2

After college vacation, Tae went to the restaurant with her friends. The biggest table on the third floor had been booked in advance. Tae sat on the side of the glass wall. From here, the view of their college was very beautiful. At one point in the laughter, Tae's eyes went to the college gate. The boy Jungkook was coming out of the college. Tae started observing with small eyes. Jungkook was walking very slowly, as if he was counting his steps. Even a crawling child could easily pass him. When he reached the main road, Jungkook stopped for a moment. Tae was watching with small eyes to see what Jungkook was doing. Suddenly, very suddenly, Jungkook broke through the glass wall of the third-floor restaurant and looked into Tae's eyes. Tae was overwhelmed by this sudden incident. How could Jungkook look into her eyes so suddenly without looking anywhere? As if he knew that Tae was here!! Tae's chest throbbed. Tae's throat went dry and wooden, as if she had just been caught stealing. She quickly looked away.

Tae, restraining himself, glanced at him again with a furtive look. Jungkook was getting into the car and leaving. As if nothing had happened at that moment! Mughd was sitting on the chair next to Inan. He followed Tae's gaze and looked at Jungkook. As soon as Jungkook was out of sight, he said to Tae,

'The boy is very strange!'

Tae's attention returned, 'Did you say something?'

'Hmm, what's the name of that dumb guy who's not in Jun..'

'Jungkook?'

"Right, such a big name doesn't stay in my head."

'What are you talking about?'

'I'm telling you, he is very strange.'

"Why do you think so?" Tae looked a little curious. Fascinated, he stopped sipping from his bottle of Coca-Cola and said in a very important tone,

"Oh, how do you know! I was sitting on the bench next to him, I tried to talk to him a few times, but he didn't care! It's weird! Do you know what he did in every class?"

Tae's eyes widened in curiosity, "What did he do?"

'He would sketch in every subject he had class on. Even on the writing. He never looked up once, he didn't even give a presentation. He would either sketch in his book or stare out the window in meditation. And he would mumble something in his mouth. You wouldn't have known without seeing him, he looked like a psychopath, trust me. Then listen to what happened!'

Taeyeon seemed more excited than Tae. His eyes widened and his facial expression changed, and he said, 'I didn't bring any books to accounting class. So since he doesn't pay attention to his studies, I thought he didn't have any interest. he was looking out the window at that time. I called him several times but he didn't respond, the last time I touched his hand with a water bottle to get his attention...'

He swallowed, fascinated, and drank the entire Coca-Cola in one gulp.

"Just tell me what happened then?" Tae pressed him, unable to bear the pressure.

'That Jungkook is looking at me like he's going to eat me, and he's pushing my bottle away from my hand with such force. Bro!!! You'd believe him if you saw his eyes, how he looked, seriously I can't explain! What else was he muttering about, I felt like he was cursing me under his breath! My soul was going out at that time, he looks so scary that I was going to pee in my pants!'

"Is that why you were changing seats?"

'Hmm, I think I would have died right there if I was next to him. He's literally a psychopath!'

Tae fell into thought. When he saw Jungkook up close, the look on Jungkook's  face was so enchanting that Tae thought no one could have a more innocent face. Really! How soft, gentle that face was! She had seen how calm it was a little while ago. And now, hearing about the enchantment, it seemed completely the opposite. Tae didn't want to believe that Jungkook really had such a face!

.

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Tae was waiting for her father at night, decorating the house. Everything was finished except for the cake. It was twenty-five minutes to twelve. Her father had not come yet. Tae was wearing a Barbie dress like when she was a child. As she grew up, the day called birthday gradually faded from her mind. Now she no longer liked celebrating birthdays, wearing Barbie gowns...being alone for a while...in a dark room. Birthdays seemed alive as long as her mother was alive. Even three years ago, she enjoyed dressing up like Barbie on her birthdays...but how dull everything felt after her mother left. She was only dressed up like when she was a child to protect her father's heart! Tae sighed. Her mother's picture was on the table. She stared at her mother. If Tae were ever allowed to announce the title of Miss World, she would undoubtedly give this title to her mother.

The sound of the doorbell brought Inan out of her thoughts. Holding her billowing pink gown high in both hands, she went to open the door. Another man stood with her father, holding a bouquet of flowers. This was the first new guest to arrive on Tae's birthday.

Tae glanced at the masculine body in a white shirt and black pants and looked away. Palak, holding a bouquet of daisy flowers in his hand, looked at Tae with fascinated eyes. This girl's beauty forced Palak to fall in love with Tae every time.

"Happy birthday, Tae." He held out the bouquet to Tae without blinking.

Tae looked at Palak and smiled softly, "Thank you."

Ifaz hugged his daughter, "Happy Birthday Barbie Doll. You're looking so pretty!"

Ifaz Khan's eyes started to flutter. His Tae is still the same child. He looks the same at nineteen as she did at ten. His bear hasn't changed a bit!

'Did you bring cake, Dad?'

Just like when she was a kid. “Did you bring me a cake, Dad?” Like she used to say on every birthday since she learned to talk!

He handed the mixed flavor cake to Tae. Tae's eyes sparkled when she saw the cake. Apart from her father, her second weakness was dessert items. While walking with the cake and flowers in both hands, danger struck. She had forgotten the long gown she was wearing. Tae was about to fall when her legs got tangled in the gown. Palak, who was by her side, held Tae's waist tightly and saved her from the accident. Ifaz rushed towards her daughter.

He said restlessly, "Do you feel pain, bear? Is your leg hurting more?"

Palak made Tae stand up. ' I'm okay, Dad.'

'Give these to me.'

Ifaz Khan walked forward with the cake and flowers. As soon as Ifaz Khan left, Palak approached Tae and said,

"I see you eat all day long. Why aren't you gaining weight? If you're so skinny, you'll have problems later."

Tae looked at him with angry eyes, 'What's the problem?'

Palak pursed his lips and smiled, 'You won't have any problems, your lover might have problems.'

With these words, Tae pressed Palak's foot very hard with his heel. Instead of writhing in pain, Palak forced a smile on his face and stared at him. Tae smiled back. 'How do bird feathers feel?'

Palak whispered, "I can only tell you that after we get married."

Tae raised his leg with a hard face and laid down on it again. This time Palak could no longer hide the pain. His eyes and face wrinkled.

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Tae's birthday was celebrated in a very beautiful way. Five minutes after Palak left, the doorbell rang again. Ifaz had gone to his room. Tae was cleaning the kitchen at that time. It was 1:30 in the morning. Who would come at this time?? Tae frowned. He peeked through the keyhole and saw that no one was there. But something like a box could be seen below. Tae opened the door and looked around. No! No one was in sight. The box was decorated very beautifully. A card was written on top, 'Happy Birthday, This is a little gift for you.'

A two and a half foot sized gift is small!! No one could see who had sent the gift. Tae dragged it inside with a shaky hand. No matter which way it went! Who doesn't want a free gift?

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With the joy of birthday laughter, the named called Jungkook slowly disappeared from Tae's brain. For a while...

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