It was my birthday, and like every other year, I preferred the solitude of celebrating alone, indulging in simple pleasures like sleeping in, watching a movie, and savoring a pizza. Most people, I believed, shared my sentiment. The grandeur and attention surrounding birthdays never quite resonated with me; after all, being born was hardly a choice. Yet, on my 22nd birthday, my best friend Carly insisted on dragging me out. She claimed she had been invited to a party by someone she barely knew, but since it coincided with our shared birthday, she deemed it a perfect celebration spot that would divert attention away from me.

"I barely know her, but we went to the same school. Since you share the same birthday, don't you want to meet her?" Carly's voice held a hint of persuasion as if expecting me to yield to her rationale.

"I'll only agree if you promise not to disclose it's my birthday," I asserted firmly.

"Okay, I promise," Carly nervously chuckled, though her sudden laughter stirred doubts in me.

I furrowed my brows wondering if this was a fake promise.

Could Carly be orchestrating a surprise birthday for me? The thought crossed my mind briefly, only to be dismissed promptly. She knew better than to risk my wrath with such a prank.

Upon arriving, I felt a surge of nervousness, my introverted nature recoiling at the thought of mingling with strangers in a social setting. As we stepped inside, I scanned the cheerful room, encountering familiar faces from our high school days, albeit without any personal connection owing to our school's vast size.

Carly introduced me to the birthday girl, inadvertently revealing our shared birthday despite her earlier vow of secrecy. The look of terror in her eyes betrayed Carly's slip-up, prompting a wave of embarrassment to wash over me.

"It slipped out," she managed in a squeaky voice.

Before long, the assembled group encircled us, their voices merging in a chorus of "Happy Birthday," Flustered, I stood beside the kitchen counter staring at a chocolate cake bearing the birthday girl's name, feeling like an intruder at someone else's celebration. My cheeks turned pink as the strangers sang to me, eyes glistening from unshed tears that threatened to escape out of sheer embarrassment. I felt like I was honing in on somebody's party. The torture continued as they paused mid-song with smiling expectant gazes, awaiting the revelation of my name. Fortunately, Carly's intervention diverted the attention, albeit with a cringe-worthy rendition of my name. They continued the song as I awkwardly stared at the cake that wasn't even mine.

Amidst the awkwardness, a pair of amused eyes captured my attention, their allure undeniable. His gaze did not falter and continued to observe me from across the room. Entranced, I found myself unable to look away, caught by his gaze like a rabbit ensnared in a trap. Butterflies fluttered within me as the handsome stranger approached.

"For the birthday girl," he declared, extending a beer with an unexpectedly deep voice. A lazy smirk graced his lovely lips, as though privy to my thoughts. "Hi, beautiful. Happy birthday," he added, his gaze sweeping over me with approval, igniting a spark of attraction within me.

His eyes swept me up and down with an approving look as if I was a pastry on the menu. This spelled trouble as I was equally spellbound by his lanky figure.

"Thank you, I'm Na-mi and you are?"

"Yo-han, nice to meet you."

Yo-han reached over the cake and plucked a little pink candle that stubbornly refused to go out. He held it in front of my face expectantly as I stared.

"Blow," he urged, his voice coaxing, as I complied, so close to me that the little candlelight wavered in his hand.

I blew the little stub and was rewarded by the sight of his endearing smile.

"There you go. I hope you made a wish," he said with a cute tilt to his head.

At that moment, I certainly wasn't thinking of my boyfriend who was out of town and hadn't even bothered to call me and wish me a happy birthday. My boyfriend of two years seemed to pale in comparison to the deliciously sexy boy who was evermore enticing than the chocolate mirror-glazed cake in front of me, which would normally have my full attention.

The music got louder and unlike the few parties I'd ever been to, the people started dancing. The birthday girl was pulled to the center of the room and danced while the others watched and cheered. I smiled since I loved to dance and started swaying to the music.

Without warning the handsome stranger took my hand and led me to the dancing couples lost in their world. Yo-han was a great dancer, with a confident swag that made him even sexier in his snug black jeans.

As the night unfolded, the mundanity of my existence faded into insignificance, eclipsed by Yo-han's magnetic presence. Amidst laughter and animated conversations, I found myself drawn to him, his charm casting a spell over my introverted self.

Yo-han's attentiveness didn't escape notice, his lingering gaze betraying a hint of possessiveness as he led me to the dance floor, where we lost ourselves in rhythmic abandon. His confident demeanor and snug black jeans exuded an irresistible allure, transforming the awkward night into an exhilarating experience.

As conversations flowed and laughter echoed, Yo-han's presence remained a constant source of fascination. His endearing blush, accompanied by playful banter, elicited a warmth within me that I hadn't known before.

Amidst shared laughter and exchanged glances, our connection deepened, transcending the confines of mere acquaintance. With each shared moment, I found myself succumbing to Yo-han's irresistible charm, his presence eclipsing all else.

I sipped my drink and watched Yo-han cutely blushing as his friend Jimin, described his amazing piano-playing skills as if he needed anything besides his cute face to make me enthralled.

My friend chimes in talking about my ill attempt to play the piano that I quickly gave up on. Yo-han stares at me holding back amusement at my pink cheeks. He picks up the plate holding the tempting boneless wings covered in sauce and waits for me to take one. I had been eyeing the platter but was afraid to have any since I usually got sauce all over my mouth. When I nodded no to him, Yo-han shrugged and poked a nugget with a toothpick opening his mouth wider than necessary. He looked really cute doing it and also managed not to get any sauce on his lips.

"Oh," I mouthed and proceeded to copy the way he did it.

Yo-han laughed the cutest high-pitched giggle watching me struggle to keep the juicy nugget on the toothpick.

"Here, let me do it," he said.

He held out the prized nugget on a little stick somehow managing much better than I did. This felt oddly familiar. I opened my mouth obediently to accept the offering. It was more sensual than it sounds as I could not take my eyes off his slightly parted lips showing his sexy mouth to advantage. I, on the other hand, probably looked like a cow chewing on grass.

The soft murmur of conversation in the room did not allow me to notice my friend Carly standing next to us looking slightly shocked at our behavior. With a permanent blush seemingly fixed to my face, I looked over to her. She tilted her head indicating she wanted to speak to me privately.

"I want to go already," she whined. "Why are you making goo-goo eyes at that guy?"

"He's nice," I shrugged like it wasn't important.

"Can we go now?"

"Okay, let me just say bye to him."

"Fine," Carly said with a slight slur.

I walked over to Yo-han to say goodbye, sadly thinking this would be the last time I met this attentive fellow who made me feel like I deserved his attention.

"We're leaving," I said to him.

"I hope to see you again sometime," he said.

I nodded and smiled at the niceties. "Bye."

"Wait, how about tomorrow?" He looks up expectantly. "Are you busy?"

"Well, no."

"Great how does the beach sound?"

"The beach?"

"We could take a walk on the beach and then get some lunch. I know a perfect place I have been wanting to try since I moved here. I would love it if you would join me tomorrow."

"I don't know if I should. This would be a good time to mention I have a boyfriend."

"Okay, you can bring your friend if you like, I don't bite."

"It's not just that, I start a new job on Monday and I don't know if it's wise to show up with a tan looking like I just came back from Spring break."

"I promise you won't get burned. You could wear a hat."

"Okay, why not," I said torn between loyalty and burgeoning desire, I hesitated, grappling with the implications of indulging in newfound attraction.

Why not indeed? How often does an enigmatic charmer enter your life and steal your heart? Curiosity prevailed and propelled me towards a rendezvous that would alter the course of my life forever.

And so, I left that night filled with anticipation and longing, guided by the allure of a chance encounter that promised to rewrite the contours of my heart.

Will you stop time
If this moment passes
As though it hadn't happened
I'm scared scared scared I'll lose you

- Butterfly by BTS