"Happy birthday!"

My eyes snapped wide open, and I woke up to see an ethereal boy sitting on top of my dresser, his white wings spread wide. I let out a loud scream, inciting an equally-shrill one from the angel boy, and he tumbled off the dresser and landed with a soft thud. Immediately, I heard footsteps clambering up the stairs, and door was flung open.

"What happened?" Mom had a wild look in her eyes, and she panted heavily.

I peered over the bed where Jimin had landed. There was no sign of him. It was like he had evaporated.

"N-Nothing," I replied. "Just had a bad dream."

I felt her deflate in relief. "Okay," she said. "Happy birthday, by the way! I have something special for breakfast."

"Alright, thanks!" I smiled brightly at her, and the door closed again.

"Why did you scream?" Jimin reappeared, lounging on top of my armoire. "I'm not that scary, am I?"

"Why are you in my room?" I hissed. "What if I slept naked?!"

Jimin rolled his eyes. "I know you don't," he replied cheekily. "And even if you did, it wouldn't affect me. I witnessed your birth, remember?"

My face flushed red.

"Which happened to be eighteen years ago!" he added cheerily.

I chucked the pillow at him. "Leave!" I groaned. "I need to change!"

Just like that, Jimin evaporated into thin air with a flash of soft light, nearly blinding me in the process.

I shook the shock from my head and proceeded to get ready, washing up and changing into a cozy sweater and dark skinny jeans. When I got downstairs, my mother had already prepared a breakfast of kimbap and doenjang. I gulped down the food as well as the birthday wish from her. She promised me a cake for dinner's dessert because she had to go to work, and I nodded cheerfully before she kissed me goodbye.

My phone buzzed as I left the house to go shopping.

Taehyung: Happy Birthday!❤️

Sori: Thank you!

Taehyung: Are you doing anything special today?

Sori: Not really. Just going shopping, and then I'm gonna eat dinner with my mom.

Taehyung: Then I'll take you out for lunch! My treat!

It was a date. We were meeting at a restaurant between both of our apartments, and so at noon, I was sitting at a table by myself and on my phone, scrolling through social media. People paid me no attention as they went on their paths for the day, and I was content where I was, with my chin propped up on my fist.

"Sori-ah!" I lifted my head to see Taehyung pulling up the chair in front of me. He picked up a slick menu with his fingers and beamed at me as he leafed through it. "Happy birthday!"

You too, said Jimin from inside my head. I flinched ever so slightly. Say it.

What? Why? I thought, perplexed. Is it...?

Just say it! Jimin insisted. Do it.

"Thank you!" I said aloud with a gracious smile. "You too?"

Taehyung raised his eyebrows. "How did you know it's my birthday?" he asked.

"Oh... Someone just told me," I answered, surprised. "Taehyung, you never mentioned that we have the same birthday!"

He shrugged. "Didn't think it was that important," he replied. "I'd much rather focus on yours."

"May I take your order today?" A short waitress approached us. Taehyung nodded politely, and he ordered with ease, and as did I. Nodding, the waitress turned on her heel and walked away.

"Taehyung!" I continued when she was gone. "We're celebrating your birthday, then. You're spending the afternoon with me, whether you like it or not."

Taehyung frowned. "I don't want to burden you on yours, though," he replied calmly. "I'm not used to celebrating, anyways."

I furrowed my brow. What could we do today? Karaoke? I almost laughed at the thought. That might turn destructive. And I'd still have to get him a present, wouldn't I?

"I got it!" I exclaimed suddenly, beaming. Taehyung looked up curiously.

"What?"

I smirked. "Nothing," I chattered on. "You'll see later."

"Alright..." He looked skeptical, but still happy. I was determined to celebrate his birthday in a way that he'd enjoy, and if things went wrong, at least I had company, right?

Our food arrived rather quickly, and we made small talk as we ate. I had an easier time talking, since the Korean sausage and fried squash I had ordered didn't take too long to chew and slid down my throat with relative ease, though Taehyung's tteokbokki practically glued his jaw together whenever he tried to speak.

"What did you do last year for your birthday?" I asked.

Taehyung shrugged. "I thlep ih an ae thum," he managed to choke out before swallowing and continuing, "cake."

Our conversation continued on like this, me talking most of the time and Taehyung attempting to reply. After we'd finished and paid our bills, I steered him to

"You took me... to a café after lunch?" Taehyung drawled as he gazed up at the wooden sign that advertised the shop.

I nodded brightly. "I was deciding between going to a jewelry-making café and a furniture-building one, and I thought that furniture would be more fun," I replied. "Have you ever been to one?"

Taehyung scratched his head. "I don't usually go to theme cafés," he answered awkwardly. "I went to a sheep one with a friend last year, and he ended up eating one."

"Oh."

-

"Happy birthday!" I cried as soon as we left the café. I thrust my arms forward, giving him the small nightstand I had built. It was painted a sky blue, and I was quite proud of it.

Taehyung chuckled and accepted it. He handed me the canary yellow chair he'd created.

"You too," he replied, amused. "I never thought I'd get a nightstand for my eighteenth birthday."

"I never thought I'd get a chair," I remarked with good humor. "But don't worry, I'll actually get you something! I would've gotten you a present earlier if you'd told me, you know..."

Taehyung waved his hand as we walked towards the direction of his apartment. "It doesn't matter," he said. "But I did get you something."

"Did you?" I huffed. "You shouldn't have! Now I feel bad."

"Don't worry, you can give me the chair," he sniggered. I rolled my eyes. "I'll give it to you when we get to my apartment so I can put my new nightstand down, okay?"

His apartment was a five-minute walk, so we arrived in no time. However, it was kind of difficult to lug a chair and a nightstand up three flights of stairs. When I entered through the front door, I noticed that the apartment was decorated in neutral hues, like white, black, and tan, and I thought of the light blue nightstand, and where it would fit in.

"Where should I put my new furniture?" Taehyung mused. He ultimately decided to place it next to his white bed, and I noticed how painfully obvious the sky blue was in the colorless theme of his room.

"Doesn't stand out at all," I commented. He shot me a devilish look.

"It adds character," he sighed. "Anyways, your present."

"Oh, please, no," I protested, scooting away. "The chair is enough. I've always wanted one!"

"Shut up," he laughed, reaching into his pocket and tossing me a black box. I caught it with ease and opened it.

Inside, lying on top of crushed velvet, was a silver necklace with a pendant in the shape of a feather. A single white gemstone sparkled at the base of the feather. I glanced up in awe.

"Taehyung," I whined, "you could've gotten something so much less troublesome!"

"I could've," he agreed, nodding, "but I didn't. It's an angel feather, see?"

"Yes, I see," I deadpanned. "But you're a siren, right?"

"Okay well I got the necklace originally because it was pretty," Taehyung admitted, earning a snort from me, "but then I thought that it could symbolize, like, Jimin protects you because he's your guardian angel, but even though I'm not, I want to protect you like I am? Does that make sense?"

I snickered. "A little," I replied, feeling my face warm up. "That's cute, though. Thank you! Expect something just as cool tomorrow, okay?"

"I will," he answered. "But in the meantime, I am perfectly content with my new nightstand."

My phone buzzed, and I looked down.

"Oh, sorry, I should be getting home now," I apologized. "My mom's on her way back, and I promised I'd have dinner with her."

Taehyung led me to the door. "Bye, Sori!" he chirped. "Happy birthday, and thank you for celebrating mine! It was honestly the best I've had in a while."

"No problem," I replied, wrapping an arm around him in a half-hug. "Happy birthday!"

Following my/Taehyung's birthday, we were catapulted into the new year. The celebrations took place, the dark evening skies igniting with fireworks and lights. The streets were filled with people singing and cheering, and when night fell, the city was still glowing from all the apartments.

But with the new year came the beginning of the second semester of school. I found myself at my desk, my arms splayed out as I rested my face on the cold wood. My eyes were puffy from lack of sleep, and I felt my eyelid crease nearly disappear. However, as soon as I felt the desk beside me creak with new weight, I looked up to see my best friend sitting down. New enthusiasm overcame me.

"What did you do over winter break?" I asked, propping my elbows up on my desk. Jimin glanced at me furtively.

"Just stayed home, nothing much..." he answered vaguely. "What did you do?"

"I really just hung out with Taehyung most of the time," I admitted sheepishly. A short silence ensued, and I quickly mulled over Jimin's answer. "Wait, were you actually alone the whole time except for those few seconds on my birthday?"

Jimin shrugged. "I mean, it's not like I have any other commitments," he replied, and I swore I heard a hint of sadness in his voice.

Immediately, I felt bad. I'd always assumed that Jimin had other friends to hang out with, since he was relatively popular at school, but how could I have been so naive? He had to constantly watch over me. He didn't have time for friends, and I, the only person he could really count on, neglected him. Guilt weighed me down as I looked over at him.

I pursed my lips guiltily. "I'm sorry, Jimin," I apologized. "I should've spent more time with you..."

He smiled brightly. "No, it's okay!" he insisted, shaking his head energetically. "I'm with you all the time anyways, mentally. We don't always have to be together to be in each other's company."

"I guess," I sighed. I still felt bad, though. What kind of friend was I? He was my best friend, yet I failed to visit him. "Do you wanna hang out soon, then?"

He nodded. "That's fine," he said. "But don't feel bad about it, Sori. I don't need to be with you constantly. As long as you're happy, my existence is worth it."

"If you say so..." He repeated those same words often, but it did nothing to quell my worries. Even if the answer was always the same, I had to keep asking. What if he didn't mean it and decided to change his answer one day?

At lunch, Jimin had to work on a project, so I ate in a classroom with Taehyung. He was chewing a sandwich, and I was listlessly picking at sticky rice cakes. Taehyung was talking about something, though I couldn't pay attention. My mind was on what to do about Jimin.

"Sori? Earth to Sori?" He waved a hand in front of my face, looking a little miffed. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head, clearing my head. "I'm sorry," I said. "I'm just worried about Jimin."

"Jimin? Is something wrong with him?"

"Well, I haven't been spending time with him," I admitted, "and I feel really guilty about it because I'm the only one he can really be around for a long time. I've only seen him once over winter break, so he's always alone."

"Oh." Taehyung was nodding attentively. "Did you already talk to him about it?"

"I did, and he said it was okay, but that doesn't make me feel any better!" I kicked the leg of my chair in frustration. "And if I hang out with him, I wouldn't know what to do because we already know each other too well!"

"I mean..." Taehyung was tapping his chin now. "He can hang out with us? Like a three-way date?"

I paused to gape. "You want to go on a date with Jimin?" I sputtered. "Taehyung-ah, let me check your temperature."

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up, I'm fine with him," he deadpanned. "If it would make you feel better, we can do it."

-

"Jimin!" I waved the short angel over to where Taehyung and I stood. We'd just bought the tickets to the movie, and I held out Jimin's as he approached.

"Hi, Sori, Taehyung," he greeted us. I noticed that he seemed brighter today. His complexion, normally pale, had a certain dewy sheen to it. He even gave Taehyung a polite nod, and I raised my eyebrows.

"I've been meaning to watch this movie for such a long time," Taehyung gushed as we made our way to the theatre. I, of course, was wedged between the two boys, and when we found our seats in the dark theatre, I was still sandwiched. We were watching a highly-anticipated action movie, and it was quite interesting, though with every loud explosion, I could feel Jimin flinch.

You're not scared, are you? I goaded him, knowing that he would be listening.

I heard him huff beside me. Me? No! he projected indignantly. I love this stuff! There's nothing like a good-

Right then, a slew of gunshots sounded the theatre, and a string of child-friendly curses exploded from his head. I snickered into my hand, and Taehyung, who had noticed Jimin's violent reaction, snorted quietly. Jimin, realizing what he had done, clamped his mouth shut and crossed his arms defiantly.

The movie ended, and the three of us walked out of the theatre chattering happily. It was more between Taehyung and I, since we had enjoyed the movie more, and Jimin kind of slunk behind us. Taehyung's hand was in mine, and we conversed with ease, occasionally laughing.

"Okay, well, see you!" Taehyung said at last, waving as he walked to his car, whereas I lived extremely close to the theatre. Before he was too far, I quickly grabbed his hand and kissed his cheek with a soft "thank you." I stepped back, remembering Jimin's presence, and waved as I watched him disappear.

"Did you enjoy the movie?" I asked, quick to avoid my mild PDA.

Jimin scratched his head awkwardly. "Um, yeah!" he replied. "You both seemed to really like that movie, huh?"

I flushed. "I'm sorry!" I squeaked hurriedly. "Did we leave you out? I swear I didn't mean to! Were we too couple-y?"

"No, no, it's fine!" Jimin giggled, shaking his head, though his words seemed to be lacking cheer. I frowned.

Had it been a mistake to bring him along, when he himself couldn't date or fall in love? He'd reassured me tons of times that he was okay with the emotional detachment, but I still felt bad. Maybe he was lying to relax me. Was I an insensitive best friend? I didn't want to rub it all in his face.

Sori, please, he said suddenly. You're worrying too much.

"Am I being insensitive?" I asked, grabbing his hands suddenly. "I know I might be making a really big deal out of nothing, and I always ask you this, but I just want to make sure you're happy."

He rolled his eyes. "Sori," he began slowly, "I've told you this a million times. I'm fine. I want the same for you, but unlike you, I don't have a life besides that. I don't need to feel love, okay?"

"You're sure?" I peeped timidly. "You're very very very sure?"

"Jesus Christ, woman, I'm sure!" he groaned adorably. "You should know that if you're stressed, I feel it, so kindly stop."

***

Filler chapter because I've just gotten back from Asian camp and I have a mild case of post camp depression, so I couldn't write anything that good lol. But I hope you enjoyed anyways, so do expect some real chapters coming up. I wanted to kind of emphasize the characters' situations before the real plot anyways. As usual, if you enjoyed, please consider voting, commenting, and sharing! Thank you~