From Chapter 35
After spending time with them, the day had already started to feel magical. But what I didn't expect was Wyatt, standing in my living room with his signature mischievous grin and a helmet dangling from his hand, instead of going back.
"Let's go for a ride," he declared, completely skipping any formalities.
I blinked at him. "A ride? Wyatt, it's my birthday, not a racing event."
"Exactly!" he shot back, tossing me the second helmet. "And what better way to celebrate turning eighteen than feeling the wind in your hair and ditching all those serious thoughts you keep juggling?"
I hesitated. "But there's so much to do. I still have-"
"Yeim," he interrupted, raising an eyebrow, "you're not going to spend your birthday locked up planning your future. Get dressed. You've got five minutes."
I couldn't help but laugh at his audacity. "You're awfully bossier than ever."
"Technically, I'm only older than you," he quipped, crossing his arms. "And besides, I'm doing this for your own good. Trust me, you'll thank me later. And dress up in this. I prepared this. The second birthday gift from me." Wyatt said, showing me the bag on the tea table.
Still chuckling, I caved. I dress in the outfit brought by Wyatt, a matching style to his.
A vibrant red, corset-type crop top with thin straps. Sleek black faux-leather pants. A black leather biker jacket with red and white accents.
I wore a pair of black patent leather platform boots with lace-up details. A black leather belt. Cross Pendant Necklace. Black velvet Choker with Star Charm and some matching silver accessories.
Ten minutes later, I was on the back of his sleek black motorbike, gripping his shoulders as he revved the engine. The cool Boston breeze hits my face as we sped off, the city blurring around us.
"Hold on tight, princess!" Wyatt called over his shoulder, his voice tinged with playful teasing.
"I'm holding on for dear life, you lunatic!" I cried back, laughing as he maneuvered through the streets with effortless ease.
We zipped through the city, passing familiar landmarks, yet they seemed entirely different from the back of a bike. The Charles River glistened under the afternoon sun, and the streets bustled with life. Wyatt took the long route, weaving through quieter neighborhoods and scenic paths.
"You're quiet back there," Wyatt teased as we slowed down near a park. "Second thoughts about trusting me?"
"Not at all," I replied. "Just enjoying the moment. You're surprisingly good at this."
"Surprisingly?" he repeated, feigning offense. "I'll have you know, I'm an excellent rider. A natural, even."
I rolled my eyes, though he couldn't see it. "Sure, Wyatt. And I'm the queen of Boston."
"Queen of Boston has a nice ring to it," he joked, pulling the bike over to a quiet spot overlooking the river. "Alright, Madam Queen, dismount."
As we got off the bike, I stretched, shaking off the tingling in my legs. Wyatt leaned against the handlebars, watching me with an amused expression.
"You know," he said, his tone softer now, "you're not supposed to work this hard on your birthday."
"I know," I admitted, brushing a stray hair from my face. "But there's always so much to do. It feels like if I stop for even a second, everything will fall apart."
He tilted his head, studying me. "That's exactly why you needed this. A little freedom, even if it's just for an hour."
I smiled at him, genuinely touched by his thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Wyatt. This was... fun. I needed it."
"Of course," he replied, grinning again. "Besides, I couldn't let you turn eighteen without a proper adventure."
We stood there for a while, watching the river and chatting about everything and nothing. Wyatt kept the mood light, cracking jokes and teasing me about how I nearly screamed when he took a sharp turn earlier. I was scared for my life and was not feeling any physical or mental exhaustion, which I usually felt.
Eventually, he checked his watch and clapped his hands. "Alright, let's get you back. You've got... plans."
I raised an eyebrow. "Plans?"
"Yep. Plans. Lots of them. Very important, very secret plans," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Wyatt, what are you up to?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Me? Up to something? Never!" he said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart.
I shook my head, laughing. "You're impossible."
"And you love it," he shot back as we climbed back onto the bike.
The ride back felt even more exhilarating, the wind carrying away any lingering stress. By the time we returned home, I felt lighter, freer, and happier than I had in weeks.
As I hopped off the bike and handed him the helmet, Wyatt smirked. "Happy birthday, Yeim. Trust me, the day's only going to get better."
I didn't know what he meant at the time, but the way he said it made me suspicious. Still, I chose not to question it further, instead thanking him with a playful shove.
"Thanks, Wyatt. You're not that silly."
"High praise," he replied with a mock bow. "Now go inside. I'm sure something or someone is waiting for you."
As I stepped through the front door, the sound of hushed whispers and the sight of balloons greeted me, and it clicked. Wyatt's "distraction" hadn't just been about the ride; it was part of something much bigger. But for now, I was just grateful for the small adventure we'd shared, and the friend who always knew how to make me smile.
Seeing that my parents were there, I was really surprised. I ran to them and hugged them. The house was filled with people. There were my parents, Ivan, my grandparents, my mom's godparents, my godparents, and also other relatives.
After catching up for a while with Isuki, I knew our house was filled with people. We have 4 guest houses outside the mansion, and they are large enough for a 2 to 3-family of 5 to stay. Isuki said that all our guest houses are filled. I was still shocked and wasn't expecting this much, as I usually celebrate my birthday on 03rd October with my paternal family. Even in our family tree, my birthday was on 03rd October, but I don't know why. The reason is that my birthday on the birth certificates, ID cards, and everything else says it's 03rd August.
Mom came to my room, and soon 2 women came in formal suits. Mom asked me to choose a dress. There were 5 dresses for me to choose from. All are red colors. I chose a stunning mermaid gown exuding elegance and dramatic flair. It features a sweetheart neckline that accentuates the silhouette, while the back is designed like a tied bra crafted from fabric. The ends of the tied detail cascade gracefully, forming drapes that flow seamlessly to the hem of the dress. The ensemble is completed with matching, opera-style gloves that elegantly cover most of the arms, paired with sophisticated Jimmy Choo heels for a perfectly coordinated look.
The evening brought an extravagant party. The venue was our hotel, decorated with fairy lights and fresh flowers, and buzzed with excitement. From entering to socializing and everything felt like I was an important figure in the country.
Guests included not only my closest friends but also the members of BTS, Blackpink, Taeyong, along with a few members of his group. Yeonjun and his members and Hyunjin and his members were also there, adding to the star-studded gathering. I could barely guess who occupied the guest houses.
There were also a few or more unfamiliar faces, most likely my family friends or business partners.
"You've outdone," I said to Xingyi and Aaron, giving me a playful grin as we posed for photos.
"I had help," She replied, gesturing towards the remaining staff members and my group members.
The highlight of the night was cutting an enormous cake surrounded by everyone I cared about.
My paternal grandfather gave a heartfelt speech, and I also thanked people for coming to my birthday. The next surprise was Ariana. Although we have quite a good relationship, I was really surprised by her participation in the party. She is my favorite singer and everyone knows, and also she, herself, knows about it.
The end of the party was closing with some of the people who stayed in our mansion flying back overnight. I came back after letting Isuki handle all the gifts I have received tonight.
When I returned home, exhausted but happy, I found yet another surprise. My room was filled with a few teddy bears on the bed and floating balloons on the roof had chocolates hanging with their threads, and the floor was filled with different kinds of chocolates.
"Happy Birthday, princess," I looked back to see Ivan. Ivan was there all the time at the party and gave me a few reassuring smiles when I looked at him, hoping to have a wish from him throughout the time, which I didn't receive. He also went missing after I cut my cake.
This time, I broke down and threw myself in his embrace, hitting him a few times on his chest.
"Bro, I really thought you were angry at me, but I don't know what I did. I expected you to wish me a happy birthday, but you didn't. When I wanted to have an explanation from you, you weren't at the party. I couldn't look for you." I continue complaining about his ignoring me and me being helpless and depressed about it. He patiently listened from start to end. Then he stroked my hair.
"It's my fault. Forgive me, okay? Princess? There won't be a next time," He said, and I nodded. I was in his embrace for a few minutes before Ivan coaxed me to go and have a wash.
August 04
I did my morning routine and came out to see it was passed midnight. Ivan was already there waiting for me after taking a wash.
"Xingyi and Isuki came to report, and I let them wash as you were inside the bathroom," Ivan said, and I hummed. I could barely step into the room because of all the chocolates.
"Help me!" I said, and with the help of Ivan, I separated the chocolates from the balloon threads and collected all of them in a box I brought from downstairs and tied all the balloons together, and put them in a corner of the room. I also leave the teddy bears in my room, and also collect all the chocolates in the room.
When I was almost done, Isuki and Xingyi came inside. Isuki said he had already put all the gifts in a cleared reception hall with Ivan's instructions. Xingyi said that the letters given by fans will be sent to me, and all the gifts have been sent to my apartment in Seoul. After each of them reported the work, they went back, and Ivan also put me to sleep before going back.
This birthday wasn't just a celebration of turning 18; it was a reminder of the people who made my life brighter every day.
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