"There's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it is sent away"

 ~Sarah Kay

I have nothing to give as the special prize to him. I don't know what these guys have planned....

"Noor, you have to give your weight to the ultimate winner" Suga hyung said continuing his MC-ing. Give my weight..... how can I give my weight to someone?

"To be clear, the winner is going to give you a piggy back ride along the sea-shore" Oh~ so in this way I have to give my weight. A piggy-back ride.... I love them. I don't remember when I last had a piggy-back ride. Who's the winner by the way? Wait a minute.....isn't the winner.......

"Jungkook are you ready?" Hopie hyung asked him having a big grin on his face. But, it would be embarrassing in front of the hyungs, even if I love piggy-back rides.

"I am ready" Jungkook replied with a thumbs-up.

"So, we thought since it's your birthday, you should just receive gifts and not give them to us, we hope you'll enjoy the piggy-back ride with Kookie. He is strong" Rapmon hyung said. 

"Noor is not that heavy.... Jungkook can do it easily" Nishi said, I knew she would be enjoying this. Trust me, they are going to tease me a lot once we get home, but that's not going to happen today, since, we are staying at the beach today. It's an uninhabited beach, so, no one would disturb us, I mean BTS.

"Go for it Noor!!!!" Simmi cheered for me. 

"You can do it Kookie" Tae and Jimin cheered Jungkook.

I rode shyly on Kookie's back. Folded my hands around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me easily; didn't even flinch a bit when I was getting on his back. This boy really is strong...

He carried me along the shore-line. It was great riding his back. I was enjoying the ride as Rapmon hyung said. I rested my head on Kookie's shoulder.

"Ah~ you are so heavy. Eat less from now on" Kookie complained about my weight. I've never heard a single complain about my weight before this, this was really..... insulting for me.

"I am not at all heavy, stop saying that. In front of the hyungs you were so courageous that you can carry me easily. What happened to you now?" I complained about his bragging in front of others.

"At that time I didn't knew you'd be so heavy" Jungkook complained again.

"If I am so heavy them you don't have to give me piggy-back ride" I said faking anger.

"Okay okay, I am sorry. I was joking. Don't get mad at me" He thought I got angry, well, I am not, I was just having fun with him.

"Pabo, I was kidding too" I said laughing at him. He thought I am angry.... I din't knew that I was so good at acting. 'Stupid, it's because he can't see your face' I told myself.

We laughed together.

"You are looking good in my white tee shirt" He complimented me. I just blushed at that.

"Thank you for sharing it with me" I said. I was wearing Kookie's white tee. Isn't it just amazing. It had a faded scent of Kookie's lavender smell. 

He carried me to the end of the shore and back to where the hyungs were. I just enjoyed the ride keeping my head on his shoulder and stared at the eternal an endless ocean. I didn't had any idea that we can get this close. When did we even become so close and comfortable? Whenever it happened; I am just happy for it. 

Jungkook took me back to the place where our other family members were. Yeah, I should just call them family members, since, they acted just like a family not like, my friends and Jungkook's hyungs.

"Hyung we are back" Jungkook kept me down safely and told them.

"Join us. Sorry, we started eating. We were starving" Jin hyung said apologetically.

"It's okay" I replied to him.

Kookie and I joined all of them, sitting on the tree trunk. We brought Colas and chicken wings with us from the market while coming here. 

We took the Kebab that we prepared at home and held it against the fire to roast it. The others were eating it deliciously. All of them were too hungry. Even I feel hungry now. It was fun playing in the water, but it can make you tired too. I roasted my Kebab till it got a golden-brown color. The moment I put it in my mouth.....it felt heavenly. This was the best Kebab I've had till date. We did a great job!!! Ah~ it's hot, but still too tasty. I enjoyed eating the Kebabs, Nishi handed me a bottle of cola. It tasted even better with the chilled cola, I know it's cold, but sitting near the fire and having these beats the cold. 

The chicken wings were as tasty as the Kebabs were. Ah! this is the best birthday of my life!!! We finished everything we brought with us. Everyone was so hungry. We played songs and sang along loudly. No, I didn't sang. My singing voice is very low. Nishi and Simmi know it well. 

Hopie hyung started dancing to the song. He doesn't needs anything except music to start his dance. He is made for dancing. Seeing Hopie hyung Jiminie joined him. Hyungs are so funny. I know they dance well, but the dance they are doing now is really funny. All of us laughed at their dancing, but they carried on. 

"It is Noor's birthday, but I enjoyed it myself a lot. After so many months we got an escape from our busy schedule and all the credit goes to Noor" Kookie said thankfully.

"Thanks for taking birth today" Hopie hyung said. Is that a thing to say thanks for? I didn't knew that.

"I am glad you are enjoying today. This is the best birthday I've ever had. I am so happy today. Thank you all the hyungs and my friends for that" I thanked them all.

"We are happy to make the birthday girl happy" Jin hyung said.

"We should come here more often, this place is beautiful" Tae said looking around.

"You are right" Suga hyung said.

"Hmm, this place is really beautiful. Also, there are not many people here" Simmi said.

We admired the beauty of the beach for some more time. It's true, this place is awesome. How come no one comes here? They were talking about the recent albums released by other K-Pop boy bands and girl groups; who is better than whom.... which group just made a comeback...which songs are becoming hit.... etc. etc..... Even Nishi and Simmi joined them. 

I was getting bored, their talks sounded like they are discussing about politics or about the economy of the country or something related to that. They were discussing seriously. This is not a place for me. 

"Jungkook I am going for a walk along the shore. Mind to join me?" I asked him unsure of his reply.

"Sure, I would love to" He was quite pleased. That was a good thing for me. We can spend some more time together.

"Want a piggy-back  ride again?" Yes, sure......wait...no. 

"No, thanks. I don't want you to call me heavy again" I teased him.

We laughed and walked together along the shore. The waves crashing at our feet, washing away the sand from our feet. 

"So, how was your birthday? Did we succeed to make it special for you?" Jungkook asked me. He still had this question? Isn't it obvious on my face?

"Kookie, it was the best birthday, ever. Everyday spent with  BTS is a special day for me. You made it too special for me. I'll never forget my 21st birthday. Aren't both of us 21 now? That's great" I don't know why I found that fact great, but yes, I found it great anyhow.

"Yeah~ High-five" he said raising his hands for me. I high-fived him back. We laughed like school kids, who find every little similarity amusing. 

We walked farther from the light coming from the fire lit by our family. Kookie and I sat on the cool sand facing the ocean. We were silent enjoying the light cool breeze. I tried to fill in the moment as much as possible because I knew we won't be coming here much. Today is amazing. If I can spend my birthday like this then I want everyday to be my birthday. There's not a better gift than being with you family, laughing with them and enjoying with them on your birthday. Life is beautiful, when you have so many people around to love you like...there's no end...

 I turned to look at Jungkook, sitting beside me. He too was in deep thought, his hair was moving with the breeze. It is messed up, he looked really good with that messed up hair. The week without him have been a difficult one. I kept on thinking about him the whole week. I was waiting for today to come, since we had a plan to meet today. I was so afraid when he said those painful words on the phone. I was shattered. 

"Cherry, I am sorry for what I did today" Kookie pulled me out of my thoughts.... but what was he sorry about?

"Sorry... for what Kookie?" I asked him.

"For frightening the living-day-lights out of you" He smiled at the phrase. He was thinking about that? My silly Kookie. I know he is not mine, but at least I can call him mine in my thoughts. I loved to call him mine.

"It's okay. I am just afraid to lose you, that is the only reason I reacted like that. Please don't think much about that" I didn't want him to die of guilt.

"I know how it feels. I didn't wanted to do that, but the hyungs convinced me that everything will be fine. I trusted them and I....." After a heart-beat he said, "I too don't want to lose you" 

I was happy, he cared, about how I felt, he was still sad about that. But I don't want him to be sad. 

"Kookie, it's okay. Trust me" I said looking into his eyes, smiling. He smiled back believing me.

"Hopie hyung told me about the time they did this similar thing to you" 

"Oh~ that....." he must be embarrassed... 

We were silent again. We were comfortable with it, so it was not a problem. My phone beeped. I got a message. It was from Augustin.....

"Happy birthday Noor. I know I am late, sorry. I hope you are enjoying your day. Many many happy returns of the day" He has messaged me; he remembered.... A smile crept up my face... I instantly replied him back...

"Thank you, you are not late. My birthday is still not over. I am enjoying my day very much" I texted him back. Such a sweet guy....

When I looked up Kookie was looking at me with amazement. I thought I owe him an explanation....

"It's my friend from library. He wished me my birthday.... I was just replying back thanks to him" I explained to him.

"So, you made a friend?" He asked me.

"Yeah, finally I did. He just joined the library. He is a sweet boy, but very shy" Jungkook just nodded to this. His silence was awkward..... 

"I think he'll be perfect for Simmi. I am thinking of introducing them to each other" I told him, breaking the awkwardness.

"That's a good idea. Go for it" he said with a sudden energy. I think he is just happy for Simmi. That's good. At least the air is fresh again. The awkwardness is gone.

"I liked the painting very much Kookie. Thank you" I thanked him for the birthday gift, it was indeed the best.

"I am glad you liked it. I couldn't think of anything else. Nishi told me you liked it very much, so, I just used some colors and made it" 

I nodded. We stared at the ocean. It was beautiful even in the dark. The waves were shining with the light of the stars.... the eternal and endless ocean was calm..... 

Jungkook held my hand... I looked at him almost knowing what he is going to say....

"My hands are cold, share some warmth with me....." He smiled his carefree-sweet smile. My heart melts at that smile even in this winter season. It provides me warmth from inside. I smiled and nodded my head. We kept our hands intertwined. I crawled closer to him and rest my head on his shoulder. He put his free hand around my shoulder. I stared at the beauty.....the ocean.....

Lavenders.... I am in  a field of lavenders with a little boy, a cute little boy. We are playing together, running around the lavender field. The sun was shining bright, giving us warmth. I grabbed hold of the boy to stop him from running. He smiled playfully at me. I kissed him on the cheek and smiled back at him.

"Noor, wake up. We need to go back" Kookie woke me up from my dream. I was still in the same position as I was before drifting off.

"Umm.... I am sorry... I just drifted off" I apologized to him.

"I didn't mind but Nishi called me. They have all slept. She was worried about us" he explained. I blushed at his words.... he didn't mind me sleeping on his shoulder...... I nodded coming back to my senses. 

We walked back to the car. Everyone was tired and already went to sleep. Nishi was asleep too. She must be really tired. I whispered in Jimine's ear....

"Thanks for cancelling all your schedules for me. I love all of you" He smiled at that. I think he was dreaming.....

We smiled at our loving family. We rode on the backside of the car. Both Kookie and me made a little space for us and grabbing a few pillows and blankets slept together in a corner. Rapmon hyung, Jin hyung, Suga hyung and Simmi were sleeping inside and the others in the back. It was really cold since, we were sleeping in the open. We wished each other good night.  We cuddled up in the blanket and went to our dream lands soon..... I'll never forget today.......

Author's Note:

Here's the 22nd chapter. I didn't knew when we reached the 22nd chapter so soon. Now I have to count my chapters from the beginning to know which chapter I am writing, even when my friends ask me, the same situation I have to face. So, let me clear the title first, if you don't know it. 'Whale of a time' means, a long and happy time. Since, it was a very happy time for Noor and of course it was long (it took me 3 chapters to describe only 1 day). 

BTS and Noor's friends made her day special; A day she'll never forget. I don't think she'll forget any day spent with BTS and Jungkookie. I hope you liked being a child with Noor, playing with the sand. Jungkook gave his white tee to Noor, unbelievable. 

The piggy-back ride was..... I have no words. I just felt a wave of happiness wash over me when I completed this chapter. I enjoyed writing this chapter, and I hope you enjoy reading it much more than me.

Thank you for all the love and support. Please let me know how you felt reading the chapter. Review and comment for me. Trust me I read them.

Happy Reading.