...
After the brief moment of flirting, Theo barely had time to recover from the initial thrill when Nayun, with her inexhaustible energy, was already clapping her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Time for presents!"
She announced with the authority of someone who had organized everything.
"Come on, everyone! Who's going to be first?"
"Me! Me! Me!"
Cappie practically leaped from where she was, waving her hand in the air like a schoolchild. Without waiting for an answer, she ran over, bringing her box, which was wrapped in what appeared to be three different types of gift paper, all chaotically held together with enough tape to repair a ship.
"This is mine!"
She announced proudly, pushing the box towards Theo.
"Open it already!"
Theo looked at the mountain of adhesive tape with an expression that mixed amusement and despair.
"I'm going to need scissors to open this."
"Say no more!"
Cappie materialized a hunting knife from somewhere, offering it with an innocent smile.
"Where were you hiding that?"
Nayun asked, taking a step back.
"A girl has her secrets."
She replied with a wink.
After a few seconds of struggling against what seemed like miles of adhesive tape, Theo finally managed to open the package. His eyes widened when he saw what was inside.
"An RTX 5090?!"
He exclaimed, holding the box of the latest-generation graphics card as if it were made of crystal.
"Cappie, this must have cost a fortune!"
Cappie waved her hand dismissively, but her smile was radiant.
"Oh, it was nothing! Besides..."
She leaned in, lowering her voice to a theatrical whisper that everyone in the room could hear perfectly.
"...You'll let me use it to play sometimes, right?"
The room exploded into laughter as Theo shook his head, amused.
"So that's the real reason."
"Of course not!"
Cappie protested, crossing her arms.
"It's just a... side benefit."
"My turn."
Suho stepped forward, handing Theo a small, elegant box. Unlike Cappie's gift, this one was impeccably wrapped in navy blue paper.
Theo opened it, revealing a Rolex watch. The piece gleamed under the room's lights, the deep blue dial contrasting perfectly with the polished metal.
"It's waterproof up to 300 meters."
Suho explained with a calm smile.
"I know it's not something useful for the current times."
"It's amazing, thank you so much."
Theo replied, putting the watch on his wrist.
Hazuki took a hesitant step forward, holding a smaller package, wrapped in simple but neatly folded paper.
Her cheeks were already red before she even handed over the gift.
It was very cute and surprising to see her like this. When she was alone with Theo, she acted normally, but when other people were around, she always seemed embarrassed.
"I-it's nothing too special."
She murmured, avoiding Theo's gaze.
"But I hope you like it."
Theo opened the package carefully, revealing a hardcover book. It was a special edition of "The Little Prince," with restored original illustrations and a handmade binding. On the first page, Hazuki had written a dedication in her meticulous handwriting:
"For Theo-kun, who taught me that sometimes you have to feel beyond the wind to realize what truly matters."
"Hazuki... Thank you for the gift. I'll make sure to read it all later."
Preferably, normally, without using his superhuman abilities.
"It's just a book."
She replied, looking at the floor, but the small smile on her lips betrayed her satisfaction.
"My turn."
Rachel announced, handing Theo a long, narrow box. When he opened it, he found a personalized Mont Blanc fountain pen, with the name of the English royal family engraved in elegant letters on the black and gold body.
"I don't know about your preferences, so I brought something that might be useful to you."
She explained.
"Thank you, Rachel."
Theo replied, testing the pen's weight in his hand.
"Now me!"
Nayun practically jumped in front of Theo, handing him a small box that fit in the palm of his hand. Inside was a single key with the Ducati logo.
Theo looked at the key and then at Nayun, incredulous.
"You didn't."
Nayun's smile was so wide it looked like her face would split in two.
"I did, me and my brother to be precise! Hennessey Venom F5, limited edition. It's at my place, whenever you want to pick it up, just let me know."
"Nayun, this is..."
Theo shook his head, speechless.
"Too much? Absolutely perfect?"
She completed, practically bouncing with excitement.
"You can thank me by taking me for a ride later."
"Deal."
Theo replied, still looking at the key. The truth was, he didn't need any vehicle, but since it was a gift from his girlfriend, he would make sure to use it a lot in the future, of course, after he got his driver's license.
Hajin approached next, holding a small, carved wooden box. There was something in his expression, a mixture of seriousness and expectation, that immediately captured Theo's attention.
"This is... well, see for yourself."
Hajin said, handing over the box.
Theo opened it carefully. Inside, on a bed of white velvet, rested a black seed the size of an almond.
Silence fell over the room as Theo stared at the seed, his expression a mixture of shock and astonishment.
"Hajin, is this what I think it is?"
He asked in a low voice, almost a whisper.
Hajin nodded.
"Yes. I thought you would know what to do with it."
"But... are you sure? This is..."
Theo seemed genuinely speechless, and for good reason; he never would have imagined that Hajin had already been to Gari Mountain to get the Ether and Evandel's Witch's seed.
'I actually forgot to go there before.'
"I am."
Hajin replied firmly.
"It's a small thank you for everything you've done for me so far. Besides..."
He paused for a moment.
"...I think she'll have a better fate with you."
The others looked on curiously, clearly intrigued by what seemed to be just a golden seed, but which obviously meant a great deal to Theo.
"A seed, is there something special about it?"
Nayun asked, leaning in for a better look.
"Yeah, you have no idea."
Theo replied vaguely, closing the box carefully while glancing at Rachel.
"Thank you, Hajin. I'll take good care of it."
Finally, Yeonha approached, holding only what appeared to be a folder of documents and a small envelope.
"My gift is a little different."
She began, with that enigmatic smile that always left Theo intrigued.
"Actually, there are two."
She handed him the folder first. Theo opened it, revealing several pages with photos and descriptions of properties.
"These are five options for land plots."
Yeonha explained, pointing to the photos.
"They all meet the requirements you mentioned, large, quiet, with a good view. My mother selected them personally."
Theo flipped through the pages, genuinely impressed.
"Yeonha, this is..."
"It's not really a gift."
She interrupted with an elegant shrug.
"I just thought you'd like to know. After all, you were the one who asked me to talk to my mother about finding a large, quiet place to live. You mentioned something about building a house, didn't you?"
The other guests' eyes widened slightly. Building a house was a rather serious plan for someone so young.
"And this."
Yeonha continued, handing him the envelope.
"Is the real gift."
Theo opened the envelope, revealing a card with an address at the intersection of Cheongdam and Dong, one of the most upscale areas in Gangnam.
"An apartment?"
He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That's the key to my apartment, actually..."
Yeonha confirmed with a small smile.
"I thought you might want a quiet place from time to time."
There was a moment of silence as everyone processed what had just happened. Yeonha had essentially given Theo exclusive access to her own apartment, literally.
"Wow."
Nayun finally broke the silence, looking from Yeonha to Theo.
"I think my car just got outdone."
The tension broke with laughter, and Theo shook his head, a genuine smile on his face.
"Thank you, Yeonha. I'll be visiting often."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
She replied simply, but there was something in her gaze that Theo instantly understood.
The rest of the party passed in a blur of laughter, conversations, and more than one disastrous attempt by Cappie to start a pillow fight, promptly stopped by a stern look from Rachel.
Hazuki told stories from her childhood that made everyone laugh, while Hajin occasionally added dry comments that only made things funnier.
When the clock struck 8:50 PM, just ten minutes before the curfew set by instructor Kim Soohyuk, the party naturally began to disperse.
"Well, time to go."
Hajin announced, standing up.
"Thanks for the party, it was... surprisingly pleasant."
"That's practically a compliment coming from you."
Nayun teased, giving him a light push on the shoulder.
"I have to go too."
Hazuki said softly, gathering her things. "I have early training tomorrow."
"I can take you."
Theo offered, standing up.
"It'll be faster than walking."
"Teleportation?"
Cappie asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Can I come along? I've always wanted to try it!"
"You live with us."
Nayun pointed out, rolling her eyes.
"So what? It's for the experience!"
Cappie protested.
"Another day, Cappie."
Theo promised with a smile.
"I'll take Hajin and Hazuki first, since their dorms are farther away."
With a fluid gesture, Theo cast a spell that enveloped him, Hajin, and Hazuki.
A flash of blue light later, they were gone. Minutes later, Theo returned alone.
"Express delivery complete."
He announced with a smile.
"Anyone else?"
Suho stood up, stretching his arms.
"I think I'll take the elevator. My apartment is just two floors up, and after all that cake, I need the exercise."
"I'll help clean up before I go."
Rachel offered, already starting to collect disposable cups.
"No way."
Nayun intervened, taking the cups from her hands.
"Cappie, Yeonha, and I will handle it. It was our idea, after all."
"Me?"
Cappie protested from the couch, where she was already comfortably sprawled.
"But I'm in a food coma!"
"Get your lazy butt up and come help."
Nayun ordered, throwing a pillow that hit Cappie right in the face.
"Violence is not the answer, Nayun."
Cappie muttered, but she started to get up anyway.
"I'll walk you to your dorm."
Theo offered to Rachel, who initially seemed to hesitate.
"It's not necessary."
She replied, adjusting the strap of her bag.
"I know the way."
"I know you do."
Theo insisted gently.
"But it's late, and I'd like to talk a little more. If you don't mind, of course."
Rachel studied him for a moment before nodding slightly.
"Alright."
After saying their goodbyes to everyone, with Yeonha giving Theo a look that clearly said "I'll be waiting," Theo and Rachel went out into the quiet hallway of the building.
The night was surprisingly pleasant, and the sky above was speckled with stars.
"Thanks for coming today."
Theo broke the silence as they walked side by side.
"It meant a lot to me."
Rachel kept her eyes fixed on the path ahead.
"It was just a birthday."
"Not to me."
Theo replied softly.
"I haven't celebrated my birthday since... well, since I lost my family. Today was the first time in a long time."
Rachel glanced at him, her expression softening almost imperceptibly.
"I see."
They walked in silence for a few more moments before Rachel spoke again.
"It's not easy, you know."
She said softly.
"Being in a group like this. It's not... natural for me."
"You did very well."
Theo assured her.
"You even wore a tiara."
"Don't remind me."
She replied, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice. Being with the girls was apparently starting to do her good.
Especially with Yoo Yeonha, with whom she could talk about almost the same subjects.
It might not have seemed like it, but Rachel and Yeonha had been getting along very well these past few weeks, unlike the start they had when Theo was reading the novel.
"I have a reputation to maintain."
"Your secret is safe with me."
Theo promised, placing a hand over his heart in a theatrical gesture.
When they arrived in front of Rachel's dorm room door, she turned to face him, her face partially illuminated by the light from above.
"Thank you for the company."
She said formally, but there was a sincerity in her voice that wasn't usually present.
"It was my pleasure."
Theo replied.
"And Rachel, thank you. Not just for the gift, but for making the effort to be there. I know it's not easy for you."
For a moment, Rachel seemed genuinely surprised, as if she didn't expect to be understood so easily. Then, something rare happened: she smiled, a small but real smile that completely transformed her face.
"Happy birthday, Theo."
She said simply, before turning and walking through the door.
Theo stood there for a moment, watching the door close, a thoughtful smile on his face. Then, with his hands in his pockets, he turned and began to walk back to his own dorm, the stars shining silently above.
"Time to claim my special present..."
...
Next chapter (R18)