I knew something was off the moment he texted me.
Keifer:
Be ready by 6.
That was it.
No teasing.
No extra line.
No "don't overthink."
Just… that.
I stared at my phone longer than I should have.
Jay:
That sounds like an order.
Keifer:
It's a request.
A serious one.
My heart skipped.
Serious?
That word didn't belong to him like this.
Not casually.
Not without meaning something.
By 5:30, I was standing in front of my mirror for the third time.
"Why am I nervous?" I muttered.
It wasn't like this was new.
It wasn't like I hadn't seen him a hundred times already—laughing, teasing, holding me like I belonged there.
And yet…
Tonight felt different.
I settled on something simple. Soft. Something me.
Because with him—
I didn't need to try.
At exactly 6:02, my phone buzzed again.
Keifer:
I'm here.
Of course he was.
Always precise when it mattered.
When I stepped outside, I stopped.
He was leaning against his car, dressed in something darker than usual, sleeves rolled just enough, hair slightly messy like he'd run his hand through it too many times.
And for once—
He wasn't smiling.
Not his usual smirk.
Not his teasing grin.
Just… calm.
Focused.
Waiting.
"Hi," I said softly.
"Hi," he replied.
The way he looked at me made my chest tighten.
Like he was memorizing me.
Again.
The drive was quiet.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… full.
His hand rested on the gear, but every now and then, his fingers brushed mine like he needed to remind himself I was there.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"You'll see."
Of course.
When he finally stopped, I frowned slightly.
It wasn't a fancy restaurant.
Not a crowded place.
Just… quiet.
A small open space overlooking the city lights.
The same place.
My breath caught.
"You remember," I whispered.
"Always," he said.
Soft lights were set up along the edges.
Nothing over the top.
Nothing overwhelming.
Just enough to make the night feel… intentional.
Warm.
Ours.
"You did this?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Since when do you plan things like this?"
"Since you," he said simply.
That—
That hit harder than anything.
We walked slowly.
Side by side.
Fingers brushing until he finally took my hand fully, like he didn't want to pretend anymore.
"I used to think I had time," he said suddenly.
I looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"I thought I could fix things later. Say things later. Choose you later."
My chest tightened.
"But I ran out of later," he continued quietly. "And I lost you because of it."
Silence wrapped around us.
Not heavy.
Just honest.
He stopped walking.
So I did too.
"Jay," he said.
My heart started racing.
That tone.
That look.
"Eight years ago, I thought loving you was enough," he continued. "But I didn't know how to keep you. I didn't know how to stay."
I swallowed.
"You do now?" I whispered.
He stepped closer.
Not rushed.
Not overwhelming.
Just… steady.
"I learned," he said. "The hard way."
His hand tightened slightly around mine.
"I learned that loving you isn't just a feeling. It's choosing you. Every day. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard."
My eyes stung.
"Keifer…"
"And I don't want another version of us that ends," he added. "I don't want almost. I don't want maybe. I don't want someday."
His voice softened.
"I want you. Fully. Right."
My heart felt like it was going to burst.
He took a breath.
And then—
He let go of my hand.
For a second, I felt it.
That empty space.
That sudden loss.
Before—
He dropped to one knee.
My breath stopped.
Completely.
He pulled out a small ring.
Simple.
Elegant.
Perfect.
Just like everything he did for me.
"Jay," he said, voice steady but softer than I'd ever heard it.
"I don't want to rush you… but I also don't want to lose another moment pretending I don't know what I feel."
My hands trembled.
"I've loved you before I knew how to say it right," he continued. "And I love you now knowing exactly what it means."
Tears blurred my vision.
"I can't promise perfect," he said. "But I can promise real. I can promise effort. I can promise that I'll choose you—every single day."
His eyes locked onto mine.
"Not just in the easy moments. Not just when it's good."
A small breath.
"But always."
"Marry me, Jay."
Silence.
Everything stilled.
The city. The air. My thoughts.
Everything except my heartbeat.
Loud.
Fast.
Overwhelming.
I laughed.
A broken, breathless laugh through tears I didn't even realize had fallen.
"You…" I shook my head, stepping closer. "You really did this the right way."
He smiled softly.
"I told you I would."
I dropped to my knees in front of him.
Not caring about anything else.
Not caring about the world.
Just him.
"You're so annoying," I whispered, crying and smiling at the same time.
"I know."
"You took so long."
"I know."
I cupped his face.
"But you came back right."
His eyes softened.
And that was it.
That was everything.
"Yes," I said.
His breath hitched.
"Yes, I'll marry you."
The smile that broke across his face—
It wasn't teasing.
It wasn't playful.
It was pure.
Unfiltered.
Happy.
He slid the ring onto my finger carefully.
Like it meant everything.
Because it did.
And then he kissed me.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just… certain.
Warm.
Forever.
When we pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine.
"No more almost," he murmured.
I smiled through my tears.
"No more almost."
And this time—
It wasn't a promise.
It was the truth.
💍 End. 💖