http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6GO5L-7Oho

Big instrumental- Miracle

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Haewon left her evening class and walked towards the driveway where her aunt picked her up. Usually Kris took her home, but he had told her that he had an important occasion to be present at today. Inhee sped onto campus and pulled to a stop. “Hey, sweetheart! Come in!”

Haewon felt the car door for the handle. She gave it a tug, and the door opened. Haewon stepped inside and put her seatbelt on.

“Did you have a good day?” Inhee asked.

“Yeah.” Haewon sighed. It had been a long one.

Inhee smiled enigmatically. “Why do you sound so unhappy? Is it because you haven’t seen Kris the entire day? Or maybe it’s because today is your nineteenth birthday, and we couldn’t celebrate it.”

“No, I just had a lot of studying to do. You know the finals are coming up. I’m just worried about the exams.” Haewon replied.

“Mmhmm.” Inhee chuckled. Haewon raised her eyebrow. She could tell her aunt was up to something.

Inhee didn’t give out any more hints and just turned the country music on louder.

Soon, they arrived at home. Inhee unlocked the door and swung it open. “Go inside, birthday girl.”

Haewon stepped into the condo and headed towards her room. Suddenly, long fingers wrapped around her arms, and she gave a little gasp. Someone began to whistle the happy birthday song, and her expression softened in recognition. “Kris oppa…?”

He smiled. “That obvious?”

Haewon sighed in relief. “What are you doing here anyways? I thought you had an important event to attend.”

“I do…” Kris placed his hands on her shoulders from behind and steered her somewhere. He stopped in front of a table with roses, champagne, and a three-tier strawberry and vanilla birthday cake. “Your birthday party.” Her eyes widened. “My…what?”

POP! POP! POP!

Haewon was dumbfounded as silly strings landed over her.

“SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHO HAEWON!” Inhee whooped. Kris laughed and clapped along.

“What- my…birthday party?” Haewon asked, dazed.

“Why do you look so confused? It’s only natural for the birthday girl to have a birthday party. Right, ahjumma?” Kris asked. “Right!” Her aunt beamed.

“Oppa…” Haewon whispered. She was surprised yet touched.

“Let’s sing the birthday song! On three! One! Two! Three!” Inhee and Kris sang the birthday song to her. Haewon softly gazed ahead of her as she gently clapped her hands. Flashbacks of last year’s birthday erupted in her memory.

Luhan pulled out something from his pocket and quietly treaded towards her. He cupped her palms together, and she wondered what that was for. Haewon felt something light and beady in her palm. Luhan enclosed her hands together and smiled up at her. Then he stepped back and let her unveil his gift. Haewon opened her hands and touched the hard object. ‘L-U-H-A-N-+-H-A-E-W-O-N-2-G-E-T-H-E-R-4-E-V-E-R.’

“Oppa…”

Luhan picked up the object and clasped it around her wrist. “It’s a friendship bracelet. Feel. I have one, too.” He placed her fingers on his wrist.

“Oppa…what…how…? How did you get this gift? You made it yourself?” Haewon asked.

Luhan shook his head. “I wish I had such talent. I asked Ms. Lee to help. We went to the shopping district to get you something. That’s why I wasn’t here all day.”

Haewon was so touched. He had gone through so much for her just to get her a gift. “Thank you. I’ll cherish it forever, and I’ll never take it off.” She swore.

“You’re welcome. I’m happy you like my present.” Luhan smiled.

“Happy birthday!” The standing ovation brought Haewon back to reality.

“Go ahead and blow out your candles! Don’t forget to make a wish!” Inhee added.

*A wish?* Haewon leaned forward cautiously. Kris placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “That’s enough, Alana. Any closer, and you’ll burn your nose off.” Haewon held her breath. *What should I wish for?*

There was only one thing she wanted. So she closed her eyes and wished for that.

Haewon opened her eyes and softly blew.

“Eight more candles left!” Inhee announced. Haewon blew again.

“Five more!” Inhee encouraged.

Haewon tried again. Three candles remained.

“You can do it!” Inhee cheered. Haewon in more air then blew it all out in exhaustion. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m seeing spots. I need help.” She stuck out her lower lip. “Okay, okay, I’ll be your knight.” Kris chuckled. He bent down and blew the rest of the candles out.

Inhee cheered and started to take pictures with her Polaroid camera.

“Auntie, why are you taking pictures? I can’t see anything.” Haewon sighed.

“But I can. Can I have the photos?” Kris asked.

“Sure!” Inhee willingly agreed. “Let me go get the knife so that we can enjoy the cake.” She hurried to the kitchen.

Kris chuckled and turned towards Haewon. His expression melted into one of love and devotion. He reached out and gently curled a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Happy birthday, princess.”

“Happy birthday, princess.”

Haewon swallowed hard. Luhan had called her that, too. That was his nickname for her.

Inhee came back with the knife. “Why don’t you cut the first slice?”

Haewon gripped the handle, and Inhee guided her hand to the cake. Haewon carefully sliced the first layer of the sweet pink-and-white cake. Inhee cut the cake into smaller pieces and gave the plates to everyone. “I didn’t even think I would get a birthday party this year…” Haewon confessed. “Of course you would! You didn’t think I would just let this special day pass by without doing anything for you.” Inhee chuckled. She grinned up at Kris, “Actually, this year though, it was all his idea. He called me even before I could arrange anything for you.”

“Thank you, Kris oppa.” Haewon gratefully said.

“You don’t have to thank me just yet. You didn’t even see your gift. That’s the highlight of today’s event. Here.” Kris took out something from the pocket of his jacket and placed it in her hand. It was so lightweight. Haewon touched the paper-like material and realized it was an envelope. “Is it a letter?” She pulled out a piece of paper.

It wasn’t written in Braille, so she had no idea what it said.

Haewon frowned slightly. “I can’t read this because I can’t see anything.”

“Soon you’ll be able to.” Kris murmured.

“What?” Haewon was befuddled. Why would he give her a letter when he obviously knew she wasn’t able to use her vision? “I’ll read it out loud for you. Pardon me for intruding.” Inhee chuckled. She grasped the letter and cleared dramatically. “Dear Cho Haewon, we are pleased to announce that we are able to give you a surgery to correct your damaged vision…”

Haewon gasped, “What?” Had she heard something wrong?

Inhee stared at the letter. She read the rest of the note to herself. Her eyes grew wider and wider. “Oh my god…” Inhee whispered. “What? What is it?” Haewon gulped. Her aunt’s voice cracked as she finished the letter. “Your surgery date is May 31st. Please be prepared by then. You will need to be admitted to the hospital for at least two weeks…” Inhee stared at Kris with her jaw wide open. “K-Kris…what is this?”

“It’s as the letter said.” He turned his head and fixed his gentle gaze on the girl he had fallen in love with. “You’re getting your vision back. You’ll be able to see once again.”

“Oh my gosh.” Inhee cupped her hands over as tears streamed down her face. This was a miracle for both of them.

Tears welled up in Haewon’s eyes. “I…I don’t understand.” She shook her head, refus