𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋   𝟤.   🧷 ♡ 𝖬𝗂𝗃𝗎𝗇
   𝒫 𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗌𝗍     𝒇𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋,    (...)    𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭     미준      ✿

˖　　⁺　　ꕤ　　‧　　₊　　˚ ˖　　⁺　　ꕤ　　‧　　₊

Nami wasn't a perfectionist. At least that's what she tells herself. Right now she was freaking out. Not that she wasn't always freaking out but at this moment, in time she was freaking out. Today was her first anniversary with her boyfriend...ONE YEAR! She should be patting herself on the back for not driving him off sooner but she couldn't.

She was freaking out. It was the day of her anniversary and yet she didn't have a plan for anything. She felt lost and confused and a little bit mad at herself for not thinking earlier. Curse her overworked mind.

Nami paced back and forth in her apartment, her mind racing. She'd thought about this day for months. There was a long list of things she could do, but nothing felt right. The perfect gift? She was clueless. A special date? She had no idea where to start. She felt like she was trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing. The pressure of making the day memorable for Yejun was building up, and she couldn't shake the anxiety creeping up her spine.

Her mind buzzed with a million thoughts—ideas for a surprise dinner, planning a little getaway, maybe writing him a heartfelt letter—but it all felt like too much. Why didn't she plan this sooner? She cursed inwardly, collapsing onto the couch. She could feel her heart pounding against her chest as she buried her face in her hands. Why was she such a mess?

Maybe she wasn't meant to do these things. Maybe she wasn't good enough to plan a perfect anniversary. Just as she was about to spiral into full-on panic mode, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. It was a text from Yejun.

Bubba 💙 : Hey, can't wait to see you later. I'm really excited about today. Whatever happens, it's just us, okay?

Nami stared at the message, her heart skipping a beat. He was excited. He was excited!! And for some reason, that simple message grounded her. It wasn't about the perfect date or the perfect gift. It was about them, together. Maybe her overworked mind had been overthinking everything.

She took a deep breath, smiling to herself as she typed a response.

Nami: Yeah, just us. I'm excited too. See you soon.

Maybe it wasn't about perfection after all. It was about making this moment count in their own way.  But she just couldn't help it! Everything needed to be perfect!!!!

Nami sat back, breathing deeply. She needed to focus on something, or she'd lose it. She glanced around the apartment, searching for something—anything—that might help. Her gaze landed on a shelf in the corner, a box tucked between old books. The scrapbook.

Oh my god, she thought, her pulse picking up. The scrapbook. She'd started it months ago, before she even got into the anniversary chaos. She'd picked out the perfect scrapbook, full of blank pages ready to be filled with their memories. But then life got in the way. Between late-night studying, her endless schedule, and everything else, it had been forgotten in the corner. Until now.

Nami quickly jumped up and grabbed it, her heart racing as she flipped it open. She hadn't even started yet. The first few pages were blank, untouched. She hadn't gotten further than putting in a few photos, the ones she'd printed out in a hopeful burst of motivation back then. The idea had been to document the little moments they'd shared—the dates, the small adventures, the quiet moments. And now, it was the only thing that could make this anniversary feel real.

She thought about it for a second, then grabbed a handful of photos from her desk. They were mostly from the past year—their first date, goofy selfies in random places, candid shots of each other, moments when they didn't have to pretend. Nami smiled at one of the photos: Yejun laughing, holding up an umbrella as they got soaked in the rain on their last date. They were so wet, but so happy.

I can do this, Nami thought, shaking off the nerves. It wasn't about perfection. She didn't need to make the scrapbook flawless. She needed to make it theirs.

She grabbed a pair of scissors, some stickers, and a colorful set of washi tape. This wasn't going to be perfect, but it would be something they could look back on. As the minutes ticked by, Nami found herself getting lost in the process. She stuck photos onto the first page, scribbling little notes with a marker here and there. The first date. Yejun looking at me like I was the most interesting person in the world. She added more pictures, one from a lazy Sunday, another from when they went to the zoo and laughed like kids. She wrote a note: We'll never be too old for this.

As the pages started to fill, Nami's heart softened. She could feel the weight of every memory she was putting down, each one a testament to how far they'd come, to how much they'd meant to each other. And it wasn't about having the perfect gift. This was theirs—a scrapbook full of all the little moments that made their love unique.

It wasn't long before the pages started to look full, messy but full of love. She was almost finished when her phone buzzed again. She glanced at it—Yejun was on his way.

Oh no. Panic surged again, but this time, Nami didn't care. She was going to finish it before he arrived, and she was going to make sure of that!

-

Nami stepped back from the finished scrapbook, her chest swelling with a mix of relief and pride. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. It was their story. She smiled to herself as she carefully placed it on the coffee table, just in time to check the clock on the wall. Yejun would be here any minute.

She glanced at her outfit in the mirror—something simple but comfortable for their picnic outside. The weather had been beautiful all day, and she had been looking forward to it. A cute dress, sandals, and a light cardigan. Perfect for a relaxed, outdoor anniversary date.

But as she turned back to the table, the sound of a soft tap-tap-tap reached her ears. Frowning, she slowly walked to the window and pulled back the curtain. Her heart sank.

Rain.

It had come out of nowhere—thick, steady raindrops, already soaking the ground and blurring the view. The picnic she had planned, the perfect outdoor date, was quickly slipping through her fingers. She sighed, a little defeated, but then something inside her snapped. She couldn't let the rain ruin everything. There had to be a way to make this work. It wasn't the end of the world; they could still make the night special.

Nami's gaze wandered around the apartment, searching for inspiration. Her eyes landed on the couch, on the throw pillows scattered around. The soft fabrics reminded her of something she used to do when she was younger. Something fun. Something cozy.

She grinned, a spark of excitement igniting in her chest.

Pillow forts.

It was silly, it was spontaneous, but it was them. Yejun had always loved those little odd things she did. She could just picture his face lighting up when she dragged him into a fort made entirely of cushions, blankets, and fairy lights. It would still be the two of them—no rain could change that.

She quickly moved to the closet and grabbed a stack of pillows, her excitement building. As she tossed them onto the floor, the idea of creating the ultimate cozy space filled her with determination. A pillow fort for two. This was the perfect way to salvage the evening.

The movie projector, the snacks, the cozy blankets. The whole setup started coming together. But then—like a lightbulb going off—she remembered something she had completely forgotten about in her frenzy of preparation.

The matching pajamas.

She froze for a moment, staring at the pile of pillows in front of her. She'd bought them months ago—a cute set with little hearts, something soft and perfect for the evening. Yejun would never expect her to have thought of it, but it was something she had been meaning to surprise him with all year. She had completely forgotten in the rush of planning the picnic, and now, it was the perfect touch to wrap up their impromptu movie night.

She dashed into the closet, pulling out the small bag she'd hidden them in. She held up the pajamas for a second, feeling a rush of warmth at the thought of them wearing matching sets. Yejun would laugh and probably tease her about it, but she knew he'd secretly love it. She could already picture him pulling on his set, his smile lighting up the room.

A giddy feeling washed over her as she placed the pajamas on the couch and started arranging the pillows and blankets around. The fort was coming together nicely. There was still a little time before Yejun arrived, and now, she could finally take a breath. It wasn't about the perfect anniversary or the elaborate date she had imagined. It was about being with him, no matter the rain or the change in plans. And this cozy little setup? It was exactly what she needed to make their night unforgettable.

Nami stepped back to admire the fort she had created. Pillows stacked high, blankets draped over them like a canopy, and tiny fairy lights twinkling softly inside, casting a warm, golden glow. She added a few candles to the side to give the whole setup an intimate feel. It wasn't a picnic, but it was cozy, and it felt just right for an evening spent inside. She fluffed the cushions one last time before taking a seat on the floor, glancing at the clock again. Yejun would be here any minute.

Her mind briefly wandered back to the pajamas. She chuckled at the idea of the two of them wearing matching sets, Yejun teasing her for being so corny. But she knew he'd love it. She could already picture him pulling the soft fabric over his head, smiling with that goofy grin he had when he found something unexpectedly endearing.

She smiled to herself. Maybe it was a little cheesy, but it was their kind of cheesy.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat, and she rushed to the door, wiping her palms on her dress before opening it. There he was. Yejun. His hair slightly tousled from the rain, a smile on his face when he saw her.

"Hey, you," he said, his voice warm and full of affection. "You look beautiful." Nami couldn't help but smile. "You're soaking wet, bubba," she said, teasing him gently as she stepped aside for him to enter.

Yejun laughed and wiped his hand across his face, shaking off the water. "Yeah, I didn't expect the rain to hit so fast. But it's alright, I'm here now."

She nodded, her heart thumping with excitement. "You are," she said, a little giddy. "And I have a surprise." He raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "A surprise? You didn't have to do anything special, Nami."

"Oh, I know," she said, her grin widening. "But I wanted to make it special anyway."

Before he could ask any more questions, Nami hurried to the couch, grabbing the matching pajamas she had bought months ago. Nami handed Yejun the pajamas immediately, nudging him toward the bathroom. "You're soaking wet, bubba. Go change before you catch a cold."

Yejun chuckled, taking the soft fabric from her hands. "Matching pajamas, huh?" He held up the set, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You really went all out."

Nami shrugged with a playful smile. "What can I say? I thought it would be cute, and now it's raining, so... perfect timing."

Yejun grinned, clearly charmed by the idea. "You're something else," he muttered, already unbuttoning his shirt. "But okay, I'll play along."

She smirked. "Obviously. Now go change."

As Yejun disappeared into the bathroom, Nami grabbed her own set and quickly slipped into them. The fabric was warm and soft against her skin, and she couldn't help but grin at how cozy they felt. She glanced at herself in the mirror, the little hearts on the fabric making her feel extra giddy. Maybe it was a little cheesy, but she loved it.

Just as she was adjusting her sleeves, the bathroom door clicked open, and Yejun stepped out, running a hand through his damp hair. His eyes immediately landed on her, and his lips curled into a soft smile.

"Well," he said, tilting his head, "look at you."

Nami felt a rush of warmth at the way he was looking at her—like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. She rolled her eyes playfully and reached for his hand, tugging him toward the pillow fort. "Come on," she said, "our cozy night awaits."

Yejun let himself be pulled along, but he caught the way she was staring at him. With a laugh, he gestured to his pajamas. "Alright, alright, I know I look ridiculous."

Nami giggled, squeezing his hand. "You look perfect," she said softly, guiding him into the pillow fort.

He chuckled and settled down next to her, pulling her close. "This is nice," he murmured, looking around at the cozy setup she had created. "I like this way more than a picnic."

"Yeah?" Nami asked, feeling her nerves finally settle. "You sure? It's not what I originally planned, but... I think it turned out pretty well."

Yejun smiled at her, a soft look in his eyes. "It's perfect, Nami. Just like you."

Nami's cheeks flushed as she leaned her head against his shoulder, the soft hum of the rain against the window filling the silence. The night stretched on as they cuddled together in the cozy fort, surrounded by the soft glow of fairy lights and the warmth of space. It was simple, yes, but it felt like everything she needed. She looked up at him, feeling the weight of the past year between them—the laughter, the challenges, the growth. And now, this moment, in the rain, was perfect in its own way.

"I made something for you," Nami whispered, suddenly feeling a little shy. She reached for the scrapbook she had so carefully put together. It had been a labor of love, each page reflecting a piece of their journey. She handed it to him, her fingers trembling slightly. "I know it's not much, but... I thought it might be nice to look back on everything we've done."

Yejun took the scrapbook, his eyes softening as he opened it. He flipped through the pages slowly, taking in the photos, the memories, the little notes Nami had written. The quiet moments, the funny ones, the ones that were just theirs.

"Nami..." His voice was thick with emotion. He looked up at her, his eyes glistening. "This is... this is incredible. You didn't have to do this, but it's perfect. Every single page."

She could feel the weight of his words, her heart swelling in her chest. "I wanted to," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, Yejun. I love you so much."

Yejun paused for a moment, the scrapbook still in his hands, and then set it down beside them. He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing over her cheek in the most tender way. "I love you too, Nami. You make every day brighter. You're my person."

She smiled softly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. It wasn't the first time he had said it, but every time he did, it made her heart race like it was the first. "I love hearing you say that," she admitted, her voice barely above a breath.

He chuckled softly, his forehead resting against hers. "Good, because I'll keep saying it as long as I can."

Nami closed her eyes, her breath catching in her throat as she leaned in. Yejun met her halfway, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was soft, slow, and full of everything they'd shared. It was the perfect end to a perfect night—no grand gestures, no expectations, just them, in the quiet after the storm.

And as the kiss deepened, Nami couldn't help but feel like she was right where she was meant to be. With him. With her person. Her first love. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer as if he felt the same. The world outside their little fort didn't matter—right here, wrapped up in him, was all she needed.