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Trans Idol (12)

"I know you have been going through a lot and there are times when you are insecure about me accepting and loving you because of your gender identity. You wondered if I would be repulsed by the fact that you are a 'trans man', but I don't mind if you are. Regardless of your gender identity, as long as you are still you, if it's the same soul inside a body, whether it be in the body of a man, a woman, non-binary or otherwise, I will still love you for who you are. I will prove it to you, whether it be in this life, or the next, I will always find my way back to you."

It was such a romantically beautiful string of words that danced along his heartstrings. There was a warm, yet secure feeling that welled up in his soul. It was like the man who didn't have memories of their past lives together but still somehow carried those feelings with him, was able to see the insecurities within him, and gave him a sense of belonging, trust, and comfort that no other being could ever give him.

Jaden knew that these feelings that they had for each other were true love. If they weren't, what could it even be? The feelings they had for one another always carried over from world to world, never tiring out, always longing for one another. To be loved like this was all he had ever wanted.

"Jaden, will you marry me? At the end of this year when this country will legalize gay marriage, let's be the first to get married."

He nodded his head, tears slowly fell down his cheeks, but they were happy tears. He was so happy that he was speechless.

Adriel let go of his hand and took the ring out of the small blue box. It held a ring made of platinum and had a very simple design. There was a small strip of diamond that went all around the ring. That was it. Nothing too crazy.

He slipped the ring onto Jaden's ring finger. It was the perfect size, even if Jaden didn't tell him his size.

Jaden jumped Adriel into a hug, making him lose his balance. Adriel fell on his butt but he didn't mind it. He tightly hugged Jaden back who buried his head into Adriel's shoulder.

They were both so happy.

After a long hug, Jaden slowly let go and kissed Adriel on the lips.

"Do you wanna know what's funny?" Jaden asked. His eyes were slightly red from crying, but somehow he still looked beautiful to Adriel.

"Hmm? What's funny?" Adriel asked, his voice getting hoarse from looking at Jaden whose smile seems to purify but also color his soul with love.

Jaden smirked then pulled out a small red box. "Actually, it seems I also bought a ring for you."

He opened up the box and the ring sat on a red cushion. When Adriel looked at it closely, he noticed that... The ring was exactly the same as the one he had bought! Just slightly bigger.

Adriel couldn't help but laugh as Jaden took his hand.

"Adriel, can I put the ring on you?"

"Of course..."

Jaden put the ring on Adriel's ring finger and it was the perfect match. Before they could say anything else, they heard clapping off to the side.

When they looked over, an old couple was clapping for them. They had smiles on their wrinkled faces, but they seemed truly happy for Jaden and Adriel.

"Congratulations on your engagement!"

"We hope you have a happy life together!"

The old couple, a man and a woman, were standing by the entrance to the forest. They wore thick clothes, it was probably kind of cold for them, but they still decided to come over.

This couple had been going to this spot every week for half a century. This was also the place where the older man had proposed to his wife. This was a special spot for them as they had a lot of memories there.

When they were younger, this was a popular spot for couples, but as their generation got older, and the other generations started to grow up, people seemed to forget about the spot. Until they were the last ones coming there, well, until Adriel and Jaden came around.

Jaden and Adriel were a little stunned that the old couple had seen the whole thing, but they ended up giving their thanks.

The four sat on the benches, looking up at the stars while Jaden and Adriel listened to the couple talk about their life and how they had been married for so long. There were many ups and downs in their life, but they still stayed together.

As they listened to them, Jaden and Adriel couldn't help but think that they would grow old together, just like this older couple...

And truly, even after they had grown old with white hair and wrinkles, the two would come to this spot, just like the older couple they had met when they got engaged.

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Grandpa Marky: There's one more chapter in this arc and then we will be starting Arc 5! 

kuro_kama: The old couple were so sweet. I love them.