“Sehun, I'm home!” Jongin called as he entered the house. Sehun was still glued to the television.

“I've got a surprise for you.” Jongin said with anticipation.

“What's the surprise?” Sehun asked, distracted, his attention still on the cartoon.

“It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you.” Jongin turned the TV off and held up a blindfold.

“I think you need to tie this decorative banner higher, it is right in front of my eyes, I can't see anything.” Sehun complained.

“That's the point. You're not supposed to see anything. Trust me.” Jongin told him, sliding his arm through his, guiding him to the barn.

“Okay, just stand still for a moment.” Jongin instructed Sehun, letting him go in order to light the candles on the cake.

“No! Don't leave me! I'm scared of the dark!” Sehun whimpered, his hands grabbing the air in search of Jongin's hand.

“Okay, okay, you can take the blindfold off.” Jongin giggled at how much of a scaredy-cat Sehun was.

“FIRE CAKE!!!” Sehun exclaimed, beside himself with wonder.

“The cake is on fire! Birthday fire! Yay!” Sehun clapped enthusiastically, smiling from ear to ear.

“Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday sweet Sehun,

Haaappy birthday to you.” Jongin sang softly but clearly, his voice shaking a tiny bit as his eyes locked with Sehun's for a brief moment. His stomach flipped inside out. Sehun was beaming at him, the candlelight twinkling in his eyes.

“HIP HIP HURRAY!!” Jongin threw confetti into the air. Maybe it was going a bit overboard and it was going to be annoying as hell to clean up, but he just figured Sehun would really like it.

“Hurray!” Sehun jumped up and down in the confetti, twirling like he was in the rain. He laughed happily, trying to catch the sparkly silver ones, but every time he swiped the air with his hands, the confetti pieces were blown away so he couldn't catch them. He just giggled, having a blast. A very intense warmth took over Jongin's chest, making him feel like he was a hot air balloon that was about to take off at any moment, blissfully soaring through the skies.

“Okay, blow out the candles before they actually set the cake on fire.” Jongin chuckled.

“Wait, don't forget to make a wish!” he reminded Sehun as they sat down at the table.

“Ooh! Ooh! What should I wish for?” Sehun was out of breath after all the jumping around. “I was going to wish for an Earth birthday, but I've already got one!” he beamed.

“You can wish for anything you want. Just close your eyes, make your wish and blow out the candles. I bet you it will come true.” Jongin assured him, trying to ignore how great it felt to have made Sehun's wish come true.

“Okay, okay, here I go.” Sehun closed his eyes with great force, his face all scrunched up. “I wish Jongin was my other half so we could stay together forever.” Sehun said in a loud voice and blew on the candles with all his might, nearly blowing the candles off the cake. Jongin froze, he had neglected to tell him that he wasn't supposed to say his wish out loud.

Jongin scooped his jaw up off the floor. What had Sehun just wished for? Had he heard him right? Did he really... want him to be his soulmate? A small fireworks display started in Jongin's chest. But did Sehun want it only so he could stay longer with him here on Earth, discovering all of Earth's delights, being able to binge on cartoons and chocolate? Or did he.. did he actually have feelings for him?

“Wow! Evil, liar cat plates!” Sehun chuckled cheerfully as Jongin cut him a piece of chocolate cake. Sehun looked like he had been handed gold on a plate, not waiting another second to stuff his face with cake, smudging chocolate all over his face.

“Come here, you.” Jongin giggled, wiping Sehun's chocolate covered face with a napkin.

“Oh, and.. I also got you a small present.” Jongin added almost in a whisper. He was still recovering from the shock of Sehun's wish, and he was also kind of embarrassed giving him this gift. It really wasn't much, but he hoped he would like it.

“Exorians never give presents, exchanging feelings is more than enough for us.” Sehun told him.

“Oh, so you don't want the present then...” Jongin pretended to put it back.

“No, no!! I want it! I want it! Give it here!” Sehun yelled in a panic, frantically reaching his hands out at him.

“This isn't much, but... here. Happy birthday.” Jongin put the present in front of him, feeling his cheeks heat up.

“Yay!! A pretty box!” Sehun picked the small box up off the table and examined it.”It's so shiny! It's what I've always wanted! I've never owned such a pretty box.” he giggled happily and hugged the box.

Jongin snorted, not able to handle how idiotically cute Sehun was. How could anyone get so worked up over a simple box? It was barely the size of his palm, wrapped in shiny green wrapping foil.

“Hehh, there's something inside the box. You have to unwrap it and open it.” Jongin explained.

Sehun inspected it from top to bottom, not seeing a way to open it. Jongin went to help him, but Sehun threw a mini-tantrum as he tried to save the box from destruction, glaring at Jongin like he had just tried to kill his pet turtle.

“You have to open it if you want to see what's inside. The real present is inside. It's even better than a box.” Jongin tried to convince him.

“Better than this box?!?” Sehun gasped in disbelief, unsure whether he could trust him on this.

“Don't worry, I'll unwrap it really carefully, and we'll take out the present, and then I'll re-wrap it straight away, you won't even see the difference, I promise.” Jongin coaxed him.

Sehun reluctantly relinquished the box, keeping a watchful eye on him.

Jongin took forever to unwrap it, he was trying really hard not to damage the paper so Sehun would get his pretty, shiny box back unscathed. He was starting to worry that the actual present wouldn't measure up to the wonders that was the shiny box.

Nervously, he fished two identical leather bracelets out of the box. They were simple and neat.

“Eh, they are friendship bracelets.” Jongin explained when Sehun looked like he had no idea what he was staring at.

“Friendship bracelets! So we are officially friends now?” Sehun practically glowed. “I've never had a friend before.”.

Jongin took one of the bracelets and started tying it around Sehun's wrist. Sehun watched his every move carefully, clearly moved by Jongin's small gesture of friendship.

“There!” Jongin smiled, proudly admiring his handiwork on Sehun's wrist.

“It's so pretty. Thank you.” Sehun said in a shaky, hoarse voice.

Jongin looked at him, about to tell him 'you're welcome' when he noticed a blue smudge on the middle of Sehun's forehead. Ah, that boy, he ate like a pig! How did he manage to get cake on his forehead?! He thought he had gotten all the smudges before. And how was it blue? Did the cake have blue Smarties on it?

“There's something on your forehead, hang on, I'll wipe it off.” Jongin reached for a Garfield napkin, but no matter how hard he rubbed, it wouldn't come off.