Happy Birthday, HyunMi! ( (1/1)

December 30/HyunMi’s POV Something was pulling me back to the shore of consciousness, making a great deal of effort to get me out of my drowning in the ocean of dreams, the whirlpool of sleep. I was beginning to hear noises coming from inside and outside—birds chirping, and the steady hum of the vibration of every electronic device at work in the room. I could feel a bump at the side of my face; a pillow was pressing on the side of it, to which my cheek was propelling against. I made a quick run of my hand across my face to clear the hair on it—I couldn’t breathe because of my locks. I shifted my position, making gruff sounds, annoyed why I had to wake up. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to swim back to the sea of sleep. But my brain wouldn’t cooperate. It started to talk to itself, planning out what I had to do for the day, remembering what they are, and remembering the date. The date. Hey brain.What?What day is it today?It’s Friday.No, you dimwit. I mean the date! Month and day!You’re calling me a dimwit? Are you trying to insult yourself? I’m your brain, for goodness’ sake!Fine! Just—what day is it?It’s December 30.Oh. I ended the conversation with my brain after that, ignoring the nagging inside me that something was with the day. I half-opened my eyes to peek at the clock. It was still 6:30. I could still sleep for an hour or two. I covered my head with a pillow, resolved to get back to slumber. But just when I was slipping to sleep, my phone rang. Not caring whoever the idiot was, I cancelled the call. Then again, it rang. I cancelled it again. On the third time it called I was really annoyed, I decided to pick it up.“WHAT.”“Good morning yeobo~”  a teasing voice greeted on the other end. High-pitched, sounds excited, and speaking pompously. You do the math. I was about to press the end call button but he immediately added, “Nah-uh-uh! Hold it right there, missy. You ain’t gonna cancel the call you get first thing in the morning!”“THE HELL DO YOU WANT, ANYWAY.” I grunted, my voice still not healed of its gruffness.“Ohohohoho I see. I’ve awaken the evil beast! Eat your breakfast now! Good luck on being curator today! I’m rooting here for you!” and he laughed.“WHO CARES.”“Why so grouchy? It’s a BIIIIG day today! A lot of fans will come. Oh, I gotta hang up now. We’re practicing. Bye!”“Hmm.”“Bye, yeobo~”“BYE.” And I punched my thumb on the button so hard, I was afraid my phone broke. I slammed my head back on the pillow. 9:30 AM.I jumped out of bed. I just slept for a while, why is it 9 already? The gallery’s opening at 10! I ditched my usual attire for something semi-formal. My partner as curator today is Yu Na. she greeted me happy birthday as soon as she saw me, and, thanks to her, I was reminded that it was my birthday. How quickly we forget. A lot of people did come, and I met many of their fans, which was a little scary, actually, since I had to say something relevant either to the paintings, or their Key oppa. And, for what seemed the bajillionth time I was asked, “How is Key as a partner?” I was half-expecting to see that girl who said dire comments about Kibum, but I guess she was too chicken to come or she already did, but good thing it wasn’t on my schedule.  I wonder how she dealt with what I said to her. She must be saying nasty things about me on the World Wide Web already. “Unnie! Take a picture with me!” said a familiar girl in mirth, out of nowhere. Then I recognized who she was. It was the girl who gave me the light-stick.“Oh, dear! It’s you! It’s nice to see you again!” a warm feeling surged through me. “Come!” I put my arm on her shoulder and drew her close to me. and after smiling for the camera, I thanked her.“Unni, if you don’t mind, can you show me your painting?” she pleaded with properly beseeching eyes, and I had no choice but to agree.“Sure, dear. Come,” I gestured her to follow me, and she turned to her friends, motioning them to follow.She was about 14 years old, but acted childish. Her name was Hyerin, and soon enough I made a friend out of her. “This,” I pointed with an open palm. “Is Gikwang-oppa and So Eul-unnie’s painting. It’s called ‘Deception’. Cool name, isn’t it?”The girls nodded. Then one of them raised her hand to ask a question. Wow, it felt like I was a teacher taking my kindergarten students on a field trip. “Yes, dear?”“Did you get to meet their other bandmates, too? I mean, the artists,”I bobbed my head. “Yes. I met Junhyung-oppa, Doo-oppa, Seob-oppa, Hyunseung-oppa, and…”“Dongwoon-oppa?” one of the girls squealed.“Yeah…” I quickly reminded myself not to let the smile on my face fade. “Tell you what. They once visited the house and they turned it all topsy turvy. It was so much fun,” I said cheerily, and they laughed with me.“You met Onew-oppa and the rest, right?” Hyerin queried.“Yes, dear. We even had a little exchange of gifts last Christmas,”“What did Key oppa give you?” and it was followed by a chime of yeeheee from all of them.“You little—“ I tittered, but replied, “He gave me a new set of paintbrushes from Singapore. You see, they went there once and I wanted him to bring me something when he came back, and there,”“You live in California, right, unnie?” one of Hyerin’s friends asked.“Why, yes. How did you know?”“Sources,” they shrugged altogether. Oh, right. Fan-girls.“How curious of you!” I remarked, with an air of surprise. “Come on, I’ll show to you our painting,”  The girls stooped down to read the description plate. I didn’t say anything just yet; I didn’t want to disturb their observation. “Wow, HyunMi-unnie, you must have taken a lot of time making this! It’s so detailed!” they gasped in amazement.The canvas was five feet wide and four feet tall. You have no idea, girls. “Well…” I looked at the painting wistfully. “It was tiring, since putting the words to make the picture was painstaking, but it was enjoying,”“Glad you had fun, unnie,” they said.“I think you’ll win.” Hyerin strongly yet kindly alleged.“You think so?” I asked, in the tender hopes of the idea.“We cast all our votes here, you see.” One of Hyerin’s friends stated.“Thank you, dearies,” I caressed their cheeks slowly, one by one.  “Bye, HyunMi-unni!”“Annyeong, unni!”“Good luck on the awarding!” they all bowed before they went out of the gallery. Just in time, it was lunch break. “Having fun on being curator?” Yu Na asked.“Yep. Couldn’t be better,” I smiled as the image of girls walking away receded, feeling like I have won the award of “Unni of the day” We were eating lunch peacefully when Yu Na asked, “Key greeted you yet?”I shook my head, feeling aloof at first, but when it sank in, I felt utterly sad.“He didn’t?! how about the other four?”“They did. They even called me in the middle of work,”Yu na slapped her clenched fist against her palm. “Let’s get him,”“N-no, no! no-no-no!” I wrung my hands at her.“Why noooooooot?”“Let him. I just want to see if he’ll remember,” Yu Na sensed that I was serious, that she fell into silence, and didn’t say anything. A long day passed, and I was very much tired. When we got home, a party was thrown. The people in both wings of the house greeted me the jolliest way possible, I was drowning in love and gifts. They even made me a bonbon-cake-tower.Actually, I wasn’t tired because of my work. I was tired of waiting. Each minute passed, and I was being drained of m energy. I cursed at myself for being so sappy. 11pm. I checked the time. One more hour left and the penalty Kibum issued will lose its effect. I was both glad and saddened by the idea. In the hopes of getting rid of the boredom, I retired to my favorite hangout—the roof. Armed with a pillow, I lied on it despite of its cold surface and the coldness of the atmosphere itself. I’m quite disheartened now so I won’t really care. With my hands clasped at the back of my head, I stared at the dark sky above and soon enough, I found myself daydreaming in the middle of the night. I remembered a certain occurrence that took place not so long ago.  It was the day before the painters went to go home to their families. Everyone was tired, and we retired to rest. The boys in the East Wing, the girls at the West.I tossed and rolled in my bed but I couldn’t get any sleep. I was tired, but my brain wouldn’t stop talking to itself. When I had enough, I decided to go downstairs to drink milk. That always put me to sleep. I cautiously stepped down the stairs, praying in my mind that I’d make no noise and arouse any ghost or person in the house. I made my way to the kitchen, heated water, and formulated my milk. I didn’t turn on the lights in the kitchen. I was contented by the illumination that managed to intrude in the house through the windows, and that was enough for me to see.  I rested my arms on the counter, carefully stirring the milk. I was so lost in thought, that I was startled by a certain clang of sound nearby.“Who goes there?” I yelped, alarmed. A tall silhouette was approaching and my first instinct was to get away; I recoiled a few paces.“Chill. It’s just me,” the light hit Kibum’s flawless face. He walked towards me with open palms, making himself look like he was surrendering.“Goodness.” I put my hand on my chest and sighed. “What are you doing here? The West Wing is for girls, young man,”“I didn’t know where they put the milk in the kitchen. And I couldn’t ask anyone, everyone was asleep as a log,” he replied. “So I came in here,”“You drink milk before you sleep?”“I do, but only when I’m really desperate. Usually it’s tea. Do you have some here?”“We do. Up there in the cupboard,” I pointed, taking a sip in my mug.He fumbled over there, and brought out of it was a tea-bag. He poured hot water on a mug and dunked in the tea-bag there. He joined me on the counter. “Do you mind turning on the lights?” he asked politely.“Nah. I don’t want to. Besides, it’s bright already, see,” I turned my head to the floor, where drawn on it was the shape of the windowframe.“Ah,” he kept on tweaking the tag of the tea-bag, making the latter bounce inside the cup. Kibum seemed to be in a hurry to get his tea done. “By the way, HyunMi-ya—““You haven’t called me noodlehead in a long time, you know that?” I interjected with an amused voice.“Why, you want me to call you that again?”“No…it’s just that…I just remembered,”He snickered. “I will, then. By the way, HyunMi the noodle-head, I want to ask you something.”“Yes, what is it, Naggy Almighty Diva Key?”Though the room wasn’t adequately illuminated, I saw his frown. “How is Dongwoon?”“Are you asking that to depress me?”“Seriously. You…both of you…you know,”“Kissed?”“Yeah…” it came out as a sigh. “How is it now, between him and you?”I heaved a sigh. “I haven’t seen him since then. After we kissed he walked out,” and good thing it was slightly dark, so Kibum couldn’t see the blood reddening my face.“What will you say to him the next time you meet?”“What makes you ask that?” I cocked a brow.“Well…you know, he’s my friend. And…I sort of miss him already,”I guffawed. “You like him?”“Aish, no!” he slapped my arm. “No, you idiot.”My laughter subsided, and went back into me was the gloomy feeling. “I should say sorry.”“What wrong did you do this time?” he demanded.“No, you idiot,” I mimicked him. “It’s the only way to fix things. It’ll be awkward, for sure, but he’s a nice guy. Very nice indeed. And it would be a loss for me if I lose a friend like him,”“Ugh, why did you have to make a hole in the 91 line.” He said in a wrathful voice.I opened my mouth to sass at him, but I found myself tired. The warmth of the milk was making its effect. “Why did you ask about him, anyway?”“Because…”“Because what?”“I was just wondering…” he sounded very hushed now. “How your kiss felt like,”“Then go kiss Dongwoon and see how his kiss feels like.” I said nonchalantly, and took another sip from my mug.“Ugh.” He grunted, and gulped down his tea, but not completely. “You just don’t understand me, do you?”“How will I know?” I laughed, and gave him a brotherly—or what—sisterly pat on the back. “Drink your tea and think of something else.” I recommended, wanting to get away from the topic as quickly as possible. Ten minutes was spent in nothing but midnight silence and the sipping of drinks. I was surprised, suddenly, when Kibum took a step closer to me. And I mean—very close. “What?” I managed to croak in a fair voice.“Moon HyunMi.”Okay. So this is it. I thought. I laughed nervously. “Yes?”“Come back soon, alright,” he intoned in a deep voice, near my ear.“I’ll come back, that’s for sure,” I smiled tenderly.And, without my permission his arms encircled themselves around my waist.“No wonder why you were asking about it,” I mused, not showing any sign of protest towards what he was doing. I even put my arms around his neck, and he rested his forehead on mine. There was a lustful gleam in his eyes, and I was knowledgeable that that gleam was on mine, too. I also knew what was going to happen. My mouth slowly curled up in a smile, my eyes carefully shut themselves, in preparation of what was going to take place. His lips were close—so close when— “Meow! Eeeeeeekk!”A loud thump was heard outside, followed by the hissing of a cat.  Keeeeey <3I stared at the shiny surface below, considering whether I should twist it or not. My hand was hovering over it, but I shook my head. “Time for a dramatic entrance,” I mumbled to myself. “Pretty late, aren’t we, Key?” So Eul-noona smiled at me.I jumped out of the last step of the stairs. “I came home from a show, noona. I still haven’t dressed, see,” I dropped down my hands, showing her my outfit.“Yeah; saw your performance,” she replied. “Now go; she’s in distress,” and she walked away.I hurriedly jogged outside, and stopped by the tree that was in front of HyunMi’s little hangout. I climbed up, making the least noise possible. The excess cloth on my sleeves was so annoying. Special thanks to my stylists for the colossal attire. I stood on a bough, and hid behind the trunk. I was about to show up but I wanted to take a little more time to look at her. She was lying on the roof in the most relaxed manner, with her hands on the back of her head as her pillow. “Damn cat,” I heard her say. Cat? What cat? Then I remembered what happened just weeks ago. We almost kissed, but we heard a raucous sound outside, and it pretty much ruined the moment. “Oh,” I breathed. Is she thinking what I’m thinking?“Too bad,” HyunMi rose from her lain position. “Too bad for the kiss,” she cackled. She hugged her knees and looked sad. “Wish you were here,”That was most probably addressed to me.She stood up, ready to go back in the room, but I finally revealed myself. “Saengil chukha hamnida~” I hummed.She turned her head and squeaked. “Ya! How long have you been there?!”I carefully stepped on the roof. “Not that long, really…” I shrugged.She heaved a sigh of relief.“…just long enough for me to hear everything you said,”HyunMi turned scarlet and almost jumped in the window.“Oh no you don’t—“ I yanked her arm and forced her to sit. “We haven’t even celebrated your birthday yet!”“I already did,” she frowned.I ignored that and said, “I have a magic trick for ya,”“Bring it on, clown,” still in an uninterested tone.Just as I have practiced, I slid my hand across her ear. Pulling it back, I fashioned a little red ball. “What’s this?”She blinked, evidently surprised.“Hehehehe,” I giggled. I took her hand and opened her palm. I clapped mine on it three times, and a coin showed up.“What is this sorcery?” she sniggered, but she was amused.“Now for the final trick—wait, what’s this on your hair?” I stroked her curly brown locks and brought it out. She was utterly immobilized. Her eyes were wide, and her face was the darkest shade of pink. I took the chance since she was still dumbstruck, and said, in the coolest way possible, “Happy birthday,”“I…uh…I don’t…” her mouth was still agape. Her curiosity took over and she took a closer look at the pendant, and that made her blush even more. It was a key and a paintbrush crisscrossing. “I…I don’t know what to say…”“How about ‘thank you’?” I scowled.She covered her mouth and breathed, “T-thank you…K-Kibum-ahhh…” her eye-smile said it all. I looked at them on a more observant scope, and the hazel brown eyes were now shinier when light hit the tears on it.I replaced my smile with a feigned threat, “Take care of this; you should be wearing this the next time we meet,” while holding up the necklace.“Challenge accepted,” she sniggered, ready to get the gift, but I pulled it out—“Nah-uh,” I flicked my finger to and fro. “I’m going to put it on you. That’s what couples do, right?”HyunMi went face-palm. “Kill me. Kill me now. Somebody.” She mumbled.“Oh, come on. I’m the best boyfriend in town!” I crawled behind her. “Hold up your hair.”“But—““—PRONTO.”“I wasn’t bound for a life like this,” she hissed, and gathered up her hair and pushed it upward.“You have a nice neck,” I complimented, staring at it.“You pervert.”“No I’m not!” I looped the necklace around her neck and clasped the lock.“You done?” she snorted.I rolled my eyes. Too bad she couldn’t see. “Let’s do this a little more…romantic,” I whispered the last word, while my head was on her shoulder with my arms around her torso. Oh, how often we do this! I teasingly blew air on her ear.“Yeeessh—“ HyunMi shivered, and scratched her nape. “Will you cut that out?!”I laughed. “Moon HyunMi.”“What,”“I need a moment of silence.”She wondered  about this, but agreed. As I hugged her, I made our bodies swing gently to and fro, enjoying the silence of the night. Out of nowhere my mouth formed in the form of a tune, “HyunMi neomu yeppeo~”She covered her mouth and giggled. “Oh stop it, you,”“Michyeo~”“Uh—““—replay, replay, replay~”She turned to face me. “Stopppp being so mushyyyyyy~” she pinched my cheeks.“Ow,”Her expression turned to tender seriousness. “But, really, Kibum-ah…” her shoulders slacked as she breathed. “Thank you. I’m very thankful,”“You’re welcome,” I smiled back. “And, oh, HyunMi?”“Yeah?”“Close your eyes.”She did. “Okay, so?”“Let me exercise my dibs as your boyfriend,” I, too, closed my eyes, and cautiously brought my face near to hers.Actually, I may have really had the pleasure of doing this before, but damn tight schedules I wasn’t even able to enjoy being her boyfriend. Closer…Closer…Closer… RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNGGGGGGGGG! One inch. ONEFREAKINGINCH Was the distance of my lips away from hers when her phone rang. HyunMi jumped up and quickly reached for her pocket. “Twelve midnight,” she read her phone. “It’s midnight!” she cheered. “I’M FREE!” she did a little dancing in her seat and stood up.“Ugh,” I rumpled my hair with a wrathful tweak.“Hehehehe. Sorry~” HyunMi said with an apologetic smile. “It’s midnight, Kibum-ah. Time itself broke us up,”I followed her example and stood up. “We’re back to being archenemies then,”“More or less,” she shrugged. “So let’s go back in?” I agreed to this. Together, we got down the window, back to her room. There’s only two tomorrows left. ---------------------------------------OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYSO WHERE WERE WE OH OH OH SOWHAT DO YOU THINK OF HYUNMI'S BIRTHDAY SOOOOOOOOOOO?TELL ME WUT U THINK PLEZ I KNO IT'S SO CORNY BUT LOLOLOL SORRY THAT'S ALL I CAN DO THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END!!!!! yolo