PCL Ch 68

Lim Dae-han, who had awoken from the commotion outside could barely raise his drowsy eyelids. There was only darkness in the bedroom. He tried not to study until after 4 a.m., so he barely finished studying before falling asleep, but he heard glass colliding outside and someone making a fuss.

“…”

There was only one person who would show up. Today is April 16th. Lim Dae-han’s birthday had arrived. Lim Dae-han eventually stood up. Nonetheless, he took the hoodie from the chair and put it on his body. He thought his head was floating as he walked, so he put on his hoody hat and went outside. As expected, it was Ki Young-hyun.

“Ah… Did you wake up because of the noise?”

Surprised, Ki Young-hyun curled up and turned around.

He was standing in front of the gas stove, holding an instant seaweed soup. He was shy and kept it hidden behind his back. Lim Dae-han finally smiled.

“You said you’d cook for me.”

“Oh, that… I really wanted to.”

Pancakes, ribs, and japchae in a glass container. Two instant rice. Even though the side dishes and rice were the same, the japchae appeared to have been made from scratch.

“If that’s the case, how can you look at my parents’ faces later?”

Ki Young-hyun shook his head as Lim Dae-han gave a reminder rather than a reprimand.

“You family won’t eat it anyway!”

He raised his voice as if he was embarrassed. Then, for no reason, he widened his stride and approached him, and shoved Lim Dae-han’s back towards the bedroom.

“… I’ll call you when I’m done.”

“No, Ki Young-hyun…”

“Oh, sleep more. You can sleep more.”

Lim Dae-han turned around. Ki Young-hyun, who suddenly hugged Lim Dae-han, buried his face in his chest and opened his eyes only.

“Do you have anything to say?”

Ki Young-hyun, who had chubby cheeks, wrapped his arms around Lim Dae-han’s waist. Then he buried his lips in the hoodie. He felt a warm breath near his chest.

“… Happy birthday.”

Lim Dae-han could only get up about an hour after that. Ki Young-hyun shook him awake with an excited voice, but after a little more playing in bed, he managed to get up. He hadn’t gotten enough sleep, and fatigue was piling up on his body. There was a lot of food when he came out of the room after washing his clothes and putting on his school uniform.

Well-cooked ribs and golden brown pancake. The rice was well placed in the rice bowl after it came out of the instant container, and the steaming seaweed soup smelled fragrant. He pulled his phone from his pocket. He then took a picture without hesitation. He didn’t have to read through all of the happy birthday messages on the messenger.

Lim Dae-han picked up a spoon and ate the soup.  It tasted exactly like the ones sold in shops. Ki Young-hyun looked at him with eager eyes, despite the fact that he had just boiled the entire thing in a pot.

“Delicious.”

Ki Young-hyun wore a relaxed expression as Lim Dae-han ate the soup and praised it. Lim Dae-han also took Japchae and put it in his mouth. He chewed and rinsed his mouth with water.

He closed his eyes and then opened them again. He was so tired that it was difficult for him to open his eyes properly. Unlike his body, which was suppressed by fatigue, a smile and laughter filled his lips.

“Ki Young-hyun.”

“Yeah?”

“Today is the happiest birthday I have ever had.”

Lim Dae-han said in a low-pitched voice as he feel sleepy.

It was true. He’s never been happier to receive a congratulation from anyone. He was joking around, but he was extremely happy that Ki Young-hyun had come to his house to cook for him at this time. Lim Dae-han did not hide the smile on the corner of his lips. Ki Young-hyun, on the other hand, had an embarrassed expression.

“Oh, not yet.”

Then he stood up and opened the kitchen cabinet. A shopping bag was presumably hidden there. It was quite big. It was a sportswear brand that Lim Dae-han often wears.

“This…”

Ki Young-hyun hesitated to hand over the bag that he carried behind him. The sizes were also quite large. t seemed like there would be ten problem books.

“I bought this thinking you could wear it to college.”

Ki Young-hyun stood up again as soon as he finished speaking. “Wait a minute!” he says. He raised his voice and walked directly to the refrigerator, opening the door. There was a cake inside. It was early in the morning, so there was no cake shop open.

When Lim Dae-han, who had never planned something special for his birthday, couldn’t say anything in response to the unexpected event. Ki Young-hyun put the candles on his own on the cake. Lim Dae-han then lit the match for the candles.

“Where did you…”

“I bought it yesterday, the cake.”

“You are, really.”

Lim Dae-han hid his face behind his hands. He bit the soft flesh on his lips. It was the best birthday for him just to have Ki Young-hyun, but he wasn’t sure how he’d react since Ki Young-hyun had brought everything like this.

However, contrary to Lim Dae-han’s reaction, Ki Young-hyun, on the other hand, was embarrassed of himself and stuttered a happy birthday song.

Lim Dae-han bit his lower lip strongly. He was embarrassed and ashamed because he thought he was about to cry. It was overwhelming to think that such days would continue in the future. He held his hands over his face until Ki Young-hyun sang the song by himself. Soon the song ended.

“Lim Dae-han.”

Lim Dae-han slowly removed the hand that was covering his eyes when Ki Young-hyun called his name. He expected Ki Young-hyun, who sang all the songs awkwardly until the end, to appear, but instead, Ki Young-hyun, who had shyness all over his face, appeared. Ki Young-hyun then gave him a firm order.

“Make a wish and blow the candles.”

Lim Dae-han clasped his hands and closed his eyes. Then he hoped that reality, which was neither a fantasy nor a dream, would last forever. May he always be happy with Ki Young-hyun. May he be by his side forever.

It was the best birthday ever.

***