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Areum swung her door open the second she heard the bell ring.  She sighed.  She had missed him.  Again.  How was he so fast?  She looked around the hall.  The only person there was the mailman.

“Sir!  Do you know who these are from?”

The mailman turned back to her. “I was sworn to secrecy, ma’am.  I’m sorry.”

She sighed and looked down at today’s gift.  As every day, it was in a small paper box that had delicate designs carved into the sides.  Inside the box sat a different chocolate candy every day, and there was always a red rose and a poem tied to the top.  How did he know that red roses were her favorite!  She had been getting them every day since the beginning of February.  She picked up the box and untied the ribbon on top, taking the rose and the little red heart with the poem on it off.  Then she opened the box.  Today’s treat was raspberry Kit-Kats.  One of her favorites.  She grinned and opened one before chomping into it, proceeding to read the poem as she headed back into her apartment, kicking the door shut behind her.

For sure, he had to live in the complex.  He had been delivering the boxes every day.  She had to figure out who he was.  Tomorrow was Valentine’s Day, for heaven’s sake!  She wanted this guy to take her on a date!  How was he supposed to do that if he wasn’t going to reveal himself?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Jungkook watched as Areum opened his box.  He laughed as he watched her decimating the Kit Kat.  Apparently, she liked them.  He couldn’t wait until tomorrow.  She was going to love his surprise!

—

Areum had lined them all up on her kitchen island.  Day 1 had been Dove dark chocolate.  Her absolute favorite.  The way they melted in her mouth!  She could savor them.  Just like she was savoring his gifts.  Whoever he was.

Day 2 had been M&Ms.  She remembered a line from the poem that day: “You bring me miracles and memories.”  She would never look at M&Ms the same way again.  Day 3: Turtles.  She loved the combination of chocolate, caramel, and pecans.  Day 4: Toffee.  She could still taste it dissolving in her mouth.  Sweet and buttery.  A little salty.  The perfect combination.  Day 5: Reese’s peanut butter cups.  She’d used her teeth to sever the top from the middle.  Then she’d let the chocolate and peanut butter melt slowly in her mouth.  She laughed as she remembered how much she’d enjoy all thirteen days.  How did he know that she had a terrible sweet tooth?  She remembered her chubby cheeks.  Maybe they were a clue. 

Day 6: Dark chocolate truffles.  Ooh.  Just thinking of those made her sigh.  She bet his kisses would be that rich!  Speaking of kisses – that had brought her to Day 7: Hershey’s kisses.  But not the boring, plain, milk chocolate kind.  No!  He’d sent her the cherry crème ones.  They reminded her of her favorite holiday, Christmas.  They tasted like chocolate covered cherries.  Something she’d loved as a kid.  Day 8: another favorite of hers, peppermint ice.  She usually didn’t like white chocolate.  What a misnomer!  It wasn’t even chocolate!  It was like an insult to chocolate!  But white chocolate swirled with peppermint extract and little bits of candy cane was divine!  A gift from the heart of heaven itself!

Day 9 had brought a surprise.  Andes mints.  She had popped the whole thing into her mouth and let it melt.  Day 10: Caramello.  Ooh!  She loved milk chocolate and flowing caramel.  The way the caramel burst out of the chocolate when she bit into it.  Two words: just delicious! Day 11: Milk Duds.  She loved the way the chewy caramels got stuck in her teeth, their sweetness lingering in her mouth for a while.  Day 12: Whoppers.  Malted milk chocolate.  Crunchy.  Yum!  And of course, Day 13 had brought her another of her favorites, a rare treat.  Raspberry Kit Kat.  What would he give her tomorrow?  She could hardly wait.  But in the meantime, she was working on her own surprise.

—

Valentine’s Day.  It was here.  Finally.  Why was his heart racing so?  It wasn’t like he’d never met a girl before.  She was just a girl.  He kept reminding himself of that salient fact.  But she wasn’t just a girl.  She was beautiful.  She did things to his heart that no girl had ever accomplished before.

He’d moved into the apartment building a month ago.  He’d passed her in the hallway countless times.  Once, she’d smiled at him.  And he’d felt his heart slip from his grasp in that devastating moment.  That had been three weeks ago.  He’d determined that day to woo her on Valentine’s Day.

Today was the day.  He opened his door and stared across the hall at the floor in front of her door.  There was a velvet heart box lying in the very spot he’d put all thirteen of her gifts.  Ohhh.  He felt his heart beginning to race.  Had she…had she left him a gift?  On Valentine’s Day?  He felt a tear forming.  He blinked it away and crossed the hall. 

A white rose lay atop the box.  He knelt down and picked it up.  He removed the lid from the box.  Inside was an assortment of fourteen different pieces of candy.  He laughed.  One of each of the kinds he’d given her, and today’s spot held a chocolate rose.  How had she known?  Nestled into the center of the box was a paper heart.  He picked it up and read it.  “Thank you, my special Valentine.  I’ve loved every single present!  Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Suddenly, the door opened.  Areum stared down at the boy on his knees before her.  Her heart flipped over.  It was the cute guy living across the hall from her!  Her heart began to race.  She had hoped it was him!  He was absolutely gorgeous.  Now, his head snapped up, his raven locks falling over his midnight eyes.  Those eyes locked with her own, and she found that she couldn’t breathe.  He suddenly grinned at her, the light of his smile lighting up his entire countenance.  He held a chocolate rose out to her. 

“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” Jungkook murmured.

She reached out to accept the rose, and her fingers brushed his.  Lightning struck.  They stared at one another for a moment.  Then Jungkook realized he was on his knees.  He bent to pick up the heart box off the floor. 

As he stood up, he whispered, “Is this for me?”

“If you recognize the items inside,” she smiled.

He nodded.  “They’re all my favorites.  I was hoping you would like them too.”

She beamed.  “I did.  Very much.  Especially Day 1 and Day 13.”

He glanced down at his box.  Dove dark chocolate and raspberry Kit Kat.  “Those are my absolute favorites too!”  He wanted to kiss her, but he would wait for that.  “I have another gift for you.  If you’re amenable.”

Her eyebrows flickered at him.

“Would you let me take you out to dinner tonight?”

“Yes!”  Had she sounded too eager?

But as she watched his face light up with his pleasure in her answer, she knew she’d given the right one.  This was going to be the best Valentine’s Day yet!