Y/N-

The entire day, I was filled with a sense of excitement and a few nerves, all because of the surprise I'd planned for Taehyung's birthday. I wanted everything to be just right, to make him feel appreciated and valued. Grandfather had been in on the plan too, keeping Taehyung occupied while I set up the decorations and baked his favorite cake, making sure there was no way he'd figure it out.

As the clock hit midnight, Grandfather and I lit up the candles and brought the cake to the living room. The look on Taehyung's face was priceless. He blinked, clearly surprised, and then broke out into that signature, warm smile of his. Seeing him that happy, I felt my heart flutter. The whole atmosphere felt cozy, filled with warmth and love as we celebrated quietly, just the three of us.

After a while, Grandfather retired to his room, and Taehyung and I went to ours. I had one more gift for him, something I'd thought about a lot. I'd been growing closer to Taehyung with each passing day and tonight felt like the right time to show him a bit more of what I felt. So, when we entered the room, I handed him a small, carefully wrapped box.

He looked at me with a mix of curiosity and surprise as he unwrapped it. I had spent time preparing a scrapbook with little moments and memories from the past month, moments that had become precious to me. Taehyung's expression softened as he flipped through the pages, reading my notes, seeing the pictures. He looked genuinely touched, and for a few seconds, he didn't say a word.

Then, with an appreciative smile, he looked up and hugged me tightly. His embrace felt comforting, like home. I could feel the warmth of his gratitude, but I could also sense the restraint in the way he held me. There was a part of him that had been patient, holding back for my sake, waiting for me to be ready. And that gesture, his patience and respect, made me want to open my heart to him even more.

I pulled back from the hug and looked into his eyes, gathering all the courage I had. Slowly, I cupped his face in my hands, feeling the softness of his skin against my fingers. He looked at me, a bit surprised, but he didn't pull back. Then, I leaned in and placed a gentle peck on his lips, feeling a surge of emotion.

The brief surprise in his eyes melted away instantly as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer, and he kissed me back, softly but with undeniable affection. It was a simple kiss, but it felt like it held everything we hadn't said, everything that had grown between us since the start of this journey together.

This was our first real kiss, but it felt so natural, as if it had been waiting to happen all along. When we finally pulled apart, I saw a warmth in his eyes that filled me with a newfound happiness. And in that quiet moment, I felt like we had just taken another step forward—one that felt right.

TAEHYUNG-

As the night settled and Grandfather retired to his room, Y/n and I headed toward ours. I was already moved by the surprise she'd planned with Grandfather—the decorations, the cake, everything that made me feel special. But when we entered the room, I realized there was more. She handed me a small gift, and as I unwrapped it, my heart was already full. Inside was a carefully crafted scrapbook, and as I flipped through the pages, each one held memories, moments we'd shared, and little notes she'd written.

Each page was another piece of Y/n she was sharing with me, and I felt a lump in my throat. She had put so much thought into it, capturing things I hadn't even realized she'd noticed. I was at a loss for words, so I simply hugged her, wanting to hold onto the quiet magic of that moment. She felt delicate in my arms, yet there was something incredibly steady about her presence—grounding, reassuring. And maybe, unknowingly, I held on a bit tighter, trying to hold back the emotions that had been building within me all this time.

When I pulled back, I could see something had shifted in her expression, like she was searching for courage or deciding something important. Her gaze softened as she looked into my eyes, and before I could say anything, she reached up, cupping my face gently. Her touch was warm, and I felt my heart racing, but I kept still, watching her and waiting, feeling my breath catch.

And then, she leaned in and brushed her lips against mine—a gentle, lingering kiss. I barely had time to register what was happening, but the warmth, the softness of her kiss, was something I'd only imagined in the quietest of moments. I was stunned for a second, more by her taking the lead than anything else. But it was everything I could have hoped for. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer, and kissed her back, pouring everything I felt into that moment.

I hadn't realized how much I'd been holding back, how much I'd wanted this, until now. The kiss was tender but filled with a quiet passion, as if it held every unsaid word, every unspoken feeling between us. When we finally pulled away, I could see a blush on her cheeks, and I couldn't help but smile. I had imagined this moment so many times, but nothing could have prepared me for the real thing.

Y/n had taken the first step, and knowing she felt comfortable enough to do so meant the world to me. I didn't have to rush or question anything because I knew, without a doubt, that this was right. Standing here, with her looking at me like that, I felt a happiness that was quiet but all-encompassing.

I smiled, unable to hide my happiness as I looked into her eyes. She'd taken the first step, the one I hadn't dared to take, and now here we were, in this quiet, shared space of newfound closeness. I could still feel the lingering warmth of her kiss, and the weight of every unspoken feeling that it held. It was as if, in that simple, gentle kiss, she had unlocked all the things I had been holding back, all the moments I'd wished to say something but didn't.

I softly brushed a strand of hair from her face, watching her cheeks turn pink under my gaze. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. She glanced down, shyly biting her lip, and the sight made my heart swell. This was the same Y/n, but she was somehow so different now, so beautifully vulnerable yet strong.

"Honestly, I didn't know if you ever felt the same way," she whispered, looking up at me with a mix of relief and affection that made my heart race all over again.

I took her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. "I was holding back," I admitted, feeling a bit of the tension release now that it was all out in the open. "I didn't want to rush anything or make you feel uncomfortable... but tonight... the way you made me feel, it was the best birthday I could ever imagine."

She laughed softly, and I felt like I could listen to that sound forever. I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead, letting the silence fill with our shared understanding. For the first time since we'd been together, I felt a new lightness between us, a quiet certainty that whatever lay ahead, we were in this together.

After a moment, she glanced up at me, her eyes still filled with warmth. "I guess this means we're starting something new," she whispered, a small smile playing on her lips.

I nodded, giving her hand a soft squeeze. "Yes. Something very new," I replied, feeling my own smile widen.

The night felt like it had wrapped us in a warm embrace, and I couldn't be more grateful that she had found it in her heart to open up to me in this way. I knew that we had a journey ahead of us, with its own challenges and unknowns, but knowing that Y/n was by my side, feeling the same way I did, made me more certain than ever.

As we settled beside each other, talking about everything and nothing, our hands still intertwined, I knew this was only the beginning of a love I had longed for, the kind I never knew could be so pure and unspoken. There were no promises or grand declarations. There didn't need to be. We had each other, and that was all that mattered.

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