|forty-nine|

|Aera's POV|

"All you had to do was ask. You didn't have to walk in without warning." Mark teases as he forces me to face him.

"I was not going to ask you to watch you change. There is no way in hell I would've walked up to you and asked that. Are you insane? I literally just started training at JYP when that happened." I slap his chest as he smirks down at me.

"Well, you don't have to ask anymore. Now I do it even if you don't want to see it." Mark smiles as takes my hand in his and leads me toward the nearest chair. He pulls it out for me and motions for me to sit down.

"You really don't have to do this kind of thing you know. I would be more than happy with a teddy bear and some chocolate." I frown as I try to decipher just how much this had to have cost him.

"Oh—you thought this was for you? No, this is all for me—you just happened to want to hang out today. I didn't feel like putting it all away just because you were coming." Mark sits down across from me and leans down to grab something from under the table.

"Wow, okay. Thanks." I roll my eyes at him as he sets a cake box on the table.

"Open it." Mark turns the box toward me.

"Why? What's it going to say something like Mark is the bes—I hate you." My heart races as I read the writing on the cake.

"Say it. Read it for me. I can't read it myself. I suddenly forgot how reading works." Mark insists as he stares at me.

"I'm not saying it. Nope. We can't." I shake my head as I swallow hard. I quickly shut the box and get to my feet.

"Come on, it doesn't have to be now. It can be ten years from now, but I want to hear you say it. Say yes." Mark pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly against his chest.

"First of all, this is not the way I was imagining this would happen. Second, we can't. We both have too many responsibilities to even think about something like that." I try to escape his grasp, but he tightens his hold on me.

"I'll do it right if you promise you'll say yes." Mark leans his forehead against mine as he stares me directly in the eyes.

"Mark—isn't this a little too soon? Shouldn't we wait for at least another year or something?" I chew on my lip as I feel my heart skip a beat. I can't take much more of this. I'm going to have a heart attack.

Mark releases me and moves back toward the table. He grabs a small box off the edge and turns toward me. I shake my head and cover my eyes as he inches closer.

"Open your eyes. You have to watch." Mark pries my hands from my eyes and slowly kneels down.

"Mark—please don't." I whisper as I swallow hard. My eyes can't leave his as he holds the small box out toward me.

"Cha Aera, would you do me the honors of marrying me one day?" Mark asks softly as he lifts the lid of the box to reveal an exquisite opal and diamond ring.

"Mark—how much did you pay for that? I can't accept it. It had to cost an arm and a leg." I shake my head and quickly close the box. He needs to take that back. If it were something much cheaper—I would've said yes, but this is just too much.

"Aera, it wasn't that much, don't worry about it. This isn't a must do thing either. It's more of a promise ring. It's to replace that old one. I mean—it is a bridal set—but that doesn't matter. When I saw it I knew you'd love it. So just wear it. You don't have to say yes now. You can say yes when we actually walk down an aisle. For right now, I just want you to tell me you love me. That's all I need." Mark takes my hand in his and opens the box again. He delicately slides the ring set onto my finger as I watch him anxiously.

"How much did it cost, Mark? Just tell me so I know how terrible I need to feel if I misplace it." I sigh as I give in and accept his gift.

"It was only sixteen hundred." Mark shrugs as he closes the box and sets it on the table.

"Sixteen hundred? As in one thousand and six hundred dollars? Are you insane? You clearly have to be to buy me something so outrageous." I begin pacing back and forth as I try to wrap my head around his unprecedented actions.

"Stop freaking out and just kiss me like a happy and appreciative girlfriend. You're not going to lose it and if you do I'll just buy you another one." Mark tugs me toward him. He takes my face in his hands and forces me to face him.

"Mark—this really is too much." I sigh as he chuckles.

"Shut up and kiss me, you adorable freak." Mark smiles as he leans in to press his lips against mine.

I melt under his touch. He's honestly the best thing that's ever happened to me. It doesn't feel real. For the longest time, he wouldn't say a word to me. I felt like he didn't like me, but once we clicked, I knew he was the one. I knew I would never give him up for anything—even if it meant I was left with nothing but him.

"I love you, Cha Aera." Mark whispers softly along my jaw.

"I love you, too." I rest my head on his shoulder and close my eyes as he holds me.