Chapter Text
“Hi! Could you please bring out the cake?” Stell said after catching the attention of one of the servers.
“Cake?” Josh asked quizzically. “Is it someone's birthday?”
“What do you mean is it someone's birthday?” Jah said with a laugh.
“Are you so old you already can't remember?” Ken also said while laughing.
Pau looked at Josh and chuckled when he continued looking confused. He bumped his knuckles gently over Josh’s left temple, before leaning closer and saying affectionately, “It's you, stupid.”
“Oh.” Josh scratched the back of his head. “Oh yeah, it is my birthday."
Pau smiled contently as he watched Josh happily wait for their friends to finish lighting the candles on the cake. He felt his heart warm at Josh’s smile as they all sang him a happy birthday.
“Man, if I only knew it was your birthday I would have baked a cake!” Stell said once Josh finished serving all of them a slice.
“I know! I didn't bring any gift."
Ken looked at Josh then back at Justin, “Ah, my gift is... this cake is my treat! Using Justin's card!"
Justin slapped Ken in the arm, “Wow, Ken!"
Josh just laughed. “It's okay, really. I wouldn't even remember if you guys didn't do this.”
“Pau didn't forget, but he also didn't tell us! I was so shocked when your sweet boyfriend here asked me for a good cake shop. We all know he doesn't like cake or any sweets. Right?” At Stell’s statement, Josh turned to look at Pau who was sitting beside him. He couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“You, sweet? Imagine that,” he told Pau who just stuck his tongue out at him. Josh turned back to their friends. "Thanks, guys. Really.”
“Don't go all soft on us now, Josh!” Jah exclaimed.
“It's nothing, Josh. Stell, Jah and I are also happy to celebrate with both of you.”
Pau slung his arm around Josh’s shoulders. “Enough of that. Let's eat.”
Josh smiled. “Yes, let’s eat.”
After saying their goodbyes to their friends, Pau and Josh decided to just walk back to their shared condo unit. It’s a little bit of a walk from where they ate, but the weather was nice. It was cloudy without the danger of rain, and the wind was cool to the skin. It’s been a while since they had weather like this; and it’s nice to just walk hand-in-hand.
As they reached their building, Pau stopped Josh from going inside with a gentle tug. Josh turned around and just looked at Pau with a raised eyebrow. Josh was standing on the sidewalk so he and Pau were eye-to-eye for once, not that he minded their height difference.
“What, you stopped me from going inside just to stare at me?" Josh said jokingly.
Pau laughed, “Of course not, stupid.”
“So?”
Pau just smiled, leaned in, and planted a chaste kiss on Josh’s lips. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
Josh felt the warmth rush up his neck and onto his face. “Sweetheart my ass! Don't be disgusting!”
Pau chuckled and kissed Josh again. “Don't lie, you like it. You're blushing. Sweetheart.”
Josh could feel the blush on his face intensify. “Whatever, John Paulo.”
Pau couldn’t help but laugh again. He took Josh’s hand and started to walk towards the entrance, but was tugged backward when Josh didn’t move from his spot. It was Pau’s turn to look at Josh with a raised eyebrow.
Josh walked up to Pau and looked at his face quietly for a few moments. Pau just waited patiently for Josh to get out whatever it was he wanted to say.
“Thanks, Pau.” Pau just smiled softly. “I mean it, Pau. I know you know what I mean. Thank you. For everything.”
Pau cupped Josh’s cheek with one hand. “I know, sweetheart. You don't have to thank me. It will always be my pleasure.”