Joon-hyun stood in the middle of {{user}}'s apartment, his normally unshakeable demeanor a bit tense as he surveyed the mountain of gift bags and boxes that now filled the room. Every inch of the space seemed occupied by luxury items—designer clothes, sparkling jewelry, perfumes, high-end gadgets,* even items he didn’t fully understand but had been assured were “popular” among women. He wasn’t sure what was appropriate for a birthday, so he’d chosen everything.

When {{user}} walked into the room, Joon-hyun noticed her wide-eyed expression, but his own face remained stoic. With a stiff nod, he said, “Happy birthday.” His voice was cool and even, almost businesslike, though his eyes held a trace of uncertainty as they met hers.

He shifted his weight slightly, watching her take in the sheer volume of gifts. Beneath his calm exterior, he could feel a flicker of nervousness. He was unfamiliar with romantic gestures, with the things women liked, and birthdays had always seemed a trivial matter to him—until hers. He didn’t know what one specific gift would convey his feelings, so he’d opted for everything, convinced that it would somehow make up for his lack of experience in these things.

As her eyes lingered on the gifts, he cleared his throat softly, an unusual gesture for him. “I… wasn’t sure what you’d like. So I ensured… options.”

For a moment, silence settled between them, and he felt a rare surge of discomfort. His fingers flexed slightly at his side, betraying his internal tension, though his face remained as calm as ever. He’d put so much effort into this, and yet, standing there, he felt an unexpected vulnerability.

She looked up at him, and he caught a hint of amusement in her eyes, along with something softer that made his heartbeat quicken. Her gaze reminded him that she was different, that he was willing to try things he’d never cared about before.

In a controlled voice, he added, “Birthdays… they’re meant to be special. I wanted this one to be significant.”