Chapter 370: Side Story. A Certain November 3rd
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 370: Side Story. A Certain November 3rd
Mom
[Happy birthday, son]
Older Sister
[HBD]
Choi Mi-ho
[Happy birthday]
Me
[Yeah]
Older Sister
[Call Mom if you don't want to be a total bastard.]
Mom
[That sounds a bit off.]
[If he’s a bastard, doesn't that make me one too?]
Choi Mi-ho
[Oh boy...]
My sister didn't say anything after that. I’ve known her for twenty years, but she really is a strange person.
It’s something that comes around every year anyway. I’m already twenty; I don’t see the point in meticulously celebrating it every single time.
Mom said it was because she felt bad for not being able to take proper care of me during my first birthday. I didn't quite understand why that was something to feel sorry for. Still, Choi Je-ho dutifully called her to thank her for giving birth to him.
There was one more unread message.
Kang Gi-yeon
[Happy birthday.]
It was a greeting from a younger trainee. It felt a bit random, coming right after a MeTube link to a choreography video he’d sent three weeks ago.
Did he congratulate me last year too? My memory was fuzzy. I was too lazy to scroll up and check, but I felt like I’d received a few greetings from him before.
Maybe it was because a culture of celebrating each other's birthdays had recently taken root. Not long ago, we had all celebrated Park Ju-woo’s birthday together.
But now that it was my turn, I couldn't help but think, 'Is this really necessary?'
The new trainee was exceptionally diligent about taking care of his colleagues' birthdays, but I didn't think he’d go that far for mine. That guy didn't seem to like me very much.
The living room was empty. Park Ju-woo opened his door and stepped out late.
“Did you sleep well...?”
“Yeah.”
It suddenly occurred to me that whether by mouth or by finger, "Yeah" was the only thing I ever said. I didn't open my mouth further because I had nothing else to add. People like my sister or Kim I-wol, who said different things every day, were the ones who were truly fascinating.
Lost in idle thoughts, Choi Je-ho headed to the kitchen. Seaweed soup and rice were set out on the table. It was the same as it had been for Jeong Seong-bin’s birthday. There were even more side dishes than usual.
A small piece of paper was stuck to the empty space next to the soup bowl.
Both of you, make sure to eat before you come in.
— I-wol —
“Did you see him?”
“No. I think he left for work early...”
Park Ju-woo said, looking at the empty chair. Choi Je-ho sat down at the table in silence.
When I met Kim I-wol in the practice room, he was the same as always—struggling with a simple move or spouting nonsense.
“When did you get here?”
“When the kids left for school.”
And the way the atmosphere would sink when no one else was around.
Bright and polite to the company staff. Kind to the younger ones.
Despite his consistent demeanor, Kim I-wol became strangely dark whenever he was left alone with Choi Je-ho. I couldn't tell if that was his true personality.
His outward appearance remained the same. It was just a feeling Choi Je-ho had.
My sister often nagged me, saying that if I kept living like this, I’d grow old without a single friend.
Choi Mi-ho, whose social circle was even smaller than my sister's, occasionally took my side, but I never felt it was particularly helpful.
Choi Je-ho, who had never felt the need for friends, always let those words slide. It probably wasn't surprising that Kim I-wol treated him differently than others.
I get that he doesn't want to be close.
'Then wouldn't it be easier to just not bother with the birthday at all?'
Kim I-wol’s actions made no sense. Why go out of his way to do something he didn't want to do when no one was forcing him? It’s just seaweed soup; it’s not like anyone would cry if they didn't eat it.
Just then, Jeong Seong-bin and Kang Gi-yeon returned from school. Choi Je-ho spoke to Kang Gi-yeon, who was filling a plastic bottle at the water purifier with his backpack still on.
“Thanks for the birthday wish.”
“Ah... yes.”
After that, neither of them said anything for a long time. Only the sound of dripping water filled the hallway.
“If you need water, you can go first.”
“It’s not that.”
Kang Gi-yeon looked at him with strange eyes. Since this happened often, Choi Je-ho didn't mind and asked.
“About Kim I-wol.”
“I-wol Hyung?”
“Doesn't he seem like he’s in a bad mood?”
Kang Gi-yeon’s expression shifted from 'clueless' to 'looking at trash.' Even Choi Je-ho, who was told every year that he lacked tact, could recognize that much.
“Is that... backstabbing...?”
Only after hearing the following words did Choi Je-ho understand exactly what the problem was. I phrased that poorly.
“No. I’m asking if he seems like he’s feeling down.”
Choi Je-ho chose his words carefully this time. It was a huge improvement.
“Today?”
Kang Gi-yeon let out a small sigh and spoke.
“He seemed the same as usual to me.”
It was an answer he couldn't relate to.
Kang Gi-yeon asked as he finished pouring the water.
“Hyung.”
“What.”
“You’re not saying this because I-wol Hyung didn't prepare a cake, are you?”
“Am I a child?”
Kang Gi-yeon looked like he had a lot to say. However, his mouth remained shut after that.
When they returned to the practice room, Kim I-wol gave Kang Gi-yeon a storm of nagging. He was scolding him for walking around with his bag on, asking what he’d do if his shoulders got compressed. Kang Gi-yeon grumbled as he took off his bag.
'He really does seem like he's in a bad mood.'
I considered asking if my birthday was really that upsetting, but I decided against it, fearing I’d make Kang Gi-yeon feel awkward again.
Just as Choi Je-ho expected, the birthday passed by normally. Aside from the occasional congratulations from those around him, it was no different from any other day.
“Hyung, are you sure I can head back first?”
“Yeah. Go put on a face mask and sleep.”
Jeong Seong-bin hesitated with a face that asked if this was really okay before saying goodbye and leaving. Somehow, only Choi Je-ho and Kim I-wol were left in the practice room.
Choi Je-ho sat on the floor, drinking water and watching Kim I-wol.
Through the mirror, Kim I-wol looked back and forth between the ceiling and the floor before letting out a sigh.
“Choi Je-ho.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
Kim I-wol apologized out of the blue. His gaze, which had been fixed somewhere in the air, was now on me.
“For what?”
“Just because.”
He was the type to explain every little detail to the other members without even being asked. I didn't feel like prying, so I let it be.
“If it weren't for me, we could have put more power into the choreography.”
Kim I-wol spoke again.
Choi Je-ho didn't really agree. Whether Kim I-wol could dance it or not, neither Choi Je-ho nor Kang Gi-yeon would have compromised. Kang Gi-yeon would have just worked Kim I-wol until he could keep up.
“Do you think you’re the only trainee who can’t dance?”
Choi Je-ho said it because he truly believed it.
Kim I-wol gave a sheepish smile. He must have taken it as a form of comfort.
Just the fact that he didn't take my blunt words the wrong way made Kim I-wol a good enough guy. I couldn't understand why someone like him felt so indebted to me.
Since there was nothing to be sorry for, there was no need to accept an apology. So, Choi Je-ho didn't add anything more to Kim I-wol’s apology.
When they entered the dorm after punching in the door lock code, the kitchen light was on. They could hear voices.
Was someone still awake? Kim I-wol was probably going to scold them.
However, no ominous aura radiated from Kim I-wol behind him. Instead, his expression was calm, as if he already knew.
“Hyung! Welcome back!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon greeted Choi Je-ho. It was nearly midnight, but the others followed Lee Cheong-hyeon out one by one.
“Hyung, this...”
In the hands of Park Ju-woo, who came out last, was a small cake with lit candles.
“You guys aren't asleep?”
“Shouldn't you say thank you to your younger brothers first, Je-ho?”
Kim I-wol chided from behind. His voice wasn't sharp.
“Can we turn off the light first? The wax is going to drip on the cake.”
Kang Gi-yeon pointed out. Everyone hurriedly sang the birthday song in the entryway. They could have just blown them out, but everyone was making such a fuss.
Once they gathered around the table, Jeong Seong-bin cut the cake. It was a small size to begin with, so dividing it into six pieces didn't leave much.
Was the weight check the day after tomorrow? It was the first time I felt regret about weighing myself. Usually, I wouldn't have cared.
As I was finishing my plate, a piece of untouched cake was pushed toward me from the side. Kim I-wol was holding out his plate.
“I don’t really like sweets.”
Kim I-wol beat me to the punch before I could ask why he wasn't eating. It did seem like Kim I-wol wouldn't like a rich chocolate cake. I could still remember him saying we should always be wary of excessive sugar intake.
“Should we have bought a different cake...?”
Jeong Seong-bin, holding the cake knife, looked back and forth between Choi Je-ho and Kim I-wol with a troubled face. Kim I-wol answered nonchalantly.
“You should buy what the birthday person likes. I was the one who suggested chocolate, too.”
“I don’t care either way.”
“Well, I do. I can’t eat chocolate. You have it.”
“Why can’t you eat chocolate?”
“I don’t handle caffeine well.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, sitting opposite, chimed in, “It must be pretty bad if you can’t even eat chocolate, let alone coffee.” Sensing the focus was shifting to him, Kim I-wol changed the subject.
You have to buy what the recipient likes.
Choi Je-ho had never thought that way. He didn't see the point in both parties getting exhausted when they could just not give or receive anything in the first place.
Watching Kim I-wol take the lead in doing such tedious things made me feel as if I were living my life all wrong.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Kim I-wol, who was sensitive to others' gazes, noticed immediately and asked. Choi Je-ho brushed it off as nothing.
Kim I-wol stared at Choi Je-ho for a moment before vigorously ruffling his own hair.
“I... ugh, what kind of glory was I even chasing?”
“What’s with you all of a sudden?”
Without a word of explanation, Kim I-wol went into his room. A moment later, he kicked the door open and came out with an envelope in his hand.
“Here.”
“...?”
“Birthday present.”
Kim I-wol held out a crisp gift certificate envelope with a department store logo on it.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“I told you, it’s a birthday present.”
Kim I-wol shook the envelope, urging him to take it quickly. The envelope he was forced to take was perfectly smooth without a single crease.
“When is your birthday?”
“It passed.”
Kim I-wol didn't say anything more. He just gulped down cold water.
I had no idea what Kim I-wol wanted. Whether he wanted to keep his distance or get along to some extent. Because of Kim I-wol, I found myself pondering problems I had never considered in my life.
“About you saying sorry earlier.”
And Choi Je-ho wasn't considerate enough to fathom Kim I-wol’s complicated feelings.
“Was it because you felt forced to celebrate my birthday?”
He didn't know the first thing about speaking indirectly.
Kim I-wol’s dark eyes turned toward Choi Je-ho. But it was only for a moment; his gaze quickly drifted away.
“If I were doing it because I felt forced, I would have used a different method. I’m an expert at celebrating birthdays.”
“If not, then fine.”
Choi Je-ho turned the envelope over and back.
“Thanks.”
Kim I-wol never once looked at Choi Je-ho’s meaningless hand movements. I suppose while some people are easy to read, there are also people like Kim I-wol.
Since they were going to be together for a long time after debuting anyway, Choi Je-ho decided to just maintain their current relationship. It wasn't a bad one, after all.
Thinking that was enough, Choi Je-ho went to bed.