"I don't recall being born in June..." Hanni squinted her eyes with a teasing expression on her face while her arms wrapped safely around your neck. "This is for last year and I know..." You pulled her closer as your body pressed gently against hers. "...I know you said that it's all in the past but I have my conscience. I know that I'll be feeling guilty from time to time if I let this slide."
"Aww baby..." Hanni had her palm on your cheek before caressing it gently. "...why am I so lucky to have you. And by the way this is one long overdue birthday celebration I have to say." You and her shared a chuckle before she pulled your head closer and gave you a deep meaningful kiss. "...but it doesn't make it any less special for me."
"What a journey we've been through huh?" You rested your forehead against hers as she nodded her head. "We're just getting started. The life we're building together holds no anger, no resentment, no deceit and no sadness. It's warm, it's cozy and it's whole..." Hanni won't take her eyes off yours as you're listening to her full of peace and affection.
"...we communicate with each other and talk through difficult conversations with patience and love, and we respect each other wholeheartedly. Thank you for showering me with love, thank you for showing me that I'm worthy of healthy love and thank you for showing me what true happiness is..." Hearing that, you warmly gave her a tight hug as she dived herself safely in your embrace, burying her face on your chest.
"When did you actually planned this?" She looked up to you with a smile. "About two weeks ago. Your parents and I formed an alliance about a week ago and it took me a while to get the perfect timing that is tonight."
"Is that why you've been asking me about my working schedules from time to time last weeks? I should've known you were up to something..." She pinched your cheek. "...and I guess the whole cousin's birthday celebration was made up as well..."
"Oh no, that's real, my cousin's celebrating also today but my parents are there so it's fine. And I have a bigger birthday celebration to celebrate." Your reply made her raised her eyebrows with a teasing smile. "You have your priorities sorted. I'm honoured"
"Wait till you see your cake." You replied as Hanni's expression plastered an excited one. "I want to see~ I want to see it~" She squealed excitedly like a child before her eyes reverted to the table and saw quite a big box for a cake. "That's too big of a box for a regular cake... what did you even bought me?" Hanni chuckled, still bewildered as you and her walked over to the table.
As soon as her eyes landed on the box, all that she could see from the see through top part of the box was pink. "You got me a pink cake~?" She asked excitedly as you're carefully taking out the cake from it's box and Hanni could only laugh in amazement.
"That is amazing! It's not a sponge cake is it? Looks like a mountain of custard donuts and macarons..." Hanni still couldn't contain her laughter by how massive the birthday cake was to the point that it was almost the same level as the top of her head once she sat down. "Goodness me..."
"It is a mix of custard filled donut bites and macarons. I requested them to make it pink with shades of blue because I believe pink suits you as much as blue and this is the final result. You like it?" You then got the candles as Hanni's nodding her head with a chuckle. "I do. I really love it honey. This looks good as well. This is amazing~" Once you get the candles by the top of the cake and light it up, Hanni immediately got closer and sat down in front of the cake.
"Can you take a polaroid picture of me as well? My camera's in the drawer over there." She pointed out the drawer next to her bed and you immediately got her polaroid camera. "Okay Miss Pham, look over here please~"
And you switched between the polaroid camera and both of your phones, taking pictures of Hanni blowing the candle on her cake along with many others photos of her before she couldn't wait any longer and immediately took one of the custard donuts and ate it happily with a few squeals.
"Is it good?" You asked as Hanni nodded while taking another big bite before she took another one and fed you. "Hmmm it's a bit sweet but it's delicious." You then grabbed your water before drinking it and washing away the sweetness in your throat. "Let me try the macarons..." You grabbed onto one and took a bite and the macarons were perfectly made. "...they're great as well."
"They are right~ The macarons are not too sweet, it's quiet balance compared to the custard donuts..." She's talking about the macarons yet her hand kept on feeding the donut bites into her mouth as you couldn't help but chuckling. "You're definitely going to have a sugar rush later honey..." And even Hanni too realized the amount of donut bites she had consumed until that point was a bit too much.
"Can I have some water please~" She leaned herself back on the sofa as you gave her your bottle of water and she gulped down the sweetness on her throat down and out of no where she just chuckled to herself. "You okay?" You snickered softly as you scooted closer to her and Hanni instantly had her head resting on your shoulder. "I'm fine it's just..." Hanni let out another chuckle. "...does this mean we'll be celebrating my birthday twice this year?"
"Obviously~" You replied as Hanni's smile was wide and filled with happiness. She went from being slightly down at the start of the day earlier knowing that she won't be able to spend time with you today apparently, but the surprise was a complete success and if any scales could measure the amount of joy and euphoria that's been filling up Hanni's soul, the measurements would definitely be off the charts.
"I want more donut~" She turned her attention back to her birthday cake after resting her stomach for a little bit while you're all smile while watching her back view. "I have something for you actually sweetheart..." After taking a few more bites, Hanni looked over to you while she's chewing another macaron. "For me? A birthday present~?" She made her tone sounded cheerful as you nodded with a smile before getting your sling bag. "A part of your birthday present actually..." You got into your bag before you took out an envelope.
"Here. Even if it's just a part of your gift, this one's a bit special for me... You'll see why." You calmly handed over the envelope to Hanni. "Aww honey~" She said with the softest of her voice as she couldn't help but smiling full of joy as soon as she read what's written on the envelope. "What is this? A letter? Oh, oh, oh this feels like a birthday card~" She looked over to you and you just gave her a teasing shrug with your shoulders."
"A letter to my sweetheart." Her lips curved out of pure euphoria after reading what you wrote on the envelope as she's opening it carefully before taking out a birthday card inside it which she had guess correctly. Hanni couldn't help but chuckling like a child upon seeing a picture of you and her by the beach back in Australia as the background picture for the birthday card. "That is so cute..." She said in between her snickers before she flipped the card opened and noticing you've written something for her.
"To this day and forever, I get lost in your eyes. I see the most beautiful skies, the sunset and the sunrise. So your internal beauty wasn't a surprise. Behind all of the tears, I found your laughter. Building happiness despite every disaster. Your existence contains a space for solitude. So I fell for you, in so many beautiful ways that I can't even explain. And your love showed me the way it would erase all of my pain. And again, to this day and forever, I still get lost in your eyes.
Happy birthday my sweetheart. This was way long overdue but I hope that even if you're reading this now, it would still means a lot to you the way it meant a lot to me. In a world full of uncertainties, you became my one unwavering truth and I wanted nothing more but everything and everything is you.
I wanted to write more but this card's too small to fit everything in here so I'm just going to tell you this first among other beautiful things I've been wanting to say to you, I love to love you Hanni. Because loving you is the most beautiful feeling in the world. I love to love you because you make my heart smile in ways I never thought possible. I love to love you because lovng you feels effortless and natural. I love to love you because life with you is one beautiful journey that I never want it to end. To the future of us, let us hold hands and seize the moments together and forever. I love you Hanni, my sweetest of sweetheart."
As soon as she reached the end, her eyes were already full of tears yet she's snickering softly before gazing over to you and letting her tears running down her cheeks. With a warm smile, you had your arm around her and Hanni immediately dived into your safe embrace, her safe space, and her arms wrapped around your waist tightly.
"You have seen me at my worst, yet your love for me never wavers, you always know how to cheer me up and you never even judge me and letting me be myself around you." She couldn't control her sniffs as her head resting safely on your chest with her feeling the calm heartbeat in your chest that always calms her down. "...you're my love and my best friend at the same time and you thought me to love not only you but also myself. And most of all, you never even treat me as an option and I'm always your number one priority. If you need more reasons why I love you with all my heart, then just give me a paper and I'll fill the whole page with my reasons."
"Seven reasons sounds good enough for now." You whispered as your lips planted a soft kiss at the side of her head. "There goes my makeup..." You heard her cute little whine as you could only chuckle lightly. "Sorry about that baby..." You had your thumb wiping down the tears on her cheeks. "It's okay. At least my makeup's busted because of my tears of joy." Hanni fetched her bag from the side before getting some tissue and wiping off her smeared make up on her cheeks. "I'm getting my makeup off first, be right back~" Hanni then slowly stood up and made her way to her bathroom and came back a few moments later with her bare yet still dazzling face.
"By the way, tomorrow's Saturday and for your birthday, I'm going to get you anything you want. That's my present for you." As you sat closer to her, pulling her into your arm, Hanni then quickly had her arms wrapped around your torso. "You already what know what I want right?" She asked while blinking slowly to tease you.
"Ice-creams, boba teas, breads, tteokbokki. I know all too well Cherry Pham..." Hanni just laughed lightly as she rested her head on your shoulder, enjoying the warmth of your body on her. "...but this time, I'll buy you anything you want. Just say it, a new dress, shoes, bags whatever you want. All you have to do is tell me."
"I'll keep that in mind tomorrow." She closed her eyes, euphoria already took over her whole existence at that moment in time and she just wanted to stay in it all night if she could. "...I love you so much. I just want you to know that whenever I look at the moon, the sun rays in the morning, sunsets by dusk, the mountains, seas, the flowers..."
Your eyes met with hers as you looked down then she gave your cheek a caress, so soft and gentle and warm. "...I will always remember that our love is as beautiful as the most beautiful things in life." She whispered and the moment she saw a happy tear ran down your eyes, Hanni gave you a kiss filled with the many, many affections she has towards you.
"One more, one more, one more!" With Mingyu's voice echoing in your ears, you let out a grunt before managing to pull up the fifteen kilo weights with your hands for the tenth time. "Atta boy! Alright we'll take a minute break, then we'll get to the leg machine." Mingyu patted your shoulders as you're panting lightly with your arms slowly getting swollen by the minutes.
"Can we skip the legs today hyung...?" While panting lightly, you let out a chuckle with your hand scratching the back of your head. "...I'm going out with Hanni later today actually..." You gave your reason and immediately Mingyu nodded in understanding. "Then we have to switch things up. Let's do your back for today."
With a light sigh, you just nodded your head. "Okay hyung..." You responded weakly before Mingyu's massaging your shoulders from behind releasing some of the built up tension in your muscles, helping you relaxing a bit as you're making your way to the appropriate machine to work on your back muscles.
After another hour of worthful 'torture' with Mingyu, you made your way back home and took a warm refreshing shower but you had to do things slowly as the soreness already starting to take over your whole body. Dressed yourself casually according to your style preference, you then took your time before you got in your car and made your way to Hanni's house.
As you parked by the gates, casually you made your way to the front door before ringing the bell. It didn't take long before the door swung opened and a cheerful Pham Hanni greeted you. "Whatsupp~ How's the gym with Mingyu oppa?' She asked with a snicker as she noticed the not so happy expression on your face at the mention of the gym.
"I'm sore... like literally my whole body is sore... Mingyu hyung really knows his stuff." You sighed lightly and with slight regret before sharing a laugh with her. "Here, hold my bag for me please~ I'm just going to tell my parents that we're leaving now." She handed you her bag before she quickly went back to her parents and got back to you in a few moments. "Okay let's go~" Hanni being happy while making her way to your car gave you a reason to smile happily as well, just like any other day
"It's been a while since I've been in this car." Hanni couldn't help but smiling at the smell of the fragrance you always use for your car which Hanni had picked out for you in the past. She then leaned back against the familiar seat and the comfy-ness of it made her reminiscing about the times you always take her wherever she wanted to go. "Waaaaahhh this feels great~" She squeals cutely as you're all snickers and chuckles.
"So, we'll get lunch then watch a movie then where do you want to go after that?" You asked as she's humming while thinking. "I want to go to the book store." She decided with a grin as you nodded with a smile. "Sure. Then how about a cat café after the book store?" You suggested and she just chuckled. "Sure. You love cats so I don't mind."
"I couldn't even sleep that much last night because I ate too much of that cake... I was literally still in a sugar rush at 11pm last night..." Hanni recalled what happened the night before while chuckling. "...you know what I did? I had to watch like videos of people teaching history online and only then I could get some sleep..."
"But did you slept well though?" Your tone sounded worried as Hanni's nodded her head with a soft smile. "I ummm... I actually overslept today..." She chuckled filled with guilt as she's scratching the back of her head. "...I think I woke about two hours before you came so I didn't really had much time picking what clothes to wear for today..." She made her lips pouted as your finger reached for strand of her hair by the side of her face before flicking them over behind her ear.
"You look beautiful today sweetheart." You whispered calmly as her eyes were smiling as wide as her lips. "Thank you~" A simple compliment's shaping up Hanni's mood today sky-rocketing up the sky before she's fixing the hem of her shirt. "I really need to lose some weight, I think I've gained a bit more than usual..." Hanni looked over at the mirror by the sun visor while puffing her cheeks with a pout of her lips. "...Dani said that she's a member of a gym close to the University and she asked me if I wanted to join her."
"All I'm going to say is, no matter if you've gained weight or lost weight, I still love you wholeheartedly." You replied to her as she just gave you a side eye with a smirk. "Says the guy who wants to get buffed by the end of the year..."
"I thought you would love to see me gain some muscles didn't you Miss Pham..." The smirk you gave her back somehow looked so attractive in her eyes that she just managed a gulp. "You know I do..." She whispered as you just chuckled while holding out your hand above the arm rest and Hanni smiled before she held hands with you comfortably.
Your date kicked off with a wholesome lunch by a steakhouse, treating her with the best dishes to her heart's content as she deserves to be treated. Then the date continued with a fun and relaxing trip to the cinema in which Hanni had to beg you not to pick a horror movie and you who's just joking with her immediately had to give in and in the end you watched a happier and comedy-filled movie, the ones she always enjoy watching.
After a couple hours, the movie's finished and both you and Hanni went on to your next destination, the favourite place for the two of you, the book store which hold a very precious memory for you and Hanni. The same bookstore where Hanni bought you your first ever poem book back in high school.
Hanni and you spent your afternoon by the poetry section of the book store, looking the aisle of wide varieties of poetry books that treated both of your poetic hearts well. With Hanni remained on an aisle, you on the other side of her couldn't contain your smile in watching her completely immersed in the book she's holding before you silently took a picture of her.
"Baby can you buy this for me?" Hanni called out to you softly as you just hummed back at her while getting back to the at the other side. "I kind of love the poems in this one..." She showed you the book she's holding. "...can I just get this instead of anything else?"
"You sure? I mean I will buy it for you nonetheless but if there's anything else you want, just tell me okay?" You whispered to her with a smile as you had your arm around her shoulders before Hanni just chuckle lightly. "I'm happy with this for now. Besides, you have no idea the amount of clothes and shoes I've bought in the last six months..."
With a chuckle, you nodded your head. "Okay, I'll buy this for you..." You held onto the book and saw the title. "...every day, I'll love you. By Freya Winters." The book instantly widened the smile on your face before you planted a kiss at the side of her head. "Will you read this to me like we always do?"
"I will. For you I always will." She scooted closer in your embrace before you went on and picked a couple more poetry books before buying it. Happy with what she got, Hanni thanked you with a kiss on your cheek on the way out of the store. "Thank you~"
And for the last but not least part of your date today was the trip to a cat café and although Hanni grew up with affections towards dogs but being near cats doesn't bother her much as the one with a love for cats was you. Growing up with you, Hanni sometimes played with a pet cat you used to have in the past and sometimes, she played with your cat way too much than you.
Upon arriving there, the first greeting the two of you got was a range of different meows from a dozen types of cats scattering on the floor, by their cat trees, on the shelves and you couldn't help but reminiscing your past with your beloved cat. As you sat down by the couch, one of the feline suddenly went up to you and casually asked for a rub on her face.
Rubs after rubs, pats after pats, purrs echoing in the room, the white hairy cat then went on and settled itself onto your laps and in no time, laying down comfortably with purrs. Hanni couldn't help but chuckling silently to herself at the sight of you and the cat while she's sitting by the floor with some other cats walking past her.
Hanni took her time and played with some of the cats, petting them and belly rubbing them to her heart's content. "Honey look at this on-" Hanni glanced over to you and noticed that you had fallen asleep by the couch while the white cat was lying down on a pillow just below the couch.
"You must be tired today..." Hanni carefully stood up before she took a photo of you with a smile on her face. "...but yet you still spent time with me today full of smiles and affection."
Hanni then got over and sat down next to you before giving your arm a gentle shake and immediately woke you up. "Why? What happen?" Your eyes were half awake as you sat back up straight. "...you okay? A cat scratches you?" Your soft hoarse voice made her smiled as you're holding onto her hand, looking for scratches or wounds."
Hanni just snickered as she shook her head. "Everything's fine. But are you tired? You look tired baby." She asked with a slight worry. "A little bit but don't worry about it..." You then took your coffee by the table next to the couch before taking a few sips. "...the caffeine will work it's magic in no time."
"Thank you so much for today. I really, really had a great time with you." Hanni's word warmed your heart as you wrapped your arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer into your embrace. "Don't mention it. I'll do anything for you as long as you're happy. Because that's what you deserve to be."
"What us deserves to be. Don't leave yourself out of this okay? I'm happy if you're happy, that's the important thing for me." She whispered as she rested her chin on your shoulder and her forehead rested on your cheek. "I want waffles and ice cream by the way..." Hanni whispered with a hint of snicker.
"Minji's?" You asked as she smiled with her eyes closed and nodded her head. "Minji's" After decided and the one-hour mark for the cat café time came to an end, you and Hanni got back to the car and you drove back to the neighborhood and made your way to the group's main place to hang out.
Once you and Hanni got in, surprisingly everyone's present and by everyone, even Danielle's there, sitting with Minji and Haerin. "Wow~ What's the occasion~" Hanni walked over to the ladies excitedly as you got over to Mingyu who sat down by the counter. "How's your date?" He asked as you nodded your head in satisfaction. "It went well hyung."
At this point, Mingyu's decided to just continue living here with Minji and his family as he tends to enjoy it here being with his sister and parents after being away from them for years.
"Oppa~ The usual please~" Hanni raised her arm up at Mingyu who just laughed lightly before making Hanni's usual order while you're helping him. "If Dani's here then there must be teas going on... what is it Haerin?" Hanni squinted her eyes to her friend and Haerin had this slight look of disappointment on her face.
"We don't have teas today Pham Pham and why do you always refer to me for teas..." Haerin whined rather soft but cute in the ladies' ears, earning herself a chuckle from them. "...it's the weekend and we just wanted to hang out since the next semester's starting soon..."
"Oh right..." Hanni then pursed her lips into a pout before you came to her with her plate of waffles with ice-cream. "...I forgot the semester's starting soon..." She looked up to you as you could only chuckle at her cuteness.
"Oh and by the way, Haerin said that she wanted to do vlogging so that's why we're here today as well..." Minji casually spilled the 'tea' and definitely came as a surprise to Hanni. "Wow~ Kang Haerin the kitty vlogger. That's got a nice ring to it doesn't it..."
"Apparently Dani knows a thing or two about doing video blogs so that's why we're hanging out tonight as well." Minji explained as Hanni just nodded while looking at Haerin and Danielle immersing themselves into a conversation and somehow at that point, all that Hanni's feeling was warmth. She continued to observe the two as they're now standing by plant on a pot by the corner of the shop while Danielle somehow made Haerin posed for a photo by the plant before the two continued talking and laughing with one another. Seems like Haerin found herself another friend she's comfortable to be with and Hanni's more than happy and she felt so warm inside her.
Warmth that her life was blessed with best friends like them and also Yongbok who's not there with you and then she glanced over to you who's talking with Mingyu with laughter and jokes between the two of you, Hanni couldn't help but to be thankful that her life's not a perfect one but one filled with blessings. She's blessed with a loving parents, a great childhood, an amazing period of teenage years, all of her best friends within this group of yours and of course you being there in her life from the start.
As the rest of the group continued their conversations, you and Hanni got another table to sit by as you and her enjoyed a warm yet cool waffles with ice-creams that satisfies your cravings every time. "Where do you want to go tomorrow after work? Food market?" You asked as Hanni immediately nodded with a chuckle. "Yes please~"
"By the way honey, do you remember about that race we had? The go kart race we had back in Jeju last year?" Hanni asked as you nodded with a hum. "I remember, you won and- oh right~ Your wish..." Instantly you remembered about the wish the winner was granted and the other one has to grant that wish which that time, Hanni won the wish.
"Yeah... I actually had forgotten about that wish and only last month that I actually remembered about it..." Hanni replied as you let your spoon down. "So, have you decided on a wish my love? Just tell me and I will do my best to grant it. No problem~" You said confidently and Hanni's smile grew wider.
"Actually baby, I was thinking of..." Hanni had this slight hesitation as you hold onto her hand gently, fingers safely intertwined and Hanni breathed out calmly. "...how do you feel about us living together?"
"Living together? You mean like under one roof?" You asked as she nodded with a hint of excitement on her expression. "Wow... That's a really beautiful wish Hanni..." You then breathed out before you eventually nodded your head in agreement. "Sure, if you're willing to live together with me then I will do everything I can to help us get a home for us to live in."
"Really~?" She tilted her head as tears of joy started to flood her eyes before you went on and wiped them off her eyes with you thumb. "This will require a lot but I am willing to do this. There's nothing else I want than to be with you for the rest of my life and if this is that one big step for us to take in order to reach that eternity, then I will do it in a heartbeat."
"Thank you baby..." Hanni held your hand up before kissing it softly. "...thank you so much for wanting to do this with me. I will not let you handle all of this alone, you and me, we're in this together remember? The dream life that we're heading towards is a long way ahead but knowing that it's you who's next to me, I believe that we can conquer anything..."
I'm so happy that I get to write and create this fictional couple and got to write the best and the happiest things about them until the end. Even though it's still just fictional, this couple somehow brought a whole lot more joy in my life than real people would. Or maybe that's just me being a bit emotional and sentimental at this moment in time.