BIRTHDAY CHAPTER (1): Simple

Today is Hwang Minhyun's 24th birthday, I have prepared a little surprise for him.

"Good morning, Auntie .." I said to Mrs. Hwang as soon as she opened the door.

"Morning, Hanna. What is that you bring with? A birthday cake?" asked Mrs. Hwang while letting me enter the house.

"Yes... Is Minhyun still sleeping, Auntie?" I asked while opening the box I was carrying.

"Yes, he is still in his room. You will be the first person to give him a happy birthday blessing." Said Mrs. Hwang while helping me light a candle.

I smiled. After all the candles were lit, I said, "Then, I go to Minhyun's room, Auntie ..."

Mrs. Hwang nodded and then I walked to Minhyun's room with a birthday cake in my hand.

Minhyun's room as usual was not locked, I opened it slowly and immediately saw Minhyun who was still fast asleep.

I put the cake on Minhyun's study table and then squatted beside his bed. "Minyeon ah ..."

Hwang Minhyun didn't budge, so I had to get closer to his ears and call him even louder. "Hwang Minyeon .."

At that time Minhyun reacted with his body wriggling and his eyes slowly opened. "Mmmh, Hanna?"

"Wake up, Minyeon ah ..."

Minhyun finally got up and sat on his bed, still with eyes that were not fully open.

I stood up and took a birthday cake while singing softly, "Saengil chuka hamnida ... saengil chuka hamnida ... Saranghaneun Hwang Minyeon, saengil chuka hamnida .."

I brought the birthday cake to Minhyun and asked him to make a wish. Minhyun closed his eyes for a moment and prayed, before then opened his eyes again and blew out the candle.

"Yeay!" I gave a bottle of water already stored beside his bed to Minhyun. "Drink first."

Minhyun obeyed me and drank a few sips of water, before then opening his mouth as I fed him a cake.

"Does it taste good?" I asked.

Minhyun nodded. "But it would be nice if you--"

Hearing Minhyun hang the sentence, I asked "What?"

Minhyun pursed his lips as a sign to ask for a kiss.

"Yah! We're in your parents' house." I refused.

"Come on. I'm having a birthday, you have to grant my request."

"Tsk. Alright .." I gave him a peck on the lips and it made him smile.

"Eat the cake and don't forget to share it with Uncle, Auntie, and Sujin Unnie." I said before standing up to leave.

But Minhyun held me back. "Only that? You wake me up this morning just to force me to eat a cake?"

I chuckled. "What else do you want?"

"Stay here longer, Hanna .."

"Don't be spoiled, Nyeon. After all we will meet later in the afternoon. And it's time for you to wake up already. Don't forget you're still having a course this morning."

Minhyun just grinned.

"Then I'll go first." I said before looking down to give him a short kiss before I left his room.

-00-

I left the Hwang family residence with a smile, there was a gratitude and also amazed feeling, I was still by Minhyun's side at the age of 24. Many things happened between us over time. Just like most relationships, my relationship with Minhyun isn't always smooth either. At the beginning of the relationship, both of us who usually live side by side had to adjust to live apart since Minhyun had to stay in the dorm as he entered Korea National Police University.

Yes, Minhyun finally decided to become a police officer, a criminal profiler to be specific. He was sparked by that desire after hearing Ong's story that he wanted to be a detective, plus Minhyun's interest in the world of psychology that was getting bigger and his experience reading the motives of the perpetrators only through the eyes in Nam Taehyun's case. I also finally docked in the world of psychology. With this rudimentary brain I was lucky to be able to enter Sungkyunkwan University.

If you ask what about the others? Jonghyun can't only reach SKY, he can even surpass it. He was able to pursue his higher dreams of entering Tokyo University's medical faculty and also his dream to pursue Ai, his summer love. Dongho, as already known, got a scholarship at Hanseol Sport University. And Minki. Ah, you must be surprised. After graduating from high school, he decided to take up military service. He took the decision because Minseok oppa had finished his military service so that he could take turns accompanying his mother before his older brother would marry.

Five years passed, me and the other Dobong-dong kids both learned to become adults. Although we are now in different places, our friendship is still the same. The strong friendship that was formed since we were little is still closely intertwined as well as our family.

The tradition among our families is still done today. One of them is Minhyun's birthday celebration. On every August 9 of each year, the Hwang family will invite the Kwak, Kim, Choi and Kang families to have a festive dinner.