"Happy birthday, Chaima."

The words had completely numbed the girl's mind and tongue, making it unable for her to form a cohorent sentence or even utter a sound. She stared at the grinning male in front of her, blinking rapidly for a moment. Their eyes locked and she didn't know how long she was staring at him, wondering whether her mind was playing a dirty trick on her. Was this man, the one whom she had always been staring at from behind her computer, the first to greet her on her 20th birthday? He was even earlier than her mother, who she assumed was still asleep. 

The moment of silent astonishment seemed to last too long as Onew started to shift rather uncomfortably on his spot. His smile showed some uneasiness as well and Chaima immediately snapped out of her trance. She glanced at the bag and back at the smiling man in front of her. She noticed that he wore his thick framed glasses today, complimenting his features with a cute and clever looking grace. A smile crept up her lips and her eyes twinkled. She was sincerely happy, shocked, but still happy that she was greeted on her birthday like this. He even bothered to bring her a present.

"Thank you, Jinki-shi." She thanked him.

His name left an unfamiliar taste on her tongue, but she didn't dislike it. The sound of his name in her own voice was more familiar, since she had been a fan for quite a while, but saying it directly to him was something she never thought she would do. Even in the few months she lived here, she had never once called the man by his real name. She could get used to that and also the thrill in her stomach and tingling in as she spoke the name. It was indescribably, really, but it felt too good to be true. Chaima's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp stinging pain on her forehead. Unwillingly she let out a groaning sound expressing her pain. Her eyes darted up as her hand covered the area in reflex.

"You never learn, do you?" He spoke with a mocking, coy grin when Chaima looked up at him.

"What?" She uttered in surprise. "Yah, do you have to hit me on my birthday as well?"

"Hmm. So Ramyun-ah, we're familiar enough for you to drop formalities?"

Chaima hadn't even noticed, that she had done that. In fact, she only realised when Onew mentioned it. But she couldn't give this man the satisfaction of knowing her unawareness of that, especially when she saw the mischievous glint in his eyes. Hence she responded with her own smirk.

"So what?" She spoke, not even knowing where that came from.

Onew couldn't help but laugh at her stubborn behaviour, though he was quite taken aback. She really was different from an average girl who would apologise and be flustered for being rude. This girl with the ramyun curls however, managed to sound blunt but friendly as she expressed herself. What Onew didn't see however, was that Chaima was quite perplexed by her own behaviour, as she herself hadn't even expected it. There was no way she could show it though. She was just too headstrong for that.

Chaima did not expect Onew to laugh. She expected somewhat of an angered or irritated reaction, another head flick or something that showed he didn't approve of her rudeness. He found it amusing though, to the girl's surprise. She couldn't help but wonder why he tolerated this behaviour from her, despite not knowing each other well. She was familiar with Jinhee, his mother, but not Lee Jinki himself. Of course she wanted to be closer to this figure, seeing how gentle and dorky he actually was, not much different from his on screen personality.

She didn't just want it because he was her idol, okay maybe a bit, but more because she actually took a liking to this man himself. His cheery personality, the adorable smile, the certain quirks he had like flicking her whenever she didn't call him 'oppa' and of course, the voice he talked with. His voice was so gentle that it had become music to his ears, without him even singing. His horribly cheesy jokes and the times he irritated on purpose just to see her reaction, had become something she missed when he wasn't around.

"Are you going to open that?" Onew finally asked when his laugh had become an almost silent snickering.

Chaima glanced down at the blue paper bag in her hand for a short moment, before returning her gaze to the male's face.

"One question though. How did you know? I mean..."

"Mother told me to bring this here." he responded as the girl paused for a moment.

She felt a sting of slight disappointment knowing that it wasn't his own initiative that brought him here. She couldn't blame him though, nor could she ask for more, she knew. The man was busy and the fact that he was standing here, greeting her and giving her a present was actually more than she could wish for. She was genuinely grateful and happy, that there were people to spend her birthday with, when her family and friends were back home. A soft smile formed on her lips as she opened the bag. 

There was a big round box, she took out from it. The box was black decorated with a red elegant swirly print. At first glance, Chaima had no idea what it could be. She placed the blue bag on the floor to be able to open the box' lid. She opened it slightly, enough for her to be able to peek in by closing one eye and carefully holding the lid with her thumb. Her eyes opened immediately and she completely removed it with a swift movement after realising what it was. She had to withhold a squeal or scream and managed to do so by pursing her lips and biting on them.

Onew couldn't help but snicker at her childish excitement. To him it seemed quite adorable, knowing that this girl was quite tough looking at first glance, though she had a soft heart. He had seen the way Chaima tried to suppress her excitement, or rather, showing her excitement and it made him frown a little. Was she embarrassed? The male didn't hesitate to flick her once more, though this time he actually did it before thinking about why he did it. Hearing the surprised yelp from her, caught Onew by surprise as well.

"Yah! Dubu-oppa, if you're going to keep hurting me, I won't hesitate to counter this time." Chaima finally said, showing a slight irritation in her eyes and voice.

Onew was astonished for a moment and retracted his arm quickly, before showing her a wide grin. "I like it more when you express yourself."

"Huh...?" Was the only thing Chaima could utter in response, confused as to what the male meant.

"So you like it?" Onew suddenly asked.

Chaima arched an eyebrow at the male's attempt to change the topic, but didn't question it further when she was reminded by the amazing present in her hands. It was a box filled with Korean traditional candy, hangwa. Back at home, it was hard for her to obtain it and she only managed to do so once. But when she did she was thoroughly satisfied with the taste. The first thing she wanted to do after arriving in South Korea, was to buy a lot. She didn't know why or how, but she completely forgot about it. Not that she could have afforded it though.

"I love it! Thank you, oppa!" She responded with a gleeful smile as she popped a yakgwa in .

Onew returned it. "Good. Now get ready, we're going out."

Author's note

A short description as to what hangwa is. : ] ~ 

Part two of the birthday surprise <3 ~ Chaima's adorkable~ <3 

Enjoy reading and don't forget to comment!

Lots of love,

Saenan