"Happy birthday, Kai!" someone yelled again , practically shoving a forkful of cake into his face.
"Hey—wait, I can feed myself!" Kai protested, laughing, but his friends were relentless.
"Open wide, Birthday King!" another teased, pushing the fork closer until icing smeared across his nose.
The café erupted with laughter. Phones came up immediately. "Perfect! Don't move!" someone called, snapping photos while Kai groaned. He reached for a napkin to wipe his face, only to freeze when Eli leaned over and casually swiped a bit of frosting from his cheek.
"You missed a spot," Eli said smoothly, lips tugging into a faint smile.
The table fell silent for half a beat—then exploded.
"OHHH~ look at that teamwork!"
"Eli's basically his mom!"
"Or his girlfriend—"
"Shut up!" Eli snapped, ears burning, while Kai just smirked like he was enjoying every second.
Games followed once the chaos settled. Someone suggested charades, which spiraled into ridiculous challenges. Mina guessed wrong on purpose just to make Kai act out "a chicken crossing the road." His wild flapping had everyone doubled over, but it was Eli's laugh—loud and unguarded—that made Kai exaggerate even more.
When Kai finally sat down again, out of breath, Eli silently slid a glass of juice across the table. Kai accepted it with a grin, their fingers brushing just long enough to earn a suspicious chorus of "Oooooh!" from Jace and Caleb.
"You two are hiding something," Leo accused, narrowing his eyes playfully.
Kai raised a brow, his expression innocent. "Suspicious? Of what?"
Before Eli could shoot back, Kai caught his ankle under the table, holding it firmly. Eli jerked, choking on his drink, while their friends burst into fresh laughter. The teasing kept coming in waves, but deep down, everyone could feel something between them—something no longer easy to brush off.
---
The evening wound down, the café lights dimming as the group spilled out onto the street. Boxes of leftover cake were passed around, along with loud goodbyes and promises to meet again. Kai carried his pile of gifts, still grinning when Eli tugged lightly at his sleeve.
"Hey," Eli murmured low enough that only he could hear. "Meet me at the park. Ten minutes."
Kai blinked, then smiled in curiosity. "Got it."
---
The park was quiet, bathed in the glow of streetlamps. Eli sat on a bench, fiddling nervously with a small wrapped box. His chest thumped with every second that passed—until Kai appeared, footsteps crunching on gravel.
"So," Kai said, leaning casually against the bench, "another surprise?"
Eli rolled his eyes and shoved the box at him. "Just… happy birthday again. Don't make it weird."
Kai unwrapped it carefully. A compass keychain slipped into his palm, the engraving glinting faintly: Wherever you go, I'll find you.
His smirk softened into something rare. "Eli… this is perfect."
Eli looked away, cheeks hot. "It's just a dumb idea—"
Kai crouched so their eyes met, voice gentle. "No. It's you. And I love it."
The moment hung heavy, warm. Then Kai tilted Eli's chin, stopping him from looking away. Their lips brushed softly, hesitant at first, before Eli leaned in, deepening the kiss. The world seemed to blur until there was only the two of them.
When they finally pulled back, Kai rested his forehead against Eli's, smiling. "So… can I stop pretending we're just close friends now?"
Eli let out a shaky laugh. "Shut up… but yeah."
Kai chuckled, stealing another quick kiss. "Best birthday ever."