Chapter 297: My Solo Birthday Party (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 297: My Solo Birthday Party (2)
Jeong Seong-bin and Park Ju-woo both offered their straightforward congratulations.
— Happy birthday, Hyung!
— Sparklers, please wish Hyung a happy birthday too…!
On top of that, they apologized about three thousand times for calling late. Even though I told them it was fine since I’d heard the whole story from Lee Cheong-hyeon, the rascals wouldn't stop apologizing.
Now, if only Choi Je-ho would call, every member of Spark would be accounted for…
Why isn't this punk calling?
While my mouth was busy reciting scripted lines, my heart was fuming. I could practically see the rumors of discord within the oldest line spreading across locked accounts. You’re really giving me one hell of a birthday present, aren't you?
Just as I was resolving to hunt him down and skin him alive once the broadcast ended, the long-awaited signal finally greeted me.
However, my expectations were spectacularly subverted. The name flashing on the screen was 'Senior Gu Ja-han.'
"Senior Gu Ja-han is… calling? I wonder what’s up?"
I hurriedly answered the phone.
"Hello, Senior. I'm actually in the middle of a live broadcast right now. Could I perhaps call you back in a bit?"
While I whispered to ask for his understanding, the chat window exploded at the appearance of such an unexpected figure.
— Ah, is now a bad time to talk?
"It’s fine for me, but I thought you might have something specific to discuss."
— I just called to say happy birthday.
"Pardon?"
You? Wishing me a happy birthday? A greeting even Choi Je-ho hasn't given me yet? Choi Je-ho, you bastard, why aren't you calling?! At least leave a missed call, you prick!
Unaware of my internal turmoil, the innocent Mr. Gu Ja-han continued to congratulate me.
— Happy birthday. Is there anything you want?
"Oh, no, your well-wishes are more than enough."
— Stop talking like an old man…
Ah, my inner office worker persona slipped out.
— But I figured you’d say that, I-wol.
If you knew, then why did you ask?
I wanted to retort, but I held back. I couldn't exactly make a scene while the fans were watching.
— So I just sent it to your company.
"What?"
No sooner had Gu Ja-han finished speaking than a white shopping bag was handed to me from off-camera.
Seriously, why are you doing this to me! I don't even know when your birthday is, Mr. Gu Ja-han! If I accept this so publicly, I’ll have to return the favor! Don't you know I already have five birthdays I need to take care of?!
I swallowed my tears and took the shopping bag. Why was it so big? It almost blocked the entire screen.
≫ What is it, what is it?
≫ The In-My-Office friendship is so good to see ㅠㅠ
≫ Open it! clap Open it! clap
"Is it okay if I open this on stream?"
I asked, secretly hoping Gu Ja-han would tell me to open it back at the dorm, but as always, he didn't give me the answer I wanted.
— That’s why I sent it.
See? My predictions are never wrong.
"Then… I’ll open it. I’ll try to make it sound like ASMR…"
In a state of total resignation, I crinkled the bag as I opened it, and—another one! A coat came out. Is there some rumor going around on a community I don't know about saying Kim I-wol has no clothes?
"Senior, you bought me a coat last time too!"
— That one was a long coat. I heard short coats are the trend these days.
There was no reasoning with him. I felt like my blood pressure was skyrocketing.
≫ I-wol is so loved
≫ When did he get another coat? LOL
≫ Senior is such a mood
≫ My baby’s 'junior moment'? This is precious.
The viewers seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the situation. I was the only one who felt like I was stranded on a deserted island.
Gu Ja-han ended the call after suggesting we grab a meal sometime. I felt completely drained and ragged.
"I keep in touch with the seniors from 'In My Office' from time to time. Senior Ha Seo-myeong also contacted me earlier to wish me a happy birthday. Thank you, Seniors."
Though I doubted any of them were watching the live, I bowed my head toward the lens.
On special occasions like birthdays, many people expect related anecdotes—memorable gifts, what you grabbed at your first birthday doljabi, or even your mother’s conception dream.
Similar stories had come up during Spark’s previous birthday broadcasts.
'What did I grab? I grabbed a pencil!'
'A pencil means…'
'Right, it means you were destined to compose music!'
'Wait, isn't that not what it means?'
But for me, Kim I-wol, there was no way I’d had a first birthday party, and the only birthday gifts I’d ever received were from my sister—which I could no longer talk about.
Left with no choice, I hosted the 'Kim I-wol TMI Extravaganza'—seasoned with some random trivia about Spark. Fortunately, the fans loved it.
≫ Why did the oldest line do a runway walk by themselves? Show us too!
≫ So he reads the social section of the newspaper first… but that sounds like him.
≫ The babies all sleeping together in the living room… so precious.
≫ LOL, he tried to sugarcoat it, but in the end, he almost got three marks on his 'Notebook' for that, didn't he?
≫ Ju-woo was the one who taught him the 『Under Bar』 challenge…? Huge shock.
They loved it a lot, actually. Thanks to that, I survived.
However, there was still no word from Choi Je-ho. That punk definitely forgot. I should have written 'Call me' on his forearm before I left. I trusted that guy too much.
≫ I wonder when Je-ho will call.
≫ Je-ho, what are you doing? ㅠㅠ
Comments looking for Choi Je-ho began to appear one by one. Actually, they’d been popping up for a while, but I’d been pretending not to see them.
"Je-ho is busy right now, everyone. I can't say why because it’s a spoiler!"
I’d avoided even using the word 'spoiler' to strictly protect company secrets, but here I was. I was going to roast that Choi Je-ho alive and end this birthday night with a bang.
"What’s it like having Seong-bin as a roommate? It’s the best. But I think I get scolded at least three times a day. Even yesterday, Seong-bin was being quiet, so I looked over and saw him sitting there with his notebook…"
As I was talking while trying to suppress my irritation, I heard a knock from outside.
Since having someone interrupt during a broadcast was unprecedented, I tried my best to ignore it and keep my eyes fixed on the phone lens. But then—
"Hey."
Choi Je-ho appeared. The chat went wild.
≫ Gasp!
≫ Je-ho is here!
≫ Jeho♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
"What the?"
"What do you mean 'what the'? Hello, everyone."
He completely ignored my question and busied himself with greetings. Manager Dae-yeon hurriedly brought in another chair.
As soon as the seating was adjusted, I pressed him with a forced, sweet expression.
"How did you get here?"
"By the stairs."
"That’s not what I’m asking."
≫ I-wol’s insides are exploding again today.
≫ Guys, the screen is too small.
≫ LOL, our Je-ho is so good at answering.
Only the fans recognized my hard work. Regardless, Choi Je-ho pulled something out of his hoodie pocket and handed it to me.
"What’s this?"
"My sister told me to give it to you."
"Your sister?"
Did he go see his sister during his break? The package Choi Je-ho gave me was small but prettily wrapped.
There was also a short note. It read: 'Happy Birthday! Please take good care of our Je-ho!'
As I carefully tore the paper, a bottle of vitamin jellies and something else wrapped separately popped out.
"What’s with the vitamin jellies?"
"She said you look sickly, so you should eat them."
"I don't look sickly."
"I told her that too."
"And what did she say?"
"She told me not to talk back."
I guess all older sisters are the same. Choi Je-ho and I fell silent for a moment.
Just as I was about to open the other item, Choi Je-ho spoke up.
"Ah, open that one later."
"Why?"
"Just because."
Seriously, what is with this guy? I knew for sure he had a special talent for making people's blood boil.
But if he told me to open it later, what else could I do? I looked at the screen and thanked Choi Je-ho’s sister, saying I’d enjoy them.
I thought he’d leave since his business was done, but Choi Je-ho showed no sign of moving.
"Now that I think about it, you didn't wish me a happy birthday this morning, did you?"
"Did I?"
"You didn't. Only the other kids did."
I’d been frantic, but I remembered clearly. That bastard Choi Je-ho was the only one staring at the seaweed soup while everyone else was congratulating me.
"I came here to congratulate you in person instead, didn't I?"
"So, did you say 'happy birthday' to me or not? Even the gift was from your sister."
Our conversation, which radiated the depths of our friendship, triggered a heated reaction.
≫ Guys, the hyungs are fighting again.
≫ LOL
≫ Is this a conversation between twenty-two-year-olds?
≫ Seong-bin, the hyungs are fighting!
≫ At this point, just say happy birthday already, LOL.
≫ The hyungs who are most reliable when they’re apart.
≫ Why are you fighting on such a good day? Haha.
≫ Our boys are definitely 22 months old.
≫ Kim-gun, whose combat power rises whenever he sees Choi-gun.
The fans enjoyed watching our bickering. It seemed they viewed the way Choi Je-ho and I barked at each other as a unique form of friendship.
"If you’re not going to wish me a happy birthday, just leave."
"Who said I wasn't going to?"
"You’re not doing it right now."
"I can just do it now."
A petty argument that even a kindergartner wouldn't engage in continued. I couldn't understand why he was being like this. Since we were on air, I couldn't exactly pull him behind the whiteboard and ask, 'What exactly is your problem?'
Just as I was starting to feel dizzy, Choi Je-ho cast a glance over the manager’s shoulder.
Interrupting a live broadcast, nitpicking every word, and now not even looking at the camera?
Just as I was about to lose my mind at Choi Je-ho’s triple combo…
"Hyung, happy birthday! It’s already the third time today, though!"
"Hurry up and blow out the candles."
…The rest of Spark appeared, carrying a cake with lit candles.