-032-

Faint

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Sehun's house was not that far from Dahae's. In fact, they were only one block away from each other. That explained why by the time Zelo was dropped by Yongguk, he found Kris and Kai running with ceased eyebrows towards the house.

"Hyungs !", Zelo cried out, feeling relieved that at least someone had made it in time. He checked his phone and his eyes went wider, "It's 11:36 already !"

Kai without a word, pushing his shoulder onto the hard door to yank it open. Kris gave Zelo a small, reasurring smile, "Don't feel bad, Dahae will never be mad at you". Somehow, Zelo felt better after hearing someone comfirm a fact that he had long known about. Dahae was so selfless to judge her loved one.

Kai frowned when he noticed at how dark the livingroom was. The only place that had light-on was the kitchen, and he didn't catch Dahae's little figure in it. He carefully walked inside, looking around the dim livingroom, "Dahae", he croaked out.

"Where is noona ?", Zelo voiced with desperation. He only wanted to see his noona and go on his knees and beg for her forgiveness, even though he was sure that she would never be mad.

Kris calmly let his eyes be used to the dark and roamed it around. His eyes twitched as he noticed a lump on a sofa, right in front of the TV. "Kai, she is over there".

Kris and Zelo approached her curling up figure and their expressions softened in both relief and guilt. Zelo really went on his knees, he took a good look at her face, she seemed not be in a good sleep, her lips clamped tightly against each other, her cheeks were too pink to be a brush, and she was sweating a lots.

"Hyung, I think noona is-"

Zelo was cut short when the front door was opened and come in two other boys. L and L.Joe were looking extremely exhausted - to think that they lived the furthest from here and were informed about this ruined birthday just hours ago.

"OH GOD ! I THOUGH I WAS LATE !", L.Joe cried out, after making sure that he didn't come home after the clock clicked 12.

Dahae stirred and her eyes flustered open - she was always a light sleeper - L.Joe's outburst had woken her up.

"Guys ... ?". Rubbing her eyes and sat straight up.

Kris and Zelo held their breaths immediately. L and L.Joe also stopped in their tracks and stared unsurely at the only girl. *Will she throw a tantrum and be angry at us ? Because I will be thankful if she does so, then we will not feel so guilty*

But instead, she broke into the brightest grin that she ever did for that day. "I though you guys wouldn't come back until tomorrow".

Upon seeing her smile, Zelo couldn't hold in anymore, he sobbed while hugging her head to his chest. Dahae surprisedly stared at the sobbing boy in front of him. "Junhong ? Why are you crying ? Did something happen ? Did Himchan or the boy hurt you ?".

When she received no answer. She looked up accusingly at Kris, "What did you do to him ?".

*Oh dear, is she for real ?*, Kris raised an amused eyebrow at her. "Ask the kid again", he nodded at Zelo.

Dahae bit her lips, she didn't like it one bit when Zelo cried, it meaned she didn't protect him well. "Junhong, look at me, what happened ?", she cupped his face as the kid only cried harder. "N-Noona, Zelo is sorry, I forgot about your birthday. I am a bad dongseang. Noona, hit me, curse me, punch me, ignore me, do whatever you feel like doing to me, because I was a bad kid"

Somehow, Dahae felt relieved to hear that. First, Zelo was not hurt physically. Second, her heart got warmer hearing those words from her brother.

"And we're sorry for being ignorant of your birthday", Kris sincerely murmured. L and L.Joe slowly approached with their heads nodding along. "We're sorry", L spoke. Dahae chuckled, shaking her head, "My birthday is not important enough to cause all of these apologies and guilty expressions"

Kai appeard out of nowhere with his white teeth, "Hey ! We have only ten minutes left before this day is over, may you all gather inside the kitchen ?"

"You cooked all of those ?!", L.Joe gasped, feeling overwhelmed when he saw how much the girl had cooked on her own birthday.

Dahae nodded absentmindedly, she realized something and quickly took a hold of some dishes. All eyes were on her and they all yelled when she came closer to the trashbin.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?!", Kris roared.

"Dispose them ? They turned cold and sticky already. And it's midnight, you guys must