With Yoongi having informed me that he was to return soon, I was supposed to be the one getting clingy, not him. Well, it's not actually clingy. To put it clearly, for the past few days we three had begun to spend an increasing amount of time together. Hardly any evening passed with us retreating to our rooms after dinner. Jungkook, Yoongi, and I sat in the living, sometimes in the dining itself, and talked for a long time recounting everything that happened to us the entire day just so that we would be together for a longer time. Jungkook had studies to do and a university to attend, so he would go to sleep around 11:30 while I and Yoongi stayed on the sofa in the living, or the couch upstairs, or on the wooden chair in the balcony, with a mug of coffee in our hands, chatting well into the night.
I knew and both of us understood that Yoongi wasn't going to vanish into thin air, we actually did not need to do all these things. But, I am not complaining.
On the contrary to all the good things happening to me during the day, nights became more and more troublesome. Nightmares were a frequent guest in my mind. Adding to the one dream of the falling aircraft, now I also dreamt that nightmare about Yoongi. White light and him vanishing dominated my canvas. Most of the nights, those days, I woke up in cold sweat.
Since we slept late, after long hours of chatting, I had begun to sleep in the study upstairs. For one, I was too lazy to go to my room, two, I was somehow closer to him.
I know, I sound really pathetic. But you can't help feeling this way after your best friend and crush have told you that you would be losing his company soon, after two years of living in the same house.
***
"Jia," Someone called my name. A hand was shaking me. I tried to swat it away. After many days, we had slept early. I really wanted to sleep.
"Jia," That hand shook me more violently this time. I grew annoyed and sat up ready to yell at whoever was trying to wake me up at (I looked at the clock on the nightstand) 12:30 in the morning. My brain finally woke up enough to discern the individual shaking me. Yoongi sat on the edge of my bed by my side, a huge smile plastered on his face.
I suddenly became aware of my very exposed body covered only in a tank top. I had put my shrug on the chair before going to bed. Adding to my embarrassment, Yoongi quietly handed me the said shrug, not letting his eyes roam below my face.
"We decided to sleep early today, Yoongi," I said pulling the shrug over me for the time being.
"You couldn't have seriously believed I would actually let you sleep," He said, still smiling brightly.
"Why though?" I whined.
"You'll know if you come to the roof, right now." He said and got up to leave.
"I sometimes really doubt your sanity," I said, annoyed, and got out the bed to put the shrug on properly before following him to the roof.
Yoongi opened the door and what awaited completely took me by surprise.
Without making any noise, Yoongi had transported a small table to the center of the roof on which was a butterscotch flavored cake, the candles saying '27'. Two wine glasses and a bottle stood behind it. Balloons were scattered around the table. There wasn't much lighting but it was very pleasing to the eye.
Fuck! I forgot my own birthday. Which was justified, considering I was too busy with my work and the boys to keep a track of dates and corresponding occasions.
Okay! I know I am an idiot. Nobody forgets their own birthday however busy they are.
"Happy Birthday, Jia," Yoongi whispered into my ear from behind.
I turned around to face him, mirroring his smile. A very overwhelming urge to hug him was taking over me but I controlled myself, uttering a small 'thank you'.
"I sometimes really doubt your sanity," I repeated, but this time, in awe.
Yoongi smiled at me and said, "You can hug me."
My eyes grew wide at him reading my mind. Without thinking more, I side hugged him. Yeah, yeah, I am one of those awkward girls who are in charge of making any damn situation uncomfortable.
But Yoongi was different. He led me to the table holding me just like that. I blew out the candles with him singing the birthday song. We sat down face to face and helped ourselves with the wine and cake.
"If Jungkook hadn't got his exam tomorrow, I would have woken him up too," I said.
"That's why I let him sleep. He is way too tired these days." He replied, "Jimin will graduate in a month. Jungkook wants to spend time with him as well."
It was the 27th of May. Not even a month, in some 15 days. Jungkook too would finish his second year.
Time flew really fast.
"So, how long did it take you to set all this up?" I asked, smiling at him.
"Aah! You know how efficient I am." He shrugged, "Just 15 minutes."
"Liar," I hit him lightly on the arm, "But it feels more like a date."
I saw him smirk in the dim light, "You can consider it to be one."
Oh really? I won't let you win this flirt game, Min Yoongi. "You make a cheap date then, Yoongi," I smirked at him.
"Yah!" He exclaimed.
We finished half of the cake and one glass of wine. We mutually decided if we didn't keep a share for Jungkook, he would kill us both with his bare hands.
***
I went to the Aroma Coffee House to spend some time alone. The entire office had wished me singing in chorus and asking for a party. Fortunately, I felt my head aching and got out of the evening drinks. Don't drink late at night folks! Birthday perks, I got a longer break than the others.
I spotted a distantly familiar face standing at the counter deciding what to eat. I made my way to the counter and greeted him, "Hi Hoseok!"
He was startled by my sudden appearance and way too delighted demeanor. "Hi Jia," He replied after a moment, "How are you?"
"Delighted to see you," I replied. I looked at the counter, "What do you want to eat?"
"I was going for the black forest pastry," He beamed.
"One black forest pastry, please," I told the guy behind the counter and Hoseok realized what I was doing.
"What no! You aren't buying me this!" He exclaimed.
"Oh well, my treat. It's my birthday, you see." I smiled at him.
"Oh!" He exclaimed, "Happy birthday, Jia." Exclamation seemed to be Hoseok's permanent emotion.
"Thank you," I replied, "Isn't Yoongi here, with you?"
"Yoongi?" I don't know why but his expressions looked like he didn't know who I was talking about. But the confusion cleared in a flash as if it wasn't there at all, "Oh! We both can't leave the shop together in open hours. I'll tell him that you are here when I go back." He smiled, got his pastry packed, wished me a birthday again, and left.
Some 10 minutes later, a cat-like man entered the coffee shop wearing a grey hoodie and blue jeans.
"Hoseok told me you were here," Yoongi made his way to my table.
"So, I was waiting here," I replied.
Yoongi looked around and exclaimed, making me jump," Yah! They have got macarons!"
"Don't order! You'll just spoil your mood. They aren't even remotely as tasty as the ones we used to have back then." I said, "I was also excited when saw them the first time. Trust me, it was a real bummer."
"You remember, you once promised me macarons?"
"Yeah, I do. But we never got time for that." I said.
"We would have had a lot of time after exams." He frowned.
I know. But I wanted to return to India as soon as possible. I didn't wait even for a day. I was on the plane to Kolkata the evening of our last exam.
I hadn't bid him goodbye. I hadn't even told him that I was going back.
"I'll buy you some when I come to Korea the next time," I said.
He smiled at me. Something in that smile didn't seem genuine. As if he was sad about something.
The more I thought about it, the more I felt it.
Was Yoongi hiding something?
***