For Elio

[latermaybe]

As summer drew to a close, the new semester gearing up and the anniversary of my third year in Darrow approaching, I couldn't help but think back on my conversation with Sihyun at Pride. My reaction to the news of his engagement has nagged at the back of my mind since the Spring. Even more so, I was rattled by my later admission that the planning of a wedding, and the stress and attention it would bring, was something I instinctively shrank from.

It made me quiet and contemplative, and while I could hide such things in the first weeks of the semester, I knew now that Elio would've noticed.

So, tonight, I made tea. I bought a box of pastries we both liked. Our dinner was small, intimate, as it usually was. Comfortable. Content. I was happy, and making a change felt unwise, but I knew we were both waiting for the other to do something. Say something.

And it needed to be me.

Comments

[speakordie]

“I’ll take all of it, then.” His eyes close and I stay quiet, watching him as his holds his lips against the sensitive skin of my palm. He seems to be thinking so I give him time to do so, only to blink in confusion and furrow my brow as he suddenly stands and walks into our bedroom. I wonder if I should follow him or leave him be, but I don’t have time to make a decision before he’s returning with an unmistakable velvet box.

He sinks to his knees in front of me and my pulse rockets, eyes widening as I lift a hand to cover my mouth. The ring is gorgeous, delicate and sparkling, but as much as I like pretty things, I’d wear a piece of twine if it meant that I got to have him.

His words make me chuckle and I shake my head as I drop my hand from my mouth, eyes brimmed with tears as I look from the ring to his face.

“You just have to ask the question,” I tell him as I shift forward until I’m sitting on the edge of the sofa, reaching out to touch the side of his face. “Ask me so I can answer you.”