He dumped the bags of supplies on the bench after letting himself into his home, breathing out a heavy sigh and shrugging off his heavy coat before delving into the bags to pull out what was inside them. He was tired and frustrated but his day wasn’t over just yet, even if he had managed to get some time off from his schedule.

Except, despite telling his manager four times that he had to leave after the radio show at three pm, Lee Hongki hadn’t managed to escape the responsibilities of being a celebrity. It irked him personally, but outwardly he had tried to remain calm as a burst of unexpected fans had greeted him, and apart from spending his time glancing at the clock, he ensured he had signed a message to each individual before fleeing. He not only was an hour late to go grocery shopping and get home, but by the time he had finished getting his supplies and smiling for more fans, it was five-fifteen and hopelessly close to when she would arrive.

Today, he had wanted to make everything special for his girlfriend Hana. Hongki knew that dating him was near impossible, with his busy schedule on variety shows, practising with his band FT. Island, and his acting pursuits, but he couldn’t accept being single again. Whilst it was far easier, his heart wasn’t lonely anymore, and he had instantly fallen in love with Hana when he met her four months ago. They had their troubles and sometimes the lack of time he could give her made Hana distant but overall, he knew that she was happy with him. And all he wanted to do was make tonight special, but even that was ruined now.

“Should have just been cruel and left earlier,” he grumbled to himself as he picked up one box in particular, looking at the instructions on the back with hesitation. “And bought a cake instead of making one.”

He glanced around the kitchen of the dorm he shared with his other four members, looking at the cupboards in hopes he could remember what was in each one. Taking a guess, he opened a door and looked around for the baking pan he was sure they had used before. Moving around the kitchen and sticking his head into each cabinet, he began to get noisy; frustrated that he couldn’t find it. After rechecking a place he had been, he finally found the round pan with success, and he yanked it out, smacking his head in the process.

“Could today get any worse?!” he cried out loud and rubbed the sore area with more force than he needed.

“What are you trying to do?” Hana’s voice questioned and his eyes darted up to the clock and then clamped shut. “Are you okay Hongki?”

“Ah,” he started and got to his feet, as the older Korean stepped into the kitchen, her almond eyes scanning over the items and then the pan in his hand.

“Are you trying to bake a cake?”

“I was going to.”

“And you’re not now, how come?” she questioned, moving over to him and wrapping her arms around his waist. Glancing up to see his face, she grinned. “I want to see you bake a cake.”

“I was meant to already have the cake done, and dinner too,” he mentioned with a sigh and Hana’s smile was still residing on her face as she pulled away and ed her jacket.

“Let’s make them together then,” she suggested and he regarded the girl for a moment, before chuckling. “It’ll be fun, and it’s not like we can go wrong with a pre mixed box of cream cake.”

“Alright I’m sure between the two of us it won’t be a disaster,” he stated, getting the aprons from the corner down and putting them on.

“What are we having for dinner?” Hana wondered, and Hongki pointed to the bench where the rest of the supplies were sitting. “Hongki, we need to cook the chicken before focussing on the cake! We can bake that whilst we eat.”

“I’m glad you’re here to help me then,” he decided, not thinking through the idea as well as he had planned it the night before. His girlfriend smiled again and then started preparing their meal, and he flicked on the rice cooker as well before paying attention to the cake mix. Hana soon joined his side.

“What do we need?”

“Eggs and milk.”

Hana headed to the refrigerator. “How many eggs?”

“Three.”

She returned to his side and they began to follow the instructions, beating the mixture in a bowl and then making sure it was the right thickness. Hongki put down the beater and then dipped his finger into the cake mixture, Hana slapping his arm playfully. “You don’t need to taste the cake just yet!”

“I’m not,” he mentioned before wiping the finger on her cheek. Hana glanced up at him and he grinned, a small laugh leaving his mouth. “Now we’re making a cake like proper couples do.”

Hana stared at him for a moment and then laughed warmly. “You have watched far too many dramas.”

“Live a little,” he teased, scooping some more out and smearing it on the other cheek. The older girl shook her head and then placed a dollop on his nose before tipping the mixture into the baking pan with a spatula. Hongki checked on their dinner and then returned to her side, watching the yellow cake mixture settle into the pan evenly. Hana then looked at him and lifted it up.

“Here you go, put it in to bake.”

He did as requested and then followed his girlfriend into the bathroom, the pair washing up from making everything. Once finished they both took a seat on a couch in the living room, Hongki pulling Hana into his arms.

“So what’s the cake for?” she asked glancing up at him curiously. He smiled and pointed to the calendar on the wall.

“Today is February the seventeenth.”

“I know, have I forgotten something special?” she asked, her dark eyes etching with slight panic, Hongki chuckling as she scanned her mind for clues.

He pulled her closer and kissed the side of her head before continuing. “I know everyone at your work scolded me for missing Valentines Day.”

“Oh rubbish, not everyone celebrates it in Korea anyway. Besides, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t receive flowers at the office.”

“Would you have liked some?”

Hana diverted her eyes. “Every girl feels special when receiving flowers.”

“You already are a flower,” he mentioned referring to the meaning of her name and then grinned as she rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe in Valentines day, or White Day.”

“You don’t?”

“No.”

“So what are you making the big fuss about bringing up the other day then?” she wondered, sitting up a little so she could look at him. Hongki smiled, her heart shape face was always so beautiful to him. He leant up to kiss her lips gently and then nodded.

“Why should we use a day to show our love for one another like the rest of the couples in this world? It’s so unoriginal.”

“So today is my Valentines?” she asked and he shook his head. Hana frowned, looking around the room and then poked him lightly. “Hongki day?”

“How did you guess?”

She pointed to the schedule on the neighbouring door and he groaned, reading the note he’d left for his friends that morning about making themselves scarce for the night. “Well, I guess that explains it then.”

“I like it, Hongki Day, it has a nice ring to it,” she mentioned with a giggle and he hugged her to his body again. “Can I have it more than once a year?”

“How about one every month.”

“Every week?”

He laughed. “You’re pushing it.”

“Every day is Hongki Day to me though,” she mentioned seriously, pulling her head away from his shoulder and looking at him. She smiled, a pink tinge going to her cheeks. “Because every day I wake up loving you.”

“And that’s enough?” She nodded. “You don’t need cake, flowers and expensive gifts?”

“I would rather have you for a whole day than get a necklace or a pretty dress.”

“A whole day with Lee Hongki is more expensive than those things,” he mentioned, knowing his schedule was booked for months ahead.

“I better start saving my money then,” she teased, leaning in to kiss him, her lips moving with demand. He groaned into and then pulled away, brushing her dark hair out of her face.

“I’ll see what kind of discount I can get for you then.”

She giggled and then gasped, looking at the kitchen and leaping out of his lap. He followed her, realising they had forgotten about their food. Hana opened the oven door and swatted away the steam, pulling out the cake and the chicken. Both were slightly burnt and he sighed, looking at their meal a little disheartened.

“I’ll order in?” he offered and she shook her head, smiling up at him.

“It’s perfect.”

“It’s burnt.”

“Our first meal we’ve made together though,” she reminded, and ushered him to get plates. They left the cake to cool, and dished up their dinner, the slightly burnt taste not being so bad after the first few mouthfuls. She was right though, the meal was entirely satisfying and Hongki wondered if he had burnt his tastebuds when he first put the food into his mouth, or it was because of the love he felt for Hana.

He had never seen himself as a cheesy romantic man, although he had standards, Hana seemed to make everything special to him. Even a burnt meal.

As they ate their meal together, he started to plan the next Hongki Day. He had plenty of ideas to sort through and his mind raced through them all. But it was exciting. He knew it was hard to spend time with his girlfriend, given the fact that he had one of the most demanding jobs a person could take on.

But when they did spend time together, he never wanted it to end.

The End.