Dae-Hyun's birthday was coming up in two weeks.
Thirty already.
He pretended he didn't care.
"Birthdays are for kids," he said one night, head in my lap while I played with his hair.
I flicked his forehead.
"Liar. You want cake."
He caught my hand. Kissed palm.
"Only if you feed me."
Cheesy.
Hot.
I melted.
But inside? Panic mode.
Girlies and I had been planning for weeks.
Secret.
Big.
Flash mob proposal.
Not marriage yet—he wasn't ready, I wasn't rushing.
But promise.
Forever kind.
Ring in my drawer.
Simple band.
Inside engraved: No contract needed.
Girlies obsessed.
Seoyeon choreographed dance.
Nari handled music and lights.
Ara baked cake.
Jiwon emotional support.
Me? Nervous wreck.
The Week Before
Office normal.
But not.
We stole kisses in elevator.
He brought lunch.
I left notes in his pocket.
Cute stuff.
He blushed once.
Caught him.
Teased all day.
He got revenge at night.
Hot revenge.
Good times.
Then Thursday.
He found invitation in drawer.
Fake one.
I planted.
"Company team building?"
"Yeah. Mandatory. Sorry."
He groaned.
"Hate those."
"Too bad."
He pouted.
Actual pout.
I kissed it away.
Plan on track.
Birthday Eve
His penthouse.
I cooked.
Failed kimchi jjigae.
Too spicy.
He ate anyway.
"Perfect."
Liar.
We laughed.
Watched movie.
Fell asleep couch.
Woke up midnight.
He carried me bed.
Tucked in.
Kissed forehead.
"Best birthday eve ever."
Little did he know.
Birthday – The Trap
Morning.
I "left early" for "meeting."
He grumbled.
Wanted morning cuddles.
I promised tonight.
He texted all day.
Him: Miss you. Me: Miss you more. Him: Hurry home. Me: Soon.
Guilt.
Excitement.
Office empty after 6.
He thought team building off-site.
Arrived hotel ballroom.
Lights off.
Walked in.
"Surprise!!!!"
Lights on.
Balloons.
Streamers.
Everyone.
Employees.
Girlies.
Friends.
Family? No mother.
Good.
He froze.
Eyes wide.
Then saw me.
Center.
Holding cake.
Smiling big.
"You lied."
"Little bit."
He walked slow.
Looked around.
Touched balloon.
"Hyemi…"
Voice thick.
I put cake down.
Hugged him.
"Happy birthday, baby."
He hugged back.
Tight.
Face in neck.
"Thank you."
Soft.
Crowd awed.
Girlies teared.
Party started.
Food.
Drinks.
Games.
He laughed real.
Danced bad.
Sang worse.
Happy.
The Flash Mob
10 p.m.
Lights dim.
Music start.
Girlies first.
Dance.
Cute moves.
Employees join.
He watched.
Confused.
Smiling.
Then me.
Center.
Dance to him.
Simple.
Heart hands.
Blow kiss.
He blushed.
Crowd cheered.
End.
I knelt.
One knee.
Ring out.
He froze.
Eyes big.
"Hyemi…"
Voice break.
I smiled.
Teary.
"Dae-Hyun."
Deep breath.
"You came into my life with a stupid contract and cold coffee."
Laughter.
"But you stayed with warm hugs and heart emojis."
More laughs.
"I don't want contract."
"I want forever."
"With you."
"Will you be mine?"
"No contract needed."
Silence.
Then he pulled me up.
Fast.
Kissed hard.
Deep.
Crowd exploded.
Cheers.
Whistles.
He broke kiss.
Forehead mine.
"Yes."
Soft.
"A thousand times yes."
Ring on finger.
Perfect fit.
Hugged.
Cried little.
Girlies rushed.
Group hug.
Chaos.
Happy chaos.
Cake.
Soju.
Dance all night.
Best birthday.
Ever.
Late Night – Home
Penthouse.
Quiet.
Just us.
He held hand.
Stared ring.
"Real?"
"Real."
He kissed finger.
Ring.
Then me.
Slow.
Bedroom.
Clothes off.
Slow.
Celebration.
Hot.
Sweet.
Whispers.
Love yous.
Forever.
Slept tangled.
Ring glint moonlight.