Brush Strokes ✓

32.

Aera had tears in her eyes as she stood in the doorway that led to the backyard. She stood alone with Yeontan yipping by her feet as everyone in the house started singing the birthday song for her.

"When did you..." she couldn't finish her question as her tears became more powerful. She had to put her hands over her face to control them. Just then a pair of arms wrapped around her shoulders and she looked up at Sehee.

"Stop crying like a baby, silly girl," she said, flicking her head playfully that brought a smile on her face. "Taehyung didn't plan this whole thing for you to cry like this. Its about time we start celebrating your birthday like this, with everyone else and not just us two, right?"

Aera pulled back, wiping her tears away. "Yeah, you are right and it's time for you to take up Jin on his offer and move in with him." Her words brought a lovely blush on the older woman's cheeks but before she could speak, Seokjin was there with his arm over her shoulder.

"That's absolutely right. No one supports me like you do, Aera. Happy Birthday!" he said, making Aera laugh and give him a tight hug.

She was engulfed in more hugs, some lasted longer than others but giving her a sense of belonging all the same. Aera had never been unhappy about her situation. She had a grudge but she didn't despise life. Being with Sehee had lessened her loneliness and she liked to think she had been the same to Sehee as well but with growing up, she had always wanted friends like this and finally she had them. She couldn't be happier.

"You did all this?" Aera asked Taehyung when he finally came over to her. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking down shyly. "Well, everyone helped with the food and decorations. Do you like it?"

She pretended to think as she stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I love it, Tae. Thank you so much." Giving her his signature boxy grin, Taehyung swooped down to capture her lips in a sweet kiss. Aera couldn't help but smile into the kiss, feeling her heart swell with happiness.

They pulled away sooner than both of them would have liked, but the hoots were getting louder. Loudest was obviously as usual, Jimin. "Suck faces later, kids. Cut the cake I decorated with so much effort," he said, coming right in their faces, making Taehyung push his friend away playfully.

"Stop being so jealous, find yourself someone and leave us alone," Taehyung growled, but it didn't have much effect as he broke out laughing. Jimin joined in too saying, "Gladly, but first, cake."

The rest of the evening was a merry celebration with more wishes, gifts, food and drinks. No one could feel alone in such a big group with all the different conversations, jokes and stories flowing around the dinner table. It didn't feel like Aera had joined this jolly group only a few months ago. They all treated her with so much love and care, she almost felt overwhelmed by it.

"It's crazy, isn't it?" Sehee asked, coming to sit beside Aera in a silent corner while the boys stayed at the table. Aera smiled at her. "A little. Its a lot to take in and all of them are so loud and cheerful, it's really easy to get lost."

Sehee chuckled, taking a sip of her soda. "Yeah, I felt the same way the first time I had dinner with them all. You just get used to it as you come to terms with all of their personalities and we've got our men to drag us away if it gets too crazy."

"It gets that crazy?" Aera asked with wide eyes, looking over at Hoseok, Seokjin and Jungkook who had started doing weird dances. Jimin was laughing at their dance while Namjoon looked done with them all but she could see that he wanted to join them as well. Taehyung was about to join them as well if she had to assume with the way his body was moving. What struck her odd was that Yoongi wasn't really into it all. He had been unusually quiet for the whole evening.

"He's going through some girl issues," Sehee said, as if sensing her train of thoughts. Aera just nodded as Sehee didn't offer to elaborate. It was Yoongi's problem. If he wanted her to know, she would find out one way or another.

"Do you think I took the right decision?" Aera asked, her eyes going towards a very happy Taehyung. She loved to see him laugh like this.

"I can't tell you that," Sehee replied, bumping her shoulder with the younger woman. "I don't know the dynamics of your relationship, nor is it my business to know. But as your sister and as Taehyung's friend, I was genuinely surprised when I first found out you two liked each other. I wasn't really sure about how things would work out between you guys because you clearly think more with your brain and Tae thinks with his heart. But somehow, you two work out just fine. You are good for each other and you are happy and not dwelling in the past. That's all I've ever wanted for you."

Pouting, Aera hugged her sister who wasn't her real sister but took care of her as one and said, "I love you, Unnie. Don't think I'll forget you now because I have more friends and Tae just like you didn't forget me. We are still sisters and we'll always stay together, just like we promised all those years ago."

Sehee couldn't help but chuckle, pushing away the tears that started pricking her eyes. Today was a happy day. "Silly girl, of course I know that. If you forgot me, who will you go to when you are hungry and you forgot to stock up your groceries? You can't forget me even if you wish to."

Aera laughed as she pulled back, rubbing her nose. "That's true and I'm serious when I said you should move in with Seokjin. You've been together for almost a year now."

Sehee grimaced. "I know we've been together long enough and I do want to have him more to myself but look at him," she said, pointing towards a hysterically laughing Jin. "He is going to miss this and it's not even about moving in, it's about moving out. He wants to buy a new house for us and I'm not ready to leave my house. You know how much that apartment means to me. And I don't feel good about taking this away from him."

Aera sighed and rubbed her back trying to comfort her. "Don't stress so much, you'll find a solution. Do you think we should join them back or run away?"

Sehee looked at her with smirk. "Let's run away. Just the two of us." Giggling, the women ran inside the house, wanting to have some time by their own. Just like old times.

~~~~
A/N:

Honestly, this chapter feels like it's all over the place because I just really can't write bday chapters T-T
But I still wanted to include this more as a filler chapter and kind of give an update on Sehee and Seokjin's relation. (You'll know if you've read After Hours.)

Anyho, I hope you guys liked this chapter and I promise I'll make it better on next update.

Thank you for reading!!