Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

PortViet: Engagement Photos

Miguel smiled, before knocking on his girlfriend's door. A few moments passed before Lien answered, arching an eyebrow at the other's excited grin.

"Great news," Miguel said. "I entered us for a competition, and we won."

"Alright," Lien said. "And what exactly did we win?"

"A couple's photo-shoot."

She stared at him blankly for a moment.

"You're joking, right?" she asked.

"Five locations," he said. "Come on, it'll be great."

"You know I don't like having my photo taken," she said.

"Por favor?"

She rolled his eyes as he pouted.

"Fine," she said. "But only because it's for you."

He smiled before kissing her on the lips.

…

Kiku set up his camera while the couple went to get changed. This was the third location, and he was eagerly waiting for the last.

They were in the botanical garden, and he was setting up near a small pond. Actually, it couldn't even be called a pond. The water was about ankle-deep.

"Excuse me," someone said, and he turned to see the speaker. "Are those people taking engagement photos?"

"Not exactly," Kiku said, looking at the teenaged boy with a strange curl on the side of his head. "You see, he's actually going to propose to her. He told her that he won a competition for a couple's photo-shoot at five different locations. This is the third location. And she knows nothing about his plan."

"But did he really win a contest?" the Italian boy asked.

"No. He made that up. I'm getting paid, but I think I'm going to give him a massive discount."

"Si, you should. This is so romantic. How long have they been dating, do you know?"

"Five years."

The boy's eyes widened.

"Then it's time he gets a move on," the boy said.

The two noticed the couple approaching, and so they stopped their conversation so as not to betray anything to Lien.

…

Kiku was smiling expectantly. He didn't usually smile so much – kind of like the maybe-bride-to-be – but he couldn't help it. He was excited for what would happen.

They were in the last location – the lake. The sun was setting, creating a beautiful backdrop. Everything was perfect.

Miguel was toying with the box in his pocket, examining Lien with her hair down. It wasn't often he saw her hair like that, and it took his breath away.

He was posing with Lien wrapped in his arms as they were both facing the cameraman, and when the Japanese stepped back, Miguel knew it was time to make his move.

"Wait," Miguel said, and Lien turned to face him. "Lien, there's something I need to ask you, and I can't wait any longer."

"What is it?" she asked.

He gave her a smile, taking out the box and dropping to one knee. Her eyes widened.

"Lien, my beautiful lotus," Miguel said, "would you do me the honour of marrying me?"

Kiku kept snapping photos, but the couple paid him no heed. Lien was standing there shocked, before she gave a bright smile.

"Yes," she said.

Miguel stood and she immediately threw her arms around him, pulling him in for a kiss. Kiku kept snapping away, thinking that this was the best photo-shoot he has ever done.

And he definitely had to give the Portuguese a major discount.

So, a few months ago I was working during Aardklop, which is a language festival that takes place in the first week of October near my university, with some things actually taking place on the campus grounds. I was working with a classmate in the botanical garden, when this couple arrived to take pictures. My classmate asked if they were taking engagement photos, and the photographer explained what was going on. The conversation between Japan and the boy (Seborga) is exactly the conversation we had, including the amount of years they were together and the photographer saying that he would give him a discount. Even the competition trick was what happened. Sometimes real life can give you the perfect prompt. I just forgot about it until now.