Chapter 296: My Solo Birthday Party (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 296: My Solo Birthday Party (1)
Ahead of filming their first-anniversary self-produced content, Spark began their preparations. Since the content involved dancing, they needed to practice. After being cooped up in his room lost in thought, moving his body was the perfect way to clear I-wol's head.
However, he wasn't just mindlessly focusing on the practice in front of him. He used the breaks to prepare himself for any potential accidents that could strike at any moment.
For instance, like right now.
"Choi Je-ho, stand right there for a second."
"Why?"
Choi Je-ho asked, but I didn't answer. Instead, after positioning him in the middle of the practice room, I retreated to a corner and charged at him with all my might, slamming my body into his.
It was part of 'Operation: Push Choi Je-ho Out of the Way No Matter When or Where a Light Fixture Falls.'
"What are you doing?"
"Sigh..."
Sadly, this operation went straight into the trash. It was because Choi Je-ho hadn't budged an inch.
Is this guy even human? Or is he a dump truck that’s been transformed into a human through some mechanical gizmo?
"Sorry for hitting you out of nowhere. I won't do it again."
"I'm asking why you did it."
Since I’d hit someone without a word, I apologized. Unfortunately, Choi Je-ho’s annoyance didn't fade. I bowed my head once more.
"I'll look for a better way."
"Do you have a grudge against me or something?"
"No. I just wish you’d go flying when I crash into you."
"Hey, we usually call that having a grudge!"
Lee Cheong-hyeon chimed in. It’s a misunderstanding, Cheong-hyeon. I’m just doing my best for Choi Je-ho’s sake.
The 'Save Je-ho by Shoving Him' method was a bust. I had to find another way.
Fortunately, Choi Je-ho didn't press me further on my rude behavior. His indifferent personality really came in handy at times like this.
While I was lost in deep thought, feeling grateful for Je-ho’s personality for the first time in my life, Jeong Seong-bin approached me.
"Hyung, is the preparation for your birthday broadcast going well?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
It was an unexpected question, so my answer came out a bit haphazardly.
"Is there really nothing we can do to help?"
"Nothing. Just call me at the scheduled time. We can't have the fans looking for you guys for too long."
Jeong Seong-bin’s face was full of apology. I was the one who told them not to come, so I didn't know why he looked so troubled.
My birthday had become known around this time last year when we were filling out our debut profiles. At the time, the guys looked shocked to find out my birthday had already passed.
—Why didn't you say anything? We've already missed it twice!
—I’d only just joined as a trainee, so it felt awkward to bring it up. I don't really care much about birthdays anyway, and things have been crazy lately preparing for the debut.
Back then, they vowed to celebrate my next birthday grandly.
I told them I appreciated the sentiment, but I already knew it wasn't realistic. A member's birthday is important, sure. But it’s not more important than Spark’s anniversary.
It would be more problematic if rumors spread that the company and the members lacked affection for the group than rumors of member favoritism. So, we ended up finding a middle ground. Though, it seemed these guys hadn't quite accepted the compromise.
"If it really bothers you, just say happy birthday to me in the morning. So I can mention it on the broadcast."
"We’ll obviously do that."
"Okay, I'll be waiting."
I smiled and patted Jeong Seong-bin on the shoulder. Through the mirror, my eyes met Kang Gi-yeon’s as he was getting up from his seat. Kang Gi-yeon shook his head slowly.
For the first time in a long while, I dreamed of my sister. Not a memory data fragment, but a real dream. A dream where the sister from my memories appeared.
That winter wasn't cold at all. Because the last time I held her hand... the morgue was so much colder.
We’d said we should grab a meal for my birthday, but our schedules didn't align, so we barely managed to set a date on the weekend closest to it.
Even then, she told me to sleep in and come out late, coming all the way to my neighborhood.
I never imagined that her nagging me to just go back inside when I offered to see her off would be our final moment. If I had known, I would have walked her all the way to her front door. No, I wouldn't have even made the appointment, telling her there was no need to celebrate a birthday at my age.
I still can't remember the intersection where she had the accident, but I remember the psychiatric clinic's business card among her returned belongings with startling clarity. That single, blackened card she was said to be holding in her hand.
Back then, I was just heartbroken. I thought life must have been so hard for her that she’d looked into a clinic. I only thought of myself as pathetic for not knowing.
Why didn't I realize it sooner? That the map on the business card was strangely close to my house.
In this day and age, where you can take notes and make appointments with just a phone, why she had bothered to bring that clinic's card on the day she was meeting me.
She was always like that. Always trying to take care of the things I didn't even notice.
I was so grateful for that. That’s why I never envied people who were loved by their parents. Because I had her.
But Noona. If you only give until the very end like this...
If the reason we were supposed to meet, the time we spent, the place we met, and the words you never got to say were all for my sake...
And then you just suddenly leave on your own...
How am I supposed to live with the guilt?
Did I look that cornered to you? Enough for you to look into a clinic for me?
Weren't you tired, coming all the way to my house?
At that intersection on your way back alone, what were you thinking while holding that card?
I don't know. I can't even fathom it.
So, tell me.
Tell me that since you cared for me this much, it’s time for me to pay you back.
Tell me to come to your neighborhood on my birthday and set our next date.
Tell me to repay the favor, that you want to receive some devotion from your younger brother.
The alarm went off. As I reached out to turn it off, the phone's lock screen glowed brightly.
February 14th had dawned.
I wasn't in the best condition. I felt gloomy thinking about my sister, then tried to pull myself together, only to feel gloomy again, lingering under the covers for a bit.
What pulled me out of my curled-up state was Jeong Seong-bin’s voice.
"Hyung, are you still sleeping?"
He must have heard the alarm. More importantly, you woke up early today.
I must have been sleeping quite deeply, considering I didn't even hear my roommate getting up.
"I'm up. I'll be out in a second."
Right, even if I have no energy, I have to go out.
There’s a mountain of work to do, and only by working will I be able to see her again.
I slapped my cheeks a couple of times to wake myself up and stood up, when a familiar scent hit me.
It was the smell of food, but this was...
"Is there seaweed soup in the dorm?"
"We made it. Come have breakfast."
"Huh?"
All the members were already sitting at the dining table. I was the last one. I couldn't believe it.
"Happy birthday! For the next nine months, you’re truly the oldest hyung!"
"Happy birthday, hyung."
"Happy birthday... really."
A flurry of congratulations followed. Beside me, Jeong Seong-bin was smiling.
"We said we’d wish you a happy birthday, didn't we?"
My stomach churned. It was the first time I’d felt the word 'ambivalence' so vividly. It meant I was moved.
The seaweed soup made by the 'Long-tailed Tit 2' duo was delicious. As expected, people improve at anything, including cooking, if they just try. The guys who couldn't even season spinach had grown up a lot.
Upon arriving at the company, we split into two groups. Well, it was called two groups, but it was just me being separated from the rest.
The birthday spread was as lavish as I’d been warned. One could have believed it was Kim I-wol’s first birthday party. It would be troublesome if another controversy about special treatment arose. The evidence was so clear this time that it would be impossible to explain away.
Staff members who weren't participating in the live broadcast even came to the meeting room to wish me a happy birthday. It was embarrassing, but I accepted it gratefully.
And as soon as I turned on the broadcast...
≫ I-wol, happy birthday!
≫ Celebrating the birth of Kim I-wol
≫ happy birthday~
≫ I’ve been waiting for today, happy birthday to death, Kim I-wol!
...The greatest wave of congratulations in the world poured in.
"You're giving me so many congratulations. Thank you. Actually, the members prepared a birthday meal for me this morning. But the company also prepared such a grand spread... I must be very lucky with the people around me."
Usually, I conducted broadcasts smoothly as if I were giving a presentation, but today was different. It was because of the atmosphere of a space solely dedicated to celebrating me and my birthday.
I must have been acting quite clumsy, as the chat window was instantly filled with laughter.
≫ His awkwardness is piercing through the screen lol
≫ Kim I-wol being embarrassed... so precious
≫ Sorry I-wol, I can't stop smiling
"...Is it that obvious?"
≫ Do you even have to ask?
≫ I actually love this
≫ Showing off his 22-year-old 'God-baby' side
Me, a 'God-baby'? An unbearable sense of embarrassment washed over me.
Just then, the manager in front of me gave a hand signal. It was a signal of salvation!
"Everyone, hold on a second. I’m told a call just came in..."
≫ Gasp
≫ Who is it???
≫ It would’ve been great if all the kids could come... what a shame
≫ They couldn't come because of their schedule, stop mentioning it
With the whirlwind of chat in front of me, I was handed the phone. The caller was Lee Cheong-hyeon.
"Cheong-hyeon?"
—Yeah. I'm first, right?!
"Yeah. Did you want to be first?"
—Yeah. That's why I stole all the other members' phones.
The chat window was flooded with 'lol's. He truly was Spark’s official phantom thief. He’d been stealing Sparklers' money every time merch came out, and now he was actually stealing physical objects.
—Happy birthday! I even prepared some well-wishing remarks for you.
"Well-wishing remarks?"
—Become the happiest 22-year-old in the whole world! Got it?
His tone made me think Santa Claus had arrived. It seemed the youngest Santa still hadn't clocked out.
"Sure, thanks."
—Lee Cheong-hyeon, hand over the phone right now.
Kang Gi-yeon’s fierce voice could be heard in the background.
"Is Gi-yeon behind you?"
—Yeah. He actually chased me down.
"Where are you right now?"
—The emergency exit.
He’d run quite far. My temples throbbed.
Eventually, Kang Gi-yeon, who succeeded in catching Lee Cheong-hyeon, sent a simple yet polite and sincere greeting. Everyone was moved by Kang Gi-yeon’s resonant message.
—You won't gain much weight just from eating a bit on your birthday, so eat something while you're at it. You said you were going to bulk up anyway since you lost all your muscle. You need protein to build muscle, so...
"Yeah, Gi-yeon, thanks for the wishes. I'm hanging up now!"
I hung up because his nagging was getting endlessly long toward the end. If he had more to say, he’d call me separately.
I’d only received calls from two people, but I was already a bit exhausted. Was this really a solo birthday party? One thing was for sure: I wasn't lonely at all.