(M) Unspoken Affection - MilkLove Fan Fic - Completed

8. Your Birthday, surprise?

Milk PoV :

Today was Love's birthday, a day that Milk had been anticipating with mixed emotions. She had ordered a surprise birthday cake for Love weeks ago, knowing how much she enjoyed these small gestures of affection. However, this year was different. Gun, Love's boyfriend, couldn't celebrate with her due to work commitments, so they had celebrated a week earlier. The past week had been hectic, leaving Milk feeling somewhat sidelined as Love juggled her time between work and personal obligations.

Despite these feelings, Milk threw herself into preparing the pottery shop for her absence. Tu had become her closest confidant and assistant, understanding the intricacies of the business almost as well as Milk did herself. They worked late into the night, finalizing designs and discussing the future of the shop once Milk left for Phuket.

It was during one of these late nights that Tu voiced her concerns about Milk's departure.

"Milk, are you sure about leaving Love like this? Is there no other way to handle it, perhaps by letting her know how you feel? It seems unfair to just disappear from her life like this," Tu asked gently, her eyes reflecting genuine worry.

Milk sighed heavily, her thoughts filled with the complexities of her decision. "I know it's not fair to Love. But I can't risk complicating things further. Gun believes Love will always want me in her life, but he also said she'd be devastated if he left her. I can't bear to see her torn between us," Milk explained quietly, tears welling in her eyes as she spoke.

Tu nodded understandingly, reaching out to comfort her friend. "Your intentions are noble, Milk. But have you considered explaining your reasons to Love? Maybe she'll understand why you feel the need to leave," Tu suggested gently.

Milk shook her head sadly. "I've thought about it. But Love... she's fiercely loyal. She won't let me go without a fight, and I can't bear to hurt her more. That's why I'm leaving a letter for Ciize. She'll manage the shop with you once I'm gone. Love will know I'm not coming back when she reads it. I want her to have space to process her feelings without me around," Milk said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Deep down, I still hope she feels something more for me. But I can't risk our friendship, Tu. I need to find peace within myself, even if it means stepping away from Love," Milk added, wiping away her tears with a weak smile.

"How long do you plan to be away?" Tu asked, trying to lighten the heavy mood with a touch of humor. "I can't run this shop forever, you know."

Milk chuckled softly, grateful for Tu's attempt to lighten the mood. "Maybe two or three years. I want Love to have time to figure out what she really wants. She's been with Gun for so long, she needs clarity. I don't want to be the reason she doubts her feelings," Milk replied, her smile tinged with sadness.

Tu smiled warmly at Milk, her eyes reflecting admiration for her friend's selflessness. "Whatever happens, Milk, I'll be here looking after your 'not-so-unique' pottery designs," Tu teased playfully, hoping to bring some levity to the emotional conversation.

Milk laughed softly, feeling a sense of relief knowing Tu would be there to support Love and the pottery shop in her absence. "Thank you, Tu. For everything," Milk said sincerely, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders momentarily.

"Milk, I hope you're strong enough when you return, especially if Love chooses Gun over you. I'll be here to protect your 'not-so-unique' pottery designs," Tu teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "After all, mine are way nicer and more beautiful... haha!"

Milk chuckled softly, grateful for Tu's ability to lighten the mood even in the midst of their heartfelt conversation. "You're such a gem, Tu. I don't know what I'd do without you," she said sincerely, her voice tinged with gratitude.

Tu smiled warmly, her gaze filled with affection for her friend. "You know I'll always be here for you, Milk. No matter what happens," Tu reassured her, reaching out to squeeze Milk's hand gently.

In that moment, as they shared a brief respite from the weight of their emotions, Milk felt a surge of appreciation for Tu's unwavering support. It was moments like these that reminded her why their friendship was so precious, even as she prepared to embark on a journey away from Love.

------------

Milk PoV

"Surprise! Happy Birthday, Love! I hope you like my surprise!" I exclaimed with genuine excitement as I presented the slightly tilted birthday cake to Love.

She looked genuinely surprised, her eyes widening at the sight of the cake. Despite its melted and slightly lopsided appearance, she grinned widely. "Milk, this is so sweet of you!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and gratitude.

I couldn't help but smile sheepishly. "Um, yeah... I forgot to put it in the fridge earlier, so it kind of melted a bit. But hey, it's unique, right?" I chuckled nervously, hoping she wouldn't be too disappointed.

"Happy Birthday, Love! Have fun with Milk! Sorry, I couldn't stay. I have an appointment with some other friends," Tu chimed in cheerfully, her smile brightening the room. Love hugged Tu tightly, thanking her for coming and understanding her busy schedule. I watched with a hint of pride as Tu's efforts to get closer to Love seemed to be paying off.

With Tu gone, it was just Love and me in the pottery gallery. She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "I love the cake, Milk! Thank you for always surprising me with cute things. I really love it! Can I eat it now?" she asked eagerly.

"Of course! Blow out the candle and make a wish," I encouraged her, placing the cake in front of her. Watching her blow out the candle, her face lit up with joy, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my chest. This was Love, the person I cared for deeply, celebrating her birthday with me as if everything was normal.

"You want to know my wish, Milk?" Love asked mischievously, her eyes dancing with laughter.

"What? No way! If you tell me, it won't come true. Keep it a secret," I teased back, playfully dodging away from her. Love burst into laughter, setting down the cake and chasing me around the gallery. It felt liberating to see her so carefree and happy, even if it was just for this moment.

Throughout the evening, as we celebrated in our beloved pottery shop, Love expressed her gratitude. "Milk, thank you for always remembering my birthday, even when you're busy. It means a lot to me," she said sincerely, her voice softening with emotion.

I smiled warmly at her, my heart swelling with affection. "Of course, Love. You're important to me," I replied, trying to mask the bittersweet feeling that was settling in my chest.

As the night wore on, we made plans for tomorrow. "Tomorrow, I'll take you to your favorite dessert restaurant. It'll be our little birthday extension," I promised her, wanting to make every moment count before I had to leave.

Deep down, I knew that leaving was the right decision, despite how much it hurt. Love deserved clarity and the space to figure out her feelings without my presence complicating things. I wanted her to be truly happy, even if that happiness meant being without me.

In the quiet moments of the night, as I watched Love laugh and enjoy her birthday, I cherished every smile, every laugh, knowing that soon I would be walking away from all of this. It was the hardest decision of my life, but I had made my choice. Now, I needed to find the strength to see it through, for both Love's sake and my own.