˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚angel

Today is one of the biggest stages of your career. After being announced as the winner at an internationally recognised piano competition, winners from the last decade have all been invited under one roof to perform. Performers were given the chance to bring their friends and family. Your immediate family has been sitting comfortably in the venue for an hour before the concert started. Your mum insisted on coming in earlier for better seats, even though you explained many times that it's reserved ticketed seats. You found out later that it's because she wanted to take lots of photos of her daughter.

Of course, you invited Yunho to the event too. Upon mentioning the event, Yunho's smile fell as he mentioned the clash in his schedule. Your concert falls on the day before his birthday, and also during a tour stop. You spent the whole night celebrating him on call, falling asleep to his light snores from your earphones. By the time the sun rises, you're greeted with a good morning and good luck text for the day. You were about to reply to his text, but decided to press the green call button. He picks up the call with a radiant smile. He's devastated that he wouldn't be there, and you're devastated that you won't be next to him on an annual personal celebration.

"It'll all be recorded, Yuyu."

"Yeah, but," Yunho's shoulders slump, "it's not the same…I want to be there…"

You want him to be there, too. But at the start of this relationship, you both promised that, as much as you're each other's priority, unless it's a dire situation, both of you would put your work first. The stages where you both committed as a career, and where you both have the power to move the audience. The stage is the ground for creativity. The stage that you both aimed for together in high school and brought you both closer together.

There isn't much time left until you both need to go. Your concert is towards the start of the day, whilst ATEEZ's concert is at night. But, due to preparations, Yunho's day basically starts on the same day as yours.

You pout at a staff calling for Yunho at the background. "I'll call you tonight?"

Yunho blows a kiss to you. "As soon as the concert is finished, I'll call you."

You didn't say much to that, because you already had something up your sleeve. You've booked a flight to Malaysia, where ATEEZ is. You wanted to have it as a surprise, having the rest of the members by your side to plan this whole celebration out. With a final kiss to the screen, you got yourself ready to perform, smiling at the packed luggage in your waiting room before heading out.

Your playing went smoothly, your body relaxed, and your fingers skillfully going over the keys with flawless technicality. The audience erupts in claps as soon as your stage is finished, and you join your family in the audience. As soon as the event was finished, you took photos with the rest of the winners from previous years, connecting with those you've admired from the start of your journey. You're the luckiest to be able to have your belongings signed, and even luckier that they wanted to have theirs signed with yours. When the venue starts clearing, you're part of the crowd that rushes to the airport. Your family sends you knowing looks and passes their present for your boyfriend.

"Have a safe flight, and don't make him stay up too late. He's too tired to deal with your energy."

Your dad nods to your mum's teasing, and you playfully roll your eyes before heading off to check in. Waiting to board, you recorded a short voice message to your boyfriend, making sure your surroundings didn't sound like the airport. A final call to a flight almost exposed you, but you managed to send the recording just in time. A second after it's sent, Yunho comes online, hyping and congratulating you. He sends a quick mirror selfie with some makeup artists preparing him for soundcheck happening in a few hours. His contact name flashes on your screen for a video call request, and you run to a white wall as a background.

"Hi," you fix your hair after the rush.

Yunho raises an eyebrow. "You okay? Why do you look like you're running away from something?"

You chuckle, if only he knew you're trying to run to him. "Just stopping by my mum's office to collect something before going out to eat dinner."

"Make sure you get all the good things, love."

"I will." And his phone is snatched away from Wooyoung. "Hi, Woo!"

"Y/N! How was the stage? You need to send videos! We're all waiting." As soon as Wooyoung says the collective term, Mingi and San waves to the camera.

"Yep," San nods. "Definitely waiting." His tone is knowing and you put your index finger to your lips. San winks, throwing a thumbs up.

"Yunho is sulking because you're not here," Mingi's words gets Yunho to fake cry, and the room is full of laughter at the chaotic nature. "Yeah, see?"

You engaged with some small talk with them, as Hongjoong and Seonghwa joins in closely later. Yunho complains about his time with you being taken away as every second is precious admist the busy lives you both lead.

"Calm down! We don't get to talk to her much whenever we see her!" Seonghwa scolds him lightly.

Yunho doesn't know this as the members huddled around his phone as you chatter with them, but some members have their notes apps up, reassuring you that the cake and some light decorations you've ordered have arrived to the waiting room without his knowledge. You nod and give affirmative signs of relief and thankfulness, multi-tasking to engage with the conversation at the same time.

"I have to go," you smile at the members. "Can I see Yunho for a bit?" Yunho reaches for his phone without moving his body. "You look gorgeous," you see his cheeks blush underneath the makeup.

"Huge compliment coming from the gorgeous girl." He does his little nose scrunch, and you can't wait to see it soon in real life.

"I'll get going, but I'll see you soon, okay?" You hold up the promise ring that you turned into a necklace that Yunho gifted you on your anniversary. "I love you, Yunho."

"I love you more. Have a good dinner, okay?"

Yes, you will. A good dinner at a flight that will bring you closer to him.

According to your calculations, you should arrive in Malaysia closer to the end of the concert, but since this tour has send-offs, that give you more time to arrive to the venue, decorate the room and light the candles. Thankfully, the flight wasn't delayed, and you're able to find ATEEZ's manager easily.

"All ready?"

You nod to the manager's question, putting on your hat and mask in the car on the way to the concert venue. You're given the backstage landyard pass, and you're escorted into the waiting room where you greet some of the familiar company staff.

"They're at send-offs right now, and it'll probably only take another thirty minutes." You were informed, and got immediately to work with every second you have left.

The confetti is strung across the only blank wall. The rest of the staff helped with filling the space with balloons, as well as attaching a birthday banner and a silly memeful banner that you made with Jongho's help. The cake from the fridge is as perfect as the picture, and you settle the candles without lighting them yet. Soon, you hear some commotions down the hallway coming closer and louder. There were a pair of footsteps that seemed to rush first, and your eyes widen to a manager that hurriedly went out to check. Unfortunately, they were a bit too late because Yeosang comes in and stood still for a while.

He sees you, does a little clap of realisation and walks out. You hear the manager quickly calling to the members that they should do a quick group photo as a selfie and maybe film a few reels for the future to post. You see the work of the room, the staff cooing and melting at your gesture. One already has your phone, asking you to pose and ready to record you surprising Yunho. After final reassuring thumbs up, you texted Mingi for an 'okay' sign. You quickly light the candles of the cake, smiling to the camera as you hear the boys chattering outside.

"Why are you all pushing me to go first?" Yunho retaliates with obvious laughter. "What do you guys have in here that-"

The confettis pop as soon as Yunho walks in, and even though the noise was louder than most of the staff thought, your boyfriend is frozen as soon as he sees you. He blinks rapidly, hand that was once on the door handle falling to his side. He looks towards the members, hand covering his mouth in shock while they had proud smiles behind their recording phones.

When he turns back around to you, you're already closer to him with a cake written to celebrate his birthday. "I know it's early, but happy birthday."

Yunho settles the cake on a nearby table, and pulls you into his figure. The members squeals and cheers for their favourite couple. Your boyfriend tucks his face to the crook of your neck, holding onto you in disbelief. You happily return the embrace, playing with his hair and presses multiple kisses on his cheek.

"H-How are you here?" He asks breathlessly. He could fall asleep to your light touches, and the way you giggle against the shell of his ear. "You're crazy…"

"About you, yes. I thought that was obvious." Yunho pulls away to properly look at you. The chain around your neck holds his name engraved in the simple ring, and his holds your name on his finger. The sight has his heart beating rapidly. He's so full of love for you, and the way his orbs sparkle at you is enough without words. He cups your cheek, leaning down to capture your lips. He exhales into the familiarity of your love, thumbs brushing over your cheekbones. When you pull away, he doesn't let you go completely, wrapping an arm around your waist. You bring the cake again, raising it closer to him. "Make a wish."

If it wasn't you holding the sweet treat, he would've wished that it was you. If it was him talking to you over the phone, he would've wished for your presence next to him. But you're here. You flew to him despite your tight schedule to be with him. You pulled it off successfully, and went above and beyond anything he could've wished for.

He closes his eyes before the candles. I wish that every second of my life would be spent with you, and blew the warmth lightly.

Yunho admires the backdrop you created, making sure you're in every single photo with him. The rest of the members did too, making sure to get multiple angles of you and Yunho in the same pose. When it was time to share the cake, Yunho has you snuggled next to him, resting his head on your shoulder. The staffs and members chatted amongst themselves.

"Thank you for being crazy and being here."

Your laughter is Yunho's favourite sound, and he's lucky to be the one you chose. "I must be crazily in love with you, that's why."

Yunho knows how that feels like, because he feels strongly the same way. His hand intertwines with yours and he kisses the back of your hand. You firmly hold him, turning to face him by your side. Your eyes met with his genuine, sweet and kind gaze. Yunho dips his face closer to you, and your eyelids flutter shut. His nose nudges with yours, pecking your lips before pulling away for another one.

"I love you so much more."

navi/masterlist!! 🤍 ateez masterlist