I laughed, shaking my head. "I wouldn't mind a more low-key celebration next time. Something without speeches, matching outfits, and half the city in attendance."
She grinned, leaning in closer. "But you secretly loved it, didn't you? All the attention, the fancy clothes. Don't lie, Jihoon."
I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips. "Maybe a little. But it's exhausting."
"I get it," she said, her tone softening.
"You're not really the spotlight kind of guy. But still, this was a night to remember. And I think the whole family will be talking about it for years."
I nodded, glancing around the garden once more. The lights were still twinkling softly, casting a warm glow over the guests who remained. BaekHyeon had found his way over to Jay and Mike, and they were laughing about something, probably some inside joke I'd missed.
"Ready for tomorrow?" Quinn asked, interrupting my thoughts.
"Tomorrow?" I frowned. "What's tomorrow?"
She raised an eyebrow. "The day after you turn eighteen? The day where everyone starts asking you about your future, your career, and your life plans?"
I groaned. "Don't remind me. I thought I could get at least one day off from all that."
Quinn smirked. "Well, enjoy what's left of tonight, then. Because come morning, the questions will start rolling in."
I sighed, already dreading it. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside. I wasn't ready to face the future just yet.
Just as I was about to respond, BaekHyeon called out from across the garden, waving me over. "Jihoon! Come on, we're about to play one last round of cards before everyone heads home."
Quinn gave me a gentle nudge. "Go on. Enjoy the rest of your birthday."
I gave her a quick smile before heading over to join the others. As I walked over, I realized that despite the exhaustion, the long day, and the overwhelming attention, Quinn was right. This was a night I wouldn't forget.
——————————
The morning after:
As the soft light beamed through the curtains and into my room, I slowly blinked awake, feeling the weight of the previous day still lingering in my body. My head ached slightly from the exhaustion, and my muscles felt heavy, but there was a strange sense of calm that settled over me. It was all over. The party, the speeches, the endless conversations.
I rolled over, groaning as I reached for my phone on the nightstand. No new messages, which was a relief. For once, it felt like the world wasn't demanding anything of me.
A knock on the door interrupted the quiet. "Jihoon, you awake?" It was BaekHyeon.
"Yeah," I mumbled, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. "Come in."
He pushed the door open, his hair a mess and his clothes wrinkled, looking like he'd barely slept. "How're you feeling?"
"Tired," I replied, leaning back against the headboard. "But… okay. You?"
"Same." He flopped down on the edge of my bed, "mom wants us to go open all the presents from last night.
As we settled back into the quiet of my room, I could feel the weight of the previous day slowly lifting. The excitement and chaos of the party were behind us, and it was nice to just sit in peace for a while.
"So, what do you want to do today?" BaekHyeon asked, propping himself up on his elbows.
"I was thinking of just relaxing," I said, stretching my legs out. "Maybe watch a movie or play some games. It feels like we haven't had a chance to just hang out and do nothing in a while."
BaekHyeon nodded, looking relieved. "Sounds perfect. I'm all for doing nothing today."
We decided to start with a movie marathon. We picked out a few of our favorite films and settled in, grabbing snacks and drinks from the kitchen. Mom had prepared a small spread of leftovers from the party, so we made a quick stop to fill up on some pastries and fruit before retreating to the living room.
As the movies played and we relaxed on the couch, we talked about the party, what we liked, and what we could have done differently. It felt good to reflect on everything, to laugh about the little mishaps and appreciate the moments that had made the day special.
"This one's my favorite," BaekHyeon said as he handed me a bowl of popcorn. "The one where we tried to sneak out of the house and ended up getting caught by Mom."
I laughed, remembering the chaos. "Yeah, that was a classic. Good times."
We spent the rest of the day in a laid-back haze, enjoying each other's company and taking a break from the whirlwind of our birthday celebrations. It was the perfect way to unwind and reconnect after such an overwhelming day.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden light across the room, I glanced at BaekHyeon, who was sprawled out on the couch with a contented smile.
Suddenly his phone started ringing, Hyeon grabbed his phone quickly like he was waiting for that call.
"Chris is outside, he said he has something for me since he couldn't make it last night." He said quickly getting up placing the popcorn on the table and rushed outside.
I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him rushing out of the house excited.
Chris was his Bestfriend, but everyone knew Chris real feelings. Only he was blind to see how his best friend actually felt about him.
The tv was still on but the noise faded in the background, I could feel a car door close and car engine start. Soon later they were gone to who knows where.
That's what I envied the most about Hyeon, he had some who actually admired and loved him. But though he views Chris as a friend, Chris was always there for him standing by his side and made sure he was always okay.
Sometimes I wish I had something like that, someone who actually cared. Someone who loved me as much as I love them but… after the whole thing with TaeHyun the only person I've ever loved in my entire life I've lost all hope in love.
Even with Minji, though he likes me it doesn't feel the same. Why does he always let me walk on him however I want, why does He agree to everything I tell him to do. But then again, when I see him so vulnerable when his next to me it makes me want more.
It makes me want to have him wrapped around my finger even more, to the point where he can't even go a day without wanting me.
As the sounds of BaekHyeon's departure faded into the distance, I sat alone in the living room, feeling the weight of my thoughts settle heavily on my shoulders. The television played on in the background, its noise now just a faint hum that barely registered in my mind.
My gaze drifted to the window, watching the last traces of sunlight slowly disappear. I envied BaekHyeon's relationship with Chris, the clear bond between them. It was something I longed for—a connection where someone truly cared and understood me, even if it was just a friendship.
But the thought of love, of truly being loved in return, seemed like a distant dream now. My heart still ached from the end of things with TaeHyun. It was a deep, lingering hurt that had left me feeling hollow, like a part of me had been taken away. The way TaeHyun had ended things had made it hard to believe in love again.
And then there was Minji. Though he seemed to have feelings for me, something felt off. It was like he was more of a puppet than a partner, always yielding to my demands and never pushing back. It made me question whether his feelings were genuine or if he was simply trying to win my approval in any way he could.
I thought about how vulnerable he looked sometimes, how he seemed to need me in a way that almost felt desperate. It made me want to pull him closer, to have him be completely dependent on me. But deep down, I knew this wasn't what I truly wanted. The power I held over him felt more like a burden than a blessing.
As I sat there, I realized that what I really wanted wasn't just someone who was easily swayed by me or who would simply give in to my whims. What I needed was someone who could challenge me, who could stand by me not just out of affection but out of mutual respect and love.
I sighed, feeling the weight of my own contradictions. I wanted to be loved and understood, but I also wanted to avoid the pain that came with it. It was a complex balance, and one that I wasn't sure I knew how to achieve. Maybe the answer wasn't about finding someone who would fit into my life perfectly but about finding a way to heal from the past and open myself up to the possibility of genuine connection.
For now, though, I allowed myself to sit in the quiet, reflecting on these thoughts. The room grew darker as the sun finally set, and the only light came from the muted television screen. It was a calm end to a chaotic few days, and as I turned off the TV and got up from the couch, I felt a small, hopeful resolve to face whatever came next with a clearer sense of what I truly wanted.
As I entered my room I found my phone ringing nonstop, I had about 10 missed calls from Minji, two from Jamie and one from TaeHyun.
As I stared at the screen of the missed calls, I couldn't help but cancel out the the top two and called TaeHyun back.
My fingers hovered over the screen, heart racing slightly as I stared at TaeHyun's name. Even after all this time, seeing his name there still had the power to stir something inside me—confusion, hurt, maybe even a little hope. I ignored the missed calls from Minji and Jamie and pressed "call" on TaeHyun's number before I could change my mind.
The phone rang a few times, each one stretching out like an eternity, until finally, he picked up.
"Hello?" His voice was calm, familiar. Too familiar. It took me back to those moments when everything felt easy, before things had fallen apart between us.
"TaeHyun," I said, my voice coming out more steady than I expected. "I saw your missed call."
There was a pause, and for a moment, I wondered if I'd made a mistake in calling him back. Maybe it was just a pocket dial, or worse, maybe he had called out of some casual curiosity.
"I didn't think you'd call back," he said finally, his voice softer now. "I just... I don't know. I was thinking about you, and I guess I wanted to hear your voice."
His words hit me like a wave, stirring up everything I'd tried to bury. All the memories, the late-night talks, the laughter, and the way he used to look at me like I was the only person in the room.
"Maybe it's also how I've never gone a year without saying happy birthday," he added, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. "Even when we weren't talking, I still thought about you. And today... I just couldn't let it pass without saying something."
A knot tightened in my chest. I hadn't realized he remembered, or that he had kept track of my birthdays all these years. It was a small gesture, but somehow it meant more than I wanted to admit.
"Thank you, but please don't call me again. We said goodbye forever, remember." I told him, my voice steady even though inside, my heart was a mess. Just because I still had feelings for him didn't mean he had the right to waltz back into my life, stirring up all the hurt I'd tried to bury these past few months.
Before he could respond, I ended the call. I didn't need to hear more, didn't want to give him another chance to pull me back into his orbit. I stood there, my chest tight, as the weight of everything settled over me.
TBC