The news spread quickly.
Lina called her parents first. Her mother screamed with joy; her father got quiet, then said, "If he makes you happy, I'm happy." High praise from a man of few words.
Mia's reaction was predictably dramatic. She showed up at Lina's apartment within hours, champagne in hand, demanding to see the ring.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, examining the diamond. "Simple but elegant. Very Kai." She looked up with wet eyes. "You're getting married. My best friend is getting married."
"Don't cry. You'll make me cry."
"Too late." Mia pulled her into a hug. "I'm so happy for you. So, so happy."
Kai told his mother over video call.
She wept—real tears, joyful ones. "Your father would have... well, I don't know what he would have thought. But I think, somewhere, he'd be proud. You found someone who loves you completely. That's all any parent could want."
Kai's voice was rough. "Thanks, Mom."
"Bring her to visit soon. I want to get to know the woman who stole my son's heart."
"I will. I promise."
The engagement became public when Lina accidentally posted a photo with the ring visible.
Within hours, fans were losing their minds. Comments flooded in—congratulations, questions, demands for wedding details. Lina's publisher called with ideas for a "wedding edition" of her books. Kai's manager fielded interview requests.
"It's happening again," Lina said, staring at her phone. "The public attention."
Kai took her hand. "We can handle it. We've done it before."
"I know. I just... I wanted this part to be private. Just ours."
"Then we make it private." He took her phone, typed a brief post, and showed it to her.
"Thank you for all the love. We're engaged and overjoyed. We'll be celebrating this special time privately with family and friends. Your support means everything."
Lina smiled. "Short and sweet."
"Boundaries are healthy." He kissed her forehead. "We control what we share. Nothing more."
They spent the next weeks in a bubble of joy.
Telling friends, celebrating with dinners, dreaming about the future. They talked about weddings—big or small? Traditional or modern? Korea or LA or somewhere else entirely?
"I want something intimate," Lina said. "Just the people who really matter."
Kai nodded. "Same. No press, no fans, no industry people. Just us and our loved ones."
"Where, though?"
They considered options. A beach. A garden. A small chapel.
Then Kai smiled. "I have an idea."
He took her back to the music room.
"The place where it all began," he said. "What if we got married here?"
Lina looked around—the familiar piano, the windows where sunlight streamed in, the bench where they'd sat together so many times.
"It's perfect," she whispered. "Absolutely perfect."
They stood together in the room that held so many memories, holding hands, imagining the day they would return as husband and wife.
"It's really happening," Lina said. "We're really doing this."
"We really are." Kai squeezed her hand. "Forever starts soon."
"Forever started a long time ago." She looked up at him. "We just didn't know it yet."