"Gong Tae Kwang, are you alright?"

I squinted my eyes at him, trying to gauge his expression. The man in question looked uncomfortably stiff as he stood next to me, his eyes fixated on the yellow-colored house with a white picket fence in front of us. He seemed to be lost in thought, though what could possibly bother him so much?

"Yah!" My voice ended up sounding louder than I had intended, startling him out of his reverie.

He shook his head momentarily as if to shake himself out of his stupor. "What is it, Eun Bi?"

"You've been spacing out ever since we've started to walk home. Is there anything wrong?"

The corner of his lips twitched up a little. "Ani. Nothing is wrong, love."

I raised an eyebrow at his response, unsure whether to believe him or not. It's been exactly six years since the day we confessed our feelings to each other. He had picked me up earlier after work to celebrate, and I found myself being led to an upscale restaurant just near the park. I had started to protest the moment I recognized the signboard, but he immediately shushed me by pecking my lips.

"Just let me treat you to something nice, Eun Bi. It's our anniversary." In the end, I had agreed, albeit reluctantly. After all, how could I say no to that sweet, goofy smile? Even after six years of dating, Tae Kwang had never once ceased to amaze me with his affectionate nature. It only seemed to make itself known whenever he was with me though. His colleagues would beg to differ, given as their descriptions of him merely ranged from "pretty serious" to "a man of few words".

Ha, if only they knew how much of a troublemaker he was back in high school.

After dinner, he took my hand and helped me out of my chair. "Walk with me?" I simply nodded in reply, letting him lead the way. This was where we had ended up, on a quiet neighborhood street where no one else seemed to be passing by.

"You've been unusually quiet since dinner. Should I be worried?" I half-jokingly ask.

"Ani."

I pulled on his hand, making him face me as I cocked my head to the side. "Are you sure? You look like a man trying to find the right words to say. Are you breaking up with me?"

"YA, GO EUN BI!" His sudden outburst had me laughing so hard, my stomach actually ached.

"Y-Your face—omo, you looked like a fish out of the water!" Despite his attempt to stay serious, I could see the tell-tale signs of a grin threatening to break loose. "I should have taken a picture to show Rajin!"

"Aish, seriously you pabo. Are you done laughing at your boyfriend?" He pretended to be annoyed with me, but his eyes said the opposite.

"Ne, I think I'm done—for now," I grinned sheepishly. He bopped my nose with his finger affectionately, making both of us smile. However, it did not escape my notice that his eyes still held the same trepidation as before.

"Gong Tae Kwang."

"Mhm?"

"Talk to me. I really want to know what's worrying you so bad. And don't even think of lying to me," I added, glaring at him for good measure. "I can actually feel the tension radiating off of you."

His grip on my hands tightened as he drew a long breath. "Kureso. Tell me, what do you think of this house?"

His question caught me off guard. "W-Wha—ya, what is this? Stop trying to change the subject!"

"Just answer the question, love."

Pressing my lips in a thin line, I turned away from him to get a good look. I might as well humor us both, if that's what it takes to coax an answer out of him. The house had a bright, homey feel to it, almost giving off a sense of serenity. Its pale yellow brick exterior was trimmed with white, the front porch overlooking a beautifully-kept garden. "It looks...resplendent," I finally say. "It's like a ray of sunshine peeking through after a storm. A peaceful retreat from the city bustle and hustle."

"You have a way with words, Eun Bi," Tae Kwang murmured softly, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand as he mulled over my words. Sighing deeply, he forced his nervous eyes to meet my own uncertain ones. "I just wish I can do the same right now."

"What do you mean?"

"When I first saw this house, do you know what ran through my head?" I remained silent. "A picture of a loving and happy family—one that I never had the liberty of having as a child. It was our own family, Eun Bi. I could picture us raising a son and a daughter here together—both of which will never have to go through the torments we both suffered back then."

My breath hitched at his words, but he was not done yet. "We've been together for six years—but I've loved you for much longer than that and you know it. Your resiliency and quiet bravery when you first came to Sekang High School had never ceased to astound me, especially after everything that you had gone through in Tongyeong. You know, the first time I've seen you with Rajin and the kids in the Love House, I had actually thought to myself that you would make a great mother someday.

You were just eighteen then, but you had never failed to shower them with love and compassion. You acted as their mother figure not because you had to—but because you wanted to. Your ability to see through me and understand the things I really mean but cannot say, your capacity to love wholeheartedly and your selflessness—I know you wouldn't believe me but...all these things and more make me fall hard for you again and again every single day.

And the past few months had made realize that I want to do that for the rest of my life. I want us for the rest of my life."

I could feel my heart beating hard and fast against my chest that it is quite a miracle that he couldn't hear it. Was he going to—? His Adam's apple bobbed as he slowly got down on one knee. "I guess what I'm trying to say is—Go Eun Bi, will you make me the happiest man alive and spend the rest of your life by my side?"

Omo. Omo.

Did he just propose? Of course he did, that's why he's kneeling down in front of you with a sparkly diamond ring, you pabo! For a moment, I couldn't speak or do anything for that matter— and no, it wasn't because I didn't know what to say, because I did—it all just seemed too good to be true. The man I love was proposing to me, asking me to be his wife—

"Love?" His voice filtered past my clouded thoughts. "Say something. Anything. I—well, to be honest, I'm kinda losing my mind over here."

I forced myself to snap out of my daze, and was unsurprised to feel my cheeks wet with tears. "Do you really have to ask, pabo-ya? Ne, a thousand times yes, Gong Tae Kwang. I will marry you."

His face broke out into the widest grin I've ever seen, before he whooped in delight as he picked me up in his arms and twirled us around. His eyes shone bright with unshed tears, but the smile on his face was absolutely breathtaking. "She said YES! Go Eun Bi will marry Gong Tae Kwang!"

"Love, put me down!" I laughed. "We might wake people up with our ruckus!"

"Mianhe, mianhe" he laughed, nuzzling my forehead as he placed me carefully back on my feet. "You just have no idea how happy I am."

"I think I might," I beamed, watching as he gingerly took my hand and carefully slipped on the ring. He bit his lip nervously as he held my hand. "So I guess now is the right time to tell you that this house—" he motioned to the sunshine-colored masterpiece. "Is ours."

"It's what?" I found myself speechless for the second time that night.

"It's ours. I bought it for us, for when we get married. This is where we'll start our own family and live until we're old and gray—well, unless that's not what you want?"

The words tumbled out of my mouth all too easily. "It's what I want. You're everything I could ever want." His cheeks dusted pink as I stared at him in amazement. "You've really thought everything through, haven't you?"

"Well, not everything—I mean, there was always an off-chance that you'd say no. Or that you'd say you didn't like the house. I had formulated backup plans B to Z though just in case—"

"Oh, just shut up, Gong Tae Kwang," I said, grabbing his collar and effectively cutting his words off with my mouth. His lips curved into a smile as his arm wound itself tighter around my waist to pull me closer to him.

He pulled away for a moment, tucking a stray hair back in my ear to study my face. "You know I love you right? Nal cheongmal saranghaeyo, Eun Bi."

"I really really love you too, Tae Kwang. Manhi saranghaeyo."

~*~

Nal cheongmal saranghaeyo: I really love you

Manhi saranghaeyo: I love you so much