To See You Again [UWMA AU]

Chapter 41

« Guys, I was thinking of celebrating my birthday in advance, as well as the end of our studies. What do you think of coming over ? I'm gonna invite people from my clubs too so bring some along. »

I had set the party in motion at one point before our last week in this city and our friends had liked the idea. Well, Dean wasn't really aware of it as he was with Liam at that point, so he didn't really have a reaction then. And after thinking of it, I just made the whole thing a simple surprise in a surprise for him. Just thinking about his dumbfounded face, it will be worth it !

I wish Team was still here so I could have him here too. But well, only one more week or so to wait until the next time I see him. I already planned out our first real date in Siam. Without any hindrance this time !

I had made it so that our house mates and us would fake a movie night all together so that Dean wouldn't suspect anything. He was on the couch fully absorbed by the movie, cushions on his laps, when I received a message from Yong Gi. Silently, I went to open the doors so that they all could sneak in without my best friend's knowledge.

Some of my team members from the soccer club as well as the mountain club and some other students were grouped behind the couch with Tom. The couch had its back to the hallway so they went unnoticed. Yong Gi chose to sit next to the still oblivious Dean, while Amber and Lucy stood next to me in a corner of the big living room.

« 오 ! 왔어 ? (Oh ! Wasseo ? - Oh ! You came ?) » was his only reaction at recognizing the person sitting next to him.

Yong Gi, smirking, hummed his ascent at the tall tanned man. I nudged Amber to go and she too with Lucy, sat on the floor next to Dean. That moron didn't say much, focused on the scene where the main actor was doing stunts. I snorted.

« Hey Dean, can you come to the kitchen ? » I called out to him.

The mindless man tried to answer me without leaving the sight of the screen but had to turn around at some point. That's when he finally registered the snickers and chuckles around him and that the face I was waiting for, came out.

« What the heck !? Win ! » he yelled, moving backward in surprise, his face contorted in bewilderment at seeing more than twenty people in the room.

Then embarrassment washed off his sharp face, realizing the moron he had been, and I couldn't contain my laughter anymore. I was quickly followed by our friends, setting the ambiance for the night. I knew it, worth it ! And that wasn't even the end of it.

The party was going alright. As we were five of us in this flat, the place was quite big with three rooms furnished with bathrooms, a well lit living room, a somewhat small kitchen with one huge American fridge and a supplementary toilet in the entrance. The decoration was neutral in white and green. Our house mates have always been nice, even if we weren't the closest, and it was cool to see them mingles with our friends from Campus.

Food and beverages were set on a buffet-like table, framed by sound systems blasting music. I was playing a round of beer pong with my soccer club's friends, obviously being on top of my game, when I received a phone call signaling the arrival of the cakes.

« Dean ! Someone is here. Can you get the door for them, they have their hands full ? » I called out to my friend, smiling inwardly.

« Get it yourself dude ! » the moron told me back.

« Nah, it's my turn. Please Bro' !? » I pleaded, knowing that he would end up going if I used that name.

Ranting in his chin, I saw him going to the entrance and discreetly followed him, readying my camera to catch his stupid face. Amber, who saw me, slided by my side a knowing smile on her round face. Her brown hair was on a side, accentuating the devil sight in her eyes. A surprised Dean is the icing on a cake for a birthday.

My best friend innocently went to the door, in his black jeans and white shirt. On a side note, he might thank me later when I pushed him to get out of his lazy short he was wearing when we had started. He was now standing in front of two people, one of them smiling wider than the other and calling for me, the birthday man.

The other one had made my naive best friend stunned and he couldn't move an inch as his eyes were fixed on the chocolate haired man in front of him. The slightly taller man was wearing a white shirt and a blue jean under his long coat. He looked fine to me but I guess to Dean he might look a bit more than just that. It was funny how he was still standing right at the door, his mouth gaping and his sight locking on the dark green eyes that were looking back at him.

« Can we get in ? » Liam asked, his lips' corner slightly raised up.

Dean looked like he came back to life and stumbled backward, tripping over the shoes in the hallway. I rushed in to grab the cakes that were endangered by the two new additions and my best friend's clumsiness.

« Lucas, Liam ! Thanks for the cakes. » I said to the older men, giving one of the cakes to Amber so we could move on.

« Like your surprise ? » I whispered to Dean while passing next to him.

He mouthed 'How ?' in response but I didn't want to answer him right now. My small trick was a success and that's all I was happy to rub in his face.

Truthfully speaking, it had taken me quite some time to prepare this second surprise. I had had to make Lucas part of the plan so that I could convince Liam to come with him. Even though we were all on friendly terms with the French-Korean man, he still kept some kind of reserve with us. Dean had successfully passed that barrier, probably courtesy of their past and all the time they spent together. That guy was a monster of secrets from my point of view. But well, whatever ride his boat and Dean's.

In any case, thanks to Lucas' help and after some talk, I made him join us. He ended up half willingly accepting when I asked him to bring the cakes I had reserved in a bakery close to the university. I lied that no one else could do it other than him. I didn't leave him any choices. He has to be here for him and my moron of a best friend to get some kind of closure before we leave next week.

I mean, it's already a miracle that they met, knowing that Liam is French, but if they don't take care of their story in the small time we still have in Lyon, who is going to be the one who had to take care of a crying mess ? I love Dean as my brother but he is a pain in the ass when he is depressed. I would rather for him not to have any regrets when we take off.

Thanking everyone for sparing their time to come here, I offered a toast to the end of the semester ! Cheers were heard and everyone clinked their glasses with their neighboors, when the light suddenly went off. Frowning as some people were screaming, I spinned around to see that some of my friends had their phone flashlights on and a song started to be heard from the kitchen direction.

I snorted at the ridiculous payback. My black haired best friend had probably gained back his sense and was now approaching with a candles full cake, singing the happy birthday song in Thai. As he finished, it was followed by the French version of it and so on. I smiled, happy to see the people who had accompanied us in those wonderful six month in France around me for one of the last times. I will miss them, more so for the four who were our closest friends. We had spent so much time together, learned, exchanged, and so on. I don't know how much harder it will be to tell them goodbye soon. The fact that they were all here now, gathered for my way too advanced birthday warmed my heart. I couldn't stop to smile and found the reflection of my happiness in the eyes of Dean who was now in front of me, the cake in between us.

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