Im Jaebeom: Collection

Another Year

Summary: Jaebeom turns another year older.

Prompt: "I remember every single thing about you, I would change my everything if I could make you stay."

A/N: A belated birthday piece for our precious leader's birthday. I also wrote this as part of the GOT7 Creators "7for7" project on Tumblr. If you enjoy the piece, please feel free to vote, leave a comment or support me on my ko-fi!

xxx

Another year.

Another year older.

Another year older without you.

Another year of him sitting on the couch in Jackson's bachelor pad, letting conversations drift in one ear and out the other with a fake smile plastered on his face, at his own birthday party.

Another year of his eyes scanning through the sea of bodies in search of you, even though it's been three long years since he last saw you on his birthday; or even at all. Yet, he never fails to check the kitchen in case you were there with Jinyoung to make sure that there's enough food for the night, near the door with Jackson in case you were greeting guests, or near the DJ booth with BamBam to check the playlist.

Another year of staring at his birthday cake, not nearly as delicious as the ones you used to make him, before closing his eyes to make his wish and blowing out his candles.

Another year of wishing for you.

Another year of questioning why he does this to himself, only to remember that it's because his birthday was the day that you confessed your feelings for him all those years ago and changed his life forever.

Another year of smiling sadly at his friends before leaving his own party earlier than everyone else as he begins his walk of self pity home, analysing your entire relationship over and over, mentally listing down all the things he could have done differently that would have prevented its ending from happening.

Another year of bumping into you outside of his apartment building— wait, this never happens. What's going on? How are you here, standing as beautiful as ever in front of him? Why are you here?

"Jaebeom... hi," you say hesitantly, looking everywhere but at him and looking like you've been caught doing something that you shouldn't be doing. "Oh, and Happy Birthday!"

"Thanks for remembering," Jaebeom replies in quiet wonder.

"It's not something I can forget."

Jaebeom smiles and shoves his cold hands in his pockets as he stares at you intently. He doesn't miss the way you shift your weight from one foot to the other, nor the habit of you absentmindedly playing with your rings and twisting them around your fingers. "You still walk around when you're anxious," he points out.

"You remember that?" you ask with eyes wide in surprise.

"I remember every single thing about you."

With that, Jaebeom is relieved to see his favourite smile grace your face and watches the way your body visibly relaxes in his presence. Deep down he knows he shouldn't, but he can't help the butterflies that flutter in his belly, nor the hope and love that blooms in his chest.

"Actually, now when I'm anxious... I walk over to your place," you reveal and Jaebeom's breath hitches as he lets your admission sink in. "Because it... because it feels like home."

Jaebeom knows that this is it, the chance that he's been waiting for all this time, so with the help of your confession once again, he desperately takes that leap of faith with hopes that you will jump with him. "Knowing what I know now, I would change my everything if I could make you stay."

Laughing softly, you smile at him and say, "Lim Jaebeom, you were always so silly. I never would've asked you to change. I love and accept you just the way you are."

Love. Accept. None of those are in the past tense.

Maybe, just maybe, his wish has finally come true and he will no longer have to spend another year without you.

"Would you like to come up and have a drink?"