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"It's been almost six years since we started dating," Wonho said, gently playing with the ends of his girlfriend's hair as she rested on his thighs.

"Yeah, time flies so fast. It feels like just yesterday when you confessed and your ears turned red. You looked like you were going to explode," she replied, suppressing a smile as she glanced at him. Hye-ryeong burst into laughter when she saw the expression on his face as he tightened his lips, pretending to be offended. She then went back to reading an article on her phone.

The room was filled with the sound of the television playing in the background. The only other noise was Wonho sipping on his honey-lemon water, which he did only once before the room fell into silence.

Despite the funny scene on TV, Hye-ryeong noticed that Wonho seemed unusually serious. She sat up and saw that he was lost in his thoughts.

"Babe," she called, shaking his thigh gently.

Startled, Wonho jumped slightly and turned to her. "Yeah?"

"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned. Wonho nodded and smiled at her, but Hye-ryeong could tell something was bothering him. "You seemed lost just now."

Raising an eyebrow, he replied, "Really?"

Hye-ryeong nodded, her gaze fixed on him. "What's on your mind?" she inquired.

Wonho pulled her closer, his eyes still on the television. "I was just thinking," he said.

"About what?"

He remained silent for a moment, making Hye-ryeong wonder how serious the matter was. His seriousness was unusual. Finally, he spoke up, "We've met each other's families."

"Yes," Hye-ryeong responded, nodding slowly. "So, what about it?"

"I've been thinking about taking our relationship to the next level," he said, leaving Hye-ryeong stunned and speechless. "What about you?"

Hye-ryeong snapped out of her daze. "W-w-well..."

"Well? Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I-I think... so?"

"Pumpkin, you look like you're about to explode."

She instinctively touched her cheeks upon hearing his words. They felt warm.

"What's on your mind, cutie?" Wonho asked, laughing at her.

"Wait, babe. Are you talking about getting married?" Wonho nodded. "Are you serious about this?" Hye-ryeong questioned.

"Of course, I am. By the way, I lied about going to the gym yesterday. I went to a nearby jewelry store instead."

Hye-ryeong's eyes widened. "What were you doing there?"

"What else? Eating gold and silver?"

Hye-ryeong dropped her hands. "Babe, I..." She felt a lump in her throat, and tears began to well up in her eyes. "I thought I would be the one to propose to you," she said, her voice trembling. "One of my dreams is to marry you."

Wonho cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "You didn't expect this moment to come, did you?" he said, a soft smile on his lips and a tender gaze locked on hers.

Hye-ryeong's face contorted as tears streamed down her cheeks. She nodded in response.

He spoke softly, "I love you."

With her arms outstretched, she hugged him tightly, straddling his waist. "I love you too," she replied, her voice filled with the same tenderness. She pulled back slightly and pressed her lips against his

.

Wonho murmured, "again," his gaze fixed on her lips. So she kissed him once more. But he shook his head and said, "that's not what I want."

Feigning innocence, she asked, "What do you want?"

"I want a long mwah, mwah," he said, puckering his lips. Hye-ryeong burst into laughter. She laughed even harder when she saw Wonho still puckering his lips with his eyes closed. He opened his eyes and pouted. "Why aren't you doing it?"

"I want you to answer my question first."

"Okay, what is it?"

"Was that an indirect proposal?" Hye-ryeong asked, suppressing a smile.

"Uhm... Since you haven't said 'yes' yet, but I know it's a 'yes,' and I haven't gotten you a ring yet..." Hye-ryeong burst into laughter again, earning a flustered chuckle from him. "...so, maybe?"

"I thought you went to the store to look for a ring."

"Not yet. I just went there to look at the rings and prices. I want to find more stores to get a beautiful ring for you."

Hye-ryeong giggled. She asked, "So, how are you going to propose to me?"

"I can't tell you."

Rolling her eyes, she said, "Duh, says the one who indirectly proposed."

"Let's not dwell on that. I want my kiss now." Wonho puckered his lips once more.

"Mondoongie can kiss you."

"I want you, not him."

"Nope! You didn't answer my question properly, so no kisses from me." Hye-ryeong got up, intending to leave him alone, but he caught her by the waist. She knew that was going to happen.

Hye-ryeong laughed as she tried to resist Wonho's attempts to kiss her, but she ultimately failed. His soft lips met hers, in a long and deep kiss that left them breathless. It wasn't about dominance, but about tenderness. Soon, she wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing them closer and reciprocating the affection wholeheartedly.

Eventually, they pulled away. Wonho said, "I love you."

Hye-ryeong giggled, her eyes sparkling as she replied, "I love you too."

**********

Her lips formed an open-mouthed smile, her eyes focused on nothing, and her laughter sounded robotic. "I think I'm losing my mind, Wonho-yah."

Indeed, she felt like she was losing her mind.

When Wonho told her that he wanted to introduce her to his grandparents on his mother's side this time, she felt nervous. That meant she would come face to face with the older Kim Seokjin. However, at the same time, she was excited about meeting him. She saw it as an opportunity to get to know him better, to learn about his life, and to share her own with him. She hoped he would recognize her.

For the occasion, she dressed appropriately in a dark blue blouse with elbow-length sleeves, high-waisted baggy jeans, and golden ballerina flats. She kept her accessories simple, wearing only a promise ring and a couple bracelet.

She also bought some health jelly for them, including a sweet one and the popular green tea flavor that the elderly seemed to enjoy. As they arrived at his grandparents' two-story house, she looked at her boyfriend as if she had gone insane.

"B-baby?"

Her robotic laughter ceased, and her lips turned into a frown. "I'm nervous," she admitted.

Wonho chuckled. "You

'll be fine, babe," he said, pulling the pouting girl into his arms and patting her back. "You've already met my parents and grandparents on my father's side."

"Babe." Hye-ryeong pulled back and said, "Can I squish your 'bun-bun'?"

"Excuse me?" Wonho exclaimed, his eyes widening.

"In front of your grandparents?"

"No."

"Your 'bun-bun' is a stress reliever."

"My 'bun-bun' is for private use only." He widened his eyes as he realized that his girlfriend's quirky behavior was about to commence.

Hye-ryeong sat quietly for a moment. "I know."

"Then, let's go."

"Babe."

"Yes?"

"Does your grandparents' dining table have a tablecloth?"

Wonho hesitated. "My grandmother changes her decor taste from time to time. I'm not sure if they have it now."

"Oh. Can I... squish them under—"

"N-O. No!"

"Then, can I bite—"

Wonho quickly intervened with repeated 'no's.

"Your arm? Right now. Not later," she insisted, and Wonho looked at her, probably feeling exasperated. "I promise this will be the last time I bite your arm."

He stood there dumbfounded. "Are you that nervous?"

Hye-ryeong nodded. "Look at my hands." She spread her trembling fingers. "And I'm hungry."

He observed her silently for a moment before sighing. He extended his thick arm toward her face. After she lowered her mask, the woman wasted no time sinking her teeth into his skin as hard as she could. "Argh!!"

Someone had been observing them from the second-floor balcony, snorting with amusement. They entered the house as if they hadn't seen anything.

"Kids nowadays..."

(1338 words, EDITED;
no. of words changes)