Work Text:
Seungmin is the type of person who greets the important people in his life with a "happy birthday!" exactly at 12:00 AM, either through a message, a video call, or even visiting his past roommate in person. At first thought, one may think that he likes birthdays. Ironically, he hates celebrating his birthday the most. Well.. not entirely.
When he was younger, the only birthday celebration he remembers was when he turned seven. They had a small birthday party where he met this neighborhood kid, who is now his best friend, Jeongin who gifted him a puppy plushie that he still keeps in his room at their house. And then that was it. No other celebrations after that.
His parents are both busy people who aren't usually at home and he's an only child. Growing up, he spends his birthday alone mostly working on something for school or busying himself with anything just so he wouldn't remember what date it was. At first, he cries about it until he lost his care and pretends it's just another day. Nothing special.
This year, however, Seungmin feels like something's going to be different.
It wasn't his intention to reveal his birthday. He was actually good at hiding it by avoiding the topic but then his newest roommate came exactly on his birthday a year ago. It was when a delivery man came to deliver Jeongin’s yearly slice of Green Tea Bon Délicieux from their favorite bakery with a card that’s written with ‘Happy birthday, Kim Seungmin! ^^ - iyen’. Unfortunately, the delivery man was too lazy to wait for Seungmin to answer the door and handed the food to his new roommate who coincidentally was also waiting for him to open the door since he just came to his new dorm. When Seungmin opened the door, he was greeted with an awkward “Uhm, hello! Happy birthday?” by the man in front of him and gave him the cake, the delivery man long gone.
With this happening, he couldn't hide his birthday anymore since it was too memorable for his roommate for 1) it was the day he arrived at his new dorm, 2) it was just pure chaotic that the delivery man made him give the cake to his new roommate that he hasn't even spoken too, and 3) it was the day they first met.
Seungmin’s new roommate grew fond of him and he can't deny that he did the same, too. It wasn't hard to like his roommate. For a year, they lived together peacefully and they respected each other’s rules and boundaries they discussed a few days after he moved in. Besides, he’s caring and sweet, too. It felt like living with a friend that he had since forever.
At times, though, Seungmin can feel his heartbeat maybe a little bit faster than usual. Like when he was feeling a bit down because he didn't get to secure a ticket for his favorite band’s sold-out concert and his roommate surprised him with a nice setup in their shared living room. Chicken and drinks are on the table while the band’s live broadcast is waiting to start on the TV. He told him he shouldn't have done that because it costs a lot to pay for the online viewing but he just shrugged and said ‘Every penny’s worth it to see you smile than to watch you sulk because you couldn't see them.’ When he feels his heart thrumming in his chest hard, he blames it on his excitement because the concert’s about to begin.
Today, on his birthday and his roommate’s first anniversary since he moved in, is not an exception to his growing compilation of ‘Days When My Roommate's Making Me Feel A Bit Special.’
“Minie, let’s go! We're going to miss the bus and we’ll be late for the first 50 unlimited rides,” he urged Seungmin to leave their dorm.
“Hyunjin, I already told you we don't have to do this,” he exhaled and lazily picked up his backpack.
“But it's your birthday!!” Hyunjin turns around while skipping to face Seungmin as they walk down the hallway to their building’s elevator. “Besides, we should celebrate the first time we met, shouldn't we?”
Seungmin didn't answer and followed Hyunjin as the elevator door opened for them. He couldn't say no if he already planned everything anyway.
The day went by like a flash. They did catch the bus that they needed to ride and arrived at the amusement park that Hyunjin decided to go to. They even got into the first 50 people in line which granted them unlimited rides for the day. They tried all the rides that they wanted, taking turns to choose which one they'll try next. Seungmin had to admit, he really did enjoy this day, his birthday, for the first time in a while.
While waiting for Hyunjin to return from buying their snacks, Seungmin checked his phone and saw at least a few notifications. He removed his birthday from all his social media accounts so only those who remembered his birthday sent him a message. One from his mom and dad, another from his old roommate who he misses, by the way, some from his university organization, and the last one that he saw was from Jeongin. He sent a few messages
Iyen🍞
happy birthday, hyung !!
are u home ?
i don't wanna send another cake and be delivered to someone else again
heyyy
u busy ?
ok pls reply to me once u see this
i hope you're having a great day !!!
Seungmin
thank you, iyenie <3
sorry, i was out the entire day
still not home actually
Iyen🍞
finally, u replied !
oh :0
that's new
who are u with ?
Seungmin
im with hyunjin
he planned to go out today and i couldn't say no
Iyen🍞
oh 👀 your roommate ?
is that a date ?
Seungmin
don't be stupid
he's just being nice
unlike someone else who couldn't even visit me
Iyen🍞
hey >:(
i wanted to visit u okay
you're just too far and i don't have enough money to go there
Seungmin
i know im just kidding 😆
and he also told me we should celebrate his anniversary since he moved into our dorm
if that's even worth celebrating lol
Iyen🍞
or maybe he was just making an excuse so that he could go out with u idk
anw have fun hyung !!
told u so
you’ll meet someone who will make your birthday worth celebrating
aside from me ofc 🤪
ok i need to go now byeeee
happy birthday again !
Seungmin
thank youu
bye!
Not long after, he saw Hyunjin walking towards their table with their hotdog sandwiches and soft drinks placed on top of a round tray.
Someone who will make your birthday worth celebrating .
Seungmin feels his heart beat faster as Hyunjin nears him but shrugs off the feeling and thoughts inside his head. Once Hyunjin arrives, he helped him place their food on the table.
“Oh, wait, I forgot to get something,” Hyunjin immediately stands up. “Let me just get it real quick. You can start eating if you're hungry!”
He runs away and leaves Seungmin confused. What did he forget when all the things they ordered were already here? Or maybe he ordered extra food?
Seungmin didn't mind him and took a sip from his drink. Roaming around and trying different rides is exhausting and it made him really thirsty. He then unwraps and takes a bite of the sandwich that Hyunjin bought. When he was about to take another bite, he heard someone behind him.
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
You are precious, dear Minie~
Happy birthday to you!
He turned to where he heard the voice and saw Hyunjin singing while holding a cake with a candle on top of it. He's even wearing a little party hat on top of his head and is smiling brightly at him after singing the song.
“Happy birthday, Seungmin!” he exclaimed and brought the cake nearer to the younger one. “Make a wish!”
Seungmin was speechless. He stared at Hyunjin for a while before he snapped out of it when he heard Hyunjin ask him to make a wish again. He closed his eyes and made a wish before blowing out the candle and smiled at him. Hyunjin placed the cake on the table and stroked his cheek gently. Seungmin didn't even notice that he was crying.
“Are you okay? Did I do anything wrong?” Hyunjin asked, with worry visible on his face.
Seungmin shakes his head, “No, no, it's just.. thank you,” he said as he wiped his tears away.
Hyunjin smiled gently and pats his head before sitting in front of him. They ate together peacefully while talking about the rides that they have tried earlier. Seungmin laughs at Hyunjin’s story about the man who was screaming loudly that he turned so red when they rode the Viking. He stares at Seungmin who is still laughing and adores him before the younger one notices it and so he looks away.
Inside the bus on the way home, they decided to sit at the farthest seat at the back so they could have more space and sit comfortably. Hyunjin took out his phone and looked for a playlist before sharing his earphones with Seungmin.
“I made this playlist last week,” he shared. “I was planning for your birthday while listening to music on shuffle and added these songs that remind me of you on a playlist. Do you want me to send it to you?”
Seungmin smiled and nodded before putting on the earphone. The ride on the way home was comfortable as they listen to the playlist that Hyunjin made for him in silence.
When they entered their dorm that night, they stood in the middle of the room while waiting for one of them to speak.
“Thank you,” Seungmin started. “I-I honestly didn't expect anything today. Thank you for making this day special.”
Hyunjin looked at him tenderly before pulling Seungmin into a warm hug.
“Thank you, too, for allowing me to do this. For spending your birthday with me,” he said and let go of him. “I didn't go overboard, did I?”
Hyunjin scratches the back of his head in embarrassment and Seungmin just laughs at him.
“No, you didn't. I honestly enjoyed it a lot,” the birthday boy answered.
Hyunjin sighed in relief and held his chest, “Ah, thank you. I’m glad you did.”
Silence envelopes them again. Hyunjin looks like he still has something to say and Seungmin patiently waits for him to do so.
“Uhm, I don't know if this is the right moment to do this but I don't know if I’ll ever get another chance to say this or even have enough courage again so… I want to say that I like you. I really like you so much,” Hyunjin confessed.
Seungmin felt his heart skip a beat. He what?
“I know this is so sudden and you don't have to say anything back. I just want to let you know what I feel about you. I want to be clear that I’m doing these things because I cherish you and I want you to feel that you are special to me,” he continues.
“I- uhm, thank you,” Seungmin says. “Thank you for telling me this.”
“You're not mad? Did I make things awkward? I hope I didn't, oh god. I shouldn't have—”
“Hey, it's okay. I’m not mad,” Seungmin cut him off and giggled. “Thank you, really. And I–I think I’m getting there, too.”
Hyunjin thought about what Seungmin said for a while before realizing what he meant.
Oh.
Hyunjin didn't know what to do so he turned and bit his lip to prevent himself from screaming and faced Seungmin again.
“It's not my birthday but I felt like I was the one who got a gift,” he said.
Seungmin laughs at it yet blush finds its way to his cheeks. They said good night to each other before they parted ways to their own bedrooms but not without Hyunjin’s last ‘Happy birthday again, Minie.’ and fond smiles on their faces.
The next morning, Seungmin woke up and found a flat rectangle-shaped gift, neatly wrapped on top of his working table. He was still rubbing his eyes as he walked towards it, not remembering seeing it last night before he slept. On top of it was a written note.
I forgot to give this to you yesterday and when I tried to call you last night, you were already asleep. I hope you don't mind me entering your room to put this here hehe. Happy birthday again, Minie! Hope you like this one ♡
- Hyunjin
Seungmin unwrapped the gift and saw a painting of a sky that looks like a sunset with a hand holding a daisy at the center of it. He admired the beautiful painting for a few minutes before deciding to replace the frame in front of his bed with the painting the Hyunjin gave him.
Yesterday, when Hyunjin asked him to make a wish, he wished for more days like yesterday where he felt ecstatic. With Hyunjin beside him, maybe Jeongin was right. Or more so, maybe he found someone who makes life itself worth it. He found his Hyunjin.