prologue: autumn; part one: do i know you?; part two: valentine; word count: 2,136

It'd been four months since Kyungsoo and Jongin had met each other again in the coffee shop. Jongin had since become a regular customer, mostly for the purpose of seeing Kyungsoo every day. They hadn't officially claimed themselves to be an item, but anyone who saw their interactions could tell that they were. But despite all that, the two love-stricken fools were too oblivious to call themselves a couple. Sure, they had said those three words. Sure, they had shared a kiss or two. But neither of the two had ever officially asked the other to be his lover. Therefore, in their eyes they were not yet an official couple.

It was a Monday. Like he did every day, Jongin made his way into the coffee shop. "Hey cutie" he grinned as he approached the counter, giving Kyungsoo a soft peck on the cheek. Kyungsoo's face turned a bright shade of crimson, as it did every time Jongin's lips met any feature on his face. Jongin's favorite places to kiss were Kyungsoo's cheeks, nose and of course his lips.

"Aish, can't you two go be cute somewhere else? You're so sweet you're giving me a toothache!" Jongdae teased.

"Jongdae-yah! You pabo. Hush!" Kyungsoo whined, lightly smacking his friend's shoulder.

"Tell you what," Jongdae said. "I'll stop teasing when you two finally stop denying that you're a couple."

"We're not a couple!" Kyungsoo and Jongin exclaimed in unison.

"Hmm, really? Then why is it that you two always act so much like a couple?"

"What do you mean?" Kyungsoo asked.

"Jongin comes in here every day. He calls you some sort of pet name as soon as he walks in the door, then he comes up to the counter and kisses your face. You two say 'I love you' every time Jongin leaves. You think I don't hear that, but I do. So, try to tell me again that you're not a couple" Jongdae said. He sounded like a judge interrogating someone on a witness stand.

"We're not a couple" Kyungsoo repeated. Jongdae shook his head.

"Liar!" he said.

"What do you mean? Jongdae I'm not lying to you, we aren't a couple."
"And why not? What about this relationship you have with Jongin makes you so convinced that you're not a couple? Because everyone around you is convinced otherwise. You two are just oblivious."
"Because," Kyungsoo said. "Neither of us have ever asked."
"Asked what?"

"Neither of us have ever asked to make it official."

"Well why not?"

"I dunno, I guess… we just kinda got caught up in the all the romance and kisses and 'I love you's that maybe it never really crossed either of our minds to ask—"

"Well what are you waiting for? Now's as good a time as any right? In fact, now's an even better time than any. You guys do know what today is, right?"

"It's Monday," Jongin stated.

"I know it's Monday you dope, I meant the date! It's special."

"What about it is—" Kyungsoo was about to ask, but he stopped as he looked at the calendar on his phone which told him it was Monday, February 14. "It's Valentine's Day."

"Mhmm," Jongdae nodded. "So, do either of you have anything important to say? Maybe a special question you'd like to ask of each other?" Kyungsoo and Jongin stared at each other for a moment in silence before either of them spoke. It felt like all eyes in the coffee shop were on them now.

"Hey, Jongin?" Kyungsoo asked shyly. "W-will you… will you be my valentine?"

"How about something a little bit better than that?" Jongin asked.

"Hmm?" Kyungsoo tilted his head.

"Sure, I'll be your valentine. But how about we sweeten the deal a little bit, hmm? Do Kyungsoo, will you be my boyfriend?"

"Of course Jongin!" Kyungsoo beamed, his cheeks painted the same shade as the construction paper hearts that Jongdae had taped to the front of the counter.

"Now was that so hard?" Jongdae asked.

"Oh hush Jongdae" Kyungsoo lightly smacked the back of his head.

"I'm just saying, you two were a couple all along. Throw all that 'official' stuff aside and just think about your relationship. All the kisses, the affection, the 'I love you's. You two have so much love for each other and I'd hate to see it go to waste on you two not being 'official' or whatever. It was obvious to everyone but you two. I just wanted you to see it. I didn't want you to live the rest of your lives blind to your own feelings."

Kyungsoo had just turned twenty-four last month, and Jongin turned twenty-three two days later. It was Valentine's Day again. Kyungsoo was still working in the coffee shop, his pride and joy. Well, besides Jongin of course.

"Hey cutie" Jongin grinned as he pushed open the coffee shop door, making his usual visit. Kyungsoo made his way out from behind the counter and found himself wrapped up in the taller male's embrace.

"Happy Valentine's Day" Kyungsoo grinned, softly poking the tip of Jongin's nose. "And happy anniversary too."

"Hey Kyungsoo, I have a special gift for you," Jongin said sweetly. He rested his chin on top of the smaller male's head and asked, "should I wait til you finish work?"

"I don't see why you should wait," Jongdae chimed in from behind the counter. He already knew what the 'special gift' was, he had helped Jongin plan for it. "Just go ahead and give it to him. It's not that busy right now, I can handle the customers."

"A-alright," Jongin stuttered. He slipped his shaking hands into the pockets of his jacket and Kyungsoo wondered what brought about this quick change of emotion. The chipper Jongin that had just walked in was now replaced by a Jongin who greatly resembled a scared little boy on his first day of preschool.

"Are you alright? Jongin why are you shaking?"

"I'll be fine, I'm just… bad with words that's all." Jongin hadn't thought he would be so nervous. He had rehearsed this so many times. He'd gone over and over it in his head. Why was he nervous this time. Then it hit him. This is real, he thought. This isn't a rehearsal anymore. This isn't me in my bedroom saying those words to myself in the mirror and pretending it's him. This is me, getting down on my knee and saying…

"Kyungsoo, w-will you… will you marry me?" The words slipped out of Jongin's mouth so fast that he had no time to even realize he had said them. He hadn't even gotten down on one knee. He was still standing there, with his hands in his pockets, looking like a flustered fool.

"What?" Kyungsoo stared at him, eyes wide, mouth agape. "What did you just say?"

"Let me try that again. I'll do better this time, I swear." Jongin approached Kyungsoo. He took the smaller male's hands in his own and looked him so deeply in the eyes that Kyungsoo could swear he was staring straight into his heart and soul.

"J-Jongin…" Kyungsoo stammered. His heart was beating so loud in his own ears that he was sure Jongin could hear it too.

"Shh," Jongin softly pressed a finger to Kyungsoo's lips. "Just listen for a minute baby, let me do the talking." He returned his hand to its previous position, holding onto Kyungsoo's. Then, intertwining all ten of his own fingers with Kyungsoo's, he spoke again. "Do Kyungsoo, every day with you is a blessing. I still remember when we were kids, running around in your backyard and raising all sorts of hell. I know that for a while, you didn't remember me. But every day of my life from the day you left Busan, I remembered you. When I graduated high school and moved out into the world, I searched all of Korea high and low trying to find you. But until I came here, no one I talked to had even heard your name.

How unlucky they are, huh? Not to know the beautiful, golden soul that you are. God I can't see why people aren't fighting me for your heart. Although, maybe it's a good thing they aren't, they wouldn't even stand a chance. You've had my heart since the day I first saw those big, bright owl eyes. And I'm so glad I found you. I got lucky on a crisp autumn day. Maybe that rainbow array of leaves pointed me in your direction. Who knows? All I know is once I saw your face again, my heart took to fluttering about as fast as a million caged doves. Who knew back then, when we were those kids raising hell in the backyard, that we would be here? Who knew that we would go through all the things we've been through. Together. Apart. Then together again. Fate wanted me to spend my life with you, and I'm so glad it did.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is," he let go of Kyungsoo's hands and got down on one knee, pulling a small box out of his pocket and opening it up. "Do Kyungsoo, will you marry me?"

Tears poured down Kyungsoo's cheeks as he nodded his head fervently. "Of course I will Jongin. Of course I will!" He helped Jongin stand back up and threw his arms around his waist, burying his face in Jongin's chest and staining his shirt with tears. "I love you" he mumbled over and over into the fabric of the shirt. "I love you so goddamn much."

Jongin took Kyungsoo's chin in his hand, tilting his head with his fingertips.

"I love you more." He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to Kyungsoo's lips, before pulling away and slipping the ring out of its box and onto Kyungsoo's finger. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"This just makes my gift to you seem silly," Kyungsoo pouted.

"If it's from you, I'm sure it'll be perfect" Jongin grinned. "Perfect just like you."

"Cheesy as always," Kyungsoo laughed, wiping the last of his tears with the back of his hand. "Alright, wait here." He went outside and opened up the glove box of his car, retrieving a small jewelry box. He came back into the coffee shop holding the box behind his back. "Close your eyes and hold out your hands" he commanded Jongin in a gentle tone. Jongin obeyed, shutting his eyes tightly and cupping his hands in front of him.

Kyungsoo gingerly placed the box in Jongin's hands and smiled. "Alright, now open your eyes" he grinned. Jongin opened his eyes and cast a questioning glance at the box in his hands. "Open it!" Kyungsoo beamed. Jongin opened the box and tears flooded his eyes at what he saw.

Inside the box was a small, heart-shaped, gold locket. Inside the locket was a picture of Kyungsoo and Jongin from their childhood. They were smiling and laughing, running around in Kyungsoo's backyard without any care in the world.

"Where did you—"

"My mom found it" Kyungsoo said. "She was looking through old pictures and she found a bunch of you and I. But this one was my favorite."

"Kyungsoo, it's beautiful."

"Compared to your gift it's nothing" Kyungsoo laughed sheepishly.

"Oh who cares about fancy gifts? Kyungsoo you could've given me a slip of paper with the words 'I love you' written on it and I'd probably cherish it for the rest of my life. It doesn't matter what the gift is. What matters is that it's from you, the person I love more than anything in this world. It came from your heart and that's what makes it so special. I love this locket, and I love you."

A light pink dusting crept onto Kyungsoo's cheeks at Jongin's words. "And you know why I love this locket so much?" Jongin said softly, taking Kyungsoo's hands in his own. "Because when people ask to see the picture inside, I can open it and tell them 'see those little boys?' Then I can take your hand and say 'look who they grew up to be.' Because guess what. This little boy," he pointed to himself in the locket photo. "This little boy spent his entire life loving this one," then he pointed to Kyungsoo in the photo. "And by the power of that love, those two little boys are going to be spending the rest of their lives together."

"Jongin?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad I remembered you. I'm glad I remembered us."

"Me too Kyungsoo," Jongin softly rested his forehead against Kyungsoo's, looking into his eyes. Then before they knew it, the small space between their lips slowly disappeared, and it felt like there was nobody but them for miles around.