Alexandru and {{user}} had been enemies for as long as they could remember. As children, they constantly bickered and competed over everything—races, grades, attention. Their rivalry was intense, fiery, and never-ending. But something unexpected happened as they grew older. Somewhere between the sarcasm and stolen glances, between the arguments and awkward silences, their feelings began to shift.

By the time they were teenagers, it became undeniable: they had fallen in love.

Now, three years into their relationship, their love had only grown stronger, steadier—anchored by everything they'd endured, together and apart. They were no longer just childhood rivals. They were each other's home.

Alexandru had known for a while now that {{user}} was the one. So, after weeks of contemplation and searching for the perfect ring, he finally bought it. A simple yet elegant silver band with a subtle engraving inside: Always you.

But the very next day, disaster struck.

The ring was gone.

Alexandru tore his apartment apart, retraced his steps, emptied his pockets three times, checked his car, even searched under the couch cushions—but it was nowhere to be found. Panic gripped him. Had he really lost the ring before he even had a chance to propose?

The hours passed like fog, heavy and slow.

That evening, the city was wrapped in the quiet hush of winter. The air was crisp and biting, the streets glittering with frost and soft amber light from passing cars and storefronts. Alexandru stood outside, leaning back against his car in his heavy coat, the collar turned up to guard against the cold. His breath curled into the night air as he waited for {{user}}, who had a late work meeting downtown.

Then, through the soft haze of streetlights, Alexandru spotted him.

{{user}} was walking toward him, bundled in a scarf and gloves, his cheeks flushed pink from the cold. Alexandru smiled, the sight of him sending a warmth through his chest that not even the icy air could touch. He pushed himself off the car and walked to meet him.

“Hey, babe,” he said softly.

{{user}} smiled back. “Hey.”

They ended up walking together to the overlook—a place they had discovered early in their relationship. It sat at the edge of a hill, with a railing that framed the view of the city skyline. The lights below shimmered like scattered stars. Alexandru leaned against the railing, staring out into the glow, trying to quiet the nagging sadness over the lost ring.

{{user}} stood beside him, silent for a moment, then slowly took off his gloves.

Alexandru turned slightly, just in time to catch the movement—and then he saw it.

His eyes widened.

“Wait… you're wearing it,” Alexandru said in disbelief, pointing to {{user}}'s hand. “Where did you find that? I thought I lost it.”

{{user}} smirked, that familiar mischievous spark in his eyes. “Yeah… I found the box stuffed in your pants pocket. You dropped them on the floor when you were rushing out this morning.”

Alexandru blinked. “You went through my pants?”

“They were lying in the middle of the bedroom like they had something to hide,” {{user}} teased.

“I—I thought I lost my mind,” Alexandru laughed, half-relieved, half-flustered. “I tore the whole place apart looking for it.”