"Really?" Taitai squealed eagerly. "You got me something?"
Amari nodded and walked over to the door, picking up the guitar case he had leaned against the wall. Crouching low to unzip it, he revealed a smaller case inside and motioned for Taitai to come over. He took the case out, placing it on the floor.
"Go ahead and open it." There was the sound of a slow zipper and footsteps joining them, Yangyang kneeling at Amari's side. As the flap opened, both father and son gasped.
"Li gēge, this's for me? Really?"
"Of course it's for you." Amari smiled at the child, not sure which feeling was stronger - his guilt or his joy - and not sure which was showing on his face. "Sorry I missed your sixth birthday, Taitai. I wish I could've given this to you in July, but I had to carry it around with me until now instead." He reached out and ruffled his long hair. "Happy belated birthday."
Taitai hugged Amari quickly around his neck, shouting a thank you too close to his ear, then pulled the guitar from the case, immediately plucking at the strings. The sound was terrible on an out of tune, unplugged, electric guitar, but Taitai didn't care.
Yangyang shifted closer and nudged him. "You bought him a Mini Strat? It wasn't expensive?"
Amari shook his head, still smiling. "New ones actually aren't very expensive, but that one's used. Just for a year, and it sounds just as good." Yangyang secretly rubbed his back. "He can keep my Little Martin, but this's the best for a child to learn on. Should last him until he's ten or so." His smile widened. "And now he can play guitar like his ba."
"When did you buy it?"
"On his birthday. I knew I wouldn't be able to give it to him, but I went out searching anyway, like an idiot." Amari tried to keep his smile, but felt his expression become a little sad. "As if that'd make a difference."
Yangyang leaned close to his ear. "I really want to kiss you right now... Thanks."
Amari felt his cheeks warm and lowered his head to hide it, just nodding in response. Yangyang chuckled and pat him on the back before standing. "Taitai. Do you want to try plugging that in? You can use one of ba's amps."
Spreading his legs out on the floor, Amari leaned back as they headed down the hall to set everything up. What a long day, he thought, exhaling a breath. After a few minutes, he could hear random playing from the back room and Yangyang returned to sit next to him.
"I think we're going to need to stock up on extra strings." Amari smiled and the man sighed, laying back onto the floor. "I feel like so much has happened, and it hasn't even been a full day."
There was silence for a minute until Yangyang groaned, lifting himself up. "Are you staying for dinner?"
Amari shook his head. "I think I'm gonna go home and eat with Cate. Fill her in. Feel guilty again." He huffed and closed his eyes. "But, I deserve so much worse, so..."
Yangyang pet his hair and then pulled his hand back suddenly. "Ah, I forgot. Be right back."
He walked off down the hallway, coming back a minute later with a small object in his hand. Gently turning Amari's head, he hooked something over each ear. Amari reached up and felt two odd-shaped curved pieces sitting at his temples, connected by a soft rubber strip around the back of his head.
"Here, give me your phone." He handed it over and after a few taps and a press of a small button on the object, Amari heard a beep, his phone letting him know he was connected. "There. Bone conducting headphones. So you can listen to directions and messages, but not plug up your ear."
"Yeah? But, why'd you buy me this? Did I miss something?"
"No, but I missed your birthday." Yangyang chuckled. "We just talked about it earlier. You've forgotten already?"
Amari shrugged. "Why would I remember it? Like I said, I never celebrate it."
Yangyang squeezed Amari's hand, then turned it over, setting a small case in his palm. "And I said that we'll have to change that." Amari fiddled with the case, opening it and feeling small, wireless earbuds. "Your other ones are old and shitty."
Yangyang shifted closer and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, laughing when he jumped.
"We should celebrate the day you were born." Leaning in, he whispered into Amari's ear, "Your existence is one of the things I'm most grateful for. Happy birthday, A Li."
He flushed again and hung his head to hide his face. "What're you doing right now? Do you wanna get caught?"
"Yeah, kind of," Yangyang admitted, laughing again when Amari punched him in the side. "Come on. I'll walk you out so you can get home before dark."
Shoes and coats on, Amari checked his pockets and nodded his readiness, calling out a goodbye to Yangyang's mother, who was preparing dinner in the kitchen. The two headed down to the building exit, but Yangyang pulled him back and under the stairwell before he could open the door.
With a tight grip on Amari's shoulders, Yangyang walked him to the wall. "Yang ge, what're you doing?" He asked the question playfully, knowing the answer, and smiled as a kiss pressed against softly his neck.
Without saying anything, Yangyang moved to his mouth and they stood there for several minutes, lips, tongues, teeth, and hands getting reacquainted after months of being apart. Finally, Yangyang shifted to the side, letting out a breath and hanging his head over Amari's shoulder.
"We have rehearsal tomorrow night. Are you free?"
Amari nodded, running his fingers lightly through Yangyang's hair. "Unless Joe calls me, I'm off through next week."
"Good." Yangyang gave him another gentle kiss on the neck and pulled him in tighter. "Come to rehearsal, and then I'll go back with you when we're done."
"Do I get a say in this?" Yangyang shook his head, his chin brushing against Amari's shoulder, and Amari smiled. "Yeah, okay. I s'pose that's fair."
Yangyang kissed him again, deep and a little desperate, then released him, guiding him back to the building exit. "Call me later. And call Minwoo."
Amari bobbed his head and gave him a small wave, then walked out to the street, a little ache in his heart at the thought of leaving.