성재: “Jae!”

“What?”

“I want a munchkin cat!”

“A what?”

“A munchkin cat!”

“What’s a munchkin cat?”

 “It’s like a munchkin, and it’s a cat,” says Se Na with a rather calm audacity, a grin plastered on her face.

I flatten my eyes at her. “Are you even for real.”

“Please!!! Come on, pretty please?” she clasps her hands in front of her and instantly assumes an angelic air. Her lower lip protrudes outward and she uses the “puppy eyes” on me.

“Cut it out,” I quickly run my hand downward her face, as if to wipe the improperly beseeching expression off.

“I’m serious! It feels so lonely at home, and I want a pet—dogs are a fright, and I like cats more, so I want to have one. I’ll take care of it, I promise!”

“Why would you want one? You already have a cat,” I reply, secretly smirking, as I turn from her to place the last balloon on the rack.

“Well if you allude to yourself, no; I mean to have a real cat,”

I sigh. I just bought my gifts for Eunkwang-hyung and Minhyuk-hyung and my monetary resources are dwindling now, and it will take some time for it to regenerate, and now here is my best friend pushing me with ludicrous requests. “Fire Tooth, look, your birthday is still so far away, what are you fretting about?”

Se Na then wears this paradigm of an expression of mingled hurt, surprise, and rage, and looks like she’s about to spit fire at my face when she replies, “My birthday is already a few weeks from now! How could Christmas be near when my birthday isn’t?”

Although the urge to laugh possesses me because the thought is indeed funny, I respect my best friend’s injury so I appease her with, “Fine, fine! Just let me worry about that when December comes.”

“Which is like three days from now.”

Honestly, sometimes I wonder how I managed to put up with a person this exasperating for the past ten years. “Okay—just—stop. Also, stop looking at the Helium balloons like that, you’re giving me the nervous feeling that you’re going to open them one by one and the gas in,” I say with reasonable sharpness, because she’s been pining to try out the Helium in them, just for a bit of amusement. For more than once I had to slap her hand off, in her several attempts of grabbing a balloon to try out the “high-pitched voice” the gas would do to her.

“Don’t worry, Se Na; we’ll make sure to leave out one Helium balloon for you so you can play with it,” rings out the voice of Hyunsik-hyung as he enters, as he must have heard the conversation over.

“Thanks, oppa! You’re the best!” she cheers, and when she turns to me again, she pulls a face.

I reply to her with the same manner.

“The Melodies are piling up outside, and—” here Donggeun-hyung stops short in his sentence, for some reason, but continues almost immediately, “the party should already start.”

“Nothing to do here,” Se Na shrugs.

“Sorry,” I say to her, a bit sheepishly.

“It’s alright, really, though I want to taste the cake so bad,” she mumbles the last part of the sentence to herself.

“Eeeeeh, I’m really sorry, Pyopyo,” I then hug her head and ruffle it affectionately, with a cheerful yet apologetic chuckle. “I really wish you could come,”

“I wish so, too,” Se Na’s shorter than me by a few inches so her answer comes muffled from under the embrace. “But it’s okay, seriously. I feel awkward and stupid in the middle of your fans. Going to your live performances has proven that to me, lately.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?” I coo, now squishing her cheeks with my hands.

“Yes. Your fans had already distinguished me as ‘the girl with red hair that’s close with oppa’ so I’ll try not to gather any more attention. Anyways, have fun during the party,”

“All hands on deck! All hands on deck! Everyone, man your battle stations!” yodels Ilhoon-hyung while clapping his hands in the air, and I know—it’s time for Se Na to go.

“See you tomorrow,” Se Na smiles at me.

“Yes; bye-bye,” I wave a hand as she slowly exits out of the practice room.

Everyone then apologizes to her for not being allowed to attend the party, though all of us, including Se Na herself wanted to, but for her safety—whichever way she may be made safe—we’ve resolved to not let her come to the joint birthday celebration of Eunkwang-hyung and Minhyuk-hyung’s. It’s sad, but it’s a must.

“It’s okay, really. I’ll celebrate my day with you guys anyway so it’s alright,” she says, before her egress, and just before leaving the room she goes to Minhyuk-hyung and Eunkwang-hyung, and gives them kisses on the cheek, with a, “Happy birthday, oppa.”

It becomes a pretty long day, and we all have grand fun at the joint birthday celebration of the two oldest hyungs. Especially because we invited some chosen fans, it’s more fun.

After the party, we all have a fit of using the helium balloons, that is, by way of the gas in, and have a huge barrel of laugh at Changseob-hyung’s singing, Ilhoon-hyung’s Gwiyomi Helium Version, and our short chorus of helium-singing, a la Chipmunks.

We decided to take a video of this feat and uploaded it on the Web, which the fans had a good laugh over.

Before we even know it December comes, and, upon the news of an offer for a reality show of our own, B+ Diary, the filming activities for The Lunch Box are postponed. For a few good weeks we dawdle, play, turn foolish, are challenged, as we document our actions, a little desperate in trying comedy, for the sake of entertainment. One problem, although, is that the maknae line’s pride suddenly becomes at stake for at least a fortnight, to the great detriment of our respective masculinities.

“Se Na, are you still breathing?” Minhyuk-hyung somewhat frantically shakes the girl who’s covering her face with a pillow. It has been five minutes since she started laughing. Not to mention annoyingly boisterously.

Everyone rather enjoys the spectacle of Pyo Se Na being enraptured with such pure joy, except for the maknae line (which of course includes me), who are, actually, the subject of her laughter.

Se Na’s shoulders are still furiously shaking, and as she removes the pillow off her face, she is so red; as red as the tabasco sauce she’s addicted with. Ruddy cheeks and all, she pauses to in a really huge ball of air, only to exhale it out in another round of laughter.

“If that girl doesn’t stop any moment now, I will hurt someone,” says Ilhoon-hyung with a sour smile, whispering to Peniel-hyung and me, his cheeks pink in embarrassment.

“Same boat, hyung,” I whisper back, the ticklish feeling on my cheeks still lingering in the same sense of embarrassment.

On the contrary, Donggeun-hyung isn’t as insulted and exasperated as Ilhoon-hyung and I, as he would merely cover his face with a palm every now and then, although with a smile.

“Let me see that again—” Se Na looks at Minhyuk-hyung’s phone for about the seventh time this minute, and explodes yet again, it would be no wonder if tears from too much stretching. “Ilsoon, Sungsook, and Penelope!” she cries, and there are already tears on her eyes while she laughs.

As it is very contagious, some of my hyungs follow her example also, only not laughing too hard, but merely cracking a chuckle and a smile.

“I’m two seconds away from strangling her,” I say, with a snort. “Se Na. Seriously. Stop.”

“Wait,” she laughs some more, and lets her laughter subside a little, after a few more “HAHAHAHAHAHA!”. She’s sober again for the next three seconds, until she makes this rough sound at the back of her nose like, pffft and bursts into chortling again.

Ilhoon-hyung and I flatten our eyes at her.

“Okay, sorry, sorry,” she drunkenly waves a hand to and fro, while the other hand covers . “I shouldn’t laugh. Okay, I’m good,” it tones down into mere giggles until with a final, “hem!” she puts a stop to it, but the impish smile still tugs dangerously by the corners of her lips.

“She really seems to find it hard to move on,” Changseob-hyung whispers to Hyunsik-hyung, after having nudged the latter.

“Let’s start the meeting,” Eunkwang-hyung instantly declares the very second he comes back in.

“Is Se Na here?” another person pokes its head in, and it’s Hyun Ah-sunbae. “Se Na dear, come! I need your opinion on something,” she opens the door a little wider and flaps her hand at the younger girl, in invitation.

“Me?” Se Na points her chin, with a countenance of confusion. “But they’re—”

“Just go, Pyo,” I say, a bit tired. We’ve got no time to waste. This meeting is a must.

“Fine,” she stands, assuming an indignant air, and stomps her way to the door. “But just tell me when you’re done okay!”

“We will!” my hyungs angelically chorus with the pleasant but secretly mischievous smiles plastered on their faces. Se Na goes out first and when Hyun Ah-sunbae is the only one seen at the threshold she winks at us, accompanied by a thumb-up.

We all mouth a thank you to her.

When the two are out of sight, leader-hyung clears his throat. “Where did we last stop? Secretary, hand me the minutes of the meeting!”

Feigning the role, Minhyuk-hyung scrambles on to the space beside our leader and shows him his phone. “Here it is,”

“Okay, so we’re done with the venue, which will be…here,” hyung looks up at the grey ceiling.

“You don’t mean in this room, do you?” Ilhoon-hyung asks with a straight face, as we are currently in one of the practice rooms—not the dance practice room.

“Silly boy, of course not!”

“I have a suggestion to make!” Changseob-hyung abruptly raises his hand. “Why don’t we do it in the Cube Café? It’s still here, y’know,”

“Believe me, I’ve taken that into account, Changseob-ah, but the café closes late, so I think we should just stick with what we have,”

“But aren’t our sunbaes going to use the dance practice room?” the question comes from Donggeun-hyung.

“I’ve taken care of that,” Minhyuk-hyung winks.

“It’s cool, then.” I muse. “We’ve no problem with that,”

Resuming his place as the president of the meeting once more, Eunkwang-hyung says, “Who’ll be in charge of the cake?”

“I am,” Changseob-hyung raises his hand slightly. “Although…wouldn’t Sungjae be better suited for that?” he and I stare at each other.

“I know, but Sungjae will be in charge of the flow of the mini-program; just ask for advice from him. Now, who’ll be in charge of the balloons—or no, wait—the Design Committee, in general?”

“That’d be a job for me,” Hyunsik-hyung smiles. “Along with Minhyuk-hyung, of course,” and the two shares a giggle.

“Give me a job!” Peniel-hyung exclaims in petition.

“Hmm…let’s see. You’ll be the ‘Crowd Control’ Committee,” Eunkwang-hyung taps his chin while looking intently at the phone, where the agenda are.

“Crowd Control?”

“Keep it from the people who don’t deserve to know. Remember, this should be in the most discreet manner as possible,”

“No problem.”

“What about me?” asks Ilhoon-hyung.

“You take care of the invitations. Sungjae and you are going to work side by side, and that is a must,”

“Why?”

“Why, Sungjae knows who should be there and who should be not, so…do the math,”

 “Arrasseo,” He nods in comprehension. “Although, I do have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Are we supposed to invite that Zelo guy to come over? You know, he and Se Na are close buddies,”

Eunkwang-hyung opens his mouth but before he could even take out an answer, an involuntary exclamation of “NO!” emits from my mouth, together with Peniel-hyung’s.

Our rapper is taken aback, putting a hand on his chest with his eyes widened.

Leader clamps his mouth down and when he reopens it, he does with a smile, and a cool nod, “Well, the people have spoken,”

“Okay, okay! Chill!” my younger hyung sighs, still shaken from getting startled by our explosive reaction. Why, outsiders are not allowed!

The others suppress their laughter at this, and if I’m right they think that we’re jealous. Excuse me? No, we aren’t! It’s just that Se Na’s birthday party is an exclusive event!

“Now, Sungjae,” here I look up. “I don’t need to tell you, do I? Make it as sweet as possible. I—or we—know that Se Na easily cringes when it comes to cheesy things, but I’m sure she’ll appreciate the effort. Please don’t forget the dance, like I told you, okay?”

I nod. “Yes, hyung. I’ve got it all in mind.”

“Good, now…”

===

“Don’t forget about the tulips. You said she likes that, right?” Eunkwang-hyung’s last line echoes in my head upon having done accomplishing that task. I take a sigh, and grasp the stem of the flower. For some reason, I feel nervous. Very nervous.

“Hyung, do I look alright?” I say, voice a bit shaky, when Minhyuk-hyung happens to pass by.

Minhyuk-hyung a brow in amusement, with a smile. “Why, Sungjae, you’re one of the handsomest men I’ve ever seen. It’s one of the reasons why Melodies love you,”

“So you’re saying I look good?”

“Nervous, are we?” he chuckles. “Yes, boy. Why so anxious? You’re not like this even when we perform,”

That’s the problem. It’s not Melodies I’m trying to impress here; it’s Pyo Se Na. The girl who really knows me more than anyone ever had and will, my best friend. I haven’t celebrated a lot of birthdays with her, and now, everything has to be perfect. “It’s…nothing,” I shake my head slightly, with a thin smile.

“You love Se Na so much, don’t you?”

“I guess so.”

“Announcing the arrival of the celebrator! Announcing, the arrival! Everyone, to your positions!” Eunkwang-hyung announces, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. “Jung Ilhoon has made contact! He and the celebrator will ascend anytime here now!”

The nervous feeling gets caught up in my throat; I almost forget how to breathe. This is it; the moment I’ve prepared for months.

Today is 18^th of December.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

we've got a pretty arc coming up! :)

okay. yuh. till next time .________.

-b