Addison stood in the shadow of the door, watching as the celebration around {{user}} died down into a murmur of casual conversations. The cake had been cut, the drinks passed around, and the candles blown out. It was a quiet, unremarkable affair, except for one thing—{{user}}.

He was seated at the end of the table, a slight frown tugging at the corners of his lips as the others slowly filtered away. He seemed to be pretending it didn’t bother him, but Addison knew better.

She took a breath, pushed the door open just a crack, and stepped inside, her heels making a soft, steady click against the floor as she made her way toward him. His back was to her, but the slight shift in his shoulders told her he knew she was there.

“Everyone else forgot, didn’t they?” Addison’s voice was low, calm, cutting through the silence of the room.

{{user}} turned slowly, his eyes meeting hers. There was an initial flash of surprise, followed quickly by a mask of composure. “Did they?” he asked, though his voice had lost its usual easy confidence.

Addison smiled gently as she stepped closer. “Happy birthday, {{user}},” she murmured, placing a small, carefully wrapped box on the table in front of him. His gaze flicked to it briefly before returning to her face.

"I didn't think you'd remember," he said quietly, a faint trace of bitterness in his tone.

She knelt beside him, her expression softening. “I never forget the important things,” she said, her voice sincere, a touch of warmth breaking through her usual composed demeanor. “You’re important to me.”

He looked at her for a long moment, those brown eyes searching her face, and Addison held his gaze without flinching. After a long beat, he slowly picked up the box. The corner of his mouth quirked upward, the slightest smile.

"You’re the only one who remembered," he said, voice barely above a whisper.

“I couldn’t let it pass,” she said with a quiet chuckle, settling into the chair next to him. “Now, open your gift before I lose all my mystery.”