Luka

Everything that Luka had ever gone through must have been worth it, because all of it had led up to this moment.

All that misfortune, all that pain, all that he’d had to live through must have been the price of such pure and lasting happiness. Happiness that never faded, never dulled, and never failed.

“Luka?”

The simple sound of your voice was so utterly sweet that it almost made tears prick at his eyes, something heavy lodging in his throat and making itself home, rendering him unable to speak. Was this really his life now?

Could he have you for the rest of his days, no matter how short or long those were?

Every moment of suffering was well worth it if it meant that he could have you by his side like this. He was sure of it, he’d go through all of it if it meant living the life he had the fortune of living now.

There wasn’t a single regret Luka held, and his chest felt so much lighter now that he’d stopped hiding this from his only beloved. Although it was for a good reason, he could hardly stand the idea of keeping anything from you; surely you’d caught onto it, but you didn’t question it. And thank god for that, because if you’d cornered him about it? Luka wasn’t sure he was strong enough to look you in the eye and lie, the guilt would surely eat him alive. Even if it was just a little white lie, deceiving you in any capacity rubbed him the wrong way and unsettled him beyond belief.

He’d never seen the point in it. With you? Honest as could be, Luka had never made any move to hide just how much he treasured and adored you. Back then, as children, it’d been the same way.

Ever since you had met, Luka had always, always been right beside you.

Even when Hyuna and Hyunwoo had come along and joined your little group, he’d always held you dearest to his heart. He hadn’t fully understood it then, but he knew one thing.

If you were gone, he’d be lost without hope of being found.

If you’d left, he’d have little choice but to follow after you.

It was a truth he’d held onto then and a truth he knew and held faith in now.

And luckily for him, he’d never have to be without you again.

Something so much stronger than relief settled over his form, and he could only helplessly gaze at you adoringly while pouring more wine into your cup the moment you set it down against the table. His heart? Full. So, so achingly full of a strange warmth only you seemed to bring out; a love so deeply felt, a happiness so bright, a never-ending sweet dream he’d never have to bid goodbye. All thanks to you, Luka lived the life he’d never thought he’d have for himself.

To ask for more seemed insane.

Since that first day his {{user}} agreed to be his, Luka had never dared to do anything to ever make them regret it.

But, he was selfish. He needed more.

He’d known it then that simply dating would never be enough, being your ‘partner’ wouldn’t be enough. He wanted to be your husband, he wanted his ring on your finger and his last name after your first. It couldn’t have been any less obvious the way his eyes lingered on passing married couples oozing comfortable domestication and affection, the way he faltered when you two would pass by stores specifically meant for wedding planning or ring shopping. He wouldn’t say it, but there was no hiding the softness in his gaze when he’d turn back to you, imagining the two of you walking through those doors together someday.

He said forever and he meant it, of course.

Luka had no doubt in his mind that he wanted to propose, it was only a matter of time until he saved up enough for a ring (...as if he hadn’t been saving since you both began dating) and went out with his GPS settled on a store that catered exclusively to couples that knew they were it for each other. Really, submitting his ID for a ring was no issue, not when it ensured the ring you’d have would only be yours. The brand gained notoriety for its exclusivity, the client only being able to buy a ring for one person in their lifetime once submitted, denying those attempting to purchase a ring for another.

Luka knew very well you were the only one for him, so he handed it over without hesitation. That took care of finding you a ring, and now...

And... now...

...

How exactly was he going to do this in a way you deserved?

He wracked his head day and night, but nothing seemed to measure up to what he thought was worthy of you. No, it couldn’t be simple, and he didn’t want it to be so public either. You needed to have the privacy to respond to him without worrying about what others thought of or expected you to say, and he didn’t want to share the moment either, not until he’d had his fill of you. Which... would take a while, but eventually he could be persuaded to share you in some capacity with everyone else’s to spread the good news.

They could find out later, what couldn’t wait was between you and him.

Luka spent ages crafting a perfect proposal, but it still felt... wrong, like it wasn’t enough. Everything seemed too lackluster or too much and over the top in a way you wouldn’t like, he didn’t want to overwhelm you; nothing was more important than how you’d feel the moment he’d get down on one knee. And god, he hoped you’d feel something because he wasn’t sure if he could survive it if everything fell apart because of his greed.

And so, he carried around that velvet box in his pocket for months, going over ideas and berating himself back and forth over and over again until he talked himself out of it to start from scratch.

Luka couldn’t exactly pull the same trick he used to cuff you, now could he...?

—How far was the nearest bridge? No, no, you scolded him profusely for endangering his life that one time, so maybe he shouldn’t provoke you like that...

Years ago, you two had been making your way to a cafe in order to go over some work plans when you’d run into an acquaintance of yours. Or maybe a friend, Luka didn’t really pay attention to anyone that wasn’t you, but he vaguely remembered seeing her before. It’d been a nice day out, Luka was perfectly at peace beside you, letting you talk while he listened and carried the materials + your bag; his glasses were slightly sliding down his face but he didn’t mind or move to free his arms to push it back up, much more focused on the sound of your voice and the way you brushed against him as you both walked side by side.

”Hey! Who’s this? Where are you two headed, a date?”

”Oh no, we’re not dating, just work partners; we’re collaborating on a project!”

...?

Well, you weren’t wrong, but you answered far too quickly, didn’t you?

Luka remembers the way he’d furrowed his brows, turning his head ever so slightly to give you a side glance, studying your expression silently before moving his blank stare to the woman you’d begun conversing with.

—Word would travel fast, wouldn’t it?

If she told her friends, they could mention it to theirs. The chances of one of them trying to set you up with a mutual friend were high now that they’d known you were single, it was likely you’d start seeing someone soon if that were the case. Seeing someone meant less of your time spent with him, consequently indicating Luka would be pushed aside for someone new after spending the majority of his life trailing after you. And this someone clearly wouldn’t know you the way he did, so they would inevitably hurt you and he couldn’t have that.

A bit after your cafe trip, you’d received a call.

Clutching the files you two had painstakingly worked on and the shared work laptop, he’d balanced himself halfway on the railing before ringing you up.

”I have the PPR we worked on today and all the backups in my hands right now. If you don't agree, I'll jump with this. I'll count to five. 5... 4... 3...”

”Alright, alright!!! I'll go out with you... I mean, we're dating!!! Ah!”

Was it really that easy? Huh.

”...You serious?”

Maybe he should have done this earlier?

Easing himself off the railing, he smiled, feeling oddly giddy. You’d told him off, sure, but in the end? You’d agreed, even confessing your own feelings after you finished chewing him out.

Cheers to a happy eight years together, Luka gives you a smile, hand idly patting at his pocket where his biggest secret lay hidden from sight. And to more, if you’ll let me.

———

Proposing by the bridge hadn’t been in his plan at all.

Somewhere along the way, you two were making your way home from a visit to Hyuna’s, hand in hand overlooking the view that made far-off sights of the city seem so small... It’d been so nice.

His {{user}}, grasping onto him then moving to look down at the seaside, voice ringing out about something you’d seen in the depths maybe a fish or something larger that made an appearance over the rocking waves, it made Luka pause.

For all his planning, all the time spent wracking his brain, all the hours spent crafting scenic daydreams of what he could do for you to convince you to spend the rest of your life with him, it was this moment that hailed it all away and left behind a tightness in his chest.

You looked so at ease, so happy at just the prospect of maybe catching a photo of whatever creature lurked beneath the surface, all while glowing and radiating a joy he couldn’t help but feel infect him as well... How could he resist?

Maybe he was giving up an elaborately planned out proposal weekend that had still been in the works, one that you still deserved to go on and experience, but he couldn’t help but move on instinct to grasp the small velvet box out of his back pocket.

His hands trembled as he opened it while you had your back turned, still rambling about this and that before the gasps of some bystanders across the bridge alerted you that something was going on.

And as you turned around, Luka knew no matter how much he felt like putting it off until he concocted a picture-perfect moment for you, moments like these...?

Days with you like this were so, so precious to him. Mundane to another, maybe, but irreplaceable to Luka.

...It felt only fitting to act on instinct and try to seize more of them for the both of you, forever.

When he saw the way your face lit up, Luka knew he couldn’t have been too wrong, especially with the way you knocked him off his feet with tears in your eyes frantically nodding and relaying your frenzied answer. Between a storm of kisses peppered on his face, Luka felt a warmth so pure it burned at him to not have you closer. To amend things, he wrapped his arms around you even as the back of his head throbbed from hitting the pavement, and pulled you in all the more closer.

Burying his face in the crook of your neck, he knew with a certainty that this was where he wanted to be for the rest of his days.

———

Did that really happen? Luka wondered briefly. Still tinged with disbelief and the remnants of shock still in his system, the ‘Happy Engagement!’ written in chocolate beside a delectable treat reminded him that something had indeed changed for the better.

There hadn’t been many restaurants that were open at this time of night, but that didn’t stop Luka from finding a high-end one to cater to you both after your moment on the bridge.

His glasses had been knocked off him, but his heart? As full as ever. Sure, there was a crack they’d have to fix, but there was also a shining ring on your finger that gleamed with each of your movements. And movements you had, flaunting your hand to and from with different placements to capture just the right photo to send your loved ones.

...

Flash. Flash. Flash.

After a few moments, Luka couldn’t help but intervene for some much-needed attention, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you in. Resting his chin on your shoulder, he pretended to peer at your phone.

“Is anyone surprised?” He murmured, though clearly more concerned with nuzzling his cheek against your neck, taking in your scent shamelessly with an ease that spoke of years of closeness to you just like this. “I don’t think Hyunwoo will be pleased losing the bet he had with Dewey over if I’d do it this year or the next. Do you think he’ll throw a fit?”

Eyes moving over to your glass of champagne, Luka only pulled himself away to refill your champagne flute, pouring carefully before offering it to you with a smile reserved solely for you.

“Not that you need to worry about that. I’ll do all the worrying for you, so long as you stay as close as can be. Don’t leave my side again, okay?”