Daegyu stretched and stood up. "I'm gonna go for a smoke."
Almost at the same time, Park Dong put his phone to his ear and casually headed for the door.
Jinkyung and Irina exchanged a look, then stood as well.
"We're going to the bathroom for a bit," Irina said innocently.
Seolhyo and I watched them leave one by one.
The timing was way too coincidental.
We both turned our eyes to Jisung and Suwon, who were still glued to the screen, completely clueless.
"…Everyone just left," Seolhyo murmured, squinting. "Like it was planned or something…"
Before she could finish, the door suddenly swung open.
Park Dong burst in first, followed closely by Irina, who was holding a massive cake crowded with flickering candles.
"HAPPY BIRTH-- DAY TO YOU!" they all shouted at the top of her lungs.
"HAPPY BIRTH-- DAY TO YOU!"
Seolhyo's cheeks faintly flushed with embarrassment.
"…So obvious."
"DEAR BE-LOVED HYORIM--"
Park Dong cut in, "well, not that beloved, just Hyorim"
"HAPPY BIRTH--DAY TO YOU!"
""Blow the candles!"" Everyone yelled.
Seolhyo leaned forward dramatically, puffed her cheeks, and blew. The candles went out in one breath.
Cheers erupted instantly.
"Congrats!"
"Happy birthday!!"
Irina held the cake out proudly. "Happy birthday!"
Seolhyo laughed. "You all disappearing like that was way too obvious."
Jinkyung snapped photos nonstop, grinning behind the camera. "Was it really that obvious? HAHA."
"I figured it out halfway," Seolhyo admitted. "I just played along."
As Irina started pulling the candles out, Park Dong quietly crept up behind Seolhyo, mischief written all over his face. He placed a hand on her head.
"Was this.."
Before Seolhyo could notice him, he pushed her head.
"obvious too!?"
"KYAA!!"
Her face went straight into the cake.
"HAHAHA!"
"Damn, didn't missed it!" Daegyu laughed.
"What do we even do now!?" Jisung wheezed.
Park Dong slapped his hands together. "Alright! Time for birthday punches!"
Seolhyo lifted her head slowly. Icing smeared her face, her bangs a mess and her expression was pure fury.
"…You're dead."
Before anyone could react, she swung.
Thud.
Thud.
Park Dong and Daegyu stumbled back, clutching their faces, both instantly regretful.
"Why me…?" Daegyu groaned, already bruised.
Seolhyo stormed toward the door. "I'll have to redo my makeup twice, you jerks!!"
"Good luck with that! HAHA!" Park Dong and Daegyu yelled after her, laughing like idiots despite their pain.
I chuckled and followed quietly after her, stopping near the bathroom wall.
I leaned back against it, hands in my pockets, waiting.
A laugh slipped out of me as the image replayed in my head her cute, shocked face completely smeared with icing.
The door opened.
Seolhyo stepped out, tugging at her shirt and scowling. "Ugh… it even got on my clothes," she muttered, a small pout forming on her lips.
.
I pushed off the wall and walked up to her. "Don't worry about it."
Taking a tissue, I gently wiped the frosting from her shirt, careful not to smudge it further.
She looked up at me and let out a small laugh, the tension easing from her shoulders.
That was it.
I couldn't hold back anymore.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers.
"I've been wanting to do this since I saw you at Cannoa,"
I murmured softly against her lips. "Finally… we're alone."
Her eyes widened for half a second, just enough for me to notice then they softened.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She didn't pull away.
Instead, she rested her forehead against mine, letting the moment stretch quietly between us.
I lifted a hand and cupped her face, my thumb brushing gently along her cheek.
She covered my hand with hers, holding it there, and closed her eyes.
"I'm so happy you're here…" she whispered. "…more than you know."
When she opened her eyes again, they were full of warmth.
After we finished at the karaoke, everyone started getting ready to leave.
I told them to go on ahead I needed to use the bathroom and figured I'd catch up with them outside at the bus stop.
By the time I was close enough, their voices drifted over clearly.
"Why are you leaving already?" Park Dong asked Seolhyo. "There's a curfew on your birthday too?"
Seolhyo shot him a sideways look. "He doesn't really say anything these days, but~"
she shrugged lightly, "I'm just gonna head home. We already had plenty of fun."
Park Dong shrugged and turned to Irina. "What about you? Going home too? Wanna hit the billiards?"
Irina stretched, lazily look at him. "Me? I was thinking of going home I'm sleepy." Then she tilted her head. "Then what..? wanna hang out for another hour or two then~"
Park Dong feels ecstatic his face flushed red almost instantly.
He stared straight ahead and muttered, "Good."
Just as I was about to join them.
Someone approached Seolhyo from behind. As he drew close, he raised his hand, hovering just above her shoulder, about to make contact.
Without thinking my body moved.
I stepped forward and caught his wrist midair, my grip halting its advance.
I squeezed hard enough to make him hiss in pain.
"Where do you think you're putting your hands?" I said coldly, my voice cutting straight through the night air.
The others turned at the sound immediately.
"Seojin? What happened?" Seolhyo asked, eyes widening as she looked between me and the guy whose wrist I was still gripping.
Suwon's voice piped up, suprised. "It's that pretty hyung from the other day…"
Park Dong and Daegyu gave a quick glance to the guy, confusion written all over their faces.
What's up with this hyung..
Where the heck did he come from..
The guy Choi Giryang clicked his tongue and twisted, his face contorting as pain shot through him. "Tch… hey! Let go!"
But I only tightened my grip, locking eyes with him, my expression cold and unyielding.
The air around us thickened, silence pressing down as everyone waited to see what would happen next.
Choi Giryang grabbed my wrist with his free hand, trying to pry me hand off.
…What the hell?
How is this guy's grip so strong?!
Then I felt it.
Seolhyo quickly reached for my arm, her touch soft but steady,
She stepped closer, looking up at me, her eyes wide but calm.
"Seojin…" she murmured,
Seeing her gaze, I loosened my grip on Giryang and finally let go, not wanting to make a bigger scene or ruin her night.
Choi Giryang stumbled back, rubbing his wrist, but I ignored him completely my focus was only on her.
She looked up at me, worry softening her features. "Why did you grab him like that?" she asked quietly.
I took the hand she was holding onto and enclosed it in both of mine, calming myself before answering. "He was about to touch your shoulder,"
I said, keeping my voice steady. "I just stopped him."
Choi Giryang's gaze flicked from me the guy who had just nearly crushed his wrist to our joined hands.
His eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face but he quickly hides it.
But Seolhyo noticed it too early.
She turned toward him, her expression sharpening instantly, the softness gone. "And you,"
she said firmly, "who are you? Are you a pervert? Why would you try to touch me?"
For a second, Giryang just stared.
Then he suddenly laughed, as if the earlier incident didn't happen, dragging a hand down his face. "Ah… wow, this is embarrassing,"
he said with an awkward chuckle. "I figured you might not recognize me. I hear it a lot anyway haha…"
Seolhyo frowned, studying him more closely. Then her eyes widened. "…Wait. No way."
She leaned forward slightly. "Giryang oppa?!"
Giryang's grin widened. "Yeah. That's right. Hehe."
Park Dong and Daegyu didn't look surprised at all they'd clearly already recognized him but the rest of them froze.
Irina blinked rapidly.
Jinkyung's mouth fell open.
Jisung stared like he was looking at a ghost.
That's the guy who got beaten up back then?
No way.
Giryang scratched the back of his head, his tone sheepish now. "…Anyway, sorry about earlier,"
he said, glancing at Seolhyo. "I just got excited seeing you again after so long. Didn't mean to freak you out."