LAVENDER HAZE [YOON JEONGHAN]

CH: 17

Luna

I was done with the cake, I didn’t know which flavour he liked that’s why I decided to make it a simple cake, not very fancy. I remember baking a cake for Bora, last month but baking a cake for Jeonghan was something different. Somewhere I knew it shouldn’t be feeling different but it was, my mind said no but my heart said yes.

Deciding the flavour was the most difficult thing, but I went for Vanilla because even if he didn’t like anything he might like Vanilla and I added blueberries for the decoration. I added the frosting carefully. Everything looked pretty and I was praying that he would like it.

I looked at the time, it was almost 7 pm. I had to make the preparations for the chicken stew. I took out my phone, I informed Jeonghan about coming back to my place after work, I didn’t tell him any reason, I didn’t want to tell him that I was preparing a birthday meal for him. The fact, if he never invited me or called me yesterday, I wouldn’t have known that it was his birthday. I sent a text to Jeonghan to be on time, and he already knows my address.

I kept my phone inside the pocket of my apron and started washing the rice, so that I put that inside the rice cooker. Once that was done, I started making chicken stew. I chopped all the vegetables first then put them aside, and brought all the ingredients I would need.

I put a large pot over medium heat, and added oil first. Then I added the chopped carrots and celery and seasoned with salt and pepper. After almost 5 minutes, I added garlic and let it cook until fragrant. It didn’t take too much time.

I added flour and stirred until the vegetables were coated then I added chicken, thyme, bay leaf, potatoes, and broth; then seasoning with salt and pepper.

Once it was done, I brought it to a simmer and cooked it until the chicken was no longer pink and the potatoes were tender. It would take a few minutes, so I decided to bring the fairy lights I brought to decorate the room. I brought the candles as well.

I was managing to do everything fast, I didn’t want him to see me struggling with anything. After arranging the fairy lights, and keeping the candles on the table. I went to check the chicken stew, and thankfully it was done.

I removed it from the heat and transferred the chicken to a medium bowl. Using two forks, I shredded the chicken into small pieces and returned them to the pot.

Once this was done, I checked my phone in the hope of Jeonghan’s reply. It was almost 7:35 pm. Suddenly my phone started ringing, my phone almost fell out of my hand. I saw the caller ID and it was none other than Jeonghan, I picked up the call.

“I am on the way moon” and here he goes again with ‘moon’, “okay”

“Is something wrong?”
“Huh?”

“You told me not to be late and-
“There’s nothing wrong, don’t worry”

“If you say so, it will take me almost 20 minutes to reach.”
“Okay, see you.” And then he hung up.

I went to make rolled eggs and started making seaweed soup for him, it’s a birthday must. These are the basics I could make for him since I don’t really know what are his favorites and what he dislikes to eat.

Thankfully I was done in fifteen minutes, I was more than happy. I went to my bedroom to change my dress, I wore a white satin dress and styled my hair lightly just to match with the dress and vibe.

While getting ready, I asked myself why was I so excited?
Why was I doing this?
What was the point of doing this?

It’s been almost seven months, since we met and what am I even doing? I looked at myself, all confused, getting those butterflies which were always uncalled, asking for his number, feeling safe and better with him, he became another of the reasons why I smile a lot now a days, his texts, his calls, nothing else made me giggle. Thinking about him almost everyday; nothing made sense to me anymore, or it was something which I was refusing to believe.

I cannot bring myself to think about anything else but him.

I shook my head and tried to shrug off all the thoughts, right now I was making a birthday meal for him, probably I hadn’t made it for anyone yet and he was the first person, I’d ever make a whole meal.

I was about to think more, but then the sound of my doorbell, diverted me.

It must be Jeonghan.

I took the flower bouquet I brought for him, and kept it behind me so that he couldn’t see it until I showed him. I went towards the door and took a deep breath before checking him through the peephole.

I took another breath and opened the door.

“Luna- his words were cut off midway and he looked at me.

I was unable to tell, what was he even doing, he looked at me from top to bottom.

“You look breathtaking, like a moon” and his words were enough to skip my heartbeat. I tried not to smile or blush, I brought the flower bouquet forward and gave it to him, “Once again happy birthday”

“Thankyou once again” his smile really made me feel better.

“Come inside” he took the flower bouquet and came inside.

“What’s up with this vibe moon?”
“Isn’t this the first time you came inside my apartment Jeonghan?” I turned to look at him but he was looking in awe, I kept the lights dim and there was a lowkey vibe of birthday because of the little decorations I did and the balloons. Everything looked pretty and I felt satisfied, he was another person after Bora for whom I am doing so many things.

“Yes and what’s all this moon?” he turned to look at me and our faces were close, way too close and the proximity was taking me aback. Coming to the fact this was the first time ever, I invited a guy to my place.

“Your birthday, yesterday you called me at the last minute and you said even your bestfriend wasn’t here. I know your birthday was yesterday but I wanted to make you feel at home at least for once and celebrate your birthday like a real one, not with just one dinner where we went out; without cakes and seaweed soup which would make you feel at home.” He was looking at me intensely, holding that bouquet which I gave him. It felt like his eyes were speaking and he was lost somewhere rather he wasn’t even listening to any of my words, and he was giving me all of his focus and undivided attention.

The way he was looking at me, started making me wonder, if this was too much and if he didn’t like any of this. I was about to ask him but he spoke instead “thankyou so much” he leaned closer to me and I was somewhere lost in him, “for surprising me like this”

“you deserve this” he was still looking at me and I wanted to say something but his next step took me by surprise he hugged me tight, his arms wrapped up securely around me. I could feel his warmth, “thank you so much” I was taken aback by his soft voice, “This means so much to me, I stopped celebrating birthday like this and this feels so special and close to me. I really mean it moon”

He pulled apart and looked at me, he was leaning towards me and his breaths were hitting me. He was making me nervous, the thing I wanted to say was wiped off already from my mind.

I somehow pulled myself together, “cake time?” I showed him the time. It was almost 8 pm, he nodded and smiled at me.

We walked towards my kitchen, I saw him standing near the kitchen island. I brought his cake and kept it on the kitchen island, he smiled looking at me. “you baked?” the surprise in his eyes melted me right there. I nodded at his question, “You know how to bake?”

“Yes, I know.”
“You are good at so many things, you keep on surprising me”

“You don’t even know half of it” I laughed at him, he let out a smirk first then smiled at me, I shook my head, “I bake cake for Bora almost every year”

“Does that mean you’re going to bake for me every year as well?” the focus which was on the cake now went to Jeonghan, he was smiling at me.

He was flirting with me, right now.

“Well, depends”
“Why so? If you can bake for Bora then why not me?” I was almost in disbelief, “Bora is my bestfriend-
“Then what am I?”

Author’s Note:

One more update, hoping I can be little regular with updates, hope you liked this update, would love to know about your views~

Happy reading~