Boyfriend's Birthday: Yuna's Heart (1)
It was late evening by the time Jihyeok finally made it home. Yuna flopped onto her bed, which still carried the faint trace of his scent, and wondered what she could possibly do for her boyfriend on his birthday.
He seemed like the type who would gratefully accept anything she gave him. But the fact that he barely paid attention to such an important day as his own birthday suggested his family probably didn’t make a big deal of it either. Could someone with Jihyeok’s incredible memory really just erase his own birthday from his mind? Then again, remembering it or not probably felt the same to him.
As his girlfriend, Yuna wanted to give him a present that would make him truly happy. For the boyfriend who worked so hard on skinship just for her sake. For the boyfriend who never hated her for being greedy and instead showed her even more consideration. Even without his extraordinary memory, she wanted to create a birthday that would stay with him for a long time.
There was just one problem…
“...What does Jihyeok even like?”
They had been together for nearly a month now, but there was still so much they didn’t know about each other. Yuna had been so wrapped up in the happiness of their love that she hadn’t learned the most important things about him in detail.
“Haaah… I should have asked what he likes when I had the chance…”
It was too late for regrets. She could ask him now and solve the problem instantly, but she already knew what he would say if she did. He would just answer, “You.” So she gave up on that idea early.
In that case, she would have to pay close attention to his behavior and words during class and their dates to figure out what he truly wanted. That was Yuna’s new plan.
Yuna called out to her mother, who was getting ready for work.
“Mom, Mom, Mommmmm!”
“What? Why are you calling me so frantically?”
“What should I do for my boyfriend’s birthday?”
“Boyfriend? When is Jihyeok’s birthday?”
“April 6th!”
“What? That’s only two days away. Why are you figuring this out so late?”
“From what Jihyeok said, his parents are busy so they don’t really celebrate it. He basically erased it from his mind or something.”
“Aigoo… so that’s why you’re in such a panic?”
Her mother instantly understood Yuna’s dilemma and began offering advice.
“Hmm~ It’s more about quality than quantity, right?”
“...What does that mean?”
“As long as the heart behind celebrating his birthday comes through, Jihyeok will like it.”
“But I want it to be a birthday that stays in his head for a long time…”
“Ugh, you worry about the strangest things.”
“Yeah.”
Her mother looked at her and continued.
“Think about it. Suppose Jihyeok bought you a gift while thinking of you, but it was a notebook you already own a lot of.”
“Right.”
“Then imagine him handing it to you and saying—”
“How?”
“I bought the same notebook. Want to use them to write exchange diaries together?”
“...!”
The moment Yuna imagined Jihyeok saying those words, she could already see herself pouncing on him and showering him with kisses.
“...This is it.”
“Right? A gift prepared while thinking of the other person is one that truly contains genuine feelings.”
“Wow… as expected from someone with experience!”
“Haha. That’s how I won your father over~ Learn well!”
“Yes! Teacher!”
Once her parents finished preparing for work, they headed toward the front door.
“Think hard about your boyfriend’s gift~”
“Hm? When is Jihyeok’s birthday again?”
“April 6th. Sounds like his family doesn’t celebrate much.”
“I see. Take good care of him. It’s your boyfriend’s birthday, after all.”
“I will!”
“Don’t you have any advice, honey?”
“It’s not really advice, but… since it’s coming from his girlfriend, there’s no way he wouldn’t like whatever she gives him. She doesn’t need to overthink it that much?”
“...I’ll put that on hold.”
“Putting your husband on hold, huh.”
They opened the front door and began leaving for work.
“Have a good day!”
“You too. Get ready properly!”
“I will!”
The moment the door closed, Yuna changed into her school uniform in a flash and opened her phone.
It looked like their classmates were also worrying about what to do for Jihyeok’s birthday.
“...!!!”
Reading Jihyeok’s message, Yuna was so happy she started kicking her bed repeatedly. This must be what they called a blanket kick. Overjoyed, she jumped into the chat.
Yuna got so caught up watching her classmates’ funny conversation that she nearly forgot her original purpose.
There were apparently students who gave strange or dangerous gifts with ill intentions. Yuna’s radar hadn’t detected any friends who would do something like that, however.
Yuna inwardly marveled at Jihyeok’s memory and couldn’t stop smiling, happy to be the girlfriend of such an amazing guy. When she checked the time, it was already almost time to head to school. She hurriedly packed her bag and left the house.
The weather was neither too hot nor too cold—just right. A cozy warmth wrapped around Yuna’s entire body. On a day like this, she believed it was only proper to go on a date. She spotted someone in the distance and her face lit up like sunshine as she ran toward him.
“Jihyeok~~~~~!”
“Huh? Yuna, good morning.”
She sprinted toward her boyfriend with all her might and hugged him with everything she had. She had run so fast she worried they might fall backward, but Jihyeok kept his balance perfectly.
“Full of energy from the morning, huh?”
“I think it’s because I stepped out of the house and immediately got to see my boyfriend~ I can’t control all the happiness flowing through me?”
“Really? Then should I make you even happier?”
“Hm?”
Curious about his words, Yuna looked up at him, about to ask what he meant.
“...Nom.”
“...Mmph♡”
From the very first moment of the morning, Jihyeok pressed his lips to hers. It wasn’t their usual light peck, but the deep cross kiss they shared on the way home from school or at her house. Caught off guard by his sudden skinship, Yuna wore an ecstatic expression as she savored his lips fully.
After the fifteen-second kiss ended, Jihyeok looked at her and asked,
“How was that?”
“I want to do it moreeee~”
Seeing Yuna’s slightly loosened grip on reason, Jihyeok smiled and kissed her again. This time it was a short, light peck, but Yuna’s heart was already overflowing with happiness.
…At this rate, I’m the one receiving a gift, not Jihyeok.
Jihyeok noticed her thoughts and said,
“What are you thinking about? Your boyfriend is right in front of you, yet you’re distracted?”
“Uh… no! It’s nothing!”
“Then why is our Yuna acting like this? Are you worried about something?”
“Well…”
If she told him she was worrying about what gift to give, Jihyeok would definitely say that just having her by his side was enough. Because he was kind like that. But Yuna was his girlfriend. The desire to make her boyfriend’s birthday a meaningful time was something only his friends or girlfriend could have.
Almost as if he had read her inner thoughts, Jihyeok gently stroked her hair and said,
“It’s obvious you’re worrying about my birthday. You thought if you asked what I wanted, I’d just say anything was fine.”
“...You caught me.”
“Of course I did. When we kissed earlier, I could feel that you were a little distracted in a very un-Yuna-like way.”
“...You could tell?”
“Of course. Is it okay if I keep stroking your hair?”
“Yes!”
Yuna enjoyed the feeling of his hand while listening carefully to her boyfriend’s words.
“I could feel everything—how you were thinking about what would make me happy, what kind of gift would turn into a special memory for me. My girlfriend is moving for my sake like this. It would be strange if I didn’t notice you worrying.”
He spoke as if he already knew everything.
“You know about my memory, right? That I never forget anything I’ve seen or heard once.”
“Yeah.”
“While I was hanging out at my girlfriend’s house yesterday, I had a thought.”
“What thought?”
“Even if I didn’t have this memory, the time I spend with you would never fade away. How could I ever forget when such a pretty, cute, and lovable girl is my lover? No matter what my girlfriend gives me, I was ready to accept it with joy. You thought hard—really hard—to come up with a gift for someone like me, right? Since it’s a present given for my sake, of course I should accept it with a happy heart.”
It was cheating. Hearing those words, she couldn’t help but be moved.
“So give me whatever you think would suit me best. Don’t worry about it. Just being together with my girlfriend like this makes me happy. Okay?”
“...Okay.”
There was no need to worry anymore. When her boyfriend said something like that, continuing to agonize over the same topic would just be foolish. Having decided what kind of gift to give, Yuna looked at Jihyeok and said,
“At this rate, it feels like I’m the one receiving a gift on my boyfriend’s birthday.”
“Hahaha. Does it?”
“Yeah… Why is our Jihyeok so kind and considerate?”
“Whose boyfriend do you think I am?”
“Mine, of course~”
“Exactly. Your boyfriend is this kind of person. A guy who loves his girlfriend so much that he always puts her first.”
“Yeah… Haah… I’m so happy I don’t know what to do?”
“What do you mean, what to do? …Close your eyes.”
After that, their cross kiss in a secluded spot lasted more than ten minutes. The fact that they nearly ended up late for school because of it was a secret between the two of them alone.