Chapter 14: The Rollercoaster Ride of Love

The days following the unexpected proposal felt like a whirlwind. Emma and Jae's relationship, now officially marked by his chaotic but heartfelt proposal, entered a new chapter. But as any couple knows, love isn't always a smooth ride. With their hearts fully intertwined, they had to navigate a few bumps along the way.

The idea of wedding planning seemed like a far-off, romantic concept until Emma and Jae actually had to sit down and talk about it. The reality hit harder than either of them expected. As it turned out, Jae's idea of a wedding didn't quite align with Emma's vision.

"I thought you wanted something small," Emma said, staring in shock at the list Jae had come up with. "This is... this is a festival, Jae. A festival."

Jae grinned sheepishly, holding up his phone where he had sketched out an elaborate idea of fireworks, a huge guest list, and a stage for the "perfect" proposal moment. "I was just brainstorming!"

"Brainstorming? I think you're building an entire city here."

"I mean, why not? It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," he said, as if he'd just proposed to the Queen of England instead of his quirky, down-to-earth fiancée.

Emma rubbed her temples. "Okay, okay. Let's slow down. We need to compromise. No fireworks. No stage. How about just... a nice ceremony? And maybe—just maybe—a barbecue afterward?"

"Barbecue?" Jae's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"

"Nope. A simple barbecue," Emma said, her voice full of conviction. "Who needs all the fuss when we can just enjoy good food, good company, and each other?"

Jae stared at her for a moment, then started laughing. "I'll be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it. But... I like the idea of just us being there. It feels more real."

Emma smiled, reaching out to take his hand. "That's the plan, Jae. Nothing too fancy. Just you, me, and a bunch of grilled meat."

As if the wedding planning wasn't enough, there was another hurdle—one they couldn't ignore. As a famous idol, Jae's life was constantly under public scrutiny. Soon after the proposal, rumors began to swirl. Articles, tabloids, and social media posts began speculating about their relationship, throwing in some wild assumptions.

Jae's agency called for an impromptu press conference to address the situation. Emma, of course, was nervous. She wasn't used to being in the spotlight and wasn't sure how she would handle the paparazzi. Jae, on the other hand, had done press conferences countless times, but this time, it felt different. This time, he was revealing something personal. Something real.

"Don't worry," Jae reassured her as they stood backstage, waiting to take the stage. "We'll get through this. It's just like another performance."

"But this time, you're not singing," Emma replied, trying to hide her nervousness.

"True. But you're the one I want to show off now," Jae said, a playful glint in his eyes. "Let's go out there and show them what we've got."

As they walked out onto the stage, Emma felt her anxiety skyrocket. But as soon as she looked at Jae, standing tall beside her with a reassuring smile, she found her courage. This wasn't just about him being an idol—it was about them, together.

The press questions came fast and furious, but Jae handled them like a pro, always keeping the focus on their relationship and how much Emma meant to him.

"Yes, it's true. I'm engaged," Jae confirmed, smiling warmly at Emma. "We've had our ups and downs, but through it all, we've grown stronger. Emma's not just my fiancée—she's my best friend. And I want the world to know that."

The reporters were stunned. No one had expected such a candid answer, and the press conference, though still intense, felt less like an interrogation and more like a celebration of their love.

As the press conference ended, Emma couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. She'd been worried about how the world would react, but with Jae by her side, it wasn't as bad as she'd imagined. Still, she had to admit she was happy the cameras were finally off her for a while.

"I think we handled that pretty well," Emma said, trying to catch her breath.

"I think so too," Jae said with a grin. "But I'm just happy it's over. Now we can get back to planning our barbecue."

"You're really set on that barbecue, aren't you?" Emma teased.

"I'm telling you, it's going to be the wedding of the century!" Jae said, laughing as they walked hand in hand into the sunset. "Okay, okay... maybe we'll tone it down a little. But someone has to keep the wedding interesting, right?"

"You're impossible," Emma said, giving him a playful shove.

"Hey, I'm trying to give you the best day ever," he said, smiling mischievously.

"You're already doing that," Emma said, her heart swelling. "You really are."

As the days went by, Emma and Jae found themselves falling deeper in love. It wasn't just about the big moments—it was the little things too. The way he always made her laugh when she was stressed, the way he would hold her hand even in the midst of chaos, and the way they could sit in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company.

One evening, they were sitting on the balcony of their apartment, watching the stars. Jae turned to Emma, a serious look in his eyes.

"Hey," he said quietly. "I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. For being patient with me, even when I'm... a lot."

Emma smiled, leaning against his shoulder. "You're not too much," she said teasingly. "Okay, maybe sometimes. But I wouldn't change a thing."

Jae chuckled. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."

And as they sat there, the future felt clear. No matter what came their way, they would face it together, side by side, hand in hand.