The Fifth Time's the Charm

Jade had always been a man of persistence. Some might call it stubbornness, but he preferred to think of it as unwavering dedication. Especially when it came to Alina. He had asked her to marry him four times before, and each time, she had laughed it off, thinking he was just joking around. But this time, Jade was determined to make her see that he was dead serious. They had been known each other for 3 years now for crying out loud! Yes, they became good, even close, friends, who had deep trust in each other, but... BUT!!! The first time Jade proposed, it was over a meal at their memorable bar he had taken her to for the first time in the past. He had casually slipped the question into the conversation between bites and drinks, as if asking her to pass the soy sauce. Alina had nearly choked on her tea, laughing so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes. "Jade, you’re ridiculous," she had said, patting his arm. "Stop messing around." The second time, he had tried to be more romantic. He took her to a rooftop garden under the stars, lit candles, and even asked some random minstrel to play a cheesy love song on the background. But when he got down on one knee, Alina had burst out laughing again. "Oh my gods, Jade, you’re such a dork," she said, pulling him up. "You’re lucky I buddy you enough to keep hanging out with you." The third time, Jade had tried to catch her off guard. They were sparring in the training yard, and after she disarmed him (as usual), he dramatically fell to his knees and declared, "I yield! But only if you agree to marry me!" Alina had rolled her eyes and tossed his sword back to him. "You’re impossible," she said, shaking her head. "Get up before someone sees you." The fourth time, Jade had tried to be subtle. He had written her a letter, pouring his heart out about how much she meant to him. He sent it to via mail, hoping she’d read it and finally understand how serious he was. But when she found it, she had teased him mercilessly. "Jade, this is so sweet," she said, ruffling his silver hair. "But you’re still not getting a 'yes' out of me." But now, things were different. They had just survived a horrific battle together, one that had left them both bruised, battered, and emotionally raw. As they sat by the campfire, the weight of what they had been through hung heavy in the air. Alina stared into the flames, her usual bravado replaced by a quiet vulnerability. Jade took a deep breath. This was it. His fifth—and hopefully final—attempt. "Alina," he began, his voice steady but soft. "I know I’ve asked you this before, and I know you’ve always thought I was joking. But I need you to know that I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life." Alina turned to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Jade…" He got down on one knee, ignoring the dirt and the ache in his muscles. He pulled out a small, slightly battered ring box from his pocket. "Alina, you’re the strongest, most incredible person I’ve ever met. You’ve saved my life more times than I can count, and you’ve put up with my terrible jokes and my terrible clinginess. I love you more than anything, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you. Will you marry me?" For a moment, Alina just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, to Jade’s horror, she started laughing. His heart sank. "Oh no," he muttered. "Not again." But then Alina did something she had never done before. She stopped laughing, reached out, and cupped his face in her hands. "Jade," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "You’re such an idiot." He blinked. "Uh… thanks?" She smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. "I mean, you’re ridiculous, and stubborn, and you never give up, even when I tell you to. But… that’s one of the things I love about you. And after everything we’ve been through, I realized something. I don’t want to say no anymore." Jade’s heart leapt into his throat. "Wait… are you saying…?" Alina nodded, her smile widening. "Yes, Jade. I’ll marry you." For a moment, Jade was too stunned to move. Then he let out a whoop of joy, scooping her up into his arms and spinning her around. "She said yes! She finally said yes!" Alina laughed, swatting his shoulder. "Put me down, you lunatic!" But Jade didn’t care. He was too busy grinning like an idiot and kissing her until they were both breathless. When he finally set her down, he slipped the ring onto her finger, his hands shaking slightly. "I promise, Alina," he said, his voice earnest. "I’ll love and treasure you every single day for the rest of our lives." Alina smiled, leaning her forehead against his. "I know you will, Jade. And I’ll do the same for you." As they sat by the fire, wrapped in each other’s arms, Jade couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest man alive. It had taken five proposals, a near-death experience, and a whole lot of patience, but he had finally won the heart of the woman he loved. And as far as he was concerned, it was worth every single moment.