Crescent // ATEEZ ✔

56 [birthday]

Hwayoung's little fists shake excitedly as she runs around the living room after Yunho told her that for her birthday, she's not going to kindergarten but out with both him and Byul instead. Her uncles smile at this, as Seonghwa, Jongho and San prepare for her birthday cake to be taken out. Hongjoong went to visit Wooyoung at Dr. Kei's small hospital, promising that he'll do a video call with him once he arrives there.

As soon as she woke up this morning, still groggy, dried saliva trailing down her chin and hand holding her plushie, Yunho, Yeosang and Mingi jumped in front of her bedroom door wearing party hats, singing her the birthday song and doing some dance much to her delight. The short show of birthday dance by her dad and uncles woke her up as they used the party blowers, and the sound resonated through the whole three-storey building.

Byul helps to prepare Hwayoung's backpack, one of her favourites where instead of the mermaid it's now a unicorn, still in the colour purple. Byul has dressed up to go out; a black chiffon blouse tucked in a light brown lawn skirt, and she has decided to take out her lip ring, gliding a light pink lipstick over her lips. She smiles when Hwayoung, still in her pajamas, runs to her and practically jumps up, with Byul catching her on time and showering her with birthday wishes.

As Yunho gets out of his own room after showering and getting ready, Yeosang looks back and forth between them while shaking his head, muttering, "These two really love to rub it in our faces, don't they?"

Byul groans when she looks at Yunho's clothes, shooting daggers at him, who's innocently going over to the dining area while putting on the birthday candles on the cake.

"Really? I'm not going to be the one to change my clothes," Byul nudges him.

"What do you mean?" Yunho nonchalantly washes his hands and helps to prepare the table for breakfast.

San eyes them from the side, but he offers no words, merely putting on a defeated smile before he goes upstairs to his own room, intending to shower.

"Is this all planned?" Seonghwa excitedly interposes himself between the two as he twirls around the string of his apron. "Both of you decided to wear couple clothes? How cute."

Yunho is wearing a black shirt tucked into light brown pants, almost exactly like what Byul is having on.

"Oh don't be silly," Yunho waves them away. "It was all a coincidence, stop thinking too much about it. None of us have to change anything; it would be a waste when we have already worn it."

"Dad! Can you help me button up my sleeves?" Hwayoung comes skittering from her bedroom to the kitchen, her hair untied. She holds out the sleeves of her black shirt and the corner of Seonghwa's lips tugs at the sight - Hwayoung looks like a mini version of Byul with her black blouse and skirt that is exactly the same colour as Byul's. The only difference is the fabric of her blouse and there are polka-dots on it.

"Hwayoung," Byul says through gritted teeth. "You look so pretty!" She glares at Yunho, who is still pretending that he has nothing to do with it. "We're wearing exactly the same clothes."

"She wanted to wear the clothes so I followed what she wanted," Yunho quickly interjects, kneeling to help button up her sleeves and silently pleading through his eyes so that Hwayoung won't spill the beans.

The kid does not get the message. "Stop lying, dad. You laid out the clothes for me today and said that I must wear them. You told me yesterday night you wanted all of us to match."

Mingi snorts as he hears this, giving a thumbs-up to Hwayoung before he takes a seat at the table for them to start breakfast.

"Jeong Yunho," Byul enunciates, but her face softens when she sees Hwayoung looking excited to start the day.