“Minyoung,” a voice called out. 

She frowned, snuggling closer to whatever was next to her.  Not yet…  The voice was probably Minhyuk’s, and as much as she wanted to get up, she was just too comfortable in her current position.  Plus, whatever was next to her felt very warm.

“Lee Minyoung, you have five seconds to get up before I go to get the ice water.”

Still half asleep, she forced herself to get up.

“Very good,” Minhyuk said.  “Do you want to go to Taeil’s today?”

She shook her head.

“Not even for the free ramyun?”

“You know I can’t turn down free food.”  Minyoung sighed. “Oppa, why did you wake me up so early in the morning?  It’s Saturday.”

“It’s nine in the morning, Minyoung.”

Her eyes opened in a flash.  “Are you serious?”

“Check the time for yourself.”  Minhyuk gestured to the clock, which did indeed read 9:07.

Minyoung turned to her right, surprised to see Yukwon sleeping there.  So the blanket was actually Yukwon?  Embarrassed, she scrambled off of the couch and ran toward the bathroom.

“Hey, I thought you said you wanted to sleep in?” Minhyuk teased.

She didn’t respond.  In the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and hair, attempting to hide her embarrassment.  I just slept next to Yukwon.  On the same bed.  We even slept like a married couple.  Mom, Dad, I’m so sorry.  But he did feel really warm…and that’s the best night of sleep I had since forever…

When she opened the door, Yukwon stood outside, also half asleep.

“Good morning.” He smiled.

“Hey.”

“Did you sleep well?”

“I did.” She blushed.  “You?”

“Same.”

“We’re going to Taeil’s,” she blurted out, “in case you want to join us.”

Yukwon nodded.  “If you don’t mind.”

“Of course we don’t.”

“Okay.  Thanks.”

“No problem.” She waited until Yukwon entered the bathroom before running back into the living room and throwing herself on the couch.  Even the couch smelled faintly of Yukwon, and Minyoung hid under the blanket.

Meanwhile, Minhyuk watched on in amusement.  He asked, “Having fun there?”

“I’m so embarrassed,” she replied from under the covers.

“I was going to strangle Yukwon,” Minhyuk said, “but you were sleeping so peacefully that I knew that I couldn’t.”

“Was I?”

“Yeah.” Minhyuk nodded.  “That was the best I’ve seen you sleep in the last two years.”

“Really?”

<:>

Once Yukwon was awake, the three headed down to Taeil’s, which Yukwon accepted as their meeting place.  Taeil’s head was down on the counter when the three walked in, and he looked displeased to see the twins.

“You know that you guys can’t come here every day, right?” Taeil rolled his eyes.  When he saw that they had brought Yukwon along, his expression changed.  “Oh, Yukwon-ah?  Do you want some ramyun?  We have other food too, if you don’t want ramyun.”

“I smell favoritism,” Minyoung muttered.

“He’s not even our sibling,” Minhyuk added.

The three sat down at what had come to be their favorite booth, and Taeil brought out the ramyun almost immediately.

“It’s like you expected us, didn’t you, oppa?” Minyoung smirked.

Taeil sighed.  “I did.”

“I thought that you were mad that we come here every day.”

“Take this as an early birthday present then,” Taeil replied.  “It’s in a few days, right?”

Minhyuk scoffed.  “How could you forget?  We’re your only siblings, and we have the same birthday.”

“Age.”

“You got that one right,” Minyoung whispered.  Yukwon snickered.

“Well,” Taeil sighed, sitting next to Minyoung in the booth, “It’s both of your eighteenth birthdays, so do you want to have a party?”

“Your birthday is coming up?” Yukwon asked.

Minhyuk nodded.  “In a few days.”

Yukwon began to panic.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t know…what do you guys want for your birthday?”

“You don’t have to worry about it,” Minyoung replied.  “Right, Minhyuk?”

“Totally.  You don’t have to get us anything.”

“But—”

“Now that that’s done, let’s eat!” Minyoung cheered.

Yukwon decided that he would still search for presents for the twins.  Minyoung’s present was a given: ramyun.  But he had no idea what Minhyuk even liked.  Yukwon remembered Minyoung mentioning something about dark colors, but he figured that Minhyuk had enough clothes.  She had also mentioned that he liked music and dance and wondered if he could get a present that had to do with one of those.  Headphones, maybe? 

“Minhyuk, stop blasting music while I’m trying to eat,” Minyoung complained.

Yup, definitely headphones.

<:>

Bidding Yukwon goodbye, the twins headed toward the shopping mall to buy presents for each other.  Neither actually said that out loud, but both had a feeling that they were headed to the mall for the same reason.

Minyoung immediately walked toward the watches, and Minhyuk had to hide his chuckle.  She couldn’t have made it more obvious.  He observed as his sister stare at each watch intensely but walked away before he could see her selection.  What would Minyoung like…?  Minhyuk found himself in the jewelry section and casually strolled past the charm section, just in case Minyoung was watching.

Every year since he could remember, Minhyuk had bought a charm for Minyoung’s charm necklace, the only piece of jewelry that she owned.  Although she rarely wore it, Minhyuk knew that she treasured it greatly.  So when he saw a ramyun charm, he couldn’t help but purchase it.  Combining two of Minyoung’s favorite things (ramyun and her charm bracelet) was the best idea Minhyuk ever had.

He met up with Minyoung again after purchasing the charm.

“What’d you get?” she asked.

“Secret.  You?”

“Mine’s is a secret too.” She pouted.

<:>

Yukwon, too, headed toward a mall away from the twins’ apartment complex, just to make sure that they would not run into him.  He walked into the convenience store first, knowing that ramyun would be the easier present to purchase.  Making sure that the expiration date fell after their birthday, Yukwon grabbed the ramyun in the coolest package.  One present down, one to go.

He found himself wandering around the mall, caught up in the random stores that he passed.  When he finally found an electronics store, he walked in and began to look around.  To his delight, a whole shelf of headphones was on display, and he seemed to be the first person to purchase it.

“Is that brand good?” he asked the sales associate.

The person nodded.  “It’s very popular in America.”

He ended up buying two pairs: one in black for Minhyuk and one in red for himself.  With presents in tow, he headed back home with thoughts of the twins—Minyoung especially—on his mind.

Since the twins’ birthday fell on a Saturday that year, Taeil asked Yukwon to help him prepare a surprise birthday party for them.  According to Taeil, Minhyuk saw through secrets almost immediately (Yukwon agreed, thinking of how Minhyuk immediately knew that he liked Minyoung), so they’d have to be really careful about planning the party.  On the other hand, Minyoung was pretty dense about surprises, but they’d still have to be careful, since the twins were rarely apart.

“Yukwon, you got the cake?” Taeil looked up as Yukwon walked into the restaurant.

“Yes, hyungnim.”

“Great.” Taeil grinned.  “Can you put it in the fridge?”

Yukwon did as Taeil said.  “Who else is coming to the party?” he asked, curious.

“Probably just the four of us.”

“What about your parents?” Yukwon asked.

Taeil shook his head.  “They’re still away.  I think they’re coming home next week, and depending how the twins feel, they might celebrate their birthday again.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry about it, Yukwon-ah,” Taeil replied.  “Let’s move this table.”

Taeil and Yukwon began to move the tables in the restaurant to make room for the party decorations.  As they were moving tables and chairs, the bell at the entrance chimed.  Without looking up, Taeil called, “Sorry, we’re closed for the day.”

“H-Hyung.”

Yukwon looked up, having recognized Ahn Jaehyo’s voice.

“Jaehyo?” Taeil finished moving the chair before continuing.  “What are you doing here?”

“It’s their birthday today, right?” Jaehyo replied.

Taeil nodded.

“I bought presents for them.  Could you please give these to them?”  Jaehyo handed two envelopes to Taeil.

Jaehyo turned to Yukwon with a smile.  “Hey.”

“Hi.”

“You’re really lucky, you know?”

Yukwon frowned.  “What do you mean?”

“It took me years to befriend Minhyuk.  Even before I went out with Minyoung, I had always wanted to be friends with Minhyuk.  When I did start to date his sister, he began to slowly accept me.” Jaehyo sighed.  “But you became close with both of them after a short time.  I’m jealous.”

“Minhyuk doesn’t really like me.”

Jaehyo shook his head.  “No, he’s just pretending at this point.  When I saw you three together, I could tell that you were all close.”

“Hah.”

“I’m giving up.”

“What?”

“Minyoung seems happy with you, so I’ll give up.  Sorry for troubling you.”

<:>

“Yukwon-ah,” Taeil whispered, “Tell me when they’re at the door, okay?”

“Sure.”

With preparations done, Taeil texted Minyoung telling her to bring Minhyuk and come down to the restaurant with “free food” as an excuse.  He knew that his younger sister would take the bait, and he knew that Minhyuk would go with her.  The final step was to turn off the light and hide behind the counter with Yukwon.

Yukwon listened carefully, and after five minutes or so, heard Minyoung’s voice coming closer.

“Hyungnim, I think that they’re coming.”

“Get ready, Yukwon-ah.”

The door opened, and Yukwon could hear Minyoung say, “He’s not even here, Minhyuk.”  Together with Taeil, Yukwon jumped out from behind the counter and the lights.

“SURPRISE!”

Minhyuk raised his eyebrows, and Minyoung laughed.

“That’s a good one!” Minyoung grinned.  “I never would’ve known.”

“It was kind of obvious.” Minhyuk rolled his eyes.  “But thanks, Yukwon.”

“Hey, where’s Taeil oppa?” Minyoung asked.

As Yukwon turned to look, Taeil came out from the kitchen, holding the cake.  The candles were lit, and Taeil began to sing.  Yukwon joined in, and both twins looked touched.

“Cake!” Minyoung exclaimed as soon as Taeil put the cake on the table.

The four of them sat in a booth, and Taeil sliced the cake.  Yukwon took it as his cue to bring out the presents from behind the counter.  He grabbed his presents and Taeil’s presents, pausing to look at Jaehyo’s presents.  I could leave these here, and they would never find out.  But he grabbed the two envelopes anyway.

Minyoung had already finished her slice of cake when Yukwon returned.  He handed out the presents to the twins, who took them with surprise. 

“Yukwon, I told you that you didn’t need to get us anything,” Minyoung said.  “I feel bad.  We didn’t get you anything for your birthday.”

Yukwon smiled.  “It’s fine.”

“Well,” Minhyuk said, “I’m looking forward to your present the most, Yukwon.”

Minyoung nodded in agreement.  “Me too.”

Yukwon looked away, embarrassed.  “They aren’t even that great…”

“You’re just being modest,” Minyoung replied.  “Ah!  Here’s your present, Minhyuk.  Almost forgot that I had it in my backpack.”

“This is yours.”

Taeil smiled.  “I’ll leave the three of you alone.  If you need me, I’ll be cleaning up back there.”

“Thanks for the party, Taeil oppa.”

<:>

Minyoung and Minhyuk took their presents back to their apartment after saying goodbye to Yukwon. When they entered the apartment, the twins went into their rooms.

Minyoung opened Yukwon’s present first, and she had to laugh at the way he wrapped the present.  It was very sloppy, but she could tell that he had worked hard.  From the weight and size of Yukwon’s present, Minyoung could already tell that he had bought her ramyun.  She couldn’t stop smiling, especially when her prediction came true.

From Taeil, Minyoung received a whole stack of “coupons” for his restaurant.  They all said “free meal”, but the fine print at the bottom said “only one coupon per day”.

Minhyuk bought her another charm for her bracelet.  She opened her drawer, put the cute ramyun charm on the bracelet, and couldn’t help but grin again.  I should tell Minhyuk that my bracelet doesn’t have room anymore.

And finally, the only thing left for her to open was an envelope.  The person had written her name on the front, which she recognized as Jaehyo’s handwriting.  She considered putting it in her drawer and forgetting about it.  But her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the letter.

Dear Minyoung,

Happy birthday.  I wanted to celebrate this day with you, but I was too much of a coward to do it.  I apologize for saying something like this on your birthday, but I’m sorry.  I’m sorry for the way we broke up, and I’m sorry for thinking that things would be the same when I came back. 

Truthfully, when I texted you the day I came back, all I wanted to do was apologize for what happened.  But when I saw you with Yukwon…I guess I got jealous.  I won’t ask for your forgiveness, but if we ever see each other around school, I hope that we can greet each other as classmates.

Be happy with Yukwon, and happy 18^th birthday.

Sincerely,

Jaehyo

Minyoung didn’t want to admit it, but by the end of the letter, tears ran down her face.