Today is a very special day- it's Sunwoo's birthday! Since I have been so caught up on school stress, it kinda creeped up on me. But good thing I already got a present ready for him from when I went to the mall with Areum and Sewoon. Sunwoo and I had already made plans to hang out today for a little while.
I got myself ready and began heading towards the door until my mom called from the kitchen table.
"Where are you going?"
I stopped mid-step and looked over at my mom, who was kindly waiting for my response, and my dad who was minding his own business and eating his lunch.
"I'm...going out."
"With who? Where?"
"Just with a friend, at their house." I lied.
"Whose this friend?" My mom kept pestering.
"I'm going to be late, I have to go!" I open the door and quickly walk out before my mom asks anymore questions.
Once I had stepped out, I immediately received a call from Sunwoo.
"Oh, Sunwoo!" I answered the phone, surprised from the sudden call.
"Riyae...." He sounded disappointed. In the background, I can hear loud music and people talking, almost as if he was at a party. "I have some bad news."
Sunwoo explained to me how his manager and the members planned a surprise birthday party for him today. He thought they would do it later in the day since that's what they usually do but because of their scheduling, they did it earlier.
"I'm really sorry, I didn't think I had to tell the members about our date so they didn't know and I can't tell the manag-"
"Sunwoo," I interrupted him. "It's okay, I completely understand."
"You do?"
"Yes! You really don't need to apologize."
A huge sigh of relief expelled from the other side of the phone. "I really thought you'd be upset."
"Of course not; its your birthday so there's no need for me to get upset."
"You're amazing, truly."
My cheeks turned red.
"Sunwoo! We're about to start the live, hurry!" I heard one of the members yell out in the background. "I'm going! Riyae, I have to go but I promise I'll call you later."
He hung up before I could say anything else.
Well, I already walked out and told my parents...
I arrived at Sewoon's house, which is also his dad's bookstore, and walked in to see Sewoon at the counter.
"Riyae?"
"Riyae!!" Sewoon's dad came out from the back and greeted me as soon as he saw me.
"Hi, Mr. Han." I greeted back with a smile.
"It's been so long since you've stopped by! Are you here to see Sewoon?"
"Yes, if you don't mind, of course."
"Well, Sewoon's shift is almost over anyways so I'll let him off early."
Sewoon immediately rushed out from behind the counter and said, "Thank you thank you thank you!" before grabbing my arm and pulling me upstairs to his room before his dad could change his mind.
"You kids have fun!"
"You really have no idea how bored I was until you showed up." I walked in to Sewoon's room, which was also his little brother's room, and sat down at his desk.
"I thought you usually found work fun."
"There weren't as many customers today, but thanks to you, I didn't have to endure that anymore."
"Where's your little brother?" I asked.
"Oh, that little jerk? He's out playing with his friends."
"Jonghoon? Playing with other kids?" I asked, surprised since he's usually really shy around me.
"Why didn't you call me in advanced?" Sewoon changed the subject. I felt the atmosphere change remembering why I came.
"Just to hang out."
"Why do you have a bag in your hand?"
I completely forgot I had Sunwoo's present with me this whole time.
I sighed before responding. "It's Sunwoo's gift for his birthday."
"Oh yeah, that's today! I need to send him a quick message."
I waited a few seconds until it clicked in Sewoon's brain.
"Wait, weren't you supposed to go on a date with him or something today?"
"That's why I came."
I told him about the surprise party and that Sunwoo and I had to cancel our plans for today.
"That sucks." He said sympathetically.
"I know but what can I expect." I forcefully let out a chuckle.
I quickly brushed it off and we continued talking.
"How come you're so hostile towards Areum?" After a while of conversations, I decided to bring up an important matter that's been bothering me.
"All so sudden?" Sewoon was caught off guard. "I don't trust her." He replied.
"You don't trust her?" I said with confusion in my voice. "What is there not to trust?"
"Don't you think it's weird how she became friends with us?"
I had to think about it for a second.
"She was chasing the soccer ball and just so happened to overhear the mean girl." I defended.
"Overhear the conversation about Sunwoo."
"What does he have to do with Areum?"
"How about when she went all 'detective' when she saw his name pop up on your phone?" He continued.
"I'm sure she was just curious."
"All she talks about now is you and Sunwoo."
"You do that too!"
He only seemed more frustrated that I wasn't convinced. "I'm just saying; we should be careful around her."
"What could Areum possibly do?" I asked.
"She could be a spy from Sunwoo's company! Or maybe she's a creepy fan hoping to get close to Sunwoo!"
I grabbed a pencil from his desk and threw it at his head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"You're being ridiculous! It's not a crime to want to be friends with people!" I exclaimed.
Sewoon sat there, rubbing his head to soothe the pain.
"I appreciate your help, but it won't hurt to be a little nicer."
He finally gave up. "Okay, okay! I understand. I'll be nicer to Areum."
. . .
The sun rose like any other day this morning but it seemed brighter than usual. Sunwoo and I decided to hang out today since he was busy yesterday celebrating his birthday with his members.
Since the weather was warm again, I wore something light but nothing too casual. I grabbed Sunwoo's gift before finally heading out. My mom already left for her shift so I didn't have to answer her stupid questions.
I took a bus to where I was meeting Sunwoo- just a small park in the middle of the city. Since we were going to a park, I decided to bring my camera to practice taking shots for the contest.
At the entrance, I saw Sunwoo patiently waiting for me.
"Hi!" I said cheerfully.
"Oh, you're here!"
We both walked in to the pretty empty park and started heading towards an area of the open field that had a full picnic laid out, the blanket and everything.
"Did you- did you really-" I was barely able to form a sentence from the complete awe I was in.
"Surprise!" Sunwoo excitingly blurted.
I still couldn't get anything out of my mouth.
"I know I said we were just going to meet for a little bit but I still feel bad for yesterday so I planned this picnic date, with the help of the other members, of course."
I had many questions going through my brain, trying to process this big gesture.
"Come on, sit." Sunwoo grabbed my hand and led me to sit on the blanket. He opened the basket and took out several containers full of different foods and snacks.
"Did you make all of this?" I asked.
"I told the members my situation and they felt even more guilt than I did, so they helped me set all of this up last night and this morning."
"Here." Sunwoo held a strawberry to my mouth. I awkwardly leaned in and took a bite. It was clearly coated with something because of its crunchy texture and it was sweeter than a normal strawberry.
"It's a candied strawberry." Sunwoo mentioned, noticing my reaction.
"It's really good!" I could tell he was smiling because of the wrinkles around his eyes.
"Are you going to eat?" I asked, hinting towards the mask that he was wearing to hide his identity.
"This is why I bring the hat, too." He chuckled.
We ate and talked until we finished all the food. I patted my stomach, satisfied with the meal. I looked over at Sunwoo and see that he's looking through my camera.
"You don't usually take pictures, do you?" Sunwoo asked.
"I don't have many things to take pictures of." I replied honestly. He turned the camera around to his face and snapped a picture. "There."
I stared at him with a straight face.
He began bursting out laughing, forcing me to laugh with him.
"Well, if you need to practice your skills, you always have me, that's all I'm saying. Plus, it'll be good to post more for the fans."
I nodded, recovering from the laughter.
I took this moment to give Sunwoo his birthday present. I handed him the bag but he hesitated to grab it. "You really didn't have to get me anything."
"Sunwoo, just open it already." I said with a smile. He opened the bag and pulled out a black hoodie. His face brightened and he smiled with his teeth. "Wow! How did you know I needed a new hoodie?"
"I just knew." I said with pride.
"Thank you, Riyae." Sunwoo said as he tried it on.
"This isn't any normal hoodie," I began. Sunwoo seemed confused. I pointed to the end of his left inner sleeve.
"It's a special edition, one of a kind, made-only-for-you hoodie."
I felt as if the gift was a bit too bland, so last night I had embroidered a heart on the inner end of the sleeve.
He noticed the heart.
"You did this??" Sunwoo's eyes were wide open in shock.
"Yeah, you can tell by the bandages around my fingers." I wiggled my fingers in his face. "I had to watch a lot of videos since I've never embroidered by hand before."
"It doesn't hurt, does it?" He asked concerned.
"I have a high pain tolerance so it didn't hurt but I poked myself with the needle a lot." I let out an awkward chuckle.
"Oh, well I'm glad you sacrificed your fingers; this hoodie couldn't be more perfect."
"You really like it?" I asked.
"Of course! I'll treasure this forever, thank you."He stared into my eyes, full of joy and sincerity. I couldn't help but stare back into his sweet brown eyes. I looked down as I became too flustered to look into his eyes anymore. I noticed our shadows on the ground, almost as if it was a perfect silhouette. I quickly grabbed my camera and angled it to where it only showed both of our shadows.
"What are you doing?" Sunwoo asked.
"Stop, don't move." I was too focused on getting a good shot. "Look at me like how you were before."
He turned back to me and I looked back at him. I took the picture and examined it to make sure it was contest-winner worthy.
"This is it! This is what I'm turning in." I said excitedly. I showed Sunwoo the picture and he had a positive reaction.
"I really captures the theme of the contest." He said with a smirk. I threw playful punch at his shoulder. Sunwoo punched my shoulder back. Now I'm glad his members threw him that surprise birthday party yesterday.