By the time you knew love, The Rent-A-CD shop had become a branch of state government, demolished, like the rest of your city, in a summer that stretched into nearly a decade of detours.
It's
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The space around the park was packed with screaming teens. They were so close together, Cam could barely push his way through. Of course, that kind of treatment was the norm for any building Julian Kim was in.
Julian Kim. Cam’s best friend. He also happened to be one of the biggest names in the K-Pop industry, which was the cause behind the fangirl crowd. All Julianites knew everything about him, or thought they did, which means they also knew how close he was to his best friend Cam. Unfortunately for said best friend, they were too busy vying for a glimpse of their idol to notice his friend pushing to the front of the crowd. After stepping on plenty of toes, Cam finally made it up to the gates of the park.
As expected, the gates were guarded. He could see a pair of girls trying to bribe a guard to let them through. Much to their chagrin, they were being completely ignored. He got the okay from the guards, and managed to squeeze through during the ten seconds that the gate was cracked open.
Once he got in, he knew exactly where he was going. There was a fountain in the center of the park,, one of the only places Julian was able to relax at. As usual, he found him there, reading some French classic or other.
“Julian! I finally made it!” Cam’s panting voice broke through Julian’s dreamy haze. His blue hoodie was a stark contrast to Julian’s deep red suit jacket.
“Glad to see you’re still in one piece.” Julian said, smiling gently at the sight of Cam’s soft freckles.
“Yeah, no thanks to your army.”
“What can I say? They’re good at their job. Want to take a walk over by the fence? I feel like they probably deserve it after how long they’ve been waiting.”
Cam’s fingers closed over a velvet box buried deep in his pocket. “You sure you don’t want to stay over here? It’s much quieter. I mean, but if you want to see your fans you definitely should! You know what? Never mind. I’m just rambling. Let’s go!” Cam ran a hand through his curls to conceal that it was starting to shake.
“Are you alright?” Julian asked.
“Yes! Sorry. Just nerves after being in that crowd, I guess?”
“...Alright then, if you’re certain.” Cam nodded enthusiastically, and Julian put his book down and stood. The leaves in the park were still in the process of sprouting, and a few trees were actively flowering. The scent drifted down as Julian grabbed Cam’s hand and held it in his own.
They walked in silence for as long as they could, but as soon as the first Julianite caught a glimpse of the top of his head, the crowd erupted with renewed vigor. By the time they got next to the gate, they had to raise their voices to talk. There were even a few fans trying to throw gifts and letters, so they were forced to retreat out of throwing range, though still well within view of the crowd.
Cam’s heart was racing. He had been waiting for so long- he had been avoiding this for so long. Even though he knew what the answer would be, it was still the most terrifying thing he had ever faced. At the same time though, it felt perfect, and silly, and lovely, and... right.
He tilted his face up slightly to meet Julian’s eyes, and took a deep breath, ensuring that he could be heard over the crowd.
“Julian, you’re my best friend, my partner in everything. You have been the only one who could make me feel safe just by meeting my eyes. Without you, there would be no sun, and when I’m with you, you are the brightest thing I see. You complete me, and you make me stronger, just by being yourself. I know how hard it is for you, keeping this part of your life a secret. I know how much you wish people knew. I was afraid of what they would say about us, but more importantly, about you. I thought keeping us a secret would protect you, but now I understand that the only thing that can do that is to show the world. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, because you are so, so beautiful. You’ve taught me how important it is to stay true to myself, so that’s what I’m doing today. You are the love of my life, the one person I can’t live without...”
Cam sank to one knee and pulled the velvet box out of his pocket. It felt like the world around them had disappeared, and the only thing he could see was Julian’s shocked and smiling face.
“And now, it would make me the happiest man in the world if you would do me the honor of allowing me to show the world that I’m your husband.”
Before he knew what was going on, Cam had been pulled to his feet by Julian.
“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” Julian’s eyes were sparkling with happy tears, and Cam felt like he was entranced by those smiling eyes, until his face was pulled against Julian’s. They stayed like that, forehead to forehead, whispering sweet nothings and stealing kisses, for what seemed like an eternity.
“Whatever happens next, we’ll figure it out as partners. Together.”
Julian Kim. Cam’s best friend. He also happened to be one of the biggest names in the K-Pop industry, which was the cause behind the fangirl crowd. All Julianites knew everything about him, or thought they did, which means they also knew how close he was to his best friend Cam. Unfortunately for said best friend, they were too busy vying for a glimpse of their idol to notice his friend pushing to the front of the crowd. After stepping on plenty of toes, Cam finally made it up to the gates of the park.
As expected, the gates were guarded. He could see a pair of girls trying to bribe a guard to let them through. Much to their chagrin, they were being completely ignored. He got the okay from the guards, and managed to squeeze through during the ten seconds that the gate was cracked open.
Once he got in, he knew exactly where he was going. There was a fountain in the center of the park,, one of the only places Julian was able to relax at. As usual, he found him there, reading some French classic or other.
“Julian! I finally made it!” Cam’s panting voice broke through Julian’s dreamy haze. His blue hoodie was a stark contrast to Julian’s deep red suit jacket.
“Glad to see you’re still in one piece.” Julian said, smiling gently at the sight of Cam’s soft freckles.
“Yeah, no thanks to your army.”
“What can I say? They’re good at their job. Want to take a walk over by the fence? I feel like they probably deserve it after how long they’ve been waiting.”
Cam’s fingers closed over a velvet box buried deep in his pocket. “You sure you don’t want to stay over here? It’s much quieter. I mean, but if you want to see your fans you definitely should! You know what? Never mind. I’m just rambling. Let’s go!” Cam ran a hand through his curls to conceal that it was starting to shake.
“Are you alright?” Julian asked.
“Yes! Sorry. Just nerves after being in that crowd, I guess?”
“...Alright then, if you’re certain.” Cam nodded enthusiastically, and Julian put his book down and stood. The leaves in the park were still in the process of sprouting, and a few trees were actively flowering. The scent drifted down as Julian grabbed Cam’s hand and held it in his own.
They walked in silence for as long as they could, but as soon as the first Julianite caught a glimpse of the top of his head, the crowd erupted with renewed vigor. By the time they got next to the gate, they had to raise their voices to talk. There were even a few fans trying to throw gifts and letters, so they were forced to retreat out of throwing range, though still well within view of the crowd.
Cam’s heart was racing. He had been waiting for so long- he had been avoiding this for so long. Even though he knew what the answer would be, it was still the most terrifying thing he had ever faced. At the same time though, it felt perfect, and silly, and lovely, and... right.
He tilted his face up slightly to meet Julian’s eyes, and took a deep breath, ensuring that he could be heard over the crowd.
“Julian, you’re my best friend, my partner in everything. You have been the only one who could make me feel safe just by meeting my eyes. Without you, there would be no sun, and when I’m with you, you are the brightest thing I see. You complete me, and you make me stronger, just by being yourself. I know how hard it is for you, keeping this part of your life a secret. I know how much you wish people knew. I was afraid of what they would say about us, but more importantly, about you. I thought keeping us a secret would protect you, but now I understand that the only thing that can do that is to show the world. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, because you are so, so beautiful. You’ve taught me how important it is to stay true to myself, so that’s what I’m doing today. You are the love of my life, the one person I can’t live without...”
Cam sank to one knee and pulled the velvet box out of his pocket. It felt like the world around them had disappeared, and the only thing he could see was Julian’s shocked and smiling face.
“And now, it would make me the happiest man in the world if you would do me the honor of allowing me to show the world that I’m your husband.”
Before he knew what was going on, Cam had been pulled to his feet by Julian.
“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” Julian’s eyes were sparkling with happy tears, and Cam felt like he was entranced by those smiling eyes, until his face was pulled against Julian’s. They stayed like that, forehead to forehead, whispering sweet nothings and stealing kisses, for what seemed like an eternity.
“Whatever happens next, we’ll figure it out as partners. Together.”