Proposal

"...Propose? You??" 

Anne Faulkner's eyes widen as they let their smartphone fall from their hand in sheer surprise. It made a low thud as it collided to the concrete floor, and the person they spoke with hurrily leaned down to take it off the ground.

"Anne-chan! Your phoneー"

Her worried voice rang, but Anne really, really couldn't bother with that right now. There's a much more pressing matter here!

"More importantly, what did you just say? You want to propose to Allen!?"

"Yes."

Hearing her response, Anne looked at the lady in front of them with teary eyes. After all, years ago when they first met, she was just a bundle of negativity and insecurities - something that couldn't be helped due to her upbringing - yet, now, on her own volition, she's here to talk to Anne about stepping on to her next stage in life with none other than Anne's teammate, also her long time boyfriend, Sugasano Allen.

It felt like it was just yesterday when Allen spluttered an unintelligible request to Anne and Hajun, asking them for help in confessing his love to the one and only lady in front of Anne right now (and little did he know the lady also asked of the same thing to Hajun and Anne, just a day prior). Of course, had the lady been some random stone off the streets, neither Hajun nor Anne would've responded amicably, but through the time they befriended her, they knew that her feelings to Allen is pure, and that the pair affects each other positively.

"...Are you sure your family would be okay with that?"

Anne inquired in a low tone, sounding as empathetic as they could. Along the years, Anne had time and again discovered how strict the lady's traditional family could be - if this family was willing to lock her up a few days for going to one of BAE's concerts, Anne couldn't imagine what they'd do to her if she were to marry someone they don't approve of.

"It doesn't matter. My life, my future is mine alone. That's what Allen... as well as you, Anne-chan, and Hajun-kun, has taught me through every fiber of your being, through your soul and music."

She took a sip of her milk tea and continued,

"Though I may not have the complete freedom to leave my birdcage, nor do I have the decisiveness to throw everything away, I believe I can pave my own path towards the future still - after all, thats what I've been doing ever since I met BAE... I met all of you."

Anne's eyes glistened in proud tears as their hands reached for hers, holding it tightly.

"Of course~!" Anne replied cheerfully, "You're our one and only flower on a high peak, after all!"

The lady blushed, "Anne-chan... don't call me that...!"

Indeed that was her nickname when they were still in university, as her beauty and elegance were coveted by many yet unattainable. Not to mention her prestigious family tree - it's no wonder people called her a lady beyond anyone's reach - though it didn't take long for Allen, Anne, and Hajun to find out it was all pretense, a façade built to protect herself and preserve her shaky identity.

"Haha, just kidding!" Anne grinned.

Before they could continue their talk, however, Anne's phone rang.

"Oh, it's just Hajun," Anne informed, "Wait a second."

The lady nodded.

"Hello, yeah," Anne talked to the phone, "Yeah, we're still here. Oh, you're close already? OK, OK... Yeah, see you."

Anne hung the phone with a low beep and said, "Hajun's going to get here in 5 minutes he said,"

"Okay, then let's wait for him first before we continue."

▲▲▲

"So you want to propose to Allen, and is in need of our advice as to how and where?" Hajun reiterated. A few moments ago he'd arrived at the cafe, and now had sat down on the empty chair at Anne and the lady's table.

"Yes," the lady replied with determination. "Thank you so much for coming even though you're so busy, Anne-chan and Hajun-kun. Even Hajun-kun had only finished his shooting just now."

"No problem, it was just a small shoot, nothing exhausting," Hajun said.

"Yeesh, look at this guy, shooting the cover for the most popular magazine in the entire country and he calls it small," Anne chimed in with a grin. Of course, they're proud of their teammate.

"Ahaha, that's so like Hajun-kun."

Hajun smiled and then intercepted the two's banters, "What exactly do you have in mind right now? Or no plans at all?"

The lady fixed her posture and sat upright before replying, "I planned to invite him to a dinner and propose there."

"Oh, classic!" Anne whistled.

"Indeed, that's text book proposal," Hajun commented.

"I don't have any other idea... I tried to... umm..."

""Hmm?"" Anne and Hajun's ears perked up as the lady's voice lowered until it was almost indiscernible. Now this is interesting.

"I tried to, um, don't laugh okay..." she said, "I tried to make lyrics... that conveys my feelings to him, but as you all know I have no musical talent whatsoever, so it's more like a poem... but it's too embarrassing, I don't think I can show it to him."

Anne and Hajun looked at each other.

"Ooh, show it, show it!"

"Yes, we're very interested to see it."

The lady's face flushed in embarrassment and it looked like she was about to reject the request, but then she shook her head - she was the one who brought it up, after all, and she needed their advice!

Steeling her resolve, she took her binder out of her bag and flipped it to a certain page, placing it on the table towards Hajun and Anne.

"Let's see..."

"To you, one brighter than a billion stars, burning through the endless nightー"

"Ha-Hajun-kun, you don't need to read it aloud!!" A loud, flustered interruption and hands hurriedly covering the binder stopped Hajun in his recitation, as both he and Anne looked up to see the culprit.

"But whyyyyy~? Hajun's so good at it!" Anne whined half-jokingly.

"I'd say that wasn't a bad attempt," Hajun nodded to himself.

"But... but..." An exasperated look on the lady's face.

"Pfft, hahaha! Look at your face!" Anne laughed, "Sorry, we went too far. Right, Hajun?"

"Yes. And, well, though cheesy in some parts, I think it's wonderful."

"Yeah! It's really like you. I can tell how sincere your feelings are to your, ahem, let's see... heart of your heart?"

Anne quoted one of the other lines in the poem as they winked.

"A-Anne-chan!!"

Anne snickered.

"Jokes aside, though, I don't think you need anything grand for your proposal to Allen."

"I agree with Anne. You don't need pretense, just as how you two usually are."

"Just hit him full strength with your true feelings and thoughts, aim it straight to his heart!"

The lady looked at two of her closest friends in surprise, as tears glazed her eyes. How lucky, yo have people who truly cared about and always looking out for her.

"...Okay! Andー"

A familiar ringtone rang, taking the three's attention to the phone on the table.

"Oh, it's mine!"

"Your ringtone this week is instrumental version of FABULOUS?" Hajun asked. Indeed, it's her habit to cycle through BAE's songs as her ringtone.

"Yes, I needed the confidence boost this week," she replied with a smile.

"So nostalgic! How long ago was this!?" Anne chimed in, excitement in their voice.

"We made it during Stage Battle, so it's well over 6 years ago, I suppose," Hajun replied, "Anyway, isn't that Allen calling you?"

"Eh!? Oh, yes! Excuse me, I'll go and take it."

"Sure, sure. Take your sweet time with boyfie~" Anne waved as their friend stood up to take the call outside.

As they looked at her retreating form, Hajun opened his mouth, "Is it what I think it is?"

"For sure. Their timings always coincide, god knows why."

"Haha. Still, how time flies."

"Sentimental today, Hajun?"

"That'sー"

Before Hajun could reply, the hurried form of their friend took their attention.

"Allen said he wants to meet me in Club Paradox right now... but I thought it's closed today?" She asked in confusion.

"Well, an owner can open and close the club whenever he wants," Anne replied, "Anyways, you should go! Isn't he waiting for you?"

"Yes, don't make him worry sick. I've called for a driver and he's already standing by outside, so you can go now."

"You didn't have to... thank you, both of you!"

"No worries, go go~!"

"Don't mention it."

▲▲▲

Allen took deep breaths as he loosened his tight grip on his mic. He'd spent weeks to compose this song, thought over each and every note and words in the lyrics, poured his heart and soul into this one creation... all to express his sincere gratitude and wish to step forward with none other than her, his one and only beloved.

"I wonder how she'd react," he thought, as his eyes swept the desolate hall in front of him.

There he was, standing in the middle of the stage alone, with only the simplest of lights shining upon him.

It felt rather strange to be here when it's a mere empty shell, with neither flashing lights, DJs, heads, nor staffs... It brought him a kind of strange feeling, as someone who had betted his life, his existence, his value on stage, for years. And now, for this matter, he's on the stage once again... perhaps being just a little sentimental is acceptable.

"Allen?"

The sweet voice of his lovely rang on the hall. Allen focused his eyes on the shadowy form below the stage, and indeed it's none other than his long time girlfriend and hopefully more than that, and he couldn't help but to call out her name.

"ーー!"

"Allen! What isー"

Allen smiled - and before she could finish her sentence, he gave a sign for the music to be played.

"This is..."

His girlfriend muttered quietly, as she focused on the unfamiliar, yet familiar melody - something she had never heard before, yet full of Allen's passion and uniqueness.

After the opening melody, Allen started singing the verses one by one, full of emotions and vigor. Enchanted, she couldn't even think of anything but Allen and the song - and then she realized, these lyrics...

It's... about them.

About their meeting, the sweet and sour, the love and effort...

This is...

Tears streamed down her face, yet she did nothing to wipe it: every fiber of her being still focused on Allen and the melody, unable to process anything else. It felt like the world was theirs, and theirs alone.

▲▲▲

Allen walked to the edge of the stage and leaned down as he invited her to go up the stage, "Come on up,"

Surprised, she nodded and Allen put his mic down as he helped her up with both his arms.

"...How was it?"

He asked, face red, after a few moments of looking into each other's eyes.

"It was..." Once again, teardrops fell from her eyes, "Wonderful."

He smiled, and slowly reached his arms out to hold her.

"I..."

His voice trembled, preparing for the next lines he's about to say.

"I love you."

He then let her go and stepped back one, reached for his pockets, and then dropped on one knee. Opening the small box of beautiful, sparkling ring on his hand, he opened his mouth. His heart filled with only love, joyous images of the future, and... a tinge of anxiety.

"...Would you marry me?"

A simple and clean proposal that fits him like a glove. Straightforward and passionate. The way he'd lived his life for years and years.

It felt like an eternity before she replied, again with tears in her eyes, and a smile so bright, the brightest he'd ever seen of hers:

"...Yes!"

Overwhelmed by emotions, Allen stood up and embraced the woman in front of him. The one who had always supported him through thick and thin, the one who'd changed so much since the first time they met, the one who never gave up paving the way to the future for herself, and for the both of them. The one who he knew would walk side by side with him, now and forever.

Both their faces red, Allen leaned down for a kiss... only for her to stop him, covering his lips with her hands.

"W-wait!"

"...Why...?" He asked, disappointment clearly reflected in his voice. She felt like she could see droopy puppy ears and tails on him right now...

"I-I... I also have something I want to show you."

"?"

Allen tilted his head to the side.

"I made you a poem..." Blushing, she fished out her binder from her bag, and opened it, "I'm going to read it to you, okay?"

After a moment of surprise, Allen's eyes sparkled in anticipation, as he replied, "Yeah!"

She inhaled deeply, and then exhaled...

To you, one brighter than a billion stars, burning through the endless night

To you, as firm as a thousand year camphor tree, as passionate as a vermillion birdーー

▲▲▲

"Hey, did you hear the rumors!?"

"You mean SUZAKU's?"

"Yeah! I heard he got engaged!"

"Dummy, it's not a rumor! Look at his left hand... hell, he brags about it on TV shows and the radio!"

"Really!?"

"Now, he's like the nation's sweetest puppy dog lover!"

"Sigh... when will a man like that appear in front of me?"

"In your dreams, I guess."

"Hey!"