Two days had passed, and Y/N was still ignoring Namjoon. No matter how many times he apologized or tried to make her smile the damage had already been done.

She was shattered, and his attempts at reconciliation were powerless to bring her back to how she once was. Namjoon’s heart broke with every glance at her distant, cold demeanor. He cursed Seoyoon for this, if she wasn't here, none of this would’ve happened.

Sitting in his office, Namjoon stared blankly at his desk, lost in thought. Today was Y/N’s birthday, and he wanted to make it special for her, to show her how much he cared.

But his mind was plagued with uncertainty. What if she didn’t forgive him? What if she left him forever? His chest tightened at the thought, but he shook it off. He had to try.

After finishing his work, Namjoon headed to the bakery. He bought a beautiful milky cake her favorite and couldn’t help but smile as he imagined her enjoying it.

Next, he stopped by the flower shop and carefully picked out a bouquet of fresh blooms that reminded him of her. He placed the cake and flowers in the car, feeling a glimmer of hope but just as he was about to head home he realized he hadn’t bought her a gift yet.

Rushing to the mall, he wandered aimlessly through the aisles overwhelmed by the options. Dresses shoes jewelry he wanted to buy everything for her but he knew she preferred simple and elegant things.

After much deliberation he chose a delicate piece of jewelry hoping it would convey his feelings.

Meanwhile, at home Y/N was a whirlwind of emotions. She had spent the day doing chores, but her mind kept circling back to the pain Namjoon had caused her.

As she finished up and slumped onto the sofa, her thoughts turned dark. She needed to escape. She couldn’t stay here any longer. Her gaze shifted to the clock it was 7 p.m. Namjoon wouldn’t be home until 9. It was the perfect time.

But then, a bittersweet thought struck her it was her birthday. A sad smile played on her lips. He hadn’t even wished her, let alone acknowledged it.

Any lingering hope she had vanished. Her heart sank further as she assessed her options. The front door was locked, and the kitchen window was far too small. That left only one way the balcony upstairs.

The cold winter air hit her as she stepped onto the balcony, clad in warm clothes. She looked down, her stomach churning. Could she really jump? What if she got hurt? She hesitated, pacing back and forth.

Her eyes fell on Namjoon’s wallet and for a moment she thought of taking some money. But guilt held her back. Finally, desperation overcame her. She grabbed a few money tucked them into her pocket nd returned to the balcony.

She stood at the edge, staring down at the small garden below. Her fear paralyzed her and she stepped back  her breathing shallow.

But time was ticking. Taking a deep breath she climbed over the railing her hands trembling. She closed her eyes mustered all her courage and jumped.

The landing wasn’t as smooth as she’d hoped. She fell onto the grass, a sharp pain shooting through her ankle.

"Ouch" she hissed, rubbing the back of her foot. Relief and pain mingled as she tried to stand. But just as she steadied herself, she froze. A presence loomed nearby. Slowly, she turned her head and met Namjoon’s eyes.

Her heart sank. He was standing there, holding the cake, flowers, and gift bag, his expression a mixture of shock and pain. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice quiet but trembling.

Y/N’s eyes widened. She shook her head, unable to find the words. Namjoon stepped closer, his grip on the items tightening as though they were anchoring him. "You hate me that much?" he asked, his voice cracking.

She tried to get up, avoiding his gaze, but he grabbed her wrist gently yet firmly. Without a word he led her back inside the house locking the door behind them. Y/N’s heart raced, fear clawing at her chest. What if he hurt her? What if the side of him she feared most emerged again?

Namjoon placed everything on the kitchen table and turned to her. "Come here" he said softly. She hesitated but obeyed, her body tense. He smiled faintly as he lit the candles on the cake. "It’s your birthday. Let’s cut the cake."

Y/N blinked, stunned. Why wasn’t he angry? Why wasn’t he saying anything about what just happened? Her mind spun as he clapped his hands lightly urging her to blow out the candles.

Mechanically she cut the cake, her hands trembling. She offered him a small piece which he took with a gentle smile. Then he fed her a piece, his eyes soft.

"Happy birthday, dear wifey" he said, holding out the bouquet.

"T-thank you" she stammered, her voice devoid of emotion.

"And this is for you" he added, handing her the bouquet."I’ll go change, you should change into this too and then we’ll watch a movie and have a candlelight dinner. I already ordered your favorite food. It should be here soon." He smiled brightly and rushed upstairs, leaving her standing there, stunned.

She stared at the bouquet, her heart conflicted. This was not the Namjoon she expected. When he returned he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she flinched instinctively.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, scanning her face with concern.

"Nothing" she whispered, shaking her head.

He chuckled softly, his voice tinged with sadness. "Don’t worry. It’s your birthday. I won’t do anything today." He paused, his smile fading slightly. "I'll teach you a lesson after 12...but for now, let's enjoy" His words sent a chill down her spine.

For now, he led her to the living room his demeanor light and cheerful. Y/N sat stiffly her mind racing. Was this genuine? Or was it just the calm before the storm? One thing was clear escaping wouldn’t be so easy or she did wrong.

Namjoon led Y/N into the living room, his arm still draped over her shoulders. She felt uneasy, her mind still processing everything that had just happened.

Could she trust him? His sudden shift in demeanor felt too good to be true, yet he seemed genuine. His eyes held a softness she hadn’t seen in a long time, but the fear still lingered in her chest.

"Sit here" Namjoon said, guiding her to the couch. He handed her the remote. "You can pick the movie. Anything you want. I’ll get the table set up for dinner."

Y/N hesitated before taking the remote. Her fingers hovered over the buttons as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He moved to the dining table, arranging the candles and unpacking the food with care.

The scent of her favorite dishes wafted through the air, and for a moment it stirred a flicker of warmth in her heart. She hadn’t had a proper meal in days her appetite had been buried under the weight of her emotions.

After a moment of deliberation, she selected a movie a lighthearted romantic comedy. She wasn’t in the mood for watching any movie but she had no choice.

Namjoon returned with a tray of cake and set it on the coffee table in front of her. "You chose well" he said, smiling. "I think we both need something cheerful right now.'

Namjoon watched her carefully, his heart aching at how guarded she seemed. He wanted to say something to reassure her but he was afraid of pushing her further away.

"I’m sorry" he said suddenly, his voice low but steady. She froze, her fork hovering midair. 'For everything. I know I’ve hurt you, and I’ve made mistakes I can’t take back. But I’m trying, Y/N. I’m trying to fix this."

She looked down at her plate, unsure of how to respond. His words sounded sincere, but the wounds were still fresh. "You can’t fix everything, Namjoon' she said softly, her voice barely audible.

He nodded, his expression somber. "I know. But I want to try...please just don't make me angry."

As the movie progressed Namjoon began to laugh at the funny scenes. At first, Y/N only glanced at him surprised by his genuine laughter.

Eventually, she found herself smiling at the screen too, though her guard was still up. For the first time in days the heavy tension between them seemed to ease even if just slightly.

When the movie ended, Namjoon stood and stretched. "That was nice" he said, turning to her. "Thank you for watching it with me."

Y/N nodded, still unsure of how to respond. He began clearing the plates and tray from the coffee table, insisting she stay seated. "I’ll handle this. It’s your birthday, after all."

After tidying up, Namjoon lit the candles on the dining table and dimmed the lights in the room. "We didn’t get a proper chance to enjoy dinner earlier. Let’s have a real candlelight moment" he said, pulling out a chair for her. She hesitated but eventually joined him at the table.

He poured her a glass of juice and raised his own. "To you, Y/N" he said, his voice soft but earnest. "To your happiness. I know I don’t deserve to ask, but I hope I can still be a part of it."

She looked at him, her chest tightening at his words. She didn’t respond, simply taking a sip of her drink instead. Namjoon didn’t press her instead letting the peaceful silence settle over them.

The flickering candlelight softened his features, making him look almost like the man she had fallen in love with long ago.

As they finished the meal, Namjoon leaned back in his chair and smiled at her. "I’ve got one more surprise" he said, standing and disappearing upstairs. He returned moments later with a small box in his hand.

"This" he said, handing it to her, "is something I chose for you. I hope you like it."

Y/N opened the box cautiously. Inside was a simple yet elegant necklace with a tiny, delicate charm a symbol of their bond fragile yet meaningful. She traced her fingers over it her emotions swirling.

"Thank you" she said softly, meeting his gaze for the first time that evening. His eyes lit up, a hopeful smile tugging at his lips.

"You’re welcome" he said gently. "Happy birthday, Y/N."

The night carried on quietly after that. They didn’t speak much but for the first time in a long time the silence wasn’t unbearable. It was fragile like a glass bridge over a chasm, but it was a start.

Even as her heart remained wary, Y/N couldn’t deny the flicker of something that felt almost like hope. She was still scared what will he do to her for what she had done today.

His spoken words were ringing in her mind again and again."I'll teach you a lesson after 12" she sighed, and tried to prepare her mind for what next coming for her.