The next day after Tia arrived home from work, Tae stopped by.
“You know I’m leaving Monday morning to head to the U.S. for a couple days, right? We’re performing in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.”
Tia nodded. Then she sighed. She finally, for the first time in her life, had a boyfriend, someone to kiss on New Year’s Eve, but he wouldn’t be here. He’d be on a stage in New York City. And she supposed he was likely to spend every New Year’s Eve for the next few years standing on a stage somewhere. Most likely, in New York City. Without her.
But the worst part was that the last day of the year was also her birthday. She’d missed him by a day. One day earlier and they, like Julieta and Jin, would have shared a birthday. That would have been so amazing! But she’d missed being born on Tae’s birthday by a day, and now she would also miss seeing him on her birthday this year. Tae would be gone on her birthday. And traveling on his own. She was so disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to celebrate together. Also, she wasn’t sure how to tell him that he’d be gone on her birthday.
“You won’t be here for your birthday,” she pouted.
He grinned, his boxy smile popping open. “It’s okay, Tia. It’s no big deal.”
“Liar!” she frowned. “I know your birthday is important to you! And it’s definitely important to me!”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because I adore you, Tae, and I want to celebrate you.”
“Okay. Let’s do it Sunday, then, instead. All right?” He gazed down at her with a look of sweet supplication lighting up his beautiful face.
“Okay, Tae.”
He peered curiously down at her. Something still felt off. “Is that all? I feel like there’s something else you’re not telling me.”
Tia looked up at him.
Just then, Julieta walked into the room. “She doesn’t know how to tell you that her birthday is Tuesday.”
Tae glanced down at her. “Your birthday is on New Year’s Eve?”
Flames leaping in her wide eyes, Tia nodded.
“Oh, wow.” Tae’s countenance fell. “So not only will you miss my birthday, but I’ll miss yours. Tia, I’m so sorry.”
Fighting back tears of disappointment, she whispered gruffly, “No, no. It’s all right, Tae. You have to work. I understand. I’ll just miss you; that’s all.”
“All the more reason to celebrate on Sunday. We must get together. Can I take you to dinner?”
She nodded. Tae was so sweet. At least this year, she’d have a boyfriend on her birthday. Even if he couldn’t be with her.
—
Tae wracked his brain for the perfect gift for Tia. Really, he had known her for such a short time. He didn’t even know what any of her favorite things were. But then, he was surfing the Internet late Saturday night – actually, early Sunday morning – when he found it. He hadn’t been able to sleep. So he had looked at the pictures of him and Tia at the Eiffel Tower.
That was it! It was a brilliant idea!
The problem was that he had less than twenty-four hours until he needed to have her present in his hand. He couldn’t guarantee that any mail would arrive in time. But then a YouTube video popped up, and he discovered that it was just the thing he’d been looking for.
