`I AM FOREVER,

Yeah… The male thought, the fading sound of his response perhaps, translates to a thousand of apologies and explanations he would want to say. But due to exhaustion and shyness crippling his speech, he was only able to timidly scratch the back of his neck. The corners of his mouth curled up albeit bashful. He could feel his ears burn from all of the attention that’s starting to accumulate after receiving fan gifts and messages from iKONICS before the day.

Gratitude has already overflown on this ordinary day, the 21st and it has barely started.

To him, it has only begun until he has finally seen her. Jennie, the sun of his night. So bright and cheerful, she’s radiating 24 hours a day.

There she is, being surreal – jumping out of nowhere in a costume and a birthday cake. Take note, nowhere; that was where this aching smile has come from and now it’s sticking itself up on his face. Butterflies flew and his backpack has fallen with a thud to the floor, similar to how his heart is currently making the same sound but in a faster, repetitive pace. This was one of her effects on him and it never fails to put him in a trance. As if the celebration was not about him, it’s about her.. about simply seeing her again.

Right. He thought, My birthday… of course she’s up to something now.

Hanbin felt himself almost tremble as warmth struck him. He thought he was going to melt on the spot while they approached the window and immediately saw the bus that had his face printed on it. How embarrassing and bothersome– These thoughts have been quickly dismissed by her reassurance, the words that he’s already heard from her before. So again, the amount of impact he has on his fans has sunk in (as if it’s like the first time) despite the simple thing of just seeing his face on a public transport.

What? It’s not over? Knowing his girlfriend enough, of course this was just the beginning. As they left and went to the subway, he’s already getting the reason why she had to show him these; the greetings on the walls of the station. He couldn’t help but smile again and look at his girlfriend who seems to be at awe as well. But his initial thought was, how much did the fans pay for advertising? Aigoo..

He was touched though. For their thoughtfulness and effort was already a gift.

The two takes a stroll to somewhere. Their steps guided by the chilly breeze of fall, its arms beckoning and welcoming them to a certain spot where the earth has readied them with a hole, shovel, and a young tree ready for its role. Hanbin’s lips fell apart in amazement. “Ah! This is a gift. How clever.” The male chuckled while he lowered himself to the ground and reached for the shovel. With much delicateness, he planted his first tree and buried the roots to its permanent cradle. His tree, his child; he wants it to grow sturdy and courageous, protecting people and being generous to those who is in need of its fruits and shade.

“Thank you.” He says to her in a gentle tone while taking the certificate and looking straight into her glimmering eyes, communicating with her in hopes that she would at least have a clue of how grateful he is.

The gifts wouldn’t stop tonight, he thinks again and he could only chortle lightly as they go into one of the rooms in the apartment.

“This feels like Christmas.” He commented upon seeing a pile made of objects wrapped neatly and in paper bags. He was confused for a while; are these fangifts or are all of these from her?! Anyway, the male started to open the gifts one by one while he listened to her explanation and each of the present’s meanings. His taste has been pleased and he was glad to learn that his girlfriend knows his style so well. As he held the pair of Converses and the bomber jacket that he’s matching with her, he let out an audible sigh while smiling, “This is unbelievable and you are so, so sweet. Probably broke as well.” He snorted after and then prompted himself to sit upright once she has hinted about her next gift, a song. He thought his pupils dilated out of excitement when she was just only clearing her thought, merely preparing for the first syllable of her composition.

Hanbin held his breath. He thought of how much he loves hearing her sing and then he lets go. He was sinking, losing his breath while she drew him in with the smoothness of her voice. While he listened, he realized that these are her sincerest thoughts that were stroked on paper before daybreak, the stars and the moon have witnessed her wrote this. Additionally, he noted how there was playfulness in the words and irony in the subject. He has low tolerance for alcohol, however he’s responsible for her heart’s buzz. The lad bit back a smile and held her hand while she sang the last lines of it.

“I think it’s great.” He says, but also thinks that she can change the title later, maybe? Then she leaned in for a kiss and his lips touched hers softly before she was allowed to talk again and make her short speech.

Hanbin laughed after, slightly cringing and unable to shrug off the graphic idea that his parents purposely had unprotected sex, courtesy of Jennie. “That’s very… thoughtful.” He snickered and caught her slim figure in his arms, hugging her back. “Hey, thank you so much for all of these… thank you. I don’t know what else to say.” His voice was low and he buried his face into the crook of her neck.