Two Parties and a Funeral (Sequel to Resurfaced)

Chapter 7

I am one to learn from my mistakes, (most of the time, at least) and I pride myself for it. By no means was I going to be left out as the boys sang the birthday song, so, I learnt the Korean version of 'Happy Birthday' through hitting the replay button on Youtube a dozen times. If you had not guessed by now, they sang it in english this time, while I proudly began the Korean version. I fumed and nudged Rapmon.

''Why didn't you sing it in Korean like in Jungkook's birthday.''

''Uhh,'' Rapmon began, looking sheepishly at me.

''It's because of Alex, he doesn't know it,'' Jimin replied instead. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. But, looking around at the beautiful night, it was difficult to remain so. The fairy lights on the pier twinkled in the dark, and the candles gave the tent a lovely hue. Nina was absolutely overjoyed. We had all worked hard for this, and the results were worth it. Dinner was amazing. J-Hope and Nina were feeding each other potatoes, looking as lovey-dovey as ever. I, in turn was in love with the buffet. I stuffed my plate with barbecued cheese sausages and elicited a stare from Jimin.

''You eat so much?'' he asked me, looking back and forth from me and the heap on my plate.

''Uh, yes,'' I replied, embarrased.

Jungkook scratched his hair in thought. ''You ate quite an ordinary amount last time.''

''But this is barbecue!'' I protested and stuffed a sausage in my mouth, effectively preventing further questioning.

When it was time for gifts, I realized that we had unconsciously formed a sort of queue before Nina, who looked at us amused and could not help but giggle. ''What is this about?'' she laughed.

''Let me start,'' Jin announced and came foward. ''Now we shall have the giving of the gifts. This is mine.'' The pink-haired boy presented Nina with a humongous bundle covered by a pretty purple cloth, tied up with strings. The birthday girl almost buckled up with the weight, before Jin helped her place it beside the table. ''Well, go on. Open it.'' Quite frankly, I was excited too! The cloth came off to reveal a large, orange.... pumpkin? It took me minutes to comprehend that it was not a practical joke. Nina seemed startled at first but grinned and hugged Jin thanking him. I made a mental note to tell everyone not to gift me vegetables on my birthday.

Next it was Rapmonster. He had got intricately illustrated Korean books. She was fascinated with the country's history and folklore. The book I knew was no easy task to find. He spent weeks in quest of it.

Suga and Jimin then stood came, pulling Alex in between them. Nina smiled and gave the three a questioning look. ''Annyeong?'' she said playfully.

''So,'' Suga said. ''Me and Jimin worked toogether to get your present.''

''That's lovely!''

''Well, yes,'' he continued. ''He is in between us.''

''Alex?'' Nina asked confused.

''We knew you missed him and Margret,'' Jimin mumbled shyly. ''So we arranged for them both to come to Korea today. But unfortunately Margret could not make it, and Alex had to come early, so we didn't want to hide him till then.''

''Awww!'' the girl engulfed the three of them in a group hug. ''You guys are the best!''

Suga tried to look all manly, but it was clear that he was trying very hard to not smile. In the end, he gave up and a huge grin lit his face. ''Oh, I got you this neck-pillow too.'' V's gift was a black T-shirt. ''Remember this?'' he asked her. Nina frowned in thought and finally nodded.

''The first day, in LA, you took us in, and we had no food or clothes. You got us all black T-shirts. I wanted to get you the same thing you bought me, it was a little hard to find, but I managed to get it.'' The sweet little thing! I just wanted to go pinch his cheeks! Jungkook had got her a pair of shoes Nina had wanted.

''Yo,'' I said, feeling rather awkward, when it was my turn, and quickly handed the present over. Nina stared at the picture for a couple of seconds and then gestured at Hobi to join her. The couple looked at me gratefully. Sometime ago, if you remember, I showed Nina a picture of her online, with J-Hope. She admitted that the picture of the two dancing was taken when he first asked her out. It was so beautiful, with the two of them looking at each other with so much love, I knew she would love it. So I printed and framed it. I made the frame by hand, to give a bit of a personal touch to it. They loved it and I was overjoyed.

J-Hope gently took the frame from her hands and placed it on the table with the rest of the presents. The rest of us stood around them, waiting for her boyfriend's gift. ''I wonder what he's got her,'' Jungkook asked Jimin.

''Yeah, he didn't tell me either.''

J-Hope took a deep breath and took her hands in his. Nina gazed up at him, with adore. ''I.. I haven't bought you anything for your birthday,'' he began, but stopped her before she could reply. ''You came to a foreign country, though you didn't have to, and it was for me. You have done so much, and I have done so little in turn for you. I want to return all that you have done for you, I want to love and take care of you.'' J-Hope got down on one knee and pulled out a velvet box, which he opened to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring that glittered in the candlelight, casting a spectrum of colours around. The girl had tears in her eyes, as she put her hand over her mouth in astonishment and love. ''Nina, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?''

Nina knelt in front of the man she loved and kissed him, full and deep. ''Yes,'' she cried, not even attempting to wipe the tears that flowed down her cheeks. The two laughed in pure happiness as he placed the ring on her finger, and J-Hope stood and lifted his now-fiance into the air and spun her around, before holding her face in his hands and kissing her again.