Yebin's Birthday: Part 2

Despite how panicked and humiliated Jake felt inside, he was glad that he had someone like Yebin in his arms. He didn't really care if she insulted his parent's dining hall. Come to think of it, it's pretty hilarious. This gave him the opportunity to diss his parents through someone else.

Let me just show her who I really am on the yacht today… he thought.

Jake took Yebin's hand and escorted her out of the dining hall when she had finished her meal. He was pretty amused by the whole situation, really. Well… at first he was extremely upset and embarrassed, but he saw one skinny Korean boy laughing his ass off in the corner and realized it was a pretty funny situation. Then, Jake realized this must be that boy who knew Yebin from high school. Ah okay, he thought, Maybe Yebin is like this all the time… I better get used to it then because shit! This was so intense… are Asians just like this?! Why didn't I take my gap year in Asia… I'm the basic one! Sheesh! Okay, note to self, never call anyone basic again… actually, I wonder how this ice princess would react to someone saying she's basic… she got me back so hard that I can't even believe it. Miss Princess is turning out to be Elsa… Jesus…

"Hey Princess, we're actually going shopping before the yacht today. I want to buy you a birthday outfit," he said, catching onto what Yebin would like. Besides, this was a good way to show this little OC hillbilly who was boss. I'm the Malibu King, he thought with a little wink to himself.

"What?!" Yebin said in complete shock. "Wow, are you serious?! Omg no, I don't expect that…"

"Yes, let's go. I just really want to take you to my favorite boutique," Jake said, feeling more confident he could impress Yebin today.

Jake drove them through many curvy roads until they reached his favorite hidden boutique. Yebin was so surprised and a little nervous to be around such posh, Malibu boutiques. She was shy and nervous going in, and Jake saw that. He winked at her and almost seemed more confident when he saw that. Now he could come in as her knight in shining armor in Malibu. ! He thought.

He watched Korean dramas and wanted to recreate a scene that he watched on Netflix.

"It's my girl's birthday today, and I want to buy her an outfit for a boat day. Can you help us pick a couple outfits?" Jake said with so much sauve and feeling his sauce again. Yebin was surprised that he would call Yebin his girl and wondered what he meant by that…

Is he serious about me? Wait, does this mean he wants to date me? But he hasn't even asked me out on a date or anything… how could I be his girl already… she wondered in concern. However, she decided to ask him about that later and decided to just enjoy the moment for now. She smiled politely and let the sales associate know with her facial expression that she was, in fact, not Jake Gyllenhaal's girl yet- just someone he was trying to impress.

The boutique owner seemed to understand the situation and let Yebin know that the Gyllenhaal's were regulars there, hoping to improve Jake's case for him, as she knew his style pretty well. She picked Yebin a couple outfits to try on, hoping to impress Yebin with her picks.

Yebin's face was stoic and uncomfortable the whole time she was trying on clothes. Jake was watching her try on clothes and thought she looked like a plastic Barbie in every single one. She was an unmoving model- modeling on every single outfit just for him, like she'd done this many times before. She just waited for him to like an outfit and kept trying on clothes with the exact same face, body movement, and demeanor. With each outfit change, Yebin felt more and more depressed. This scene was all too familiar for her, and she felt like Jake wasn't enjoying the trip either, which made her start to blame herself. What could I be doing wrong…? She wondered, concerned she was ruining the whole day for Jake. Jake started getting antsy that the Korean drama he thought would unfold was not unfolding and got up himself to choose her an outfit. He was confused because he thought she would feel like a princess with this shopping trip. But she seemed sad… He really hoped that the day wasn't ruined for her. He just wanted to make her day special..

You aren't Bella Hadid… you're allowed to enjoy yourself… he thought, making a snide comment to himself.

"Princess," he called her. "What do you think about this sundress? Aren't the colors beautiful on this? All pink, like you like, right?"

Yebin was touched that Jake would pick her an outfit himself… Modeling on the outfits chosen for her for someone else's approval (or disapproval mostly) reminded her too much of the life she wanted to leave behind, and she started to get down on herself. "This outfit is no good on me…" "This one makes me look like a clown…" "I look disgusting in these colors," "I feel like a fat fucking pig," The thoughts only got worse and worse with each outfit change.

Yebin looked at the pink, vibrant sundress with beautiful delicate sleeves that Jake had chosen- vibrant and delicate all at the same time, just like her. She immediately loved what he chose and decided to go with that one.

"Jakieeee, how did you know my style?!" Yebin gushed, suddenly excited and warm again. She tried it on with a lavender bikini that she picked for herself, and smiled at him with her eyes. They gazed into each other's soul for a second in that moment. I just want your soul Jake… she wanted to say.

Jake wanted to capture this moment somewhere… in a storybook or something… He wanted to keep her this way forever, warm and inside of his soul. He smiled with his right side again… not his movie star smile, just Jake.

"I'm glad I could pick something you like, Yebin," he said softly.

The sales associate looked at these two with kind eyes and sympathy… Damn, she thought, two young lovers… They seem like they really care for one another. I hope they can last… The girl seems just like Jake Gyllenhaal. Poor kids…

Jake and Yebin kept looking into each other's eyes lovingly after their moment at the boutique. Jake smiled, feeling like impressing her wasn't the most important thing anymore. Maybe they would just enjoy the sunlight and the ocean on the yacht… She didn't seem to be in the mood for a big fancy party. He quickly texted his sister that it would just be Yebin and him, and that they didn't need to do anything special to impress her.

Jake's sister Maggie saw her brother's text and rolled her eyes. What is my brother up to… why is he acting crazier than normal? She wondered. She ignored his text and decided to just let him do what he wanted.

What is he updating me every 5 minutes for… is this boy in love again? Oh, I hope not because life gets insanely bothersome when he falls in love… or thinks he's in love. Does this little boy even know what love is? But still, Maggie felt bad for ignoring her younger brother and texted him back saying that he's already impressing her and to not worry about anything. If she's the right person for him, she'll love him for who he is. Jake hoped Maggie was right. "Love you Maggie… you're right. She already wants to get to know me for who I really am. Thanks!" He texted back.

Maggie looked at the text and smiled. She hoped he was right this time. This wasn't the first time he's thought a girl wanted him for who he was inside… She closed her eyes and prayed this new girl was the girl he's been looking for.

On the yacht, Maggie had a private chef, an overwhelming array of floral arrangements, and imported champagnes prepared.

"Happy 18TH! Xoxo, Jake Gyllenhaal & The Gyllenhaal Family" it said.

"Wow… Jake… you have prepared so much just for me?!" Yebin asked.

"Yes, I've been trying to impress you all day…" he said shyly, not knowing Maggie would go this far just for a girl Jake had met a day before. Jake was so grateful that Maggie understood how much Jake had wanted to impress her. He couldn't believe how hard his sister tried for him.

Yebin was in shock… she was touched that Jake had done this much for her birthday. She had expected to spend the whole day alone when she first got here, just to have met Jake and for him to make her birthday so special. She didn't expect anything from anyone, and she couldn't believe how much Jake was doing for her. She was expecting maybe someone to start up a conversation with her on her birthday, if she got lucky. But all of this was overwhelming. In a good way…

Yebin started blinking really fast. She tried to stop her tears but she couldn't, and her tears started to well out of her eyes. "Why… why Yebin?! Why are you crying!" He exclaimed, startled that she would cry and not smile in joy and happiness. He didn't know how to comfort her and was scared this was an issue he couldn't fix for her.

"No, I'm just crying because.. I can't believe how special my birthday is turning out… thank you so much for any of this…" she said. Jake was confused. He had only thought about how he could impress her all day today. And he didn't realize how upset and down she had been on her birthday. "It's just that…" she said, "I'm actually here all alone… it's been difficult for me… in my life… I was so used to spending every single birthday completely alone, and you're trying so hard to make my birthday so special… thank you so much…"

What… he said quietly. This is nothing… I just wanted to impress you… He wrapped her little body in a big hug. "Life hasn't been easy in your tall tower, huh?" He asked sympathetically. He bit his inner lip knowingly. No wonder she's so cold… he somehow felt like he knew her from before, or knew her his whole life. He hugged her tighter.

Never let me go Jake, she said inside. She felt like she knew this boy for lifetimes before too… She looked up at him desperately. I longed for you, huh? She asked him silently.

Jake and Yebin spent the day lounging on the boat, simply enjoying each other's company. They thought of nothing else, no one else, except for enjoying being near each other. They had both been so lonely up until they had met… one day felt like one lifetime… Jake searched the world looking for Yebin. He couldn't shake the feeling that his other half was out there, all alone… He couldn't help but remember his dreams of a dream girl who was crying herself to sleep every night. He wanted to reach out to this girl… "Miss Perfect" he used to call her. Everyday in his gap year, he tried to find love. He even tried to convince himself that the girls he was with genuinely loved him back, not for his money, not for his family, not for his looks… When he couldn't lie to himself anymore, he was ready to give up… Finally, the real Yebin shows up right in front of his face. Jake couldn't thank the heavens enough. He sighed, feeling victorious. Yebin closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth she felt on her face. She gave a little prayer of thanks to whichever god decided to force her to live up until now. Thank you god… for letting me live until I met Jake… there was no reason to live before now, huh? Now I finally feel something again. Is this what having life feels like? She wondered.

Love, love, love they both said in their hearts. Their hearts were connected through this feeling of love. They just kept staring at each other… they just kept holding each other. Love… they both smiled.