Namjoon was surrounded by his closest friends and family, and by Breeze, of course. They all enjoyed a festive dinner together. His mother had even made his favorite knife noodle soup. It was so good to be home, surrounded by the love of his eomma and his appa and his sister. And it was even excellent that the other Bangtan Boys had joined them. His birthday would have been incomplete without them. But for Namjoon the best part was Breeze.
He kept smiling at her. She was very quiet. For the most part, everyone was speaking in Korean. He could tell she felt a bit isolated. And he didn’t like it, but he didn’t know how to fix it. He scooted his chair a little closer to her and reached out to take her hand in his own. She turned to smile at him as their palms touched, and he interlaced his fingers with her own.
After dinner his friends brought him the presents which they’d prepared just for him. Namjoon grinned when Jungkook handed him a wrapped, rectangular box from both him and Tae. Namjoon pulled the red bow off and lifted the lid to reveal a scrapbook hidden within. He pulled it out and began to thumb through it. Then he stopped, shocked, and just stared at his two younger friends for a moment before he quickly turned through every page. The light dawned, and he realized why the hotteok had disappeared and what Jungkook and Tae had really been doing at the park that morning.
His entire morning with Breeze had been captured in the photos of this book. The two of them sitting on the blanket, a picnic basket near them, as they ate hotteok. The glass butterfly hovering on the swing seat. A dozen roses being passed from him to her as they sat on a wooden park bench. The two of them, walking hand in hand down the path, as she recited her poem for him. Then another one in which Namjoon was facing her, an intense look on his countenance as, cradling her hands in his left hand, he traced her palm with his right forefinger. That had been an intimate moment, yet they had captured it on film from two different directions. He wondered briefly if they had been able to hear his conversations with Breeze. He fervently hoped not. And yet, he was truly touched to have such a perfect day immortalized in photographic form.
He turned the page, and his eyes were reminded of the handprint gallery. One of the boys had taken a photograph of it. In another photo, he and Breeze were seated on a bench, and she was opening the box of chocolates. There were several photos of them walking through the park, their hands intertwined. A few of the photographs were zoomed-in shots: a photo of only their linked fingers, a snapshot of Breeze’s face as she gazed adoringly up at Namjoon, a closeup of his wide grin and his dancing dimples, a picture of the dozen red roses he’d given her, and a portrait of the two of them walking down the path, taken from behind them as the sun filtered through the trees turning them golden. The boys had included some photographs of the beautiful scenery surrounding them as well, of the clear blue sky, the trees, the lake, and the walking path. They had filled the entire book with photos.
As Namjoon thumbed through the book, he was reminded of the moment he had turned to see Jungkook holding Tae in his arms. He instantly felt remorse for making Jungkook carry Tae for blocks. He looked up at Jungkook who was staring intently down at him, his impassive face somehow communicating a subtle vulnerability. Namjoon knew this gift meant a lot to Kookie. He had created something very special to celebrate Namjoon’s birthday, and he was desperately hoping Namjoon liked it. He knew that Jungkook was doing his best to mask his feelings, but they had been friends for a very long time, and Namjoon could read Jungkook’s emotions like the pages of a book. He felt his heart somersault in his chest as he realized just how very much Jungkook loved him. They were certainly brothers. Namjoon smiled at him and asked him softly, “You didn’t hurt your back today, did you, Kookie?”
Jungkook’s expression lightened as he suddenly grinned at Namjoon. There was something about baring his teeth to the world that transformed Jungkook’s entire countenance. It made him a thousand times more attractive. The joy written on his face drew people in. It was pulling Namjoon towards him right now. He answered quietly, “I’m fine, Namjoon Hyung.”
The five other boys began to sing I’m Fine, making Jungkook wrinkle up his nose as he began to chuckle. Namjoon laughed too. Then he smiled at both Tae and Jungkook.
“I wondered what on earth you two were up to this morning when we spotted you in the park. I’m assuming you guys stole our hotteok?”
Tae and Jungkook looked at each other, a speaking glance passing between them.
“Oh, come on, it had to be you two!”
Jungkook grimaced. “Tae promised me hotteok after dragging me out of bed to photograph you, but he didn’t deliver!”
“I did too! I took you right to where two perfectly good hotteoks were left just sitting in a picnic basket waiting to be eaten!”
“And then you made me risk life and limb to steal them out from under Namjoon’s nose!”
“Well, you were successful, weren’t you?” Tae looked up at the ceiling, a dreamy expression on his face. “I can still taste that delicious hotteok!”
“Me too! I should have eaten the second one before you could gobble it down!” Jungkook grumbled, reliving the culinary delight he’d experienced as he’d chewed the hotteok Namjoon’s eomma had made. “I wish I could have eaten more. It was the best hotteok I’ve ever had!”
The other guys were laughing at them, picturing the scene in the park.
“Man, I’m getting a little jealous!” Jin exclaimed. “I didn’t get to try this world-class hotteok.”
Namjoon’s mother smiled at them. “I would be happy to make some for you boys tonight after our festivities at the park.”
Seven pairs of eyes turned towards her in awe, followed by many exclamations of glee.
“Really?”
“You are wonderful!”
“Thank you!”
“I can’t wait!”
“I bet it will taste even more delicious than promised!”
“Yes!” That was Jungkook, brimming with anticipation. He saluted the air with a fist pump.
Namjoon turned towards his eomma. “Are you sure? You’ve already worked so hard today.”
She waved her hand to dismiss his concern. “It’s no big deal. Besides, I’d like to teach Breeze how to make it.” She had spoken the last sentence in halting English, and Breeze looked up in shock as she gazed at his eomma.
“Why, thank you!” Breeze spoke in Korean before finishing in English, “I’d be honored.”
Namjoon’s mother smiled at her.
Namjoon turned towards Jungkook and Tae. “Thank you both. This is the most thoughtful gift you could have given me. I love it!”
Tae and Jungkook exchanged another glance, then Tae pulled an identical package from under the chair he was seated upon. He handed it to Breeze.
“For me?” she asked, surprised.
“Early birthday present,” Tae answered her, in English.
“But my birthday isn’t until January!”
Tae shrugged. “I not know.”
Breeze smiled at him. “Thank you.” She glanced at Jungkook. “Thank you both.”
She opened her gift and stared in amazement at the scrapbook as she thumbed through it. “Boys, this is beautiful!”
“We made you an identical one. We thought you and Namjoon Hyung should both have one,” Jungkook spoke in perfect English. Had he been practicing?