𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐄

#.. NINETY-THREE

Jungsu woke up to the delicious smell of pastries. Taking a look at the clock, he noticed that it was not even 8am.

As they didn't go to university yet, just recently having moved in in their new home, both usually slept longer. It was Jungsu's 20th birthday. Apparently Hyeongjun woke up earlier to cook him something.

Just a few minutes later, said boy entered the room with a happy smile, singing the small Happy Birthday tune, while carrying a tray in his hands.

Sitting down across the elder, he gave him the tray, packed with self-made pastries and a warm cup of hot chocolate.

"Happy Birthday, grandpa" Hyeongjun then smiled as soon as he finished the song, leaning forward to peck Jungsu's lips. "My present didn't arrive yet, it's so annoying! So you have to be satisfied with this"

Jungsu shook his head as he cupped the younger's cheeks again, pulling him into another short soft kiss. "You didn't have to do any of this" he answered with a smile.

The rest of the morning was spent with them staying in bed, eating the many pastries Hyeongjun baked for them and just cuddling.

"I woke up at 4am to start baking all this" The younger exclaimed with a smile. "And I'd do it again"

Hyeongjun was currently asleep, he'd need the energy for later - It was the day of the concert, so he wasn't allowed to be tired.

They tried to re-sell the third ticket they accidentally bought, but they lost it. So practically, Hyeongjun wasted his money for nothing.

While Hyeongjun slept, cuddled up against him, Jungsu was scrolling through his phone.

Gunil wasn't replying to both of them for three days already, not even reading the messages. As they knew none of Gunil's friends in the US, they couldn't reach out to anyone to ask them about their boyfriend.

It was scary, because he either lost interest or something happened. Both weren't the best options, but Jungsu hoped that it was at least the first one. He didn't want Gunil to be hurt.

Jungsu texted the elder again, asking about his wellbeing. He couldn't have possibly forgotten that it was Jungsu's birthday, right?

Hyeongjun's phone seemed to blow up with messages at the same time, yet he seemed to be sleeping peacefully nevertheless, his phone being on silent mode.

Then the door rang. It was quite a mission to remove Hyeongjun's strong grip on his body, which took him several moments.

Hyeongjun kept insisting his boyfriend to stay. "Don't go." "There's someone at the door." "Who cares? Stay here."

Eventually, Jungsu managed to break free, starting to walk towards the door of their apartment.

Before Hyeongjun and Jungsu moved away, he visited his therapist the last time. She told him, he'd be able to walk normally as soon as they arrived.

So his crutches were standing in the corner of their shared room, collecting dust as they weren't even touched the last days.

They were lucky that the apartment included furniture when they arrived, it would be a pain in the ass to wait for more.

Opening the door, assuming that it was just the mailman, Jungsu shuddered. "Wh-"
"Happy Birthday, my beautiful boy"

He was pulled into a heartwarming hug, Jungsu still didn't understand. What was Gunil doing here?

"Gunil- What- How-" He kept interrupting himself, not quite believing it. Jungsu asked himself so many questions yet his throat didn't allow any to come out.

The two eventually parted from their hug and Jungsu let him in, still in shock. "The apartment looks good" the elder smiled as he looked around.

"Just like I imagined something decorated by you" Jungsu blushed, still too speechless to say anything, but that wasn't necessary.

There was a loud screech out of a sudden. Jungsu didn't even manage to blink, when suddenly Hyeongjun was in the other's arms, kissing him deeply.

Was this what Hyeongjun planned? The two parted shortly after. With Gunil's arm wrapped around Hyeongjun's waist, they turned around to face Jungsu.

"Seems like my present did arrive on time" Hyeongjun laughed, feeling comfortable in Gunil's subtle embrace.

Jungsu was still not believing what he saw. "But- How?"

[...]

They got comfortable on the couch, Hyeongjun made Gunil a mug of coffee and one of his small strawberry tarts.

In the meantime, they explained everything to Jungsu. "All of this was obviously planned" Gunil explained as he took a sip out of the coffee.

"Actually, at first it was a coincidence that we three shared the same dream university. So I told Hyeongjun, because I knew, that you'd finish school before your birthday"

Jungsu put his head on Gunil's shoulder, while he held onto Hyeongjun's hand tightly. It's been a month since they parted, but he still missed Gunil like crazy everyday.

Even though Hyeongjun and Jungsu have been together before, it wasn't the same without Gunil anymore.

"So we planned everything through as soon as Gunil got accepted into the uni" Hyeongjun then continued explaining.

"He was actually supposed to come here in the morning while I was baking, but his flight got delayed. Then, they noticed that the airplane Gunil were supposed to take had a rupture in the wing and wasn't suitable for a flight.

Jesus, Gunil really had me panicking that he wouldn't be here on time for the concert." Then it made click in Jungsu's head.

Everything suddenly made sense. And he started crying. "I hate you guys so much" He sobbed while burying his face in the elder's shoulder.

Hyeongjun and Gunil looked at each other with warm smiles, as both of them took their time to calm down Jungsu from the overdose of happiness.

"We thought we were doomed when you saw that Hyeongjun ordered three tickets" Gunil laughed and Hyeongjun nodded, laughing, too.

"I had to quickly come up with a lie. Didn't mean to, but it would ruin our surprise." Jungsu sat up again, eyes swollen and red from the crying.

"How do I deserve you two?"

The whole noon they were just talking, catching up and laughing together. Gunil was so happy to see Jungsu finally having recovered entirely.

They knew everything would be fine, now that they were complete again. Their apartment seemed much more livelier with their third puzzle piece.

Hyeongjun was glad Jungsu never realised that they rented the apartment for three people, that's why their rent was higher.

The elder let Hyeongjun do all the financial stuff, not getting the hang of it yet. This was just an advantage for them earlier.

So with the cooperation of luck and excellent planning, Gunil and Hyeongjun gave Jungsu the best birthday he could imagine.