『5️⃣』:: warm yellows

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ASEAN's eyes were exposed by bright sunshine before adjusting to the environment... He was outside. The grass was brightly green, vines were hanging around the long walls, a concrete pathway towards a small fountain at the near back, this was actually the apartment's outdoor mini-park. He hasn't been there before, but notices some subtle changes just for the occasion.

The gold ribbon he was holding doesn't seem to end, and he meant it literally. The ribbon he was holding was the same type he was holding back at his apartment, it literally leads to the middle of the yard with a beautiful design. 10 ribbons erupted from the middle, each one scattering towards the walls and spreading it around the top like festival flags. Not only so, even more ribbons were hanged around the room like vines, each with an attached picture at the end of it. About 30-50 pictures was scattered across the room, and it includes the table at the back of the fountain with all the food and the cake he has yet to see.

The bushes surrounding the area feels very colorful, filled with white and pink flowers. A bunch of orchids erupted from both the pond at the side and near the fountain. Hibiscus and Sampaguita flower petals were scattered across the floor to take in effect. His dusty blue-red eyes were sparked with joy, as the golden ribbons made the yard shine with a bit of yellow. The mild warmth of the place gave him energy and the sound of the fountain made the environment even more relaxing.

He felt someone's arms wrapped around his from behind. Noticing the outfit that person wears, a light red hoodie with some casual darker red stripes in each side. He spoke, turning his head as far as he can behind him, "Heyy, Indo!"

And immediately after, he noticed someone joined the embrace, and another, and he fell on the grassy ground after someone else joined forcibly. He heard a bunch of ow's before he started to giggle, which made the five on the floor including laugh harder. There, he recognizes Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and Brunei on the ground with him.

Another person enters the room by the glass door, recognizing the flag it was Malaysia. He spoke, "Is this a dogpile?"

"Mal!" Vietnam called, as he grabbed the rice hat at the side after his fall.

"Oh seriously?!" Some voice was heard behind Malaysia, Thailand's. "The camera ran out of battery!"

There was a second of silence before Indonesia and Vietnam bursted out of laughter. Brunei called her, "Thai! You should've charged yesterday!'

"Use mine," someone else said by the doorway, seemingly giving a camera towards the country. It was Singapore, this time wearing a white scarf around his neck the last time ASEAN saw him.

"Let's get up, I might look like a mess from the grass later on," Laos groaned, standing up and helping Vietnam and Brunei to stand up.

Singapore grabbed ASEAN's arm and he stood up. He muttered a "Terima kasih" before diverting his attention back at the other members.

Myanmar and the Philippines walked by the door as well, both holding a tray of cupcakes which colors were around the yellow and orange spectrum.

Singapore pushed the door open for them to come out the building, ASEAN observed them coming in, and his eyes glanced at the nearest hanged picture he saw. He dropped the ribbon he was said to be following earlier, and moved closer to the nearest picture he was able to spot, which was at his southeast.

The picture he first looked was a picture from when ASEAN was first founded. He wasn't really in the picture at all, but it was great for him to see Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore in that one black and white picture once again. He flipped the picture to it's back and noticed that there were some notes written, and noticing who wrote it, it was clearly Thailand's due to it's unique cursive handwriting. He decided to read the note aloud, but only loud enough for him or other people nearby him to hear.

"August 8, 1967; The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Founding. This specific event felt like yesterday, after the fail of ASA, we eventually met with 2 new people, and signed the treaty. From then onwards, the person who was supposed to be ASA became the ASEAN we know until this very date without even noticing a single bit."

"Sea?" Singapore called from behind him, making the organization release the picture from his hands.

"Yah?"

"How'd we do?- well so far," he asked. "I'm asking this because, I just want to know how we did- uhh, I'm curious. You're kind of speechless, or not reacting... I guess it's because you're really not the talkative type."

ASEAN chuckled. "Well for once, I have no idea how much money you spent on this, it looks even complicated to build- or set up as well. I'm just saying that this was probably one of the most spent things you've ever done for the organization's party or something."

"No kidding, not to spoil anything major but we had to grab people around the Regional Forum to set up the picture stuff lah. Took us since February to set this up," the country-state informed, placing his scarf properly on his own neck.

The organization's eyes widen, "February?! How long has this been going on for my back?!"

"Long as I can remember honestly, I believe we started planning this outside the organization when Laos was beginning his own chairman term," Singapore added. "I mean the design looks simple enough, but we did gather a lot of people and things just to set this whole thing up. We didn't just want to call this a birthday special or anything, there's something that we'd rather lead it up to you as to why the pictures are like that."

"Eh, I can figure it out on my own, probably won't even comment about it later-even will probably forget," ASEAN stated. "I'm glad you added to the fact that it isn't just my birthday, it's literally a foundation of... something you're apart on."

"We just want to pull out a little surprise, if you know what I mean," the country chuckled, and looked back at the other. "But seriously, I don't think we wouldn't be here without you, even if our relationship may be rocky at times... you know?"

"And I really wouldn't be here if you and the other four weren't able to sign that paper. I mean I would since well- ASA, but I don't think I would be standing here this year if you haven't gone and signed."

"If the universe doesn't exist, we wouldn't be here," Singapore stated, then chuckling for a little once again before adding. "Seriously though, even since that day were you had told me that you would change, I knew that you would have such an impact to me. You genuinely just helped and gave me tips on how to make a business out of myself, I really couldn't think for a better person to do so."

"It's nothing, I'm just doing my best," he smiled. "I never really wanted to become the one to be looked at for anything in the first place, now I'm just glad I did."

He observed a grin across Singapore's face, and eventually the other tackled him into a hug. He was shocked at first, but then wrapped his arms on the other's.

Singa muttered under his breath, "Happy ASEAN day."

ASEAN smiled, and half-joked, "It's Singapore Day tomorrow, you know?"

In response, the country whined, "Diam."

The organization chuckled for a moment, then the country pulled back the hug.

"You have to go check on them," Singa said, looking at the Maphilindo trio by the fountain, Phil seemingly writing something on the fountain's base, and Mal and Indo was bursting in laughter. Sighing, he continued, "I hate say it really but, you're necessary for everyone around here."

He looked at the group by the fountain for a moment, before turning back at the country, "I appreciate it, but you know you're also important Singa. I told you that for how many years straight already."

"Yeah, yeah! Come on though, you're going to not enjoy yourself if you don't talk, you still need to judge the cooking competition later," the country suggested as he started dragging the other towards the fountain, leaving the other in a 'woah'.

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🇸🇬/🇲🇾/🇧🇳 terima kasih - thanks/thank you
🇸🇬/🇲🇾/🇧🇳 diam - shut up

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