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The waves crashed against the shore and the wind howled with excitement. Jin stood before me with a pink cake in hand, wearing an expectant smile and glimmering eyes. The candle light swayed in the wind, but it was not getting blown out as if fighting to wait for me to make a wish before it died out.

Speechless and not knowing what to do, I gaped at him with a look of disbelief. "What is this?"

His smile widened. "Today is your birthday. This is how people celebrate nowadays, you know?"

It was so ridiculous, I was physically unable hold back a snort. "I'm aware of that. But I'm not sure birthdays are a thing for us... I mean, we stopped aging ages ago."

"True, we're older than some of the fossils out there," he said, intentionally or unintentionally offending me. "But it doesn't mean we can't celebrate now, does it?"

I gazed into his eyes that stared back at me with myriads of emotions I could not understand well. Contentment? Longing? Delight? Sadness? It could very well be a mixture of many but I was lost. Why was he doing this? Was he entertaining himself by doing this or was it all genuine?

His pale pink locks were flowing in the wind, brushing his forehead and stroking his eyelashes. As if he sensed my hesitation, Jin cast his gaze downwards and sighed deeply.

"You know I'm not the type to play with people's feelings like this..."

I bit my lips.

"I just wanted to celebrate the day you were born." His voice was unusually soft.

I was not sure if I could allow myself to be reckless in his presence. Yet, my heart was quivering in my chest, loving how he went out of his way to bring a cake for me.

"Should I sing the birthday song?"

I gasped in silence. "That won't be necessary."

He breathed out a laugh and met my gaze. "Make a wish."

It was amazing how the candle was still lit. My hair brushed against my neck as I took a few steps forward towards him. He lifted the cake up higher with eagerness, making me chuckle.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and thought about the one thing I always seemed to want. I wish that, whether past, present or future, we all live happily.

"Don't make an impossible wish."

I snapped my eyes open and stared at Jin. "What?"

His eyes dulled and he pursed his lips. "From the looks of it, you made an impossible wish."

I looked back at the small flame burning at the top of the candle. I hope it isn't... Convincing myself that it was possible, I blew the candle, and Jin cheered, wiggling the cake, making me panic and hold the box under it with a distressed cry.

"Watch it, you crazy!"

He laughed loudly and turned to see the view behind himself.

"The sea is beautiful, isn't it?"

I followed his eyes and watched the waves. It endlessly stretched into the horizon, covering it in stunning blue color.

"Very," I answered obviously.

"But not as beautiful as me, no?"

I clenched my eyes shut, my mouth opening in exasperation. "Unbelievable."

"Alright, you should eat your birthday cake now," he said and while I was expecting him to materialize a fork or something, he suddenly took the pink icing on his finger before smearing it on my cheek in the blink of an eye.

It took a moment to process what just happened, and when I reached for the cake to get back at him, he dashed into the water with the cake, cackling and taunting me like a child. I did what I never would have and ran after him into the water. The waves crashed against my thighs and soaked my white dress skirt, but I paid no mind to it, reaching my hand to dig into the cake and grabbing a handful to slap it onto his face, full of menace. He shrieked while I laughed heartily in victory, and we soon began splashing water at each other.

I did not notice how many hours had passed while we terrorized each other, but when we came back up to the shore, I sobered up and scolded him for making me pollute nature. He offered to clean up and I agreed, fixing my mistake while coughing because of laughing too much.

He wiped my cheek with a damp towel as we sat on the sand. I flinched but let him continue, reminding myself not to be irrational.

"I also prepared a present."

I widened my eyes. "A what?"

He placed a crown made of black pearls on my lap before throwing pink flower petals in the air around me. My eyes did not leave the crown as I asked him in shock, "Is this...?"

"The coronation crown if you were crowned queen," he answered, confirming. "I found it by chance and stole it."

My head swung towards him in shock. "You can't do that-"

"I'm kidding." He chuckled. He sure was playful and laughing so much today. "This is a replica I created. You can keep it as a memento."

I traced the pearls with my finger as memories washed over me in waves. I had forgotten all about my life as a royal. In the afterlife, it did not matter. The days I had spent in the castle, the days I was burdened with duties, and the days where I felt the weight of a crown like this... They were all a distant haze now.

This black and precious item... would have found its way on my crown if the rebellion did not attack that day and we got married the next day.

The thought of our marriage stirred a weird feeling in my gut.

"How awkward would it have been if we actually got married before we died, huh?"

I cringed and frowned at Jin. He voiced out what I was thinking but he did not need to do that in any way.

"And that's my cue to leave," I said and stood up with the pearl crown in hand. "Thank you for the cake. And the present."

Jin stood up as well, smiling at me. "Did you like it?"

My lips eased into a smile. "I did."

His gaze softened and he took the crown before placing it on my head. "I'm glad."

I did not know if I could relish this moment like this, but my heart was comforted by these small actions. Maybe just for a little bit, I could allow this to happen...

Gives her favorite tart
Why are you being like this lately

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