Bonus Chapter: The proposal

Jisung had been feeling off all day. Not physically—he was perfectly healthy—but something about the way everyone around him had been acting felt... strange.

First, his coworkers at the hospital had been unusually cheerful, shooting him knowing looks and smiling every time they passed him. Then, Jeongin, who rarely texted during work hours, had sent him a vague, "Hope you're ready for something big tonight ;)."

And now, as Jisung walked out of the hospital after his shift, his best friend Felix was waiting for him outside, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Felix? What are you doing here?" Jisung asked, raising an eyebrow.

Felix grinned, his freckles standing out against his flushed cheeks. "I'm your ride today! Minho asked me to pick you up."

"Minho?" Jisung blinked. "Why didn't he come himself?"

Felix just shrugged, his grin widening. "You'll see. Now, come on!"

Felix drove Jisung to a park just outside the city, chattering the whole way. Jisung tried to get more information out of him, but Felix was a steel trap, dodging every question with playful remarks.

When they arrived, Jisung noticed a winding path lined with lanterns leading into the park. Felix gestured for Jisung to follow the path alone, his smile softening as he said, "Go on, Jisung. He's waiting for you."

Jisung's heart began to race as he started down the lantern-lit path. The evening air was crisp, and the setting sun cast a golden glow over the park. As he walked, he noticed familiar faces appearing along the path.

First was Seungmin, standing by a tree with a clipboard in hand. He looked up and smiled warmly. "Don't look so confused, Jisung. Just keep walking. You're almost there."

Next was Hyunjin, who handed Jisung a small bouquet of white roses with a wink. "You're going to love what's at the end of this path," he said before disappearing into the trees.

Jisung's stomach flipped as he continued. He saw Changbin next, who handed him a small, wrapped box. "Don't open it yet," he said, grinning. "Minho will tell you when."

The path ended in a clearing, and Jisung's breath caught in his throat.

The space had been transformed into something out of a dream. Fairy lights hung from the trees, casting a soft glow over the scene. A table was set up in the center, holding candles, a framed photo of Jisung and Minho, and a ring box.

And there, standing under an archway of roses, was Minho.

He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, his hair perfectly styled, but it was the expression on his face that made Jisung's chest tighten. Minho's usual smirk was gone, replaced by a look of pure adoration and vulnerability.

"Minho..." Jisung whispered, his voice trembling as he approached.

Minho stepped forward, taking Jisung's hands in his. "You're probably wondering what all this is about," he began, his voice steady but soft. "I've been thinking about this moment for a long time, Jisung. Ever since the day you walked into my life, everything changed. You make me better, stronger, and happier than I ever thought I could be."

Jisung felt tears prick at his eyes, his grip tightening on Minho's hands.

"You've seen every part of me—the good, the bad, and the dangerous. And yet, you've never turned away," Minho continued, his voice cracking slightly. "You've loved me unconditionally, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you just as much."

Minho let go of Jisung's hands and dropped to one knee, pulling out the ring box from the table. He opened it to reveal a simple yet elegant band, a perfect match for Jisung's style.

"Han Jisung," Minho said, his eyes shining with emotion. "Will you marry me?"

For a moment, Jisung was too overwhelmed to speak. Tears streamed down his face as he nodded furiously. "Yes! Of course, yes!"

Minho laughed in relief, slipping the ring onto Jisung's finger before standing and pulling him into a tight embrace. The clearing erupted into cheers, and Jisung looked up to see all their friends and coworkers emerging from the trees, clapping and shouting their congratulations.

"You planned all this?" Jisung asked, his voice still shaky as he looked at Minho.

"Of course," Minho said, cupping Jisung's face. "You deserve the world, squirrel. This was just the start."

Jisung smiled through his tears, leaning up to kiss Minho. The crowd whooped and whistled, but neither of them cared. In that moment, it was just the two of them and the love they shared.