Jeonghan stared at the calendar on his phone, the date marked with a red circle only days away his enlistment into the military. Two years felt like an eternity, and though he had prepared himself for this moment, the idea of leaving Joshua, even temporarily, tore at his heart. It wasn't just his career or the fact that he'd be away from his loved ones. It was Joshua, his kind-hearted, gentle boyfriend, who made every moment of Jeonghan's life feel softer and more bearable.
Joshua was sitting across from him on their couch, flipping through a book, but Jeonghan could tell that something weighed on him. He had been quieter than usual these past few days, and Jeonghan knew exactly why. Joshua was trying to be strong, trying to act like everything was normal, but Jeonghan knew better. The thought of separation was as heavy for Joshua as it was for him.
"Hey," Jeonghan's voice broke the silence, soft but steady. "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"
Joshua's eyes met his, wide and a little startled. He smiled softly, placing his book down. "Nothing much. Just... thinking."
Jeonghan raised an eyebrow, moving closer to him, and wrapped an arm around Joshua's shoulder. "Thinking about what?"
"About you," Joshua admitted quietly, his gaze dropping to his hands. "You're leaving soon, and... I'm trying to be okay with it, but it's hard."
Jeonghan's heart squeezed. He tilted Joshua's chin up gently, his thumb brushing against his soft skin. "I know it's hard. But I'll come back. Two years will pass, and before you know it, we'll be together again."
Joshua nodded, but Jeonghan could see the doubt in his eyes. He pulled Joshua into his chest, hugging him tightly. The warmth of Joshua's body against his made Jeonghan's heart ache with the impending distance.
A few quiet moments passed before Joshua pulled away slightly, giving Jeonghan a small smile. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you," Joshua said softly.
Jeonghan raised his brow in curiosity. "What's that?"
Joshua's lips twitched, a hint of nervousness behind his soft smile. "You know your birthday coming up soon, but... you won't be here to celebrate it with me since you'll already be in the military by then." right? I've... I've planned something for you."
Jeonghan blinked, surprised. His birthday? He hadn't given it much thought with everything going on, especially with his enlistment being so close. "You planned something? When did you have time to do that?"
Joshua chuckled, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on Jeonghan's arm. "I've been working on it for a while now, just... wanted to make sure it's something special. I know we don't have much time left before you go, so I thought... maybe we could celebrate early."
Jeonghan's heart swelled at the thought. Joshua had always been thoughtful, but hearing him speak so tenderly about wanting to make his birthday special, even with everything going on, made Jeonghan realize just how deeply Joshua cared. He leaned in, kissing Joshua's temple gently. "You didn't have to do that, you know? Just being with you is enough."
"I wanted to," Joshua replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "You deserve it, Hannie."
Jeonghan's gaze softened as he looked into Joshua's eyes, his heart pounding with love. "So, when's this surprise happening?"
Joshua bit his lip playfully. "Tonight."
Jeonghan's eyes widened. "Tonight?"
Joshua nodded. "It's already set up. Just... trust me, okay?"
Jeonghan couldn't help but smile. "I trust you with everything."
Later that evening, Jeonghan found himself being led by the hand through their apartment, his eyes blindfolded at Joshua's insistence. Joshua's hands were steady as he guided him, his soft laugh filling the space when Jeonghan stumbled slightly. "Careful, we're almost there."
"How can I be careful when I can't see anything?" Jeonghan teased, though his heart was racing in anticipation. He could feel the love and care behind every moment.
Finally, Joshua stopped, and Jeonghan felt him let go of his hand. "Okay," Joshua said, his voice soft but filled with excitement. "You can take off the blindfold now."
Jeonghan pulled off the blindfold and blinked, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. What greeted him made his heart skip a beat.
Their usually modest living room had been transformed. Soft fairy lights draped along the walls, casting a warm glow over the room. In the center, a small table was set up with a homemade cake-Joshua's baking skills evident in the slightly uneven frosting, but it was perfect to Jeonghan. The table was decorated with simple flowers, and in front of the cake was a small gift box wrapped neatly.
But what caught Jeonghan's attention the most was the framed photo sitting next to the cake. It was a picture of the two of them from one of their first dates, laughing together with the sunset behind them. It was a simple moment, but one that had captured everything Jeonghan loved about being with Joshua.
Jeonghan's chest tightened, his eyes filling with tears as he looked back at Joshua, who stood shyly behind him, his hands nervously wringing together. "Do you like it?" Joshua asked, his voice small but hopeful.
"Like it?" Jeonghan echoed, his voice thick with emotion. "Joshua... this is perfect. It's more than I ever could have asked for."
Joshua's eyes softened, and he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Jeonghan. "I just wanted you to have something special to remember before you leave. I know it's not much, but-"
Jeonghan cut him off by kissing him, a slow, tender kiss filled with all the love he felt but struggled to put into words. When they pulled apart, Jeonghan rested his forehead against Joshua's, his voice soft. "It's everything, Joshua. Thank you."
Joshua smiled, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I just want you to know how much I love you, Hannie. Even if you're away, I'll always be here, waiting."
Jeonghan's heart ached with both happiness and the looming sadness of their impending separation. "I love you too. More than you'll ever know."
Joshua took his hand and led him to the table. "Now, let's eat some cake. I promise I didn't burn it this time."
Jeonghan laughed, the heaviness in his chest lifting just a bit as they sat down together. They shared the cake, laughed over memories, and talked about everything and nothing, pretending for a little while that the world outside didn't exist. It was just the two of them in that moment, wrapped in the warmth of their love.
After the birthday celebration, Jeonghan and Joshua settled onto the couch, the room still glowing softly from the fairy lights. Joshua nestled against Jeonghan's chest, their arms wrapped around each other in a quiet, comforting embrace. Jeonghan absentmindedly stroked Joshua's hair as they both relaxed into the moment.
They decided to put on a movie something light and comforting that didn't require too much thought. As the scenes flickered on the screen, the world outside seemed to fade away. Joshua felt safe and warm in Jeonghan's arms, the weight of the upcoming separation momentarily forgotten.
They didn't say much, just exchanged soft smiles and the occasional brush of fingers against skin. The movie became background noise, their focus entirely on each other as they cuddled in the soft quiet of the night.
Joshua sighed contentedly, lifting his head to meet Jeonghan's gaze. "I wish we could stay like this forever," he murmured, his voice laced with a hint of sadness.
Jeonghan tightened his embrace, his heart aching at the thought of their upcoming separation. "Me too, Joshua. But even when I'm away, know that I'll always be holding you in my heart."
Joshua smiled softly, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I'll hold onto that. And I'll be here, waiting for you, no matter how long it takes."
With a gentle kiss, they sealed their promise to each other, a vow that distance would never diminish the love they shared. As they settled back into their comfortable silence, they both knew that no matter what the future held, they would always find their way back to each other.
"Happy Birthday, Jeonghan!
I just hope that u stay healthy and happy. Your fans miss you dearly and can't wait to see you back shining on stage!"✨
