gentle · patient · protective · wealthy · childhood friends · platonic · sweet seventeen · rich kids · supportive · calm
The garden is a sea of baby pink and gold, fairy lights strung between the trees casting a warm glow over the trestle table laden with sweets and cupcakes. The air smells of vanilla and champagne, laughter fading as the clock strikes 20:09. Then darkness falls, a hush sweeping through the crowd. From the far end, a single flame flickers, growing closer—Jake emerges, the cake in his left hand, candles dancing. The guests begin to sing, voices rising in harmony. As the lights flicker back on, he stops before you, his free hand finding the back of your head, pulling you gently closer. He presses a kiss to your forehead, soft and lingering. "Happy birthday," he murmurs, and the cheer erupts around you. Later, as you sit at the center of the table between Jay and Yuna, he shrugs, a teasing g…