A selection of birthdays from the lives of Jeong-hyeok and Seri.
From memories of Switzerland, to married life and family birthdays, they explore aspects of their love and lives. Some happy, some poignant, each scene stands alone and further scenes...
Trigger warning:contains references to Seri's suicidal feelings as shown in Crash Landing On You.
2nd February, the year after Seri's first pivotal trip to Switzerland
Seri's Choice
"Congratulations on your birthday, Ma'am!"
Manager Hong and her team were waiting for her as she stepped out of the office lift. They had bought her a large floral arrangement. It was rather touching, especially as no-one else had yet wished her happy birthday.
"Thank you; it's an attractive arrangement. Perhaps you could carry it through to my office?"
"Of course, Ma'am."
She noticed that they all looked rather relieved that she liked it, and smiled at that a little. She walked into her office and they all followed, Manager Hong leading the procession with the floral arrangement. Her secretary placed her usual coffee on her desk.
"Over there," and she pointed towards a low table.
"Are you celebrating this evening, Ma'am?" one of her team asked.
What were they expecting? An invitation to a party? For her to share details of her personal plans? Flowers were one thing, but they were here to work, not chat. She had so many plans for Seri's Choice, so much to do. But it was starting to all come together. Success for the business, realising her dream, was the best gift she could ever imagine.
"Just a quiet celebration," she said.
On my own.
She finished the sentence in her head. But the thought didn't bother her. She much preferred her own company to that of her bickering siblings or the reproachful looks or coldness of her mother. Tonight, she would sip champagne, enjoy a range of expensive delicacies she had ordered in from one of Seoul's leading professional chefs, and celebrate the fact that she was here for this birthday. Yoon Seri had a future, and that future was Seri's Choice.
"We'll start our meeting in ten minutes," she said. "So please, all be ready."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Of course, Ma'am."
They all filed out again, and she settled down to enjoy the coffee in peace, smiling a little at the flowers. It really was an attractive arrangement. White arum lilies and roses, greenery, sculptural and stylish rather than ostentatious. They were learning her tastes well!
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Seri's birthday, her apartment
That evening, she fussed at the table setting for one. She had ordered a floral table arrangement from a top florist and chosen some new crystal glasses to do justice to the bottle of grand cru champagne chilling in her fridge. A platter of delicacies had been delivered, and she admired the artistry of the tiny portions, expertly decorated. She took pleasure in the finesse of her own presentation of them on the serving platter.
