Chapter 17 - The Immortal Plans for A Birthday Party

Every single year, two weeks before his birthday, I will start planning for the celebration. Since I was unable to hold a party for three years, I was able to this time and I was excited. I had his mother and Jaemin to help, including my clan members who I've been wanting to introduce to.

I might need to produce a few white lies since Taeyeon would be there but I knew it was a good chance to do it this year. Jaemin doesn't seem to think of it as a bad idea, he knew it was time to introduce Jiminie to the clan members and there was a dire situation that should be known.

With their help, we planned for his birthday and I had to rope in Nathaniel to get his friends invited because Taeyeon wanted to. This was getting complicated, I won't be able to find a way to get him introduced to my clan members but I guess that will have to wait.

Two weeks passed by uneventfully, and I was surprised that his birthday party was kept a secret by all attendees. No one breathed a word about it. On the day before the party, I had to remind the clan members not to overreact or scare the other humans or I will never forgive them. They were very excited to meet Jiminie for the first time.

We decided to start the party in the late afternoon, to allow Jiminie to get some shut eye as we get the event ready for the day. Most of the decorations were already up before that, but the food, drinks, cake and other assortments were supposed to be delivered on the day itself.

Jaemin and I, including the clan members, were busy preparing just for that. A lot of coordination, planning and execution were done smoothly and without any hiccups. As for the location, I didn't go all out and book a hotel ballroom since I might make Jiminie, his mother and his friends uncomfortable so I just booked a chalet big enough to accommodate everyone.

Jaemin and I were standing at the ground floor - watching as staff were moving about to tidying things up for the party to start.

"I'm glad you didn't book that ballroom," Jaemin added.

"You're here for a reason, Jae."

He looked at me. "I won't take offence to that," he said. "I keep forgetting how rich you are and you've been dripping in wealth ever since you were born. At least you got your head plastered right."

"Thanks, Jae."

"You're welcome."

"When are they coming?"

I glanced at my Rolex. "Ten minutes," I replied. "Taeyeon and Jiminie will take the car here. I sent Nathan over."

"Who?"

"My driver."

"Jesus, you got a driver too."

"Why? Do you want your own driver, Jaemin?" I asked and added slyly, "You can come over and work for me. I can arrange a driver for you."

"Shut up, don't tempt me."

I let out a laugh and pulled out my phone when I felt a vibration in my pocket. Seeing a message from Taeyeon, I replied to her message and kept the phone. "Alright people, they'll be here in five more minutes!" I raised my voice to be heard by everyone.

Hearing that from me, the staff scrambled around and they began to leave - retreating to the back part of the chalet. Soon enough, his friends started filtering into the chalet and they crowded around the entire place - amazed at the decorations and at the amount of food.

Telling them that Jiminie would be arriving soon, the party would start as soon as the birthday boy arrives.

They didn't have to wait long when the car rolled into the chalet and Jiminie got out of the car blindfolded. He had to be helped out by his mother. I stared at them, wondering why on earth did his mother blindfold him. It's not like he doesn't know his birthday is today.

Humans.

As soon as his friends saw him arrive, they began crowding around him and pulled out their mobile phones. Taeyeon guided him forwards until he faced the decorations and the assortment of foods. I watched the entire thing enfold, wondering what these mortals were doing when Taeyeon removed the blindfold.

His friends were around him by now, and they had their phones to his face - I spotted them videoing his reaction. I knew I should've done that, to immortalise the moment but I was too busy staring at him to notice. Watching his eyes go round with surprise, his mouth dropping open and a breath of laughter was enough to make me forget where I was.

Jiminie took one look at the decoration, the food and he turned around - seemingly trying to find someone in the crowd before he spotted me standing there in the distance. He broke into a huge smile, a laugh leaving his lips and he launched himself at me.

My eyes widened as I found myself dwarfed in his embrace, taken aback at his strength and his height once again. A waft of warm vanilla and I felt a kiss on my temple. "Thank you," he said, his voice was trembling with excitement. "I love you, Alice."

My eyes widened when I heard his confession and he let me go to greet his friends. As I watched him socialise, I felt someone sliding up to me. It was Jaemin. He must've heard the confession. I didn't need to turn to know what expression he had and I knew that he was about to tease me.

"Shut up, Jae."

"I ain't say a word."

"I know you're gonna say something."

"Let's get this party started."

I sighed.

.

By the time it was nine-thirty in the evening, the food was already half gone and most if not all of the kids were drunk. Even Taeyeon was drunk. She was by the kitchen trying to get more drinks. The music was loud and the speakers were booming. I was seated by the living room - nursing a glass of wine while surrounded by kids who were making out, dancing or whatever they were doing.

I was watching Jiminie dance.

Not in the creepy way.

Jiminie was enjoying himself, dancing to the music and he was all smiles as he moved. He was surrounded with the people he liked, and he was having fun. I loved watching him enjoy himself. Seeing him smile, was the only thing I loved to do. It was my favourite pastime.

He turned around suddenly, as if knowing that I was watching him and gave me a smouldering look - entrapping me in his beauty as he moved his body along to the rhythm. I realised that he was getting closer towards me and he pulled me off the sofa - pulling me to dance with him.

Smiling a little, Jiminie wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we swayed along to the rhythm. After a while, I realised that we weren't matching with the pounding music as I was too preoccupied with looking at him. His eyes were sparkling, and I knew that I would never get used to how beautiful he looked.

He leaned closer, till his lips were at my ear. I could hear him breathing. His hot breath on my ear. "Thank you for the birthday party, Alice," he said softly. "This is the best one yet."

"Happy 21st," I replied. "This is to compensate for the three birthdays I missed."

He was confused at first but then burst into a fit of giggles, falling onto me as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I was taken aback at his weight, and my wine sloshed a little as I righted myself, my arm wrapping around his waist automatically.

"You always surprise me, Alice," he said as he took a step back to look at me fondly.

"I'm glad you liked it," I said with a smile.

"Of course I do!" he replied with a pout. "Let's dance!"

So we spent the next few hours enjoying the evening amidst his friends, family and my clan members.

As we were all responsible adults, we began dispersing the kids after three in the morning and herded them into taxis as they were too drunk to get themselves oriented. I thanked God they remembered their addresses, or they would have slept on the floor and I don't think I'd be fine knowing that.

I glanced over at Taeyeon and Jiminie as I stood by the front gate - watching the kids enter taxis one by one. Taeyeon was already too drunk to stand upright so her son was holding her up by the waist. He looked pretty drunk himself, his face was reddening and it looked like he was about to fall asleep any second.

"We'll make sure everything is cleaned up, boss," Steph interrupted suddenly.

I turned to her. The other three leaders were busy directing the rest of the staff, and the clan members. I watched them for a few more minutes, they were packing up and throwing away the trash. I wanted to help them as well but she added, "Go on, we can deal with this."

I licked my lips, nodded gently and turned towards the two humans. Guiding them to my car was a big feat as I didn't want to carry them but I had little choice when Jiminie threw himself at me and wouldn't let go. Telling him to let go made him whine, so I let him hang on me as I hauled Taeyeon towards my car.

Coaxing her to climb into the passenger seat was like talking to a toddler who didn't know from left to right and I wondered how much she drank. She collapsed on the seat in a heap, and I hoped she wouldn't vomit in my car. Slamming the door shut, I went to the front passenger seat, and got Jiminie in, pulling the seatbelt to secure him in.

"Where are we going, Alice?" the little one asked curiously.

"We're going home, baby."

He giggled and slumped against the seat happily. "Okay," he replied cutely.

Chuckling at him, I started the car and adjusted the heater just as the music started filtering through the speakers. Jiminie started singing along happily, slurring over his words as I drove out of the parking lot and left the chalet.

Since it was in the wee hours of the morning, the roads were empty and our car was the only vehicle on the road. While Jiminie sang drunkenly, I hummed along to the song as we drove back to their apartment. The journey back didn't take as long as the roads were empty.

I parked at the same parking lot that I always parked and carried Taeyeon out of the car. She passed out and snored gently as I picked her up. Slamming the door shut, I rounded up to the front where Jiminie was drunkenly trying to release the seat belt but failing to.

I tried hard not to chuckle at him, and reached over to help him with the seat belt.

"Let's go, little one," I said as I jerked my head towards their lift lobby.

"Wait up, Alice!"

"Come."

"Wait! Hold my hand!"

"I'm carrying your mother, I cannot hold your hand now, love," I answered gently as I began walking towards the lift lobby. "Come on, let's head upstairs."

"Aww! But Alice!" he whined as he followed after me. "Hold my hand!"

"Later, love."

"Not later, now!"

We climbed the few steps to enter the building and headed towards the lift lobby - turning a little so I could press the button. Jiminie was whining next to me, his hand trying to grab my hand but failing as I was carrying his unconscious mother. I looked over at him, noting his pouty face and his need for attention.

"How about this?" I suggested. "After I put your mother down on her bed, I'll hold your hand all night."

He took some time to think through my suggestion, and the elevator doors slid open before he got to answer. It was until we were halfway up the building when he replied an affirmative. Trying to keep my laughter down, I thanked him he slumped his head against my own - wanting to grab me into a cuddle.

He's being very cuddly, whiny and demanding when drunk.

This is refreshing.

We got inside his apartment without incident, and I made my way towards Taeyeon's bedroom, pulling aside the quilt to put her down. She rolled over soon enough, and I tucked her in before I left the bedroom. Jiminie followed me out of her bedroom and to the kitchen, latching onto me as I poured a glass of water and dug out the painkillers before heading back inside Taeyeon's bedroom to put them on her bedside table.

She's gonna need it when she wakes up.

"Alice ~"

"Shhh, you're going to wake your mother up."

"Awwww~"

"Alright, let's go."

Holding his hand as we left her bedroom, shutting the door behind us and headed towards his bedroom. This would be the first night I would stay in his apartment, the first time ever on his bed. Jiminie was in a good mood, I don't think he knows what's happening and I think he was just happy.

Humming, he began discarding his jacket, shirt and pulled aside the quilt before crawling into bed. I was contemplating on whether I should join him in bed and hold his hand all night or leave when he's asleep. I don't think he'd appreciate it if I left halfway through the night.

Technically it was morning.

"Alice," he whined. "Come here quickly!"

"Alright."

I went to the right side, heading to the front and slid next to Jiminie who wanted to be wrapped like a little burrito. Chuckling quietly, I made myself comfortable on the bed and the comforting weight against me. Jiminie had buried himself and planted his head against the crook of my neck.

"Goodnight, Alice."

"Goodnight."

.

As I do not sleep, I spent the hours Jiminie was asleep by simply staring at him and marveling at how long I had been with him, wondering how much longer I will be with him, and the simple excitement of being with him till eternity. I was separated from him for three years, and though it was not long, it was torturous.

Even though we messaged or called frequently, it was never the same without him being physically there.

It was never really the same.

This simple moment, with him wrapped in my arms reminded me of how precious this mortal being is to me. The lengths that I had gone through to protect him and his mother from the dangers of my kind. The things that I had prepared, planned and executed meticulously over the years.

I hope it doesn't come a day where I have to tell him what I had done.

However, the matter with Taehyung was what worried me most. Even though I was prepared for it, I can't help but worry about it. It was something I cannot control, and I dislike things that I cannot control. Taehyung was an anomaly in my plan, and he plays a huge part in it.

I glanced at his sleeping face. I knew there was no point in worrying about the things that I cannot control. I have prepared for it, and I ought to be flexible about it. Letting out a soft sigh, I relaxed my hold a little and shut my eyes, wanting to recharge myself.

A few hours suspended in darkness would not hurt.

.