Then Came You

The Reunion

"Saengil chukaehamnida... Saranghaneun YeaJi-ssi... Saengil chukaehamnidaaaaaa..." She blew the candles out. Everybody there clapped as she laughed of happiness. They threw her a surprise birthday party. Her parents, her sister, her brother in law, her team, some of her friends and some people of her agency. She was so happy surrounded by people that she loved the most. But still in the middle of all the excitements, she was hoping for someone to be there. Singing, smiling, laughing and sharing this happiness with her.

But he didn't even call last night. She didn't text him to find out why, because well, he might be busy, or had some really hard training so he'd exhausted and went straight to sleep. Then again, who was she to ask such a singular treatment? She might have feelings for him, she might have fall for him, but did he feel the same though?

"YeaJi-ah... Saengil chukae my dear..." Kim Mi-Kyung sunbaenim came towards her and gave her pecks oh her cheeks.

She smiled and saying thank you.

"Aigoo... Why were you spacing out while there are so many people here for you, pretty girl? Was there someone on your mind?" Kim Mi-Kyung sunbaenim had always can presume what was on her mind.

"Nevermind, sunbaenim. It's okay, I was just remembered something."

"Come on, it's your birthday, it's not proper to be sulky alone while everybody were here for you."

She followed her sunbae mingling with the crowd. She held her niece, took pictures with them, lots of smiled and laughed.

They gave her many gifts, also all of the gifts, flowers and cards from her fans that delivered to her agency were brought along. So many Stitch dolls, keyrings, plushies, lots of snacks, trinkets, fashion items, perfumes were in the pile. But as she finished opening the last one, none from him. Sad wasn't the right word. She felt... Disheartened. She thought at least considering how close they were he sent her something. But not even a single flower arrived.

She laid awake that night, after checking her phone and there was not even a single message from him, she was more forlorn. The slight thought of how special she was for him was gone. She knew that it was in the weekend, and they allowed him to hold his phone for a half of day, but nothing. No calls, no messages, nothing. She was full of sorrow that she fell asleep crying.

He didn't contact her for days after that, and she also didn't. She was busy preparing for her upcoming movies productions. Some of them had already begin. She had two movies scheduled to release this year. Her schedules were jam packed she didn't have the time thinking about him. At daylight. When the moon rise and she was alone in her room, the thought of him awaken. His smiles, his laughs, his peculiar doings, his lame jokes, his deep eyes, his scents... She was getting tired crying to sleep.

On the fourth day after her birthday, she reached home, worn out after a day full scheduled shooting, when she saw a package and a big flower bouquet were settled in front of her door. Picked them up and wondering who were they from, she went into her apartment. Placed her keys and bag on the kitchen island, she went straight to the living room. She didn't even bother turning on the lights, the only light source was from the moonlight from her balcony glass door.

Perplexed, she opened the package. There was a box inside. Simple white box with a light violet ribbon tied to it. Inside there were a black small box, a card and a picture of him smiling, giving a peace sign with his military uniform. Her sight was hazy because of the tears that slowly filled her eyes. She reached for the card, bit her lower lip holding up a smile.

"Saengil chukae YeaJi-ah... I know I was late. You can hit me as many as you like when we meet later. But I can't find the right gift to balance your gift. Your gift was precious. So I thought it's better be late than giving you some lame gift. I'm sorry. I hope you'll always happy as you always make me happy. Once again, Happy Birthday, beautiful.