"FOR 'S SAKE KIM YOUNGHOON PUPUTUKIN MO BA LAHAT NG BALLOONS?"

 

Hyunjae has been awake since 3am, trying to prepare for their mini surprise event for Juyeon. He got Sunwoo to distract Juyeon while he, Kevin and Younghoon set everything up. Hyunjae would've strangled Younghoon if only his boyfriend wasn't there to stop him.

 

"Chill, bro," Kevin told him while putting his arm around Hyunjae's shoulder. "You should rest for a bit. Let me handle this muna, okay? Younghoon, sabihan mo na lang muna yung iba."

 

"Yea, sorry," Younghoon adds in, slightly unfazed even with the sight of an exasperated Hyunjae. "Sabihan ko na lang 'yung iba. Bye!!!"

 

As soon as Younghoon exited the room, Hyunjae plops down the floor and whines, "Bro, pahug naman oh. Nakakapagod naman mag-organize ng surprise para sa bestfriend ko."

 

"I thought I was your bestfriend," Kevin said playfully while pouting. 

 

Hyunjae grabs his hand and entwines their fingers. "Ikaw nga. Pangalawa lang si Juyeon." He pulls his boyfriend closer until his knees touch his head. The older of the two arches a little and rests his head on the Canadian's knees. "Literally everything and everyone else comes second after you."

 

"Hala, bro. Ang bakla naman. HAHAHAHAHA STOP"

 

ㅡ

 

"BABYYYYYYYY!!!!!"

 

Changmin rolls his eyes as he hears the voice of his tall suitor. 

 

"Ano na naman kailangan mo sa'kin?"

 

"Wala," Younghoon responds and points to Chanhee. "Pero sa'yo, may kailangan ako."

 

Chanhee almost chokes on his burger and replies, "Ako???? Anong ginawa ko??? Anong kailangan mo????"

 

"Well, birthday ni Juyeon ngayon-"

 

"MAY HANDA????"

 

"Yes, Haknyeon. May handa," Younghoon answers calmly as all of them are used to Haknyeon. 

 

"Eh bakit mo kailangan si Chanhee?" Changmin questions. "Siya na ba liligawan mo? Hindi na ako???? HAYOP KA BAKIT BESTFRIEND KO PA!!!!"

 

"HUY HINDI AH. IKAW LANG MAHAL KO. 'WAG KA MAGSELOS PLEASE. IKAW PA RIN LILIGAWAN KO."

 

"Good," Changmin says sternly while Haknyeon suppresses his laugh and Chanhee rolls his eyes. "Eh ba't mo nga siya kailangan?"

 

"Uhm... Basta pumunta kayo. 'Di pwede sabihin."

 

"HINDI PWEDE??? WALA KA NANG TIWALA SA'KIN????"

 

"NO CHANGMIN BABY 'WAG KANG MAGALIT PLEASE ETO NA SASABIHIN KO NA."

 

ㅡ

 

Changmin comes back to the canteen after Younghoon pulled him outside to tell him what he wanted to know. He sat down in front of Chanhee, smirking at him.

 

"Ano?" Chanhee asks. "Ba't ganyan tingin mo sa'kin?"

 

"May nalaman akooooooo," Changmin says. 

 

"An-," before Chanhee could finish, Changmin interrupts with, "CRUSH KA NI JUYEON."

 

—

 

"Happy birthday, Juyeon-hyung," sings Sunwoo, "Happy birthday to you!" Sunwoo claps and urges Juyeon to blow his candles. 

 

The birthday boy blows his candle and sighs. 

 

"Ba't ka malungkot?" asks Sunwoo. "Grabe ka, hyung ayaw mo ba sa 'kin???" 

 

"Hala hindi ah!! Ano kasi uhm--"

 

"So ano nga?"

 

"Una, kasi hindi man lang ako naalala ng mga kaibigan natin samantalang ako unang bumabati sa kanila lagi " 

 

"Hayaan mo na 'yun, hyung. Wala silang kwentang kaibigan. Ako lang talaga true friend mo." 

 

Juyeon's slouches on his seat. He thinks of something and his face lights up a little. He speaks his mind. "Tawagan ko kaya?"

 

"HINDI PWEDE!!!" Sunwoo shouts in panic. "Ah ano, uhh, yaan mo na yun!!! Baka magpalibre lang yun sayo!!! Di ka nga nila naalala eh!!!"

 

Juyeon gets twice as sadder as he was before. Surely, may valid reason naman siguro sila sa hindi pag-alala ng birthday nya, di ba?

 

Sunwoo notices the darker mood elicited by the elder. "Ano nga pala yung pangalawang reason, hyung? hehe" He tries to open up, remembering that Juyeon said it was only the first reason.

 

Juyeon straightens (juyeon?? straight?? lul) up. He sighs before speaking, "Pangalawa." He looks at Sunwoo straight in the eye. "Bakit sa pandesal nakatusok ang birthday candle ko?" 

 

—

 

"Hala Chanhee~" Changmin says teasingly, "Namumula ka ba? CRUSH MO RIN SI JUYEON 'NO YIE MAY PANLABAN NA KAMI SA 'YO IKAW HA ANG TAGAL MONG TINAGO YAN"

 

"W-Wala akong crush na kahit sino!!!" Chanhee stutters, proving his point otherwise. Pero totoo naman kasi. While it's true na napopogian siya kay Juyeon, (sino bang hindi, tbh?) it's not enough para magkacrush sya sa lalaki. He doesn't even fully know the person. But now, they're close and he finds out na isa sa mga pinakapogi sa batch–kung hindi man sa buong school– nila ay may gusto sa kanya???? ANO CHANGMIN NATALO BEAUTY MO

 

Chanhee finds himself conscious, though. If they weren't close, he would've thought that Juyeon was way out of his league. But both his best friends have two of their school's Bermuda line up their asses. So maybe it wasn't highly unlikely? 

 

"Yie~ si Chanhee may crush na!!! dalaga ka na!!!! graBE MAS MAHABA PA HAIR MO KESA SA MGA NAGING GIRLFRIENDS MO DATI!!!" 

 

"SHUT UP CHANGMIN"

 

Younghoon comes in Changmin's weak defence saying, "HUY GRABE KA SA BABY Q"

 

"YOU SHUT UP TOO, YOUNGHOON"

 

If you're wondering where Haknyeon is, he's on the same table, stuffing his face as usual.

 

ㅡ

 

"Wag kayong maingay ha." Younghoon shushes, "Para mahuli natin silang naglalandian."

 

He's in their condo unit along with Changmin, Chanhee, and Haknyeon, who brought a large box half their actual size. When Chanhee asked about it, the two just replied that it was their gift to Juyeon.

 

"Hala bumili na pala kayo hindi niyo man lang ako sinabihan nakakahiya."

 

"Okay lang kay Juyeon 'yun." Younghoon says as he opens the door. The aroma leading them to the kitchen.

 

There, they find Kevin cooking what looks like some sort of pasta with Hyunjae hugging him from the back.

 

"Bro." Kevin calls out as he carefully pushes the the ingredients to be sautéed from the chopping board and into the frying pan.

 

Hyunjae hums in response. Too occupied in their own world, the two are completely unaware of the other presence inside the room.

 

"Anong oras kaya sila dadating?" 

 

Hyunjae only buries his head further into Kevin's neck, making his boyfriend laugh. "Maya-maya pa siguro."

 

Giggling, Kevin orders him to fry the breaded chickens, with a slight but tern reminder not to eat them.

 

"Eh," whines Hyunjae, "Mamaya naaa~"

 

Tangina, the four others can't handle the cheesy scenario unfolding right before them, especially so because Kevin and Hyunjae aren't the type to flirt with each other in front of them.

 

As they agreed through glances, Changmin clears his throat. Kevin and Hyunjae look immediately at the source of the sound, both terrified with the former slightly blushing. They roam their eyes on their friends. First, on Younghoon who refuses to look at them with his hand at the back of his neck. Next to him is Changmin who has his mouth covered with his balled fist, looking at the floor. Haknyeon is smiling adorably and Chanhee looks at the other side, ears red.

 

Kevin pushes Hyunjae away and coughs awkwardly. "Andito na pala kayo."

 

Before the others could reply, Hyunjae asks, "Ano 'yan?"

 

"Regalo namin kay Juyeon," Changmin says with a malicious tone. "Maeenjoy niya 'yan."

 

"Ano bang laman niyan? Nakakahiya naman. May Chanhee sa tag ta's 'di ko alam ibibigay niyo."

 

Changmin knowingly looks at Haknyeon and the latter nods. Changmin pulls Chanhee near the box and opens it.

 

"Ba't walang laman- PUTANGINA."

 

Before Chanhee could complete his question, Haknyeon effortlessly grabs him and puts him inside the box.

 

"YOU'RE our gift, Chanhee hyung," Haknyeon chuckles.

 

Chanhee sighs and makes no effort to get out, since Haknyeon will probably put him back inside again. Haknyeon IS the strongest person in this room. He just sits and waits 'til Juyeon opens the gift.

 

As soon as Changmin seals the box shut (sa gitna lang ah baka masuffocate naman daw bff niya. and they dont think juyeon is into necrophilia anw), Jacob and Sangyeon arrive with Juyeon's cake followed by an unfazed Hyunjoon and (a probably harassed by Jacob) Eric carrying tubs of ice cream.

 

"HELLO MGA BAYOT NAMISS KO KAYO!!!!"

 

"," Changmin whispers to Younghoon. "Dito nga din pala siya nakatira."

 

"Don't mind him. Magbebehave 'yan. Sinabihan namin si Sangyeon hyung na ikadena siya kung kailangan."

 

"."

 

"Gusto mo din ba?"

 

"Tangina mo."

 

ㅡ

 

"Ayaw mo ba talaga pumunta sa mall? Uuwi na talaga? Gusto ko pa magcelebrate eh."

 

Sunwoo continues walking to the door that leads to their condo unit and says, "Ah... pagod na ko eh. Bawi ako next time."

 

Instead of immediately opening the door like he usually does, he knocks loudly and screams, "NANDITO NA KAMI."

 

He hears a loud, "TANGINA BILIS" from Hyunjae.

 

Sunwoo looks at Juyeon, who was still dejected, and smiles awkwardly at him.

 

"OKAY NA," Younghoon screams from the other side of the door.

 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY."

 

Juyeon tears up. He sees all of his friends (except Chanhee. pero inisip niya baka busy siya. ok lang) smiling at him.

 

Younghoon shoves his gift to Juyeon's chest. "HBD!!!!!"

 

Juyeon's face lights up and he excitedly opens the gift. 

 

"Ano yan?"

 

"Body wash," Younghoon proudly states. "Favorite ni Juyeon yan."

 

"Body wash??? Bakit parang familiar???"

 

"AKO!!!" Haknyeon comes from behind. "Alam ko yan!!! Ginagamit yan ng sisters ko sa pu-" Haknyeon quickly shuts his mouth when he realizes what he's about to say.

 

"Pu--?"

 

"P-Pu-- Ano..." Haknyeon awkwardly points at his private area.

 

"Hindi ah!!! Body wash yan!!!" Younghoon defends. 

 

"Teka." Changmin walks toward the commotion and grabs the bottle from Juyeon. "Basahin mo nga," he says then shoves it back to Younghoon.

 

"PH Care feminine wash..." Younghoon reads. "OH DIBA!!! FEMININE WASH!!! BODY WASH MG MGA BABAE!!! FAVE NI JUYEON YAN EH!!"

 

Everyone else in the room facepalmed (except Juyeon who was giddy about his "body wash" but at the same time, awkward and embarrassed that it wasn't what he deemed it to be) 

 

Juyeon is red all over. Damn, buti wala si Chanhee rito.

 

"Awwww, wag ka na mahiya," Changmin says. "Open mo na lang gift namin."

 

Haknyeon pushes Juyeon to the huge box and Juyeon says, "Hala you didn't have to."

 

"BUKSAN MO NA LANG," Younghoon screams, excited.

 

"Happy birthday."

 

Juyeon cries. He was only tearing up earlier, but now he's crying. As embarrassed as he is, (TANGINA NANDITO PALA SI CHANHEE OMG SANA KAININ NA SYA NG LUPA) he's also overwhelmed by his friends' efforts.

 

"OH MY GOD SORRY!!! CHANGMIN KASI-"

 

"I-It's okay," Juyeon tells Chanhee. "Thank you. Akala ko nakalimutan niyo birthday ko eh."

 

ㅡ

 

Juyeon and Chanhee sit awkwardly at Juyeon's favorite cafe.

 

"Uhm.. sorry wala akong actual gift. Lilibre na lang kita."

 

"No, okay lang," Juyeon tells him, gaze fixed on the table. Hindi niya matingnan si Chanhee dahil nahihiya siya. Naaalala niya pa noong sinabihan siya ni Chanhee na lagi siyang mabango!!! Jusmiyo. Siguradong narinig niya yung nangyari kanina. NAKAKAHIYA

 

Anyway, he thinks, 'Presence mo lang, okay na ako.'

 

"I insist!!!"

 

"O-Okay..."

 

Juyeon is left on their table, pondering about his whole, embarrassing life. He's used to being awkward around people, but it's Chanhee, FFS. Walang mangyayari sa kanila kung mananatili siyang ganito. After all, being awkward around people got him nowhere. If not for his friends approaching him first, he wouldn't have had any. He's only lucky that Chanhee is a friend of a friend kaya sila naging close. But if he wants to take it a step further, he should first step out of his awkward little bubble.

 

He's snapped out of his thoughts when a large lidded plastic cup is placed in front of him. Without looking up, he says, "Thank you."

 

Chanhee just hums in response, sits, and, looking at Juyeon, he thinks. Juyeon really is captivating in any angle. Ano bang ginawa ni Chanhee noong past life nita at sinuwerte siya nang ganito????  Not that it's all that matters. Actually, it's not enough to say na may gusto na nga siya kay Juyeon. Pero may chance naman siguro? He just has to know the other guy better. To see if they're compatible? Chanhee doesn't know. But Juyeon isn't that bad, is he?

 

"Chanhee." 

 

The mentioned boy looks up and gets surprised when his eyes met Juyeon's own. 

 

Juyeon's pupils are shaking but he tries not to look away. "P-Pwede bang makipag-friends?"

 

Chanhee gets caught off guard. If it were any other boy, he would've laughed. But this is Juyeon. THE awkward Juyeon. Asking him if they can be friends.

 

"Friends lang?" the paler boy raises an eyebrow as he takes a sip of his drink. "Friends na tayo, diba?" 

 

God, he hopes Juyeon doesn't notice how his hands are shaking. Bakit ba siya kabado?!

 

"More than friends?"

 

Chanhee's lips curl up, stifling a giggle. He just shrugs, smiling.

 

 

~•~

HBD JUYEON LOVE KA NI AIYAH