BIRTHDAY

Din opened his eyes and saw Nan turn her face towards him. It was calm for a moment, Din felt a slow breeze made his hair brushes his forehead. How happy Din is to see Nan's face, Din felt as if he just breathe today. Until a loud voice breaks in,

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIN!!!"

Din surprised and he just remembered that today is his birthday. There is Nan, Veo, Tap, Charm, other his friends from the agency even P' Tol.

"Happy birthday to my bro here!" Charm shouted and hugged Din. The others are teasing Charm relate their last series as a bl couple, "Hoo.. you mean your wifey?!". Everyone laughs at that moment. Nan cut in to bring the birthday cake, "Okay! Now it's time for the main event!"

Din is standing in the middle and everyone sang a birthday song for him,

Happy birthday to you~

Happy birthday to you~

Happy birthday to happy birthday ~

Happy birthday to Din~

Din smiled when hearing others sing and clapped their hands while his eyes caught on Nan's sweet smile. The other finished singing, Din start make wishes and blow on his birthday cake. Everyone continues to clap their hands and welcomed to have their meals.

"Happy birthday, Din! Haha!" P'tol smacked Din's back.

"Aww thanks, P'tol!"

"You look perfectly fine now unlike before." P'tol putting his goofy face.

"Well… um.. that's…"

"Seems like the prank she put on you got you way more than just confused." P' Tol smiled and glance to Nan. Din smiled. His cheek reddened and he drinks his cola to hide his blushing face.

"Ah, about tomorrow, P' Tol!" Din is worried because his recent condition is because of Nan's prank.

"It's alright, it doesn't matter what the cause is, you need some time off after all. Just think of it as an incentive!" P' Tol pated Din's shoulder.

"Okay, thanks, P' Tol!"

After walking around and greet his friends, Din saves up his last time for Nan. Din approach Nan and hugged her. Nan surprised being aware of her surroundings, "he-heyy! what are you thinking?!" Nan tries to push Din away but he said, "Thank you for throwing this party!".

Nan raised her eyebrows, "How do you know I'm the one who planned this?"

Din release his hug and face her, "Well, if it was my friends over there, they would know my taste." Din is being sarcastic.

"What? You mean the party?"

"No, your pranks!" Din flicked Nan's forehead.

"Ouch..! Heyy!"

Din raised his chin a bit high, "What?! What? You're angry?! I should be the one who's angry with that kind of childish prank!"

Nan gets Din is really pissed with her prank and said, "Okayy, I'm sorry.. na? Naaa? Nong Dinnnn. Forgive me, please!"

"No!"

"Okay, how can I make it up to you?"

"It won't be easy"

"Come on! I'll do anything! Okay, Nong Din??"

"Anything?"

"Anything!". Din let out his evil smile and Nan thought maybe she shouldn't have said that.

"I think I just saw a mouse got into a cage trap! Did you, Tap?!" Veo teased Nan and Din. Then, Tap continues the joke, "Maybe the bait it's tasty till it's worth to be caught! lol," They burst into laughter.

"Definitely a fancy cheese, I guess lol" Din had fun but Nan pouted. "Aww somebody is pouting. It's nothing compares what you did to me!"

Nan is troubled yet happy by seeing a new side of Din. She smiled saying, "Wow you are definitely holding a grudge haha" and Din laugh.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Tap, when did you leave?" Nan asked Tap.

"Oh, it's this weekend." Tap answered.

Nan got worried about Tap leaving because these days she's been busy thinking about work and Din's birthday party, then asked, "Have you prepared everything? Do you need help? Don't bother to ask me if you need anything, okay?!"

Tap appreciates Nan offers to help but he more concerned about another thing that is why he's here to spend time with everyone, "It's alright, I can handle it! But, I'm afraid today will be our last meeting before I depart."

"Tapp… I'll miss you!" Nan's eyes are teary and they hugged.

"Enough with the sad hugs!" Din patted Nan and Tap's back. "I'm rooting for you, Tap! Don't forget to have fun and overworked yourself there, okay?!"

Din adds a few farewell lines and Veo put his arm above Tap's shoulder, "I'll always remind you to have fun!". Tap blushing and he smiled at Veo.

"Get a room.." Din mumbled and smile widely. Nan kicked Din's feet for saying inappropriate words and he laughed.

"Okay! It's my birthday and Tap's farewell now, so let's have some fun!!!"

"CHEERS!!!" Everyone lift their glass and that day ended in delight.

******

Nan POV since the promised breakfast.

Nan is on her period that day and she about to note the date. When she saw the calendar, she realized August is about to end and Din's birthday is coming up at the beginning of next month. Nan panicked because she hasn't prepared anything.

She called Veo for some advice.

"Veo! Din's birthday is coming up what should I do?!"

"What? Have you prepare a gift?"

"That's the problem! I forgot."

"Lol. How can you forget? It's not like you! You used to celebrate your favorite actors with fan clubs!"

"Do you think I can afford to look at those group chats these days?"

"Oh, you've got a point! Lol"

"Hmm how about I throw him a party?"

"That's fine, I guess. But, can you make time for that?"

"Hm.."

"Okay, I'll give you a hand. Just a bit."

Veo has been thinking to make Nan did a lowly prank for Din. He thought if Nan avoids him for some time, it would help him realize his deeper feelings for Nan. Since Nan is stupid to recognize something like this, Din should be the first one to step forward.

"Here is the thing, you gotta avoid him till the party is held."

"What?? Why?"

"Pranks do leave memories, don't you think?"

"No, I think it'll piss him off."

"Well, I think so too, but he will be so happy to see you and everyone at the party you held for him! You want him to be happy, right?"

"Of course, but!"

"Trust me! I'm sure he will not be angry."

"But tomorrow I had a promise with Din!"

"Nice, ditch him."

"WTF?!"

"Buddy, trust me. People got closer after the conflict."

"..."

"Nan?"

"Veo, sometimes I don't get what you're talking about."

"LOL Okay, I'll hang up. Avoid him, Okay?"

"Alright… alright…"

Then Nan really ditches him like what Veo said the day after. She saw chats and calls keep coming in. She really wanted to pick up but held it so she can focus prepared everything for Din's party.

Nan keeps working and takes classes as usual, but afford to make time to do the party's preparation. She came up to rent a place on Din's rooftop condo. Nan also got help from Tap to invite Din's a few closes colleagues. Nan keeps in touch with P' Tol so they not run into each other and she did the decoration and preparation on-site with Veo. While waiting for others, Veo asked Nan, "How is it feel this 3 days?"

"Busier than usual,"

"I mean is do you feel some kind of uncomfortable or keep thinking the same person over and over again? Hm?"

"Um… no, I don't think so. I just keep thinking about work and this preparation."

"Wa- wait? Do you think this is some kind of work?"

"No, but this need a lot of things to prepare. This is for Din so I have to do this, it's just a natural thing to do."

Veo putting on a fake smile and let out a long sigh, "I'm the one who asked you, why am I pissed off?"

"Do you talk to me?"

"..." Veo's hopeless gaze put on to his best friend.

******

The day after, as Nan said to do anything Din asked. Nan will accompany Din on his day off.

Nan is done with her meeting and Din picked her up.

"Yo!" Din honked and called Nan that looks for him. Nan gets into Din's car.

"How's the meeting?" Din asked.

Nan told Din that the meeting was a bit more tense than usual. Nan has to make sure that the whole part went well in sync.

"Well, other than that I'm pretty confident about this, but still worried about the process on the field, I mean when the shooting runs."

"Nothing's wrong with being worried. Everyone had their first time, it'll be alright!" Din turned on the radio to make Nan feel relaxed. Nan leans her head back and exhales.

"Well, anyway, where are we going?" Nan curious because Din didn't tell her.

"Someplace."

"Oh, come on! Spill it!"

"Nope!"

"Akh... No fun"

"Hahaha rest up it���ll be more than one hour!"

"Sure, whatever!" Nan drinks the tea she brought from the office and take a nap.