Tia sat smiling down at Tae. He was so precious to her. It still overwhelmed her. That she was actually dating him. Her heart’s desire for the past eleven weeks. It was even more unbelievable when she considered who he was. A rising star in the world of K-pop. He was, in fact, a vocalist for the most popular band in all the world. It was astounding that he would even look at her. He was surrounded by beautiful women. By screaming girls. By a raving fandom.
Yet. Tae, her sweet Tae, had chosen her. Chosen her and fought for her.
She leaned her head to the side until it rested against his own. She would be content to stay here next to him for the remainder of today. Dinner could wait.
—
As it turned out, Tae woke up in time to take her to dinner. They had a lovely time sharing japchae and dessert before heading back to her house. He picked up his tiny Eiffel Tower and prepared to leave. He still had to pack, and he was boarding a plane in a few hours. After he opened her front door, he turned and faced her.
“Tia,” he whispered roughly, his eyes sliding over her captivating countenance. “I love you. I’m going to miss you so much. I’m still so sorry I won’t be here on your birthday. I wish…I wish, somehow, I could be. But I’ll be thinking of you all day. And when we perform Boy with Luv, I’m going to sneak in a move. Probably no one else will notice it. But towards the end, look for this.” Then he held his arms straight out to the sides, forming a T with his body. “T is for Tia,” he grinned, his low voice purring in her ear. “That will be my way of wishing you a happy birthday in front of the whole world. While I still keep you a secret,” he grinned mischievously at her. “Only you and I will know what it means…” Then he laughed. “If anyone notices, it’ll drive ARMY crazy trying to figure it out!”
“Tae…” she sighed. She really did love this boy! “I will look for it! Of course, it will be around noon here, but I’ll be watching and celebrating both the new year and my birthday with you!”
Tae reached out and pulled her into his arms. “I’ll think of you every moment.”
He bent his head and brushed his mouth across hers in a tender kiss that made her knees give way. She reached up and grabbed a hold of his shoulders as she leaned into him. She answered his kiss with one of her own. After all, she wouldn’t see him for five days! This kiss had to last them almost a whole week. She didn’t even want to think about it.
As he pulled away, he sighed again. “Tia.”
“What?” His tone had just put her on guard.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“I won’t be back until January seventh.”
Her heart sinking, she exclaimed, “What?”
“I have a photo shoot on the sixth.” He bent close and whispered into her ear the details surrounding the location and the reason that he had to go.
As he pulled away from her, she nodded her head. And she was suddenly very grateful that she lived here in Seoul. Close to Tae. She could survive without him for a few days. So she gave him a beautiful smile to take with him. He gave her his own gift to recall late at night when she couldn’t sleep. That adorable boxy grin. The one that belonged to her now.
