#mx jooheon

He huffed, scooting closer and placing his elbows on the edge of the couch before dropping his chin into his open palms.

“I know, but I really think we should open at least one early so we can enjoy it together.”

I stared at him. Shaking my head as he pushed his bottom lip out a bit further. He was right about his schedule being full the day of this year. In fact, we had both barely managed to get some time off this week so we could spend at least some time together. We had actually planned on going somewhere today, but the gloomy weather outside had us deciding it may be better for us to stay in. Although I almost wished it hadn’t been so muggy outside because at least we would have been spending that time together.

Being stuck in the house instead meant there was an awful lot of distractions around for us to focus on rather than each other. Especially as Jooheon, who had sworn he wouldn’t work, picked up his laptop. Which led to me picking up a book when “just a minute” turned into fifteen, thirty, an hour, and the last time I had checked the time, we were approaching three hours. The blessing in it was that he at least stayed in the room with me. His occasional humming and thump of his fingers against my calf to whatever he was listening to reminding me he was there.

And that’s how we spent the morning into early afternoon together. Until Jooheon came to a stopping point and suggested we open presents early. Maybe suggested wasn’t the right term. Begging is a better word for what he was currently doing. Snapping my book closed I relented.

“Alright. We can open one.”

He jumped to his feet, victorious grin on his face as he made his way to our tree. That didn’t have many gifts under it in the first place. At least for the two of us. Most of them were meant for friends and family. Jooheon sifted through the little we had, looking like he was searching for one in particular before picking up a rather large box. He examined it for a second, and determining it was what he had been looking for, brought it over to me and deposited it in my lap.

“Are you sure you want me to open this one?”

“One-hundred percent.”

Shrugging, I began pulling the wrapping paper off. Pausing only when I could almost visibly see Jooheon shaking with excitement. Or maybe nerves. He looked up at me when I stopped.

“What?”

“Are you alright? You’re acting like you’ve downed a gallon of caffeine or something.”

“Yes. I’m fine, will you please hurry up? I’m dying over here.”

“You just said you were fine.”

“Y/N.” He stared at me in frustration.

The look of him making me laugh as I returned to opening his gift. Under all the paper was a plain cardboard box. The top of it barely taped shut making it easy for me to pop it open the rest of the way to find… another wrapped box. Glancing at him, I pulled it out. Making quick work of the paper and tape on this one too before finding another wrapped box inside it. I dropped it into my lap to look at Jooheon in exasperation. He was laughing as if seeing me go through these boxes was the funniest thing he’s ever witnessed.

“Really? Is this entire thing just going to be wrapped box after wrapped box?”

“Just keep going. You’re almost there.”

I was not, in fact, almost there. I tore through four more boxes inside boxes. My pile of trash growing in size next to me. Becoming increasingly annoying until I resorted to balling up every piece of wrapping paper I pulled off and throwing it at him.

“Jooheon! This is such a waste of paper and cardboard!”

He dodged another ball of wrapping paper. Cackles filling the room as he weakly nudged my leg to keep me going.

“Seriously. You’re getting closer.”

“Was your goal to piss me off? Because consider me thoroughly pissed right now.” I huffed, ripping open the top to find, surprise surprise, another box. “I don’t even want to keep going.”

The boxes continued to get smaller. Package getting lighter as I disposed of subsequent boxes and paper. It wasn’t until the wrapping paper covering each box changed from the green elf peppered print to a sparkly red and gold that Jooheon stifled his laughter and turned more serious. Figuring this must have been what the real gift was I frowned at him.

“Jooheon, I swear to God if this is another box…”

I sighed angrily, opening this one and fully expecting to find another box. And it was another box… sort of. It was a small, rounded square red velvet box. One I recognized from a jewelry store that Jooheon frequented on the rare occasions he did buy me jewelry. Which wasn’t super often, but that was because anything he brought from there wasn’t cheap and I didn’t let him spend that much money on me often. Already expecting it to be extravagant, I flipped it open, turning to stone the moment I laid eyes on the ring pillowed inside. The beautifully cut diamond in the center making it painfully obvious exactly what meaning it held.

Beside me, Jooheon shifted his position.  Gently taking the box from my hands and moving onto one knee in front of me. His head dipped, attempting to catch my eye from where I still sat staring at the ring. It felt like time had physically stopped. Everything around me moving at a snail’s pace. Including the way Jooheon called my name. Finally, I broke myself out of the trance. My eyes finding his easily at the same time my emotions caught up. I reached out, taking hold of his ear and pulling as tears streaked down my cheeks.

“You jerk! I don’t know whether to kiss you or beat you with one of these couch cushions for making me open all those damn boxes!”

He whined, catching my wrist to get me to let go of him. I did so reluctantly, choosing to wipe the overflowing tears away as they trailed down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry.” His smile was soft, meltingly gentle.

“You’re too much.” I sniffed, falling into his embrace when he opened his arms.

I buried my face into his shoulder. I couldn’t look at him much longer without breaking down into pieces. At least this way I could try to put myself back together long enough to give him his answer. He held me tightly in his lap, patient as he coddled me.

“I love you so much Y/N. Nothing would make me happier than if you agreed to marry me. No matter how annoying I may be.”

I laughed through my crying. Probably sounding like an utter mess, but I loved this goofball of a man more than anything in the world. And he was choosing me.

“Of course I’ll marry you. But just know that I’m already plotting payback for all those boxes and wasted paper.”

“Looking forward to it.” He chuckled.

I pulled away, waiting for him to take the ring out of its box to its home on my finger. He did so happily. Sliding it onto my hand before looping his fingers with mine and pulling me close again.

“I love you.” He whispered, his lips touching mine lovingly.

“I love you too.”

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