When Seokjin woke up, he was left alone. Cold and empty, it looked like the doctor had left for quite a long time.

He slowly rolled over and kept his eyes shut for a while longer. He was still weak, his waist and legs were sore and limp.

The door was mildly pushed open, he didn't move. The quilt was pulled up right after he felt someone standing next to the bed. Before he could sense the coldness, something warm was thrust into his arms, it was an electric warmer.

"Baby, happy birthday," Taehyung lowered his head, kissed Seokjin from his earlobe to his nape, "Rise and shine."

Seokjin shrugged and held the electric warmer tight. "Ah don't, it's ticklish."

Taehyung didn't go further, he just groomed the younger messy bangs. "You can stay in bed for a minute and get up later. I'll wait for you downstairs."

After Taehyung left for several minutes, Seokjin got up reluctantly. He buttoned up his pajama and rubbed his temples.

Tae was in the kitchen when he got downstairs. He leaned sideways to greet him once he heard him coming down. "You're up?"

On his floral apron, there was a mess of flour, his dummy smiley face was just like the dog. "I'll make you a cake after I put these egg tarts into the oven."

Seokjin held the electric warmer, tilted his head and looked into the kitchen while standing away from it and said, "Impressive."

Taehyung walked up to him, randomly dusted off the flour on his hands, lifted him up and put himself down in the living room couch. "Sit and wait here."

The doctor's hot hands massaged him by his waist through his pajama.

Seokjin felt a bit embarrassed, he wriggled. "You've got flour on me."

Tae didn't let go. "Let me massage you." He wasn't acting filthy though, he understood that Seokjin was feeling embarrassed. As much as he was patient and restrained enough last night, he was still doing everything he could to not hurt his feelings.

Tae made him comfortable with the right skill and intensity, his hand totally relaxed Seokjin's uptight muscle. Massage is an energy-consuming job, so Seokjin didn't want to bother the other so much.

"I feel alright. You do your thing. You said the cake wasn't done, right?" He pushed himself up from Taehyung's arms and sat straight on the couch by himself.

Taehyung didn't say another word, he just caressed his cheek and got up. As he walked into the kitchen, he suddenly remembered something and he stood still.

"Silly me." Taehyung smiled at Seokjin fawningly, and turned away to open the door.

Seokjin was wondering what the older was up to. Less than three minutes later, a black brown towser briskly rushed into the house. Taehyung slowed down with two cats in his arms and followed by another two cats.

Seokjin giggled.

"I had someone to have them showered and dewormed." Taehyung walked to the younger, grabbed one cat by its neck and passed it to him, "Cuddle him. This is your favorite one. He's grown a lot."

Seokjin's eyes were gentle and kind, filled with real joy. He reached out to hold the cat. How these little things have grown. The doctor had fed them well. They became big cats. "Indeed, he grows fast."

The dog snuggled at Seokjin legs, it shoved its big brown head into his arms hard but it got slapped by the cat in his arms. Its poor brown eyes were moistened.

Those poor eyes got Seokjin right away, he put down the proud cat and cuddled the dog and said, "Good boy."

It licked all over Seokjin face.

Taehyung got him a big plate of fresh fruits from the kitchen. "Have some fruits first. The dog likes them too, you can have them together."

The younger watched TV, the dog sat still and was happy being his cushion as it got snacks. Those cats went to the balcony for sunbathe. Today was a wonderful day.

The egg tarts Taehyung made smelled good. The moment they came out the oven, the dog wooshed up, its tail wagging enthusiastically.

"It's not for you, your mom hasn't eaten one yet," Taehyung bent over and flicked on the dog's head, turned away to Seokjin and said, "You've been eating light food these days. You can have a little bit of sweet today."

Seokjin ignored the first part of his sentence and smiled. "Aren't I a lucky birthday boy?"

He took a bite on a tart. It was hot and sweet, not too sweet if he just ate a little.

Taehyung eyes sparkled but he said nothing.

The cake came out around noon, right on lunchtime. Taehyung got the dining table ready and called Seokjin.

"Baby, happy birthday." He half knelt beside the couch, looking up at Seokjin in a humble way.

"You said the same thing in the morning." Seokjin reached out to touch Taehyung smiling lips and chuckled, "Why are you acting like a dog?"

Taehyung held Seokjin's hand, said very seriously, "This time, it comes with the birthday present."

He took the present that had been waiting for so long out of his side pocket. It was a red little velvet ring box.

Seokjin frowned almost imperceptibly.

Taehyung opened up the box, where there was a platinum ring. On the ring, there was an oval-shaped flower with tiny little diamonds on it. It was a beautiful ring, every of its glow told gentleness. It wasn't feminine though, which suited the younger well.

"Sorry," Seokjin closed the box, "I can't accept it."

A ring means something special. One can't take a ring if they cannot undertake the responsibility and love. When Seokjin violently pulled the ring that he had for nearly eight years from his finger, he thought to himself "I won't take another ring for the rest of my life".

"Jinnie..." Taehyung's eyes were as deep as the ocean, "Please put it on...

I'm afraid I can't... find you in this life..." So please put it on so that I can find you even after life.

Seokjin put on a wry smile. "Psychological comfort is useless." They both knew Taehyung was lying to himself but none of them pointed it out.

"Please, I'm begging you." His eyes were drooped, he opened the little box and took the ring out again on his own and tried to hold Seokjin's hand. "Please... Put on this ring just for me once."

Seokjin's heart jerked, briefly but acutely.

He withdrew his hand as he caught the sadness in Taehyung's eyes. He stayed silent for a while and suddenly stroked his hair. "I can put it on. But could you promise me one thing?"

Taehyung raised his head and looked into Seokjin eyes.

"When I'm gone, don't wait up. Just cremated my body the same day... and scatter my ashes in the river or the sea, so that I can see many places." he said in a calm tone as if it was a daily small talk. His eyes were soft. "I leave one hundred and fifty thousand won to you. You can keep it or donate it to charity... I know you have no lack of money..."

Taehyung's body twitched, he said nothing but tried to put the ring on Seokjin finger with his shaking hands. What he said meant yes.

The ring fit his third finger. It covered that old indistinct ring mark that hardly faded away.

Not until the whole ring-putting process was finished, Taehyung stand up. He expectedly held the back of Seokjin's neck and french-kissed him passionately. This was the first time they had this kind of kiss, which was more intimate than intercourse.