< < Kai and Oliver meet in late February of 2016 in a college computer class during Kai's first year of college and they become friends.

> > Oliver smiles warmly at Kai. "You know, I think you and I are gonna be friends for a long time."

< < January 16, 2017, Oliver confesses feelings to Kai, and Kai asks him to be her boyfriend the next day and then they're officially a couple.

> > Kai laughs. "Lets hope you can deal with me for that long."

< < In late April of 2021, Oliver and Kai move into a small apartment and live together, splitting their finances evenly and eating together and living together. Kind of a test run to life together seven days a week. At this time, Oliver still has film classes with a college, and Kai still is trying to work in a library full-time.

> > Oliver nods. "I'm a pretty patient person."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Between working to gain their ideal careers by taking college classes and just adulting in general, Kai and Oliver didn't seriously think about marriage much.

I mean 5 years of knowing each other, in addition to living paycheck to paycheck, marriage in it's practical sense just seemed too lofty of an idea.

Like, they already have true love and endless cuddles and romance.

Their love survived COVID-19.

Why would they need to join finances right now (and what finances?! they were sending all that to credit and taxes and debt!)

The real world ain't a fairytale where you can marry whenever just because you really want to... ! Unless you're really lucky or really rich or an actor, lol

The decision to live together in an apartment was 70% "I love you and I wanna try living with you" and 30% "if we split our rent and food costs, maybe it'll be easier".

After one year of friendship and four years of dating,

many of the issues most couples run into at the gateway to marriage have already been mostly ironed out with Oliver and Kai.

They know their weird habits, their beliefs, values, plans, goals, who they are deep inside their hearts.

Kai and Oliver are more than willing to seriously share their lives and settle down. (so, mentally speaking, they're married)

After all, a lot of the time as they're being lovey-dovery and snuggling, they'll scream inside their heads how much they love each other and they wanna marry someday.

Better yet...

OliKai are finally in a time in their life they can actually marry.

However, umm . . . let's just say they haven't been this antsy since they were trying to summon the courage to confess feelings to each other.

❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 ~ April 2021

My boyfriend tells me, "I'll make dinner. You can relax for a bit."

Setting my bag down, I look up at him. "You sure?"

"Yeah."

I rub Olly's head. "Thanks~"

Marriage material! Marriage material!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Did she just pat my head?

... ah- that felt so good~ marry meee

I feel my face heat up a bit and I turn away, trying to refocus my brain on cooking.

🖤 🩶 🤍 💜 May 2021

It's the weekend, and I wake up, and my boyfriend's arm is still over me.

I don't move, not wanting to wake him up.

Sigh... look at that face~

I love that the first person I see each day is my angel.

I wanna live like this forever~

...

Why the f#ck is my face heating up right now? I've woken up next to him for months now!

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

What the hell am I saying? I'm not marrying that dorky ketchup-hating NERD!

I keep my gaze on Olly as he starts to wake up.

Nah... I'd totally marry him.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

I open my eyes, and I realize Kai is already awake and looking at me.

Even though I know I look like a slob in the morning, Kai is smiling at me like this is the best thing to ever happen to her.

For a moment, I just dumbly stare at her smiling face.

I could get used to waking up to this...

like, forever~

I pull her close and give her a kiss on the nose, and I notice her face is really warm.

Huh. She hasn't blushed this much in a while~

I wonder what's on her mind?

❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 May 201

I am having my boyfriend watch Pride and Prejudice (the 2005 one, obviously) with me because we entered a debate over Mister Darcy.

I say he's overrated as a fictional heartthrob. Olly says it's completely justifiable.

Watching the movie for the first time in forever, all I can say is: Oliver... Why the hell do you have a clear type? Between me, Mister Darcy and Aqua Hoshino, I am seeing a pattern...

Currently, the iconic proposal scene is happening (the second one)

Then...

Oliver and I glance at each other.

Wait... why-

I quickly glance away, and resist the urge to mumble a lie like: It's not like I'm thinking of marrying you or anything!

🖤 🩶 🤍 💜

June 15, 2021

(KAI POV)

My boyfriend and I are eating breakfast together.

I have my thing about eating dinner food for breakfast (I've got a microwavable shrimp-fry rice bowl) and my Angel has some peppered hard-boiled eggs over toast like a normal person.

I have big plans for this day.

I decided on this idea last night.

I begin my planned conversation starter. "Hey Olly? You know how there's- like... random names assigned to days? Like National Chocolate Day and whatnot?"

"Yeah?"

"Well I randomly got curious and I saw today is Nature Photography Day."

Not looking up from his toast, he answers, "Nice."

I put my hand over Olly's and now he's looking at me.

"Why don't we go out on a nature walk this afternoon? You could bring your camera and get some good footage to edit."

Olly's face lights up. Now I've got him.

He asks, "What about you?"

Considerate~

"I get to enjoy seeing you get excited over filming~" I play with his fingers a bit. "And we could both use some fresh air."

"True... and we haven't gone on a good nature walk in forever."

"So that's a yes?"

Olly grins. "It's a date~"

I exaggeratedly roll my eyes. "Well duh."

Olly laughs and gives me a hug. So precious~

It's crazy that Olly hugging me (because he's a hugger and hugs a lot of people) used to freak me out.

I'd get tense because I wasn't good with being touched, but with time and me letting him hug me, I don't flinch at touch anymore.

Or at least, not his.

(LATER THAT SAME DAY, in the evening)

It's been hours and Hunny-Bunny has been having a blast filming close up of leaves, trail prints, small bugs, and beautiful visuals of the nature walk path.

That aside, we've been chatting and talking as always, laughing together and smiling together, which only makes me more sure of my ... plan.

Now, we're heading back to the main park which is basically a field with some benches and a little playground next to a small parking lot.

The sun is starting to go down soon, but I ask Olly that we walk around the park a little and enjoy the sunset.

When Oliver finishes taking a few photos of the sunset, I ask, "Did you enjoy this?"

My boyfriend looks at me with that heart-melting excited expression, and nods. "This was great! I had a lot of fun."

"So did I."

Olly puts his camera in his bag, then looks at me. "You know - it's funny. I never used to enjoy going on nature walks. Outside has - you know- dirt, bugs, poison ivy... But I always love going on nature walks with you."

I let out a small laugh/sigh. "You're so cheesy."

Oliver grins. "I may be cheesy but I'm honest."

... well... this is honestly really f#cking corny and dumb place to consider doing this- and I hate it- but- uhhhhh

Sigh.

No. I don't hate it.

I love this.

I love him.

(Third person POV)

Kai mutters, "Okay well this seems like as good a time as any so... uh, I'm just gonna do this then..."

Kai gets down on one knee, and pulls a box from her pocket.

"I know I suck at timing but..."

Oliver gasps and puts a hand over his mouth and starts to tear up.

The Vietnamese girl's eyes widen. "I- I haven't even said anything yet!"

"Sorry! Sorry! I just.. Uh- sorry!"

"Don't apologize, doofus, I'm trying to - ! ..." Kai looks down and takes a deep breath and calms down.

Kai looks back up. "Olly, we have known eachother since February of 2016. It is June 15 in 2021. I could count those months and days in numbers, but they can't describe the feelings I have... and, well, I feel like I really want to f#cking marry you..."

Wait- I said I wasn't gonna swear during this!! ~ Kai looks away again and mutters, "Ugh, sh!t- mean- crap... uh... ugh- this is awful..."

Kai throws her head up and yells, "Oliver Weldon Lee! Will you marry me?"

In a rushed mess, Oliver says, "Yes- absolutely, Yes! Uh! Also! Uh, how dare you because - uh -I was gonna ask you and... I have a ring too!"

"What?"

"Yeah..." Oliver pulls it out of his hoodie pocket (that was there all along?!) "I just wasn't sure when to do it... I mean we had talked about marriage but..."

"Oh Oliver..."

"Kai -"

"Wait wait wait... let me finish my bit. Then you can say yours to me."

"O... kay..."

Kai opens the box and in it is a gold ring on a very thin silver chain.

"I know you aren't good with stuff on your hands so I thought you would wanna wear the ring on a necklace... though the ring does fit you if you want to slip it on"

Oliver picks up the ring and sees a small engraving of "O K" is on it, for OliKai~

Kai looks away, as if this isn't the most meaningful thing ever. "Technically... I'm supposed to be doing this with an engagement ring but I just felt like using the ring we're gonna put as the wedding band because I don't get the engagement ring thing."

"But... I did the same thing!" Oliver opens up his box and shows Kai a nice gold ring with.

Now it's Kai's turn to tear up.

Oliver mumbles, "I was planning for us to put the date of the day we marry into the rings later..."

"Well... I asked you to marry me... I guess it's your turn(?)" Kai looks at Oliver expectantly.

Oliver blushes a bit, but he gets on one knee while Kai stands up.

Oliver is about to speak but he ends up crying instead. Kai just hugs him and rubs his back.

At some point, Oliver shakes Kai off and he manages, "Well... Kai Lynn... you are the person I want to spend the rest of my life with and I don't actually have a good speech... but umm... will you marry me?"

"Yes. A hundred times- yes."

Getting teary-eyed, Kai jokes. "I mean... wow- I mean, I'm going to become Kai Lee. Either people are gonna think I'm a Kyleigh or just keep thinking I'm Chinese... but yes."

Kai tackles Oliver in a hug, and the two hold each other, laughing and still tearing up a bit.