Birthday with Her Alone
Park Jaehyuk slowly opened his eyes the next morning after his birthday. As he tried to sit up, still half-asleep and rubbing his eyes, it happened.
Kang Jihun yanked the blanket over Jaehyuk's head the moment he sat up and shouted. Lee Jeonghan and Jihun then proceeded to pummel the blanket-covered lump that was Jaehyuk with their palms and elbows, performing a classic birthday beating.
"What the— what the hell is this..."
"What do you mean, what? It's your birthday spankings!"
"We're congratulating you, dumbass."
Jaehyuk, still dazed from being woken up and beaten, stared at his two friends who were grinning at him. Then, as if he couldn't believe what was happening, he let out a hollow laugh.
"Haha... But who the hell used a pickaxe?"
Jeonghan and Jihun immediately pointed at each other.
"Hey Kang Jihun, stop bullshitting. I saw you slamming a pickaxe into Jaehyuk's back."
"Bullshit. You're the one who did it and now you're playing innocent."
"Guys, enough. I was just messing with you. Anyway, thanks for the birthday wishes."
Then Jaehyuk suddenly remembered the conversation he'd had with Alina the day before and glanced at his phone on the bedside table.
"Why? Did you make plans to contact that Alina girl?"
Jeonghan asked, peering at Jaehyuk's phone from beside him. Jihun, growing curious as well, also looked over at the screen.
Right then, as Jaehyuk was staring at his phone, it vibrated with incoming messages from Alina.
"Promise? What promise?"
"Did you make a date with that girl?"
Jeonghan and Jihun's eyes widened as they read the messages, both turning to Jaehyuk at once.
He grinned at his friends and said, "Something like that."
"Whoa... Is this guy finally escaping single life?"
"Wait, then does that mean I'm the only one left single?"
At Jeonghan's question, Jihun flashed him a mischievous smile and replied, "Looks like it. Poor Jeonghan, what are we going to do with you?"
"Ugh... This can't be happening..."
"Oh, but it is."
"You little—"
While the two of them bickered, Jaehyuk got out of bed and stretched. Jeonghan, who had stopped arguing with Jihun, asked him, "So what are you guys actually doing when you meet up?"
"Hmm... We didn't really plan anything specific..."
"Dude. Just in case, you should bring that. You know, that."
"That? What?"
Jaehyuk stared at him blankly, not understanding what Jihun meant. But when he saw the lewd smile on his friend's face, he immediately realized what he was implying and looked utterly dumbfounded.
"This crazy bastard said he wanted to empty his head, but I guess he emptied it completely and filled it with nothing but dirty thoughts."
"It was a joke, man. A joke. It's a joke."
Jaehyuk grabbed Jihun's chin with his right hand, pulled his head forward with his left, and locked him in a guillotine choke with his right arm as he said, "Jokes can fuck off. Your jokes just call for my choke."
"Ack—!! Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Sorry!! I surrender!!"
"Jaehyuk, should I get a baseball bat?"
"No need, dumbass."
The three friends spent a warm, cheerful time together in the hotel room until Jaehyuk had to leave to meet Alina.
A little while later, Jaehyuk arrived at the bench in Central Park where he had met her the night before. 'Hmm... Did I come too early?' He checked his phone and saw it was only 12:40 p.m. 'Well, there's not much time left until one, so I'll just wait a bit...'
"Jaehyuk?"
At the sound of his name, Jaehyuk turned his head toward the voice. There stood Alina Kim, beautifully dressed up.
'Holy... She's seriously stunning. Like an actual celebrity??'
Alina was wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt, a black skirt, and white sneakers. She also carried the beige crossbody bag she'd had with her when they first met. Standing in front of him with her fair legs exposed beneath the black skirt, she gently tucked her long brown hair behind her ear with her right hand and gave him a shy smile.
Jaehyuk felt his heart drop at the sight of her beauty. His face grew hot as he said to her, "Um... You look... really beautiful today. You were pretty before too, but..."
"Thank you."
Alina beamed at him, then stepped closer and wished him a happy birthday.
"Happy birthday, Jaehyuk."
"Thank you. Happy birthday to you too, Alina."
"Still, it's really amazing when I think about it again. That we share the same birthday..."
With those words, Alina slipped her right arm through his left, linking arms with him. At that moment, Jaehyuk felt something soft press against his left arm and his face turned bright red.
'Whoa... Her cup size is...??'
"A friend of mine owns a villa nearby. Should we have our birthday party there? Just the two of us."
"Uh... Just the two of us?"
Jaehyuk's face grew even redder at her suggestion. Seeing this, Alina asked, "Jaehyuk? Your face is all red... Are you okay?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine. It's just hot out. Really hot... Haha..."
He gave her an awkward smile. Alina kept her arm linked with his as she led him toward a Cadillac CT6 parked near Central Park.
'A Cadillac?? Isn't that an expensive car...??'
Jaehyuk got into the passenger seat while Alina sat in the driver's seat and took a deep breath.
'Driving... Is this her first time...??'
""
Seatbelt fastened, Alina muttered to herself in English, clearly tense, before starting the engine. Her behavior made Jaehyuk unconsciously grab the oh-shit handle above the passenger seat.
"Um... Alina? Maybe I should drive instead..."
"No. I can do it. I can really do it well."
"Ah... Okay..."
Alina stepped on the accelerator and the Cadillac carrying the two of them sped down the road.
Some time later, they arrived at a mansion located in a secluded area and got out of the car.
"So... How was my driving...?"
"......Surprisingly good, actually?"
Alina, who had looked completely deflated just moments ago, broke into a bright smile at Jaehyuk's compliment. She linked arms with him again.
'Heh heh... Until the East Sea and Mount Baekdu dry up and wear away...'
"Did I really drive well?"
"Yes. Despite how nervous you seemed, you drove quite well. By the way, is that Cadillac yours?"
"Well... It's my friend's car. The owner of this villa... They lent it to me especially for today."
"Oh, I see."
Chatting like this, Jaehyuk and Alina entered the villa.
'Just what does this friend of hers do to own a villa this huge?'
Jaehyuk looked around the splendid interior and marveled inwardly. Then he suddenly grew curious about who this friend of Alina's really was.
"Hey, Alina? What exactly does the owner of this villa do for a living?"
Alina looked slightly flustered. Seeing this, Jaehyuk quickly added, "If it's uncomfortable for you, you don't have to tell me..."
"He's just someone whose hobby is investing. You know, what people call financial management."
"Ah... Like Warren Buffett?"
"Exactly."
Alina went to the kitchen, took a cake out of the refrigerator, and placed it on the dining table.
"Jaehyuk. Happy birthday once again."
"Oh? Whipped cream cake. That's my favorite."
"Really? I'm glad."
The two of them enjoyed a pleasant conversation while eating the cake in the villa.
A little later, something seemed to occur to Alina and she took a bottle of wine from the wine fridge in the kitchen.
"How about a glass? I'm twenty-one now, so I can drink."
"Huh? In America, you can't drink until you're twenty-one?"
"That's right. You can't drink until the birthday you turn twenty-one."
She set the wine bottle on the table, brought over two wine glasses, and said, "I'm having my very first drink with you, Jaehyuk."
She smiled sweetly at him as she spoke, and all sorts of thoughts raced through his head.
'What is this situation...?? Does Alina actually have feelings for me? Why?? They say love can come suddenly, but this... feels way too sudden...'
'And with a girl this beautiful, no less...?? Did I do something amazing in my past life? Or maybe I saved a country in another life?'
'Wait a second—if I can get a girlfriend like her, does that mean I saved the world in my previous life?? What the hell did I do back then??'
Alina used a wine opener to uncork the bottle and poured wine into the glass in front of Jaehyuk, who was lost in thought. She then filled her own glass, lifted it slightly toward him, and said, "Let's toast to each of our birthdays."
"Yes. Happy birthday once again."
Jaehyuk smiled and gently clinked his glass against hers. The clear, beautiful sound of the glasses touching filled the entire villa.
Jaehyuk and Alina drank wine together and continued talking about all sorts of things. Their relationship was rapidly growing closer.
Several hours later, it had grown dark outside the mansion. Alina, seemingly tipsy, looked at Jaehyuk with half-lidded eyes and giggled.
"Alina? Are you drunk?"
"I dunnooo... Maybe. Heehee."
When Jaehyuk asked, she answered in cute, slurred Korean as if acting spoiled.
'She definitely looks drunk... But why am I so tired all of a sudden?'
The faint buzz of alcohol made him yawn.
"Huuuam..."
Seeing him rub his slightly closed, teary eyes, Alina gave him a meaningful smile and spoke in a language that wasn't English.
"Голубчик."
'Hmm...?'
The accent didn't sound like English at all. Jaehyuk widened his eyes and stared at her blankly. She giggled again and repeated the word toward him.
"Голубчик."
'What does that mean...? Is it a curse word? I should probably ask.'
Unable to understand what she was saying, Jaehyuk blinked a few times before cautiously asking, "Um, Alina? What did you just say? Was that a swear word?"
She slowly shook her head, gave him a playful smile, and this time spoke in Korean.
"That...? It's a seeecret."
She took another sip of the wine in her glass. Jaehyuk stared at her in confusion over what he'd just heard, then continued drinking.
Some more time passed. Alina, now heavily intoxicated, stared at him with completely glazed eyes. Jaehyuk, feeling the alcohol himself, waved three fingers in front of her face as a joke and asked, "Alina? How many fingers? How many? How many?"
She just stared blankly at his waving fingers for a moment before answering in sleepy-sounding English.
""
Then her head drooped as if she were about to collapse onto the table. Worried she might hit her head, Jaehyuk stood up and caught her head with both hands. He gently lowered it onto the table.
Thinking her answer had been incredibly cute, Jaehyuk unconsciously smiled.
'She said four, but she's clearly wasted.'
He approached Alina, who had completely passed out on the table, and spoke to her in a low voice.
"Alina. Wake up. You should sleep in a bed."
But she only breathed softly, offering no reply.
'Should I... give it a try?'
Jaehyuk steadied his breathing, then lifted the limp Alina in a princess carry.
'What? She's so light??'
"Mmm..."
Alina nestled her head against his chest and let out a small moan. Jaehyuk felt his heart racing faster and his face growing hot as he carried her to the bedroom. He carefully laid the sleeping Alina down on the bed.
'Man, my heart... If you're this cute, it's not fair.'
After setting her down, Jaehyuk gazed at her as she slept soundly, drunk. Even though her long hair was tangled as if she'd thrown herself down like a swan in the corner of a pond, she still looked incredibly beautiful in his eyes.
'I guess it's true what they say—pretty girls look pretty no matter what they do. I'd like to keep watching, but... I'm tired too, so I should go to sleep.'
Leaving Alina as she was, Jaehyuk turned off the lights, quietly closed the door behind him, and left the bedroom.
Alina, lying there drunk, seemed to be having a wonderful dream. She smiled softly and murmured the same Russian word she'd said to him earlier.
Голубчик. (You're so cute.)
After saying that, Alina fell into a deep sleep. The dark yet tranquil room, filled with the quiet sentiment of early dawn, was now completely filled with the lovely sound of her soft, sleeping breaths.