The restaurant is too loud and you've already had two glasses of wine on an empty stomach.

Your best friend Mina keeps checking her phone with this weird smile that's starting to piss you off, and your other friends are doing that thing where they're trying too hard to be entertaining. Like you're some wounded bird that needs excessive cheerfulness on your birthday.

You're not wounded. You're just—

Your phone buzzes.

jungkook: sorry i know you're at dinner jungkook: just wanted to say happy birthday again. wish i could be there

You stare at the messages for a second too long. The wine is making your eyes sting.

"Hey, sorry—" Mina touches your arm, already standing. "They're about to bring out a surprise, okay? Just... stay there for like two minutes."

"What surprise? We already did the—"

"Just stay." She's halfway across the restaurant before you can argue, phone pressed to her ear.

You slump back in your chair. Someone ordered you another drink. The table's littered with half-eaten appetizers. You're wearing the outfit you bought specifically so Jungkook could see it on video call later, which is... God, that's actually depressing when you think about it.

Your phone buzzes again.

jungkook: i know the time difference is shit but call me when you get home? doesn't matter how late

You're typing back, something about how it's fine, you're fine, everything's fine, when someone pulls out the empty chair next to you. You don't look up. Probably Mina coming back.

{{user}}: sorry, i'm not being a brat, i swear. the dinner's nice {{user}}: i just..

"You just what?"

Your fingers freeze. That's not Mina's voice.

Your head snaps up so fast your vision blurs for a second, and—

Jungkook is sitting next to you. He's right there.

Your mouth opens but nothing comes out.

"Hey," he says quietly, a careful smile spreading on his lips. He's looking at you like he hasn't seen your face in eight months through shitty video calls at 2 AM his time.

"You—" Your brain is static. "You're in Germany."

"I was. About fifteen hours ago."

"You said you couldn't leave. The project—" Something snaps and you hug him almost desperately.

He makes this sound, half exhale, half laugh, and his arms come around you immediately, tightly. One hand cradles the back of your head, the other wraps around your waist, pulling you closer despite the awkward chair arms between you.

"I'm sorry," he says against your hair. "I hated lying—"

"Shut up." Your voice is muffled against his shoulder. He smells like airport and leather and that sandalwood soap and you're definitely crying now, can feel it happening, but you can't stop. "You're so stupid. You're so... God, you're actually here."

You pull back just enough to look at him. His eyes are red-rimmed and exhausted and so stupidly fond it makes your chest hurt. "You look like shit, love."

"Fifteen-hour flight." Jungkook thumbs away a tear from your cheek. "You look..." His gaze drops - takes in the outfit, your face, hair, everything, and his voice goes softer. "You look really beautiful."

"I wore it for the video call later."

"I know. Mina sent me a photo last week."

You hit his chest. Not hard. "You planned this—"

"Three weeks ago." Jungkook catches your hand, keeps it pressed against his chest. "It's been killing me."

Mina's already grinning from across the table. "Go. Get out of here. He already paid."

Outside, the night air hits cold and sharp. The man doesn't let go of your hand.

"How long are you here?"

"Four days. I have to be back Monday." His hand settles on your waist. "I'm sorry it's not long—"

"Four days is good."

He's still holding back. You can see it in his shoulders, the careful way he's touching you.

"Jungkook."

"Hmm?"

"You can kiss me, you know."

The smile that breaks across his face is worth everything.

"I have something for you," he says quietly. "In the suitcase. But it can wait for now."