A week passes, and everything begins to feel steady again.
Not less magical—never less magical—but calmer. Softer. Like the storm of excitement from the proposal has settled into something warm and glowing, a fire crackling quietly in the corner of their shared life.
Ren wakes up to the smell of pancakes.
He blinks sleepily, stretching beneath the blankets. It takes him a moment to remember why he's in Kai's room instead of his own tiny apartment across the city. Then his eyes drift to the ring on his finger, catching the morning light.
Right.
He lives here now.
With Kai.
His fiancé.
Ren buries his face in the pillow for a moment to hide a shy smile he can't stop.
When he finally gets up and pads into the kitchen, he finds Kai standing by the stove, wearing an apron that Ren swears wasn't in the house before this week.
Kai glances over his shoulder the moment he hears footsteps. "Morning, love."
Ren nearly collapses on the spot. "Why are you calling me that so early?"
"Because you get flustered." Kai smirks. "And it's adorable."
Ren groans, but he's smiling the whole time as he slides into one of the chairs. "What's with all the cooking?"
Kai flips a pancake with surprising skill. "Wedding planning day."
Ren chokes on air. "W-WHAT?"
Kai laughs. "Don't panic. I just want to talk about ideas. Nothing final yet."
Ren takes a breath, steadying himself. "Okay. That's fine. Just… warn me next time."
Kai brings over a plate stacked with pancakes—fluffy, golden, and smelling like vanilla. He sets them down, then sits beside Ren instead of across from him. Their knees bump.
Ren pours syrup slowly, voice small. "Thank you. For breakfast."
Kai leans over and kisses his cheek. "I like taking care of you."
Ren's heart melts immediately.
After they eat, they move to the living room with laptops, notebooks, and a huge binder that Kai's sister made for them titled "WEDDING MAGIC: REN + KAI EDITION."
Ren stares at the sparkly cover. "She's… very enthusiastic."
"That's one word for it," Kai mutters.
Ren opens the binder carefully, flipping through pages of color palettes, cake inspiration, venue suggestions, lighting styles, tux options, proposal reenactment ideas, and something labeled "Photo Zones: A breakdown."
Ren laughs so hard he snorts. "This is… detailed."
Kai sighs. "She's terrifying."
"She loves us," Ren corrects.
"Same thing," Kai says.
Ren grins.
They settle into the couch, shoulders touching. The afternoon sun filters through the curtains, bathing the room in a warm glow. It feels peaceful. Team-like. Easy.
Kai scrolls through a mood board. "Do you want an indoor wedding or outdoor?"
Ren thinks for a moment. "Outdoor. Something pretty. But not too bright. Something… gentle."
Kai nods. "A garden?"
"Maybe. Or by a lake."
Kai types it down. "We can rent a private property. Something quiet. Away from cameras."
Ren leans against his shoulder. "That sounds perfect."
Kai's hand drifts to Ren's thigh, resting there like it's the most natural thing in the world.
"What about music?" Kai asks.
Ren lights up instantly. "String quartet."
Kai raises an eyebrow. "Really?"
Ren nods enthusiastically. "Soft, emotional. It makes everything feel dramatic. Like in a movie."
Kai pretends to think seriously. "You just want the violinists to cry when you walk down the aisle."
Ren gasps. "YES. EXACTLY."
Kai bursts out laughing.
Ren pokes his side. "Stop laughing! I want drama. I want tears. I want the audience to fall apart emotionally."
"Oh, love," Kai says, wiping a tear from his own eye, "you're incredible."
Ren turns red. "You're making fun of me."
"I would never," Kai says with a mischievous smile.
"Yes you would."
"Yes, I would," Kai admits. "But you're cute when you're passionate."
Ren hides his face in a pillow while Kai laughs again.
A little later, Kai pulls up cake designs.
"What flavor do you want?" he asks.
Ren points instantly. "Strawberry shortcake."
Kai blinks. "I thought you'd pick something chocolate."
"No, chocolate is for regular days. Strawberry is special."
Kai makes a note. "Done."
Ren leans closer. "What about you? What do you want?"
Kai shrugs. "Whatever you like."
Ren frowns. "Kai. This is your wedding too. You have to want something."
Kai hesitates.
Ren waits patiently.
Finally, Kai speaks, voice softer. "I want… something simple. Elegant. Something that makes you smile when you see it."
Ren's chest tightens.
He takes Kai's face in both hands and squishes his cheeks gently. "You're impossible."
Kai blinks. "Mmf?"
"Stop being so nice," Ren huffs, cheeks warming.
Kai manages to kiss Ren's palm anyway. "No."
Ren laughs helplessly.
Around lunchtime, they take a break. Kai sprawls across the couch, head resting in Ren's lap. Ren runs his fingers through Kai's hair, gently detangling the messy strands.
Kai's eyes flutter closed. "How did I get this lucky?"
Ren freezes for a moment, breath catching.
Then he smiles softly and continues combing through the dark strands. "You hired a suspicious secretary, remember?"
Kai snorts. "The best mistake I ever made."
Ren flicks his forehead. "Hey."
Kai laughs and reaches up, taking Ren's hand and pressing a kiss to the inside of his wrist. The act makes Ren's stomach flutter in the sweetest way.
They lie like that for a long time—just breathing in the same quiet space. Ren watches the sunlight dance along the floorboards, listens to Kai's breathing, feels the soft pulse beneath his fingers.
He's never felt so safe.
Later, they go for a walk to clear their minds. It's warm outside, a soft breeze brushing past their skin. Ren clings to Kai's arm while Kai carries iced coffees in one hand.
"Do you want roses at the wedding?" Ren asks suddenly.
Kai shrugs. "If you like roses."
"I do," Ren says. "But I like lilies more."
"Then lilies." Kai nods. "White ones?"
Ren shakes his head. "Pink. Soft pink. Like the sky before sunrise."
Kai gives him a look. "Don't say things like that when I'm trying to stay calm."
Ren blinks. "Why?"
"Because it makes me want to kiss you."
Ren turns red instantly. "Oh."
Kai smirks. "Oh?"
"S-shut up."
"No."
Ren pushes his shoulder lightly but ends up leaning into him again anyway.
When they return home, they sit at the dining table with their notes.
Ren flips to a blank page. "Okay. Serious question."
Kai sits up straighter. "I'm listening."
"Do we want matching suits?"
Kai tilts his head. "Matching?"
"Like complementary colors," Ren explains. "Or the same design in different shades."
Kai thinks for a moment.
"What do you want?" Kai asks.
Ren hesitates. "I… want something where people look at us and immediately know we're together. Like… something that ties us."
Kai's expression softens in an instant.
"I like that," Kai says. "A lot."
Ren smiles shyly. "Maybe white for you. Something soft for me. Like… champagne gold or blush."
Kai nods. "You'd look beautiful in blush."
Ren blushes. "Stop."
Kai doesn't. "Stunning."
"Kai—"
"Breathtaking."
Ren covers his face. "I swear, if you don't stop—"
Kai pulls his hands away gently and kisses him before he can finish the threat.
It's a slow kiss. A warm kiss. One that deepens by the second, one that sends Ren's mind drifting far away from wedding planning.
When they finally pull apart, Ren's breathing is shaky.
Kai rests his forehead against Ren's. "Sorry. Couldn't help it."
Ren whimpers quietly. "You're not sorry at all."
"No," Kai admits, smiling softly. "I'm really not."
By evening, their wedding binder is half-filled with ideas. Nothing final. Nothing locked in. But it feels good. Collaborative. Like the future is something they're building with both hands, slowly and lovingly, without pressure.
Ren closes the binder and sighs in contentment. "We got a lot done."
Kai nods. "We did."
Ren leans back against his fiancé, feeling Kai's arms slide around him from behind.
"You know," Ren murmurs, "I thought planning a wedding would be terrifying."
"And now?" Kai asks, chin resting on Ren's shoulder.
Ren smiles. "Now it feels like something we're doing as a team."
Kai tightens his hold. "Because we are."
Ren tilts his head back slightly, looking up at him. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For making everything feel okay."
Kai kisses the side of his neck. "Thank you for making everything feel worth it."
Ren melts completely.
By the time they go to sleep, Ren is curled against Kai's chest, their legs tangled beneath the blankets.
Kai runs slow circles along Ren's back. "Are you excited?"
"For the wedding?"
"For our future."
Ren nods sleepily. "Very."
Kai smiles against his hair. "Me too."
Ren lifts his hand slightly, looking at the ring again—shining faintly in the dark.
He presses a small kiss to Kai's collarbone.
"Goodnight," Ren whispers.
Kai holds him a little closer. "Goodnight, love."
Ren falls asleep feeling warm, adored, and ready.
Ready for the planning.Ready for the ceremony.Ready for the life waiting beyond all of it.
With Kai.Always with Kai.