Today (April 11) is Serin's birthday. I know it's very late in the day I'm sorry I was really busy, but I really wanted to have a birthday drabble for her. So even though there's not much time left for it to be the 11th, here it is.

I hope you enjoy it, and as usual, I'd love to read your feedback!

Hoon stood and frowned as he read Serin’s expression after opening her gift while sitting on the couch. She wasn’t as in love with the gift he’d selected for her as he’d hoped she’d be.

“It’s very cute,” she told him, but he heard her unspoken but.

He thought back to all the time he’d planned this out, how much thought and effort he’d put into picking out the perfect gift for her. How he’d asked all of the members for help.

“Jun-ah,” Hoon asked as they prepared for bed one evening, “what should I get Serin for her birthday?”

“For Serin noona’s birthday? When is it?”

“April 11. It nearly a month away, and it’s the first birthday we’re celebrating together as a married couple, and I want everything to be perfect. What would you suggest?”

“Flowers and a cake and a meaningful gift,” he replied.

“Okay, but I don’t know what kind of meaningful gift to get her.”

“Maybe Kiseop hyung should help out with this. He’s good at stuff like this, isn’t he?”

Hoon considered. Jun had a point. He ventured over to Kiseop and Kevin’s room, knocking on the door, and when Kevin opened the door he said, “I need Kiseop’s advice.”

Kiseop, who was in bed and playing on his phone with headphones in, hadn’t heard him. Kevin walked over to get him up, and the two of them wandered into Hoon and Jun’s room to discuss Hoon’s dilemma.

“Jun’s onto a good idea with the flowers and the cake,” Kiseop agreed. “But I think you have to be the one who picks the other gift. You know her best. It should be something that seems like ‘her.’ Or just something that reminds you of her. Or something she likes. Do not get her something you think she needs for the house. There’s no romance in that.”

“I think she’d prefer that though. Serin likes practical,” Hoon said.

Kevin, who had tagged along with Kiseop simply because it seemed interesting, offered, “Maybe something that’s both practical and has a trait that reminds you of her.”

“Hmm…” Hoon thought. Kevin’s idea had been good. And he was starting to get a solid idea. Practical and cute, just like Serin.

-

“Hyung,” he said when Hoonbi answered, “I’m sending a package to you. You can’t let Serin see what it is if she comes over to visit, okay?”

“What?” he asked, confused.

“I bought her birthday present while in Japan. But it would be extremely silly for me to bring it home myself so I’m shipping it to you in advance. Just hold onto it until I get home.”

“Okay,” Hoonbi agreed. “But what did you get her exactly?”

Hoon smiled, proud of himself. “She mentioned that she wanted a new luggage set. So I got her one. But it would be really strange for me to check a pink, flowery luggage set onto a plane along with my own.”

Hoonbi laughed on the end of the line. “Yeah. It would be really strange.”

“Just hide it in my closet when you get it. And if Serin does happen to come over and see it, don’t tell her it’s for her.”

“I won’t. No worries. I don’t think she’d be coming in here anyway.  She never does unless you’re here. And you’re never here anymore. If we do anything, I meet her outside.”

“I believe that,” Hoon responded. “I appreciate your help!” The two brothers continued their conversation for a while after that, before Hoonmin finally thanked his hyung for his help once more, said farewell and got off the phone, going about his business.

He thought about how everything had played out, leading up to him giving her the gift. He was fortunately alone with her, so when he heard that unspoken but, he asked for clarification. “But what?” he prompted.

“Hoonie, it’s a really lovely gift. And it’s perfect for me. I love the pattern. It’s adorable. And I really need new luggage. But I can’t really use this. It’s not professional enough for me to take on business trips.”

It clicked then. He understood. “I didn’t think of that,” he admitted. “Should I take them back and get something else?”

“Don’t do that,” Serin said. “I do go on occasional trips that aren’t work related. I’ll be sure to use them when I do. The luggage set it so nice. It would be a shame to not have it for when I could possibly use it.”

Hoon smiled then, finally relaxing. She liked her gift. It just wasn’t as practical as he’d hoped it would be.  “I’m glad you like the set. And I’m sorry it wasn’t a more perfect gift. I tried really hard to make it perfect for you. But I guess I failed.”

She patted the spot on the couch next to where she was sitting, and he walked the short distance and sat down next to her. “You didn’t fail,” she stated plainly. “You picked a gift that reminded you of me. It was thoughtful, and I really appreciate it. Don’t beat yourself up. You already gave me the best present I could ask for this year, anyway.”

He seemed confused. “What is that?”

She cuddled up to him, wrapping her hands around his arm, snuggling close and looking up at him with a cute expression. With a giant grin on her face, she said, “For the first time ever, I actually get to spend my birthday with you. The whole day. Uninterrupted. And I love it so much.”

Hoon smiled contentedly as he realized that it was indeed the first time they’d got to spend the day of her birthday together. He leaned down and met her lips, and she kissed him back. He felt like he was floating on clouds of happiness; his heart was so full, and he loved her so much. He stopped momentarily. “Happy birthday, Serin,” he told her earnestly. “I’m so thankful that you were born and that I could meet you and have you in my life.”

A light laugh escaped her lips. “Thank you. You’re the best birthday present I could ever ask for. And that cute luggage set you got me isn’t bad either.”

Hoon chuckled at her comment, and promptly returned to one of the activities he liked the most in the entire world, kissing Lee Serin.