⚠️Trigger warnings:

Smut / Romance

Strong Language

COVID-19

Angst

Anxiety

🔞

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Jimin's POV

From the minute I met Hoseok hyung, I knew he would be perfect for my cousin, Minali. Though, I've never dreamed that the two of them would actually meet and start dating!

Yesterday, after Hoseok hyung had let the staff leave the office earlier than usual, I rushed off to the store to fulfill a few of the first orders we received as a registered delivery service. Remembering that my cousin wasn't able to go to the stores since she was busy, I stopped by her house to deliver the things she needed.

But instead of my beautiful cousin answering her door, there, in the threshold, stood my boss!

Hosoek hyung looked a little rumpled, like he'd been asleep, or ... 'No. He wouldn't do that!'

"No, I haven't slept with your cousin. But I wanted to talk to you about something." He hastily exclaimed, his eyes widening with realisation.

It was a bit odd seeing him on the other end of any kind of reprimand. Not that I'd ever do that. He's a grown man. My cousin is a grown woman - she needs someone, other than me, to care for her. If they were doing anything, I'm really happy for them anyway.

Life is short!

And Covid has shown us just how short life can be.

"Uhm... Look, whatever you guys do is your business, hyung." I answered him awkwardly. The guy was wearing my cousin's brother's clothes! And that hyung had passed away just two years' ago!

"I want to marry Minali." Hoseok hyung blurted out. He stared at me blankly, blinked and then waited for a response.

"Great. You have my blessing." I replied, taken aback by his sudden will to marry Minali. I never dreamed that things would move this fast.

Although, I remember him admitting to me that he's never actually having been with a woman before. So, I don't think he could've gone too far with Mina. She is also quite shy. But it's really not something I should be worrying about. Although, the fact that people assumed the worst about Hoseok hyung was hilarious when one compared his reality to all of the office gossip and rumours about him.

It was common knowledge that most of the women at the office have assumed that he was the type of man to have office flings and one-night stands. In fact, a lot of them agreed to return to the office after some of the lockdown restrictions were relaxed in the hopes of catching him in an empty office. I've heard some of them whisper things like this - and much worse - while passing by the branch's main safe or making my way around the office to check on the staff.

It was disgusting what people thought about hyung. Which was why I'd set things straight yesterday. It had taken me months to convince them that he just doesn't want to mix with people after his own personal losses. But the thirty-five other staff we have, decided that he's far too attractive to have had losses.

I rolled my eyes at how stupid some people were. Of course, people talk. Someone from marketing has a friend who works at another bank - which Hoseok hyung was coincidentally the second in charge at before he started here as branch manager. This fanned the flames of hope for the women in the office, who, just like those in his previous company, misread his body language and eyed him just because he dressed well.

But I've had enough of their trashy thoughts polluting the office! Just because he wore the best suits, and always wore expensive cologne, does not mean he's a Casanova.

Hoseok hyung is a good branch manager. He cares about the staff - even if they may misjudge him. And he deserves to get the respect of a Bank's branch manager!

The previous manager wasn't very good to the staff. He only ever cared about sales and almost never let anyone stay home for the lockdown period - which was how he'd lost his job. And then he'd contracted Covid. Within a week, he was out like a candle light in the wind.

"Oppa!" Minali exclaimed happily, jolting me from my thoughts. She hugged me and accepted the bag of groceries that I handed to her. "Thank you for this. I didn't get to stop by the store this week." She gestured to the paper bag from the local grocer.

"Don't stress Mina. I gotta run now. You two take care. See you on Monday, hyung." I smiled at my cousin and nodded to Hosoek hyung awkwardly.

'This is going to take some getting used to from my side.' I blinked the image of them together out of my mind as I got into my vehicle, then drove off from my cousin's house.

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I passed a coffee shop at the local shopping mall and noticed hyung kiss Minali's lips. They looked genuinely happy.

'I can't remember the last time I saw her smile like that.' I smiled to myself, knowing then that my cousin had chosen the right man to make her happy. I can rest assured that she's in good hands.

That's the best part about of them actually falling for each other. I can trust Hoseok with my cousin.

They were having their first date today. Speaking of dates... Haneul, my girlfriend of two years, and I had something planned for later as well!

I think it's time I popped the question to her!

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"Haneul, what do want to eat?" I asked her, nervous as hell. I finally picked out a ring for her and I'm going to ask her to marry me later tonight.

"Hmmm... What do you feel like having tonight? It's a nice breezy evening, that stars are out and we're sitting out on the deck. It's quite a romantic evening Jimin. You pick for me." She smiled at me, not missing the preparations I'd made for our date.

"Happy 700 days, baby." I took hold of her hand, gently running my thumb over her palm.

Today is exactly two years since we are dating, but saying 730 days just sounded weird to me.

"Thank you. Happy 700 days, Jimin!" Her warm smile lit up my whole life.

I wonder if my cousin feels like that too? Because if Hoseok doesn't treat her well, he'll have me to deal with!

"Let's try the roast chicken with lemon? I hear it's quite popular here." Haneul nodded her agreement and within the next fifteen minutes we were enjoying the best meal we've ever shared together.

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After dinner, just as I'd arranged, the restaurant's quartet mysteriously appeared and began playing our song.

"When your legs don't work like they used to before, And I can't sweep you off of your feet.

Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love? Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?

And darling I will be loving you 'til we're 70. And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23.

And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways. Maybe just the touch of a hand.

Oh me I fall in love with you every single day. And I just wanna tell you I am.

So honey now, Take me into your loving arms. Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars,

Place your head on my beating heart. I'm thinking out loud.

Maybe we found love right where we are."

I sang along to her, as I she marvelled at how the band played our song. By the time the melody had reached her favourite line, I was down on one knee, a traditional diamond ring winking up at her.

"Haneul, will you marry me?"

Her eyes shone with tears, her head silently nodding her answer.

"Yes, Jimin." She exclaimed as everyone around us clapped for us.

I slid the ring onto her finger then rose to kiss her lips.

"I love you." We said to each other in unison, a smile spread across our faces as I touched my forehead to hers.

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Minali's POV

"Will you marry me, Minali?"

Hosoek suddenly asked me to marry him, his arms wrapped around my waist as I sat beside him. We were discussing our next few dates and then he surprised me again!

'This man is just full of surprises!' I swooned.

Despite knowing him for almost a week, it felt right. I know we are meant for each other. I want to marry him.
Hell... I want to have children with him!

Nothing has ever felt this right in my life before.

Naturally, I didn't have to think long or hard about my answer, even if Hoseok had asked me this conversationally, playing with my fingers. He didn't have a ring, and yet I could sense the seriousness with which he asked me the question. He genuinely meant it.
I've been at his house all morning and I have no doubt that he and I will work out. I know it in my heart.

"Yes, Hoseok." I looked up at my boyfriend, feeling the tears sting my eyes as I tried not to cry. "I will marry you." Hoseok, who also looked more emotional, bent forward, holding me in his arms and pressed his soft lips to mine in a kiss that promised more than just love and happiness. It spoke of a future made just for us.

Everything was right in the world, as long as Hoseok is by my side.

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"Congratulations Jimin oppa and Haneul onni! Wow! You're finally getting married!" I grinned at my cousin and his girlfriend - now fianceé.

They called to share the news with us, just as Hoseok and I were about to have dinner. The table was laid out beautifully by Hoseok to include our main dish: Romantic Chicken with Artichokes and Mushrooms as well as a side dish of other roasted vegetables.

"Thank you Minali!" Haneul exclaimed, her eyes widened when she realised that there was someone sitting with me on the video call. "Omg! Mina! You have a boyfriend! Congratulations donsaeng!" My cousin's fianceé exclaimed happily.

We didn't bother correcting them, as Hoseok had also proposed to me earlier. We agreed to tell everyone when he gave me a ring - which he said was a surprise.

"Thank you onni!" I looked away from the screen to see Hoseok shying away from the camera. He was absolutely adorable whenever he became shy about something.

"Hoseok, this is Jimin oppa's girl- I mean finaceé, Haneul." I introduced them. Jimin oppa was holding Haneul from behind, much like Hoseok was with me.

"Congratulations Jimin and Haneul." Hosoek shyly replied. He wasn't very good with talking to people he wasn't familiar with. And he was awkward around Jimin since yesterday.

I still don't know what they were talking about, but I know that my cousin is happy for us.

"And congratulations to you both, I didn't get to say this yesterday. I wish you both well." Jimin oppa added, his smile was contageous.

After talking to them about their plans for the wedding for a little while, we excused ourselves. My cousin and his fianceé were still at the restaurant they had booked, their dessert having just arrived.

"I had fun cooking with you today, baby." Hoseok whispered into my ear.

"Me- me too..." My breath hitched in my throat as I tried to dish food out onto a plate. Hosoek chuckled in response, the sound deep and gravelly, his hands brushing mine as he added food to his plate.

Hosoek poured us each a drink and pulled out a chair for me to sit. He took the seat opposite me, creating the perfect dinner date scenario.

"Bon appetit, my darling." He raised a glass of red wine. I mirrored him, and took a sip of the wine he'd picked for us.

Everything was delicious. The food and the wine worked well in a perfect harmony and dessert, which was a platter of simple chocolate covered strawberries dusted with edible golden shimmer, was equally perfect.

All the while, Hoseok's tracklist played, serenading us while we ate and drank and talked. Then, when the next track began, my boyfriend rose from his seat and took me by the hand to dance.

"You wanted to dance, my lady. This is for you." He murmured into my ear as the song played. It was an old instrumental called 'Rise'.

"I didn't know you liked this song as well, it's one of my favourite instrumentals." I said, allowing him to swing me in tune with the music.

"I thought it would be a good song to dance to with you." He placed a kiss on my temple.

The track was a romantic slow-dance song. I felt Hoseok's hands rest on my hips as we danced. But as the song ended, I felt Hoseok kneel down.

Huh?

"Marry me, Minali." He smiled again, this time however, he held out the most beautiful ring I've ever seen!

"I will, Hoseok." I said, crouching down face to face with him. I held my left had out to him, which took then placed a kiss over my knuckles, and slid the ring on my finger.

"I'll always be yours Minali. I love you."

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Hoseok's POV

"For our next date, we're having 'Smoked cheese ravioli'." I added, having already made up my mind. I knew Minali would make a great partner. She's amazing and when we're cooking together, she has the best jokes.

We were now officially engaged, though we didn't announce it to her cousin just yet. It would be odd to call back and announce our engagement, disrespectful even. So Mina and I agreed to keep our engagement a secret a little longer.

"We could also do a 'Marry me chicken', I hear it's good for couples to make together." She says, running an index finger down my chest.

"You're starting something you might not be able to finish, babygirl." I whispered into her ear, running my tongue over the curve of her neck.

"Mmmm... Maybe I want to." She teased me back, kissing my neck and running her fingers over my thigh. Her thumb slipped over my dick, and the dark look her eyes told me just what she wanted.

I captured her lips with mine, not letting her say anything further. Tonight, I'm going to show her just how much she means to me.

My tongue ran over her bottom lip. I grabbed hold of her hips and nudged her legs apart, the kitchen counter bearing witness to what I was about to do to my fianceé. My fingers gently grazed her inner thigh, then slipped into her panties. When she gasped in pleasure, I slid my tongue between her lips and teased her a little.

I had her sitting on the counter, her legs apart for me as I teased her, pausing to see the look of surprise on her face when my thumb ran over her wet clit.

"Mmm... Hosoek, more." She murmured against my lips. Her hips gyrated to the rhythm of my fingers. Just as I felt her climax, I inserted two digits, lazily massaging her into an oblivion. Minali's eyes closed, loud moans escaping her throat as I sucked on her neck, my other hand kneading her breast under the t-shirt she wore. She was a hot mess.

"Perhaps we should go upstairs for the next part." I mused into her ear.

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A/n: I wanted to bring Jimin in again, just for a twist.

Song credits:
Artist: Ed Sheeran
Song: 'Thinking Out Loud'

Artist: Herp Albert
Song: 'Rise'

Translation:

Dongsaeng: Younger sibling - or someone younger than you who you see as a sibling.