the youngest of Wonwoo’s original roommates) graduated medical school and a huge party was planned to celebrate, Mingyu happily played with the old band while people danced the night away; on quiet afternoons, with the company of a gentle summer breeze and Wonwoo curled up on the patio chair beside him with his cat on his lap and a book in hand, Mingyu played and hummed various songs, bringing about a serene atmosphere amidst their busy lives; and on every Friday night, his music brought insurmountable joy to the little patients of the children’s hospital, who temporarily resided there bravely for various reasons, and to Wonwoo, who listened with a smile until Mingyu was done and they could go home together after a long day.
“Hey you,” the taller doctor said, walking over towards his awaiting boyfriend. Deciding to keep their relationship lowkey in the workplace, Mingyu forewent the usual kiss upon plush lips and instead greeted the other by gently brushing the back of his hand against Wonwoo’s cheek which the older man leaned in to.
“Hi,” Wonwoo said with a smile. “Ready to go?”
Nodding, Mingyu packed up his instrument and bag, slinging them over his shoulder before accompanying Wonwoo to his office so he could also grab his belongings and change from his pristine white coat into the casual jacket he usually wore outside the hospital.
“How was your day?” Mingyu asked, lacing their fingers together once they made it to the car.
Fastening his seatbelt in the passenger’s seat, Wonwoo sighed as he leaned against the headrest. “Good. A bit sad, but it was good.”
“Did your kids take it okay that you’re gonna be gone for a while after the end of this month?”
“They did. I had emailed parents and guardians earlier, so most of them broke it to the kids,” Wonwoo explained, his eyes focusing on his fingers that were still between his boyfriend’s own. After almost ten years of being together, physical contact wasn’t always necessary to show how much they loved and cared for each other. But tonight, Wonwoo didn’t feel like letting go.
“That’s smart,” Mingyu murmured, squeezing Wonwoo’s hand before glancing over once they were driving on a straightaway. “You okay?” he asked, noticing the small clinginess.
“I… yeah,” the older man answered, looking over at his other half. “Are you okay?” Wonwoo asked softly.
Mingyu grinned. “I’m fine, sunshine.”
Instead of the usual complaining he did about the old pet name Mingyu gave him, Wonwoo stayed silent, looking at his boyfriend who let out a small laugh.
“Seriously. I’m okay. I just… have stuff on my mind.”
Wonwoo squeezed Mingyu’s hand.
“We could join a program together…We could travel and help people...”
It had been Mingyu’s idea, Mingyu’s dream, to join a cause that was bigger than himself, that could help people in other parts of the world… and he was still waiting on an acceptance letter from the Doctors Without Borders program that Wonwoo had gotten weeks ago.
“We’d make an amazing partnership” he had said once before, and Wonwoo truly believed that, truly wanted to be with Mingyu on this new adventure… but that damn letter needed to come first.
Both caught up in their own heads, the rest of the drive was filled with quiet music from the stereo, followed by an equally hushed dinner, where Mingyu seemed to be more preoccupied by his phone than the actual food in front of him that the younger man prepared.
Glancing across the table, Wonwoo chewed slowly, wondering if Mingyu really was okay.
“I’m not going to accept it,” Wonwoo had said weeks prior when Mingyu still didn’t get a letter.
The program they had applied for seemed perfect – a pediatric cardiologist and a pediatric hematologist needed in the same location, for the same duration – and Wonwoo had been almost a hundred percent sure they would get it and begin another adventure together. But with every day that went by without an acceptance letter addressed to Mingyu, the bubble of guilt for seemingly ‘stealing’ Mingyu’s opportunity grew larger, taking up space in his gut.
“Don’t you dare think like that,” the younger man had scolded, face serious as he gripped Wonwoo’s shoulders, turning his boyfriend to face him when the older man confessed his feelings one night. “This is something you’ve worked so fucking hard for. It’s what you wanted too.”
“What we wanted," Wonwoo murmured, gripping the envelope. It was both of their dreams, both of their promises to each other, and here he was, the only one with a stupid letter in hand.
“Hey,” Mingyu had said gently, tilting the older man’s chin up with a finger. “I can always apply again. Or, follow you without being in the program and apply for a position at a clinic or something. This program isn’t the only option, love.” His voice was soft and encouraging as he placed a kiss to pouting lips. “Don’t worry about it, okay? Whatever happens, happens.”
From that day, they only discussed it a few times again, each talk ending with Mingyu reassuring Wonwoo to not worry, while Wonwoo worried. He hated seeing the disheartened look on his boyfriend's face and feeling it in his demeanor no matter how hard the younger man tried to hide it. But, even though it weighed heavy on his chest and he wanted to know what was going to happen and what they would do, Wonwoo didn’t push it and only talked about the program if and when Mingyu brought up the topic in conversation. Being a part of a relationship taught them both a lot of things and even though they lived in each other’s back pocket, over time, they learned what it meant to give the other space even when being in such close proximity.
And the discussion of this program was one that Wonwoo knew Mingyu wanted space on.
After the dishes were done, his cat fed and his body finally catching up on noticing how exhausted it was from a long shift, Wonwoo plopped down on the couch beside Mingyu who was fervently typing on his laptop.
“Are you working?” Wonwoo mumbled, leaning his cheek on Mingyu’s shoulder.
Closing his laptop, the other man smiled down at his boyfriend. “Just finalizing some stuff,” he said. “Thanks for doing the dishes.”
Wonwoo hummed out a sigh, his eyes feeling the weight of their long 12-hour shift and his body feeling the comfort and warmth of Mingyu beside him. “You did the actual hard work for dinner,” he commented softly which earned him a laugh.
“Cooking isn’t that hard. I like it.” Mingyu’s fingers brushed slowly through Wonwoo’s hair bringing the older doctor extra comfort. “And I like cooking for you.”
Blinking open his eyes that had closed upon the relaxing ministrations against his scalp, Wonwoo stared at their hazy reflection from the black screen of the TV opposite of where they sat, his frame pressed against Mingyu’s own, fitting together perfectly.
His little patient, Soo-ah, said two years would be forever. And as he thought about being separated from the man beside him for that long, Wonwoo was also convinced two years (or, well, 18 months) would seem like forever; separated from the one that cooked for him and said he enjoyed how happy Wonwoo was when he ate his food; separated from the one that brought him warmth and comfort with soft praises and spoken words of encouragement; separated from the one that made him laugh, spoiled him like crazy, and who he created most of his favorite memories with. And now, in a few short weeks, Wonwoo would be halfway around the world apart from Kim Mingyu.
With his dramatic ponderings taking flight, the doctor had a sudden urge to do anything in his power to make Mingyu happy and spend every second with the man, even if his current body refused to move off the couch. Tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow would be the day he’d plan the perfect date for Mingyu with all the Mingyu-things that Mingyu enjoyed.
“Let’s make a bet,” Wonwoo said, propping his chin on the other man’s shoulder, eyes slightly crossed as he stared at the beauty mark on Mingyu’s cheek.
“Hm?”
Wonwoo poked the little mole, gaining his boyfriend’s full attention. “Let’s make a bet,” he stated again, this time through a yawn.
Mingyu raised a brow. “Now?”
And a small pout sprouted on Wonwoo’s lips. “Play with me,” he grumbled, before rubbing his eyes that felt heavy. Wonwoo tried to blink away the sleepiness.
Mingyu smiled and pulled his boyfriend’s lean frame even closer against his side, an arm wrapped around the other man’s waist while his free hand tangled itself between one of Wonwoo’s fingers. “Okay, what?”
Wonwoo dropped his head on Mingyu’s shoulder, half-lidded eyes staring at their fingers that he fiddled with. “I dunno. But whoever wins gets to spoil the other and take them out on a date tomorrow since it's our day off.”
“You’re cute, you know that?” Mingyu murmured against dark, messy locks before placing a chaste kiss atop Wonwoo’s head. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head against the backrest of the couch that the two were cuddled upon, mind focused on Wonwoo’s soft touch against his hand.
“I’m serious.” Another yawn escaped the older man. “Play with me.”
Mingyu grinned, opening one eye to peer down at his very sleepy lover. “It’s late. We should go to bed.”
“No,” Wonwoo slightly whined, a frown creasing his brow, even though his eyes were still closed. Whatever their bet was, he had to win… he had to take Mingyu out on the best date and make him happy.
Mingyu gently took his boyfriend’s chin between his fingers and tilted Wonwoo’s face up so he could gaze at him. “Look, your eyes can barely stay open,” he scoffed lightheartedly with a smile. He was completely exhausted too and as much as he enjoyed a healthy competition with his Jeon Wonwoo, he rather snuggle up beside the man and call it a night. “Come on, another time,” he said, standing while reaching down to help the other up.
Taking the hand offered to him, Wonwoo let his boyfriend pull him up and sleepily followed Mingyu to their shared bedroom. Wonwoo was soon releasing the grasp of consciousness under the warmth of the heavy blankets and Mingyu’s secure hold around his waist, but not before a single, stubborn thought took root in his mind: ‘I’ll definitely plan the best date tomorrow for you Kim Mingyu. No matter what.’
--.--.--.--.--.--.--.--.--
Up at 7 a.m. with his glasses barely on his face, hair a tangled mess and his sleep clothes crumpled from how much he moved in his sleep, Wonwoo stared at his boyfriend who was already up and roaming around their house, dressed and ready for the day.
Frowning, Wonwoo huffed. He had planned to be up first and start off ‘Mingyu’s Extra Special Date Day’ with breakfast in bed. But, clearly, the other man looked like he had been up for a while already and was eating a quick breakfast, a piece of toast dangling from his mouth, protein shake in one hand and his cell phone in the other that he was preoccupied with until the older man walked out of their shared bedroom.
“Why are you up so early?” Wonwoo croaked, padding out to the living room while rubbing his eyes under his frames.
Meeting his sleepy boyfriend half way and slipping an arm around Wonwoo’s waist, Mingyu pressed the usual kiss to the other man’s temple while Wonwoo hugged the taller man’s midsection.
“Morning, love. I wanted to check on something, uh, work related and then I was gonna go for a jog,” Mingyu explained, tucking his phone in his pocket and pulling back. “Wanna come?”
“No,” Wonwoo answered, sitting on the couch and pulling his legs up while he watched the other man finish his meal in another bite and gulp. “When will you be back?”
“Like an hour? Or less?”
“Okay.”
“You good by yourself for a bit? Go back to sleep, baby,” Mingyu said, tugging on his shoes, hand on the wall to keep his balance.
“It’s okay. I’m up already,” Wonwoo dismissed. In his mind he was already revamping his ‘Mingyu’s Extra Special Date Day’ (or MESDD for short. Yes, he called it that silently in his head.) “Let’s go out later when you get back.”
Mingyu grinned. “Yeah, sounds fun. Be back soon, love.”
“Bye.” Wonwoo waved until his boyfriend left and then he jumped up and headed to the kitchen. One hiccup in his MESDD plan was okay. He would make lunch for them instead, take Mingyu to several of the younger man’s favorite places, and then they could have a picnic and eat at their special place that Mingyu had shown him one rainy night years ago before they even began dating.
Humming, Wonwoo got to work making one of the simplest meals Mingyu taught him how to cook that would be perfect to create into a to-go bento box – seasoned rice, rolled egg, and veggies (which, of course was already pre-made and he just put it nicely in the bento box).
After about forty-five minutes, Wonwoo finished, quickly put the lunches into a bag, changed and freshened up, packed a blanket for their picnic, and waited by their one shared car until Mingyu came back.
“Ready?” Wonwoo asked immediately upon his boyfriend’s arrival.
“Uhh…” Mingyu looked confused while Wonwoo just tugged on his arm, ushering him towards the passengers side. “Wh-what… I have to change and… Wonwoo–”
“I’ll drive today. Go. Sit.”
Halting the pushing and tugging by standing firmly in place, Mingyu turned to look at Wonwoo. “I’ll drive,” he stated.
Wonwoo frowned. “No. I will.”
“You never drive.”
“Yes I do.”
“Not.”
“Yes.”
“Not.”
“Yes. I do.” Wonwoo huffed, tugging on his boyfriend’s bicep again.
“Well, I’ll drive today,” Mingyu said, sneakily stealing the keys from Wonwoo’s hand and striding over to the driver’s side but not before he opened the passenger’s door for his boyfriend, which was what he always did.
Letting out a loud, displeased sigh, Wonwoo dropped himself into the car and shut the door while Mingyu got in the driver’s side and fussed with his own hair in the small rearview mirror.
“Why can’t I drive?” Wonwoo complained. This was Mingyu’s second strike in ruining his MESDD plan.
“It’s fine. I wanted to take you someplace anyway,” the younger man said, backing out onto the street.
“What? No! I want to go to the bike shop,” Wonwoo protested. He was stressed. Mingyu was making him stressed.
“The bike shop?” A scoff was given, while Mingyu checked his side mirror and pulled into the light weekend traffic of the late morning. “You don’t need anything at the bike shop. You never go biking.”
Wonwoo crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, maybe I’ll start going.”
Mingyu gave a light laugh, peeking over at his passenger. “Baby. We’ve been together for about ten years and I’ve been asking you to bike with me for ten years and how many times have you accepted in those beautiful ten years?”
Wonwoo mumbled something under his breath while Mingyu smirked.
“One more time. I missed it.”
“None I said, okay?” Wonwoo pouted, slouching in his seat. Yes, he had no reason to go to a bike shop since he never went biking with Mingyu, ever. But Mingyu loved going to the bike shop and it was supposed to be part of the plan and Wonwoo frowned even deeper when he watched the shop pass by out the window.
“Where are we going then?”
“Bookstore. I needed a new uh… book.”
It was Wonwoo’s turn to scoff, turning in his seat to stare at his boyfriend’s side profile. “You? Need a book? To do what with?”
“Hey, I read,” Mingyu protested.
Wonwoo clicked his tongue. “ Baby . We’ve been together for ten years and how many times have you read and finished a book in those beautiful ten years?” he sassed, copying Mingyu’s phrasing. “Four,” Wonwoo answered his own question, holding up four fingers to match. “And it took you two years to finish that one book I recommend.”
Mingyu laughed sheepishly. “Well, this time, I am going to read this book. So, we are going. Plus, you can get some new books. You said you finished the other ones you bought last time, right?”
Wonwoo pursed his lips. He had gone through those quite quickly and of course he had a list of new books that he wanted to get.
Pulling into the bookstore’s parking lot, Mingyu grinned at Wonwoo, unbuckling the other man who was still pouting.
“Come on. I seriously do have a book on hold for me.”
Giving a loud sigh, Wonwoo got out of the car with a “fine.”
“Don’t be grumpy. You love the bookstore,” Mingyu cooed, taking his boyfriend’s hand in his own.
“I do. But…” Another sigh. “Nevermind.”
Mingyu was seriously messing up his ‘Mingyu’s Extra Special Date Day’ plans.
“I’ll go pick up my book and then I’ll come find you, okay?” Mingyu placed a chaste kiss to his boyfriend’s temple before patting Wonwoo’s lower back and walking off to the customer service area.
Strolling around the “What’s New” section at the front of the store, Wonwoo peeked at the titles and summaries of the displayed books…
‘Two young lovers begin new journeys, life separating them against their will.’
Wonwoo put that book down ignoring the slight chill that ran down his spine. Not interested. Next.
‘A new doctor, caught up in his work halfway around the world, doesn’t realize the love of his life is moments from death. Will he regret not spending those last moments with the one he only ever loved? Will he–’
Wonwoo snapped the book shut with a scoff, absolutely refusing to read the rest. Stupid book.
‘Can two people whether the changes in their relationship? Or will—’
“Are you kidding me,” Wonwoo muttered, resisting the urge to throw the book across the store. Instead he put the book back down and childishly stacked another set of books on top of it to spare the next curious reader. What was with all these stupid separated lovers’ storyline?
After practically stomping to the back of the store and grumbling silently in his head how he was overthinking things and how reading those summaries weren’t a foreshadow of any kind, Wonwoo soon calmed down as he found several of the books he wanted, plus a few more.
“Maybe you need a basket.”
Mingyu’s voice had Wonwoo peeking over his shoulder before grabbing one more book. “No, this is the last one.”
“You sure you don’t need the rest of the bookstore?” Mingyu asked while taking half of the stack his boyfriend held. “I can get an associate to help pack up the shelves over there for you.”
“Shut up.” Wonwoo petulantly stuck his tongue out and nudged the other man. “And did you get your book you won’t ever read?”
Mingyu grinned, holding up the paper bag. “I did.”
The older doctor matched his lover’s smile, which soon faded as they checked out when Mingyu purchased the books for a protesting Wonwoo. It wasn’t supposed to be Wonwoo’s day where he was spoiled and bought things… it was supposed to be Mingyu’s day.
“How about just a kiss as payment?” the younger man laughed, leaning his cheek forward to get his reward once they were walking back towards the car.
“I am getting us food then,” Wonwoo griped as he snatched the heavy package of books from his boyfriend’s hand, poking Mingyu on the cheek rather than planting the wanted kiss. “And you better order the whole menu.”
There was no way Mingyu could mess up any more of ‘Mingyu’s Extra Special Date Day. Absolutely no way.
But of course, he continued to mess it up…
When Wonwoo wanted to take the younger man to Mingyu’s favorite dessert place and have dessert before lunch (which Mingyu always enjoyed since he had a sweet tooth), Mingyu refused and wanted to go to lunch at another restaurant that Wonwoo liked but knew wasn’t his boyfriend’s favorite place (plus, he had their picnic bentos in the trunk of the car). After arguing for a bit, they ended up going to a sandwich shop that they both enjoyed, Wonwoo quickly getting his credit card to the overwhelmed waiter who took their order and watched them bicker over who was paying.
When Wonwoo wanted to take Mingyu to his favorite store and go on a shopping spree, the younger man drove them instead to the arcade that they had once tried to visit when it was closed years back. Folding his arms across his chest because he was annoyed that Mingyu wasn’t being cooperative on this secret date that was supposed to be for him, Wonwoo had refused to play any games which only had Mingyu egging his boyfriend on to compete against him until the older man broke down and won almost every game against Mingyu. They walked out with a huge stuffed dog that would sit right next to the huge stuffed bear that Wonwoo had won once before.
And when Wonwoo was about to moodily give up and tell Mingyu to take them home, the two ended up driving through evergreen trees up a hillside that ended with a paved overlook where the city below always seemed so small and made Wonwoo feel bigger than the world around him; a place that brought him a sense of peace and serenity. It was their ‘my place’ that Mingyu had shown him one evening years ago under the pouring rain, where the city had glowed like reflected stars upon a misty river.
But now, sitting on the wooden bench with the view of the sunset sky painted with warm oranges and cool purples overhead, Wonwoo took in the beautiful scenery while a hand slipped between his own, pulling his attention back to the man beside him.
“You seem upset,” Mingyu said softly.
Wonwoo gave his boyfriend a sideways glare before sighing and squeezing his hand. “You were difficult today,” he complained.
“Me!? What!? Why?!” Mingyu was shocked.
Wonwoo puffed a breath out, turning to face the other man. “I had a whole thing planned for you.” He couldn’t help the slight whine in his voice.
“What?”
“I wanted to surprise you with the best date ever.”
Mingyu scooted closer. “Aww, I had a great time!”
“You kept ruining my grandiose plans, you butthead,” Wonwoo grumbled, lightly punching Mingyu in the chest. “It was supposed to be ‘Mingyu’s Extra Special Date Day’.”
Silence hung in the air before the younger doctor spoke. “Is that why you were being extra stubborn and salty today too? Usually you are down for anything.”
Wonwoo huffed. “Yes. From this morning you kept intercepting my plans.” He took a deep inhale. “I woke up early, but you woke up earlier and ate toast already. Then I wanted to drive but you stole the keys—”
“You never drive!”
Wonwoo ignored the protest and continued. “I wanted to take you to the bike shop so you could buy, I dunno, bike things, but you took me to the bookstore, which I’m still suspicious of.”
“I needed a real book.”
“Yeah, but I know you took me there to buy my stupid books,” Wonwoo said, squinting his eyes at Mingyu, who looked a bit sheepish. He knew him very well. “Then, I wanted to take you to your favorite dessert place where you order that huge ice cream thing, but you didn’t want to and wanted to go to that ramen place, which I know you hate by the way–”
“I mean, I don’t hate it.”
“You hate it. You pretend to like it because I like it but I know you hate it.”
“I—”
“ Then , I wanted to take you to your favorite store but you took me to the arcade instead—”
Mingyu pointed towards their car behind them. “But look at how cute that stuffed animal is!”
“—and I wanted to take you to our ‘my place’—”
“Which we are at.”
“—and eat this stupid homemade bento box that is probably disgusting now—” While his words came out at 50 miles per hour, Wonwoo placed the insulated lunch bag that he brought down from the car onto Mingyu’s lap, the younger man peeking at the meal with an endeared look.
“You made this?”
“—but today was supposed to be about you. Only you. And I wanted you to be happy and not sad about the acceptance letter and because I’m so anxious about what's going to happen to us if I leave and 18 months is a long time. It’s a long, long, long time. Like, forever —”
Setting the bentos aside, Mingyu took both of Wonwoo’s hands, pulling him close. “Love, it’s not forever.”
“It is forever. It will feel like forever to me . I don’t want to go alone—”
“Wonwoo—”
“It’s supposed to be our dream, our two -person goal. Not just one person. Two person.”
“Love—”
“And if I go by myself that is not two person! That is one person!”
“Wonwoo, hey—”
“And what if in that forever time, something happens and we are separated and in movies and books, there is always a breakup scene with long distance relationships,” Wonwoo continued to ramble. “What if that happens? We don't complete our two-person goal and we break up? I can’t handle that, Mingyu. Or what if you die ?! There was this book today—”
“Wonwoo, look.” Taking his boyfriend’s face in his hands, Mingyu cupped Wonwoo’s cheeks to grab his attention, shut him up, and calm him down before pulling an envelope out of his back pocket and handing it to him.
It was addressed to Mingyu and the return address revealed that it was from the Doctors Without Borders foundation.
Taking out the letter, Wonwoo’s heart raced at reading the first few words…
Dear Dr. Kim Mingyu,
We are pleased to accept your application as a pediatric cardiologist for the 18 month program abroad…
The heavy feeling Wonwoo had felt for weeks seemed to slowly melt away as he read each word carefully over again. “When…” his small voice trailed off.
“Today.”
Wonwoo snapped his eyes up to meet Mingyu’s gaze.
“Today?! Why didn’t you tell me!”
“I kinda… forgot?” Mingyu rubbed the back of his neck, giving a guilty smile.
Wonwoo scoffed with a small glare. “Forgot? How could you forget?”
“I’ve been caught up in something else. Something more important.”
Wonwoo jumped up from the park bench looking down at the other man. He was gonna scream at his stupid, stupid, stupid boyfriend. “More important?! More important!? We’ve been stressed and worried for weeks about this damn letter and something more important was on your mind?! Kim Mingyu, you tell me what is more important—”
“Wanting to marry you.”
“Wanting to ma—” Wonwoo paused, the annoyed look etched on his features completely erased, his tone and expressions changing from exasperation to confusion. “Wh-what?”
Mingyu gathered his lover's hands in his own, a thumb gently caressing the back of Wonwoo’s hand as he looked up at the other man. “Wanting to marry you is more important,” he repeated softly, his eyes speaking a million emotions in a single look.
“Min…” Wonwoo whispered. He was stunned. His heart was racing, his words refused to form, and he could only stare wide-eyed at the man that once was his silly rival who annoyed the living crap out of him but was now proposing to him, a simple yet elegant silver band gleaming in the setting sunlight.
Mingyu gave a small laugh as he held out the little black box he had fished out of his pocket containing the effortlessly beautiful ring. “You know how I was apparently ruining your plans? I also had plans today too,” he said, meeting an obsidian stare. “For you.”
Wonwoo swallowed the lump in his throat as he stared at the ring in the black, velvet container. “To propose?”
Mingyu nodded, also staring at the silver band. “Yeah. To propose.” His gaze traveled up to Wonwoo. “It was supposed to be all about you today,” he whispered. Just as Wonwoo wanted a special date day for him, Mingyu wanted one for Wonwoo too.
He wouldn’t be the first to call himself a planner or a man with impeccable patience, especially when it came to Wonwoo. Keeping a secret from his very perceptive boyfriend was one of the hardest things to do, especially with something so exciting and special that he wanted to share with the other man. But for several weeks, months , he had quietly run around town, head full with one goal in mind — to marry the man that he was utterly in love with and wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
And finally, the night prior, he had received the long awaited email that had plagued his thoughts even more than the acceptance letter to the Doctors Without Borders program – that the customized engagement ring Mingyu had a part in designing, was ready for pick up.
Waking up at the crack of dawn, he had paced the living room for a while, chewing on his thumb nail as he contemplated what he wanted to do to make the proposal the best, most memorable thing in the whole wide world. He wanted to dress them up, take them to some fancy place and propose there. But, just like he unknowingly did to Wonwoo, his boyfriend disrupted his plans, starting from waking up earlier than usual (which Mingyu was glad Wonwoo had seemed to buy the lie of going jogging and turned down the offer to go with) and making him get in the car without changing into something nicer. He did his best to try and turn it around to make it about Wonwoo, but he was clueless as to why his boyfriend seemed sulky and upset… until just now.
“I’m sorry I made you upset,” Mingyu said. “And I’m sorry it's not the most breath-taking proposal. And–”
“It’s perfect,” Wonwoo cut in softly, taking a step closer to the man still sitting on the bench in front of him holding the little velvet box out.
Mingyu met his boyfriend’s midnight colored eyes that seemed to shine with stars in them. “This proposal?”
Wonwoo nodded with a smile. “Yes. It's perfect.”
The younger man grinned, reaching up to cup his lover’s cheek. “You’re adorable.” There was never a second of regret or contemplation when it came to marrying the man in front of him. Never.
“Yes,” Wonwoo suddenly said, again, nodding his head.
“Huh?”
“Yes, I want to marry you.” Watching the widest smile break out on Mingyu’s face was better than any gift Wonwoo ever received. As his lover stood up, Wonwoo’s attention was soon drawn down to where the younger doctor gently grasped his hand and slipped the perfectly fitting ring onto Wonwoo’s finger, who smiled. “I love it,” he said softly.
Pulling Wonwoo against his chest in a warm hug, Mingyu’s arms wrapped around the other tightly. “Good,” he murmured against the older man’s shoulder. “In this world with eight billion people, I’d always choose you,” he whispered. “You’re the one thing I can’t survive without and even if you have to hear me say it another five million times, I love you, Jeon Wonwoo.”
Clinging to Mingyu, Wonwoo smiled, a single tear escaping his closed eyes. “I love you too,” he whispered back only for the other man to hear. “In every lifetime, I’ll love you.”
With his lips suddenly captured between another pair, Wonwoo melted against his fiancé and couldn’t help but grin into the kiss, feeling Mingyu take his hand and caress the ring sitting perfectly on his finger.
There was no doubt that he would choose to spend the rest of his life with Kim Mingyu. Even if they were complete opposites, even if they nagged and bickered with each other over the simplest of things, even if they started off as two rivals that focused on school, competing their grades with each other, Wonwoo was sure that the man in front of him was his other half, his soulmate across every life that he would spend every adventure with.
Speaking of…
Wonwoo pulled away from the kiss, peeking down at the given letter still in his grasp.
“I’m still mad you didn’t tell me about this right away.” He held up the envelope and paper folded in thirds right in front of Mingyu’s face, who only smiled because he had a perfect view of the new ring that saw upon Wonwoo’s pretty finger.
“Sorry,” the younger man said, taking the acceptance letter and placing an apologetic kiss to his lover’s pouting lips. “I called a few days ago, asked about the status of my application and someone said they’d check it out. Then, this morning, amongst other important emails, I got one saying that someone got confused or mixed up because they had already sent an acceptance letter to a pediatric doctor at our address, not knowing there are two of us that live at the same place and they said the letter was re-sent a while ago and should have arrived yesterday or today. But, when I checked the mailbox and saw the letter, I was on my way out to get your ring and then after it just kinda slipped my mind that I got it.”
Sitting down on the bench and pulling Mingyu down to do the same so he could lean his weight against his fiancé, Wonwoo pressed his cheek against the other man’s shoulder, eyes on the cityscape below them. “I was really worried,” he confessed, slipping his fingers between Mingyu’s own.
“I’m sorry, love.” The younger doctor lifted their entwined fingers, pressing a short kiss to the back of Wonwoo’s hand that he held. “But everything worked out. We are gonna go to training, travel to another country to help others in need, see different parts of the world, and complete our two-person goal that you promised me.”
“We are.” Wonwoo smiled, his heart feeling overwhelmed with excitement for not only their career futures, but the future they have waiting for them as a couple.
“Oh. And I’m gonna eat this entire thing.”
Wonwoo lifted his head to see Mingyu reaching down, taking out the bento box.
“You don’t have to.”
“I’m hungry. Plus, you made it,” Mingyu said, opening the lid, taking a pair of chopsticks and digging into the rice.
Wonwoo scrunched his nose as he watched his fiancé's face while he ate another huge bite. “Salty?”
Almost choking, Mingyu gave a thumbs up with his mouth full. “Just the way I love it!” he grimaced, his eyes squinting at the amount of salt.
Wonwoo giggled, nudging the love of his life while Mingyu almost choked again on the food with how fast he was shoveling the homemade meal in his mouth. Slapping the other man’s back, Wonwoo smiled. “I love you,” he said when Mingyu was done, swiping away some grains of rice from the younger’s chin.
“C’mere,” Mingyu said, leaning forward and capturing Wonwoo’s lips.
Tilting his head, one hand moving to lightly grasp Mingyu’s shirt, the older man sighed contently into the kiss, loving the feeling of warmth that seemed to embrace both of them.
Tasting the hint of salt lingering in Mingyu’s mouth from his own cooking, Wonwoo pulled back, face screwing up as he smacked his lips. “Salty.”
Mingyu replied with a loud laugh, pressing another hard kiss to his soon-to-be husband’s lips who tried to squirm away from another salty assault to his mouth.
Slipping away from the younger man’s grasp, Wonwoo quickly stood up, a mischievous grin on his lips that Mingyu knew too well.
“Race you back to the car. Last one there does the dishes and feeds the cat!” And Wonwoo childishly took off heading back to the car, leaving a scrambling Mingyu behind.
“Yah! Jeon Wonwoo! Your stuff– you little shit!”
Wonwoo giggled the entire time he ran the short distance to the car, peeking over his shoulder at the other man who was still grabbing the bento boxes and lunch bag and water bottles they had brought.
Plopping into the car that was unlocked due to Mingyu’s forgetfulness, Wonwoo caught his breath before he curiously reached for a single packaged book in the backseat that Mingyu had apparently ordered and insisted he was going to read.
How To Be The Best Husband
For Dummies
Wonwoo couldn’t help but let out a short laugh, his stomach doing adolescent flip-flops at the thought of Mingyu becoming his husband. Putting the book back in the brown paper bag and turning forward to wait for his fiance to get back to the car, Wonwoo looked down at his finger that was newly dressed in the prettiest ring he could ever have asked for.
‘I’ll get you one too, Kim Mingyu,’ he silently vowed, a smile blooming upon his lips. ‘I can’t wait to marry you, you idiot.’
