An Uncelebrated Birthday and a Stolen Kiss
"......"
"......"
Even as we drew closer and closer to her house, Jeong Sua still hadn't uttered a word. It wasn't enough that she walked a full step behind me—she kept her head dangerously lowered the whole time. The awkwardness between us had reached its absolute peak.
"Oppa..."
It was the first time Jeong Sua had spoken since we'd left the cafe, but her words came completely out of nowhere. "Don't you have to buy a gift for Suho, Oppa?"
She'd clearly forced herself to speak just to break the oppressive silence. I decided to play along willingly.
"Is a birthday really that important?"
"Of course it is. It's the day we celebrate the fact that someone was born. You must have received birthday wishes before, right, Oppa?"
"I did. Probably the last time was in third grade."
"...What?"
The revelation that I hadn't received a single birthday wish in eleven years left Jeong Sua completely stunned.
Tragic soap-opera shit like this isn't my thing at all. But if this is the only way to make a woman feel sympathy for me, then so be it.
"Is it really that surprising?"
"Of course it is! Suho always gets celebrated on his birthday... he'd even brag about what presents he received..."
She was implying that since Suho got that kind of treatment, I—as a member of the same family—must have too. That's where you're wrong, Sua. He was born as the protagonist, while I was born as Kang Ijin—the expendable sidekick who wasn't even a proper delinquent.
My delinquent behavior played a part in my parents treating me like a child they'd already abandoned, but there was something unnaturally cold about the way they acted toward me specifically. After all, I was just an extra destined for prison in the future, so they might as well pretend I didn't exist.
If I'd lived in the same house with people like that every single day, my personality might have twisted even more than it had. Especially if the people who only came home once a week for the protagonist's comfortable rom-com life hadn't gradually stretched those visits until they became once a month... or not at all.
That's why I don't think of them as parents. What kind of parent treats their own child like they don't exist and never even comes home?
"I never really cared about birthdays anyway. And back then I was such a troublemaker that my parents probably didn't even want to think about the day I was born."
"That's ridiculous... Even so, you're their son. They should at least say something like 'happy birthday'..."
When I shook my head, Jeong Sua fell silent.
"Happy birthday? Those people only see Kang Suho as their real son. The moment they look at me, their faces twist into frowns. I don't expect anything from them, and I don't want anything from them either."
I deliberately let out an exaggerated, sarcastic laugh as I dropped this bombshell.
It must have struck a chord with Jeong Sua's tear ducts, because her eyes began to well up. I stopped her immediately.
"Hey now. No crying. That kind of reaction actually makes me uncomfortable. I'm really fine with it, so don't cry."
"Then what about Suho? Didn't Suho celebrate your birthday either? He's your only younger brother..."
"Kang Suho has never properly celebrated my birthday either. After some time passed, we just silently agreed not to bother with each other. We'd exchange a half-hearted 'happy birthday' and that was it."
"That's too much... Even if you didn't celebrate his, still... A younger brother should at least remember his older brother's birthday..."
Jeong Sua looked genuinely displeased with Kang Suho's behavior. Oh, this is an unexpected harvest.Yes, throw away that pathetic, appetite-ruining bastard and come to me instead.
"There's no rule that says you have to. Since I never celebrated his either, we're even."
"But Suho still got birthday wishes from your parents! The more I think about it, the more I feel bad for you, Oppa... Hic... Eleven whole years without a single birthday wish..."
"Hey... I told you not to cry... Haah, I'm never telling you something like this again. You're such a crybaby."
"I-I'm not crying... Hup!"
A snort escaped me. Jeong Sua's face was a complete mess from trying so hard to hold back her tears. The moment I saw it, I couldn't stop the laughter from bubbling out of my mouth.
She was the one who was sad, yet here I was—the person in question—laughing. Her expression shifted to one of pure confusion.
So this is what it feels like when someone gets angry and cries on your behalf. I should keep her locked up and make her cry like this for the rest of her life.
"Either cry or don't. Pick one. Your makeup is running everywhere."
"R-really?! U-um, where can I fix my makeup..."
"There's a restroom in that building over there with the shops."
"Oppa, I'll be right back. Don't go ahead without me!"
"Go ahead. I'll wait."
Jeong Sua hurried toward the building with her head down. When she returned shortly after, her cheeks were noticeably puffed out.
"My makeup didn't run at all..."
"I lied a bit. You looked like you were about to cry again, so I figured you needed some fresh air."
"Oppa, I've made up my mind."
"About what?"
"From now on, I'll celebrate your birthday for you, Oppa."
Jeong Sua had made a serious resolution over something as simple as a birthday. The story about going eleven years without birthday wishes must have shocked her more than I thought.
But Sua, I don't want to give you the right to celebrate my birthday.
We were right near her house anyway. I shook my head, rejecting her offer.
"What are you to me?"
"Huh?"
"You already know that isn't what I want to hear. If you don't accept my confession, then we're nothing to each other. A guy who confessed and the girl who rejected him. Isn't that a worse relationship than complete strangers?"
"Ah..."
Jeong Sua's face hardened at an alarming speed. She seemed to have misunderstood something. Once today was over, I planned to avoid her again.
There had only ever been one way to stop me from avoiding her—both in the past and now. For her to accept my confession.
Perfect timing. I should give it to her now.
I pulled a bracelet from my pocket.
"Oppa, that's..."
She recognized what it was immediately, her eyes widening into perfect circles. It was one of the bracelets from the accessory shop. I'd secretly bought it after trying different ones on her wrist and deciding which suited her best.
Making her think it was a parting gift was one reason, but I had another purpose as well.
The other bracelet already on her wrist—the one Kang Suho had given her when they were children.
Every time I saw it, it pissed me off. It felt like Kang Suho had left his mark on what's mine.
I wanted that bracelet out of my sight.
"Why did you buy that?"
"You said you didn't like flashy things, but in my eyes, this one suited you the best. You looked beautiful wearing it."
"......"
Jeong Sua blushed at my compliment. Kang Suho had probably never said anything like that to her. He likely just thought she was pretty in his head, or awkwardly asked if it looked good on her before finally saying so.
"...Did you buy it for me?"
"Yeah. I originally planned to give it as a final parting gift... but I've changed my mind."
"Oppa..."
I grabbed her small, soft hand and pulled her toward me. Carefully, I removed the bracelet from her wrist.
"Oppa, this is..."
"I know. The one Kang Suho gave you, right?"
She'd worn it for so long that it was quite tarnished. Yet Sua had always kept it on like a lucky charm. Why? Because she liked Kang Suho.
Anyone could see how obviously she liked him, but that idiot Kang Suho couldn't even notice. There was no way I'd let a guy like that have her. She belonged to me.
I slipped the old bracelet into her pocket, then fastened the one I'd bought onto her wrist. A bracelet decorated with flowers and small cubic zirconia. Against her pure, innocent face, the accessory I'd personally chosen for her looked devastatingly beautiful.
"It really is pretty. So pretty I want to keep it for myself..."
"...It's just... this is the first time anyone's said something like that to me... I don't know how to react..."
Jeong Sua fidgeted, completely flustered.
"Don't overthink it. I'm just giving it to you."
"Thank you, Oppa..."
Embarrassed, she tried to pull her hand away. I pretended to let go, then suddenly—
I snatched her wrist firmly.
"O-oppa?!"
Her already large eyes grew even wider as she stared at me. It was adorable. Admiring her cute face all day would be nice, but since we'd come this far, I figured a kiss wouldn't be out of line.
But why do I feel so nervous...
I'd raised her favorability quite a bit by now, but there were no visible numbers to confirm it. If I tried to kiss her and it backfired, her favorability might actually drop.
Fuck it. Let's just do it.
I'd decided to kiss her today. It might seem a little rushed, but there wouldn't be a more perfect moment than right now. If I let this opportunity slip, who knew when another would come.
With my other hand, I wrapped my arm around her slender waist. She was quick to catch on. The moment she realized what I was about to do, her face filled with disbelief.
The longer we stood facing each other, the more her eyes grew misty. It didn't look like she was about to cry—more like she was drunk on something.
"I'm sorry, Sua."
This wasn't my usual teasing tone when I called her a brat. I spoke gently, my voice carrying genuine apology for what I was about to do.
"You can resent me for this. But if you feel the same way I do... then close your eyes."
"......"
Sua pressed her lips together tightly for a moment. Then, slowly—ever so slowly—she closed her eyes.
What? It actually worked?
It had. This was her silent permission to kiss her.
I released her wrist and reached up, gently cupping her cheek and stroking it.
"......?"
Jeong Sua's body trembled. But her eyes remained firmly shut.
Supporting the back of her head with my hand, I pressed my lips against her plump ones.