1, 2, 3, Mic Check, Heart Check || Sim Jaeyun

Chapter XI - Birthday

Jaeyun stiffened. "I am not invited."

"You think she'll invite you?" Sunghoon raised a brow. "After what you told her?"

"Exactly," Jay added. "So go. Uninvited."

"She probably doesn't want me there—"

"Then go," Heeseung said, tossing a soda to him, "and find out yourself instead of dying on our couch with regret."

Jaeyun looked at the drink in his hand. "She's happy... with Hyunjin, already."

Then back at them. "I don't want to ruin it."

Jay grinned. "Will you really give up just like that."

Jaeyun smiled bitterly. "It's better than I might end up hurting her."

"I don't get why your parents controls you." Sunghoon said as he hugged a pillow.

Heeseung, Jay, and Sunghoon shared a look. A knowing look.

─── ⋆⋅ ❤︎ ⋅⋆ ───

[Saturday — 5:03 p.m.]

The studio was lit with warm lights and surrounded by soft music from a Bluetooth speaker. There were snacks lined up on a bench, two small cakes on the table, and a few balloons taped lazily to the mirror.

It wasn't much.

But it was enough.

Soo-jin stood near the mirror, fixing the clips in her hair while Yeji hummed behind her.

Hyunjin approached her with a box in hand.

"No candles," he said with a guilty grin. "They melted in my bag. Don't ask."

She laughed, soft and genuine.

"It's okay," she said, "this is already more than enough."

Yeji nudged her. "Let's cut the cake!"

Yunjin handed out paper plates while Hyunjin held up his phone to film.

"Say cheese, birthday girl!"

Soo-jin blew out the candles—imaginary ones.

"Make a wish," Hyunjin said, grinning.

She closed her eyes for just a second.

And somewhere in her mind—

She saw a boy in a hoodie, holding a balloon and her favorite chocolate. Standing in front of her with that stupid grin.

"Happy Birthday, partner!"

She opened her eyes before it consumed her.

─── ⋆⋅ ❤︎ ⋅⋆ ───

[Saturday — November 15 — 5:24 p.m.]

The room filled with laughter and casual chatter. Yeji played a throwback playlist in the background, loud enough to drown out any awkward silences, but soft enough not to overpower the voices.

Hyunjin handed Soo-jin a fork with a lopsided piece of cake. "This one's for the birthday girl."

"That's a huge slice," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"That's the point," he grinned. "Eat first, think later."

"That's not how I usually function."

"Come on, it's your birthday today." He wiggled his eyebrows.

She rolled her eyes, but the smile lingered longer than it used to.

She opened her mouth and Hyunjin slowly and gently shoved the slice of cake into her mouth.