TITLE: lightning in a bottle
GENRE: fluff

SUMMARY: it's renjun's birthday and he thought he has to celebrate alone.

note: sequel to 'teach me your language' ; legend still applies
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Today is Renjun's 20th (19th, internationally) birthday. He's finally an adult! But unfortunately, he doesn't have someone to celebrate it with. His friends are busy with their own lives and his boyfriend, Haechan, is out of town and won't be back until next week.

He sits on the couch and just stares at nothing. He's supposed to be happy today. He even bought himself a cake that he ordered yesterday, cooked some cookies, and he even dressed up. Guess, he has to celebrate alone.

Donghyuck and Renjun have been dating since october last year, so it's been almost 5 months. But for Renjun, it feels like it's been 5 years. He couldn't really believe it when the older asked him to be his boyfriend. He thought he doesn't have the plan to. He thought they would be friends for life.

It was when Donghyuck started acting weird in September. He almost always visited Renjun in his school, would sent him random sweet messages, delivering him some flowers and chocolates, and walking him to his apartment.

Renjun thought it was too good to be real. He thought he's just being delusional, imagining things. But nope, all of the things Donghyuck's doing for him was real.

One day, while they were walking to Renjun's apartment, he asked the older. "Hyuckie, why are you sending me those sweet messages?"

"H-huh? Uhm, nothing."

Renjun creased his forehead and pouted, "What do you mean by nothing? It was so random. I'd be in class and then I'd suddenly receive a message from you. It looks like a random sweet quote or a line from love poems that you searched on browser."

Donghyuck chuckled, "You're too smart for me, Injun."

"No, you are." Renjun shook his head.

"Injun-ah, I'm courting you." They stopped walking by the pavement.

Renjun's jaw almost dropped. Did he hear it right? "What? Can you repeat it?"

"I said, I'm courting you."

Fuck. He did hear it right. "Really?" He smiles.

"Yes." Donghyuck smiles back.

"I... I don't know what to say." Renjun fidgetted on his fingers.

"Injun, I like you. I like you the second time I saw you."

Renjun smiled and hugged the older, "I like you too. I like you the first time I saw you." the latter giggled and hugged him back.

Now, Donghyuck lives with him in his apartment because the older couldn't pay for his house rent.

"Wow! I miss him so much." Renjun smiles to himself but he realized something. "Oh my god, the soup!"

He runs to the kitchen and checks the soup. He sighs before turning off the gas stove. "That was close." He grabs some ladle and a big bowl to prepare some for himself. Then he goes to the dining area to put down the bowl on the table.

He admires his work on the table then smiles to himself. "I'm an independent man, I can do this."

Finally, he picks up the cake from the fridge and puts it on the table, together with the candle which he sticks to the cake. He lits a fire to the candle using a lighter and he sighs, "Happy birthday to me." then he blows it after.

Suddenly, his phone vibrates from his pants' pocket. He grabs it and picks up the call without looking at the called ID. "Hello?"

[Hey, Renjun my baby, happy birthday, dear!]

His eyes widen when he hears the familiar voice. "M-mom?"

[How are you? I hope you're doing fine.]

"Yes, Mom, I'm fine. You... how are you?"

[I'm fine, dear. I'm sorry I couldn't visit you there, I still need to work.]

"Mom, I'm going to try to go back there and help you work." Tears start to flow through his cheeks.

[It's okay, you don't have to worry about me. Just take care of yourself. I miss you.]

He sniffles and gulps, "I miss you too, Mom. I love you."

[I love you too, baby. I gotta go now. See you soon. Happy birthday!]

He smiles sadly, "See you soon."

His mom hung up. He puts down his phone on the table as he continues to cry. Why does his coming-of-age have to be this sad?

"Guess, this has to be my saddest birthday." He pulls the chair and sits on it, staring at what he prepared in the table. "My friends have their own life, Hyuckie's out of town, and my mom is in China and working. How pitiful you are, Renjun." he mumbles to himself.

~~~

He's sitting on the couch as he eats his cake while scrolling through his social media. Few people are greeting him a happy birthday and he just likes each of them because he's too lazy and sad to reply 'thank you' to them.

"At least some of my friends online remember my birthday." He chuckles.

His phone suddenly vibrates, notifying him a video call from a groupchat he's in with Donghyuck's friends from college. He smiles a bit and puts down the plate of cake on the center table. He then presses 'accept' to join the video call.

"Hi, guys." He says, waving at them to the camera.

"Renjun! Happy birthday!" Jeno and Jaemin, who now lives together, greets him.

"Renjun hyung, happy birthday!" Jisung greets next.

And finally, Donghyuck's bestfriend, Mark. "Happy birthday, dude! Enjoy your day."

"Thank you, guys." He smiles.

"Wait, you're alone?" Jaemin asks curiously.

He nods, "I am."

"Oh, where's Donghyuck?" It's Mark who asked.

"He's out of town with his medical collegues. I don't know when he's coming back." he replies and sighs.

He grabs his phone holder from under the center table and puts his phone there, adjusting it so he can see in the camera. He then grabs his cake and starts eating again.

"Oh my gosh, Renjun, you mean to tell us you're celebrating alone?" Jaemin exclaims, "Nah uh, that can't be. We shall celebrate with you even virtually."

"Yes, U agree." Jisung said. "Lemme cook an instant spaghetti for you Renjun hyung."

"Is that so? Then i'm gonna cook ramen." Mark said, standing up, still holding his phone. He now can be seen walking to the kitchen.

"Jeno my love, could you get the left over cookies from the fridge?" Jaemin asks cutely and jeno pouts beside him but still obeys anyway.

Renjun laughs, "You guys, you don't have to do that. I'm embarrassed."

"No, it's okay, you know! How dare your boyfriend goes out of town when he knows today's your birthday? How irresponsible!" Jaemin shakes his head.

"Jaemin hyung, calm down! I'm sure Donghyuck hyung has a reason." Jisung's camera is off but he can be heard. He's currently cooking instant spaghetti.

"Jisung's right." Jeno suddenly appears with a plate of cookies in his hand.

"Mark hyung, are you done?" Jisung asks, finally turning on his camera. His face can be seen and he's smiling with his spaghetti on a bowl.

"Not yet, baby." Mark replies. He's still in the kitchen as the camera shows his background.

"I still couldn't believe Mark hyung and Jisung are boyfriends now." Renjun suddenly said, earning a laugh from Jeno and Jaemin.

"I know, right? It's unbelievable!" Jaemin agrees.

"Wow! Thanks for the support, guys." Mark sarcastically said, rolling his eyes.

"You're welcome, hyung." Jeno said, chuckling.

It's been three hours now and the video call is still on-going. It's already 7:00 in the evening and they're playing a little game Jisung found online for virtual party.

When it's Renjun's turn, a knock suddenly can be heard on the door. He goes silent, so are the others.

"Who's that?" Jaemin whispers.

Renjun stares at the door and widen his eyes when it reveals a familiar figure. "Donghyuck!" He stands up from the couch and runs towards his boyfriend. "I... I thought—"

"Yeah, I really tried my best to travel back here in Seoul because it's your birthday. I can't miss it." The older smiles and ruffles his hair. "Happy birthday!"

"Fuck you! I thought I'm going to celebrate my birthday alone. I almost thought this is gonna be my saddest birthday. How dare you?"

Donghyuck laughs, "Hey, at least I'm back. Don't be sad now. Of course not, you're not going to celebrate your birthday alone. Because I'm here now."

"I miss you so much." Renjun pouts.

Donghyuck smiles, "I miss you too."

"Uhm, are we interrupting something here?" Jaemin's voice can be heard through Renjun's phone as he remembers he's not wearing his airpods (that Donghyuck bought for him).

Donghyuck furrows his eyebrows and walks towards the couch. He grabs the phone and shows himself on the camera. "Yes, Jaemin, you're interrupting something."

"Wow! The audacity of this bitch. We celebrated with your boyfriend while you're gone. You should be thankful." Jaemin aggressively said and Jeno pulls his arm.

Donghyuck rolls his eyes, "Thank you, guys, for celebrating my boyfriend's birthday with him while I'm gone. Now, we're hanging up because we have something to do." He smirks.

"Use protection, dude!" Mark suddenly said and Jisung glares at him.

"We will." Donghyuck laughs before leaving the call. He then puts Renjun's phone back on the table.

Renjun approaches him and pulls him by the arm. He cups the older's face and suddenly kisses him on the lips.

Donghyuck melts as he kisses him back. They can still feel the spark they felt when they first had their first kiss. It's like there's an electric rushing through their bodies. It was amazing!

They both pull away and smile at each other. "So, what did you prepare?" Donghyuck asks.

Renjun licks his lips. "On the table, see for yourself. Come on, let's eat! You must be tired."

"Seeing you makes me feel alive." The older winks and the younger just smiles.

They walk to the dining area and sit across each other. "Guess, this is my not-so saddest birthday, right?" Renjun giggles.

Donghyuck smiles, holds the younger's hand before placing a kiss on the knuckles. "Right. You're right, baby."
-

fin.

© snowysung