Again Hansol stood outside the Nova building, wondering what went on inside - he’d give anything to be a part of that family inside the walls he now leant against. But he’d get there one day, and today he wasn’t there for the company, he was there for Byungjoo, because it was the most important day of the year - Byungjoo’s birthday. Hansol woke up that morning with a strange desire to thank Byungjoo’s parents for giving birth to him, but from what little Byungjoo had told him over the time they’d grown closer, his parents weren’t too great. Even so they’d done one good thing if nothing else - they’d given birth to someone who made Hansol very, very happy.
So here he stood, bundled up into a khaki parka, the fur around the hood tickling his chin as his eyes remained focused on the door of the building. He was there early, the bag of presents held in his hand was pretty heavy, and he may have gone overboard with the present buying, but he hoped Byungjoo would like what he’d bought him. So he waited patiently for the younger to appear, only shivering slightly from the chill evening winds caressing his skin as it swirled past on a breath of air.
Then the door opened. Trainees in thick coats wandered out, some in pairs, others on their own, footsteps fast as they headed to wherever the nearest warmth was. But then, just like on Christmas Eve, the familiar figure exited the building and Hansol took fast steps closer, grabbing him by the wrist and tugging him toward the wall as he had done less than a month ago.
“Happy Birthday, Joo.” He said in a soft voice as he leant forward and wrapped his arms round Byungjoo’s shoulders, tugging him into a tight hug, chin leant on his shoulder, poised on his tip-toes and only cursing Byungjoo’s height momentarily in his head. It wasn’t fair that the boy was younger, and taller than him. But there were more pressing matters at hand - the bag that now sat at his feet being the main one. He let go sooner than he’d like to, the other’s body heat was warmer than Hansol’s thick coat, but he didn’t want anyone to think their relationship was something it wasn’t, for the safety of Byungjoo’s contract (not to mention it definitely wasn’t anything more than friends, no matter what Hansol wanted it to be).
“I brought your presents! Did you have a good birthday?” His voice remained soft, but loud enough for Byungjoo to hear as he leant down to grab the bag again. “Sorry I didn’t wrap them, I didn’t have any wrapping paper, and I thought you might be able to use some of them now.” With his words he reached into the bag and tugged out a thick, baby blue scarf and reached up to wind it round the youngers neck. “It’s cold out still, so I thought I’d make sure you stayed warm.” Offering a small smile he reached back into the bag and tugged out a blue bobble hat, reaching up and pulling it onto Byungjoo’s head, stopping to gently fix the blonde strands of hair that stuck out over his forehead, eyes locked on his for a moment, before he took a small step back and reached back into the bag.
“It’s kind of stupid but-” Tugging out the sweater he held it up with a slightly embarrassed smile, before shoving it back into the bag with a shake of his head. “It made me think of you. But then I also saw this, and though I know you probably have to watch what you eat now, it’s your birthday, you can make one exception.” With his last word and a sweet smile he tugged out a little cardboard cupcake box with the words ‘happy birthday’ in pretty lilac italics over the side of the black box. Opening it he held it out for Byungjoo to peer inside at the oreo cupcake, before giving a cheeky grin and closing it once again, placing it back in the box - he could eat it later. It might not be good if he got caught right outside the building eating something so sweet.
He’d kept the smallest for last, mostly because it meant more to him than it probably would to Byungjoo. Tugging out the little black velvet box he opened it, taking out the little black bead bracelet and putting the box back into the bag. Reaching out he took Byungjoo’s larger hand in his own smaller one for a moment, before fastening the bracelet around his wrist. “It’s just… Just nice, I thought it’d be nice, since it’s black it can go with every colour… I have one too, I thought you might like one.” He didn’t mention where he’d got it, who he’d got it from, or how long he’d had the matching bracelet.
He wasn’t going to tell Byungjoo the two bracelets were the only two in this design ever made, or that they’d been given to him by his father’s father when he was nine, right before he died. He didn’t tell him that Hansol’s grandfather had told him to give it to someone he felt his heart had reserved a little part of itself for. He didn’t know exactly what they meant, but he thought maybe it meant how he felt now. He didn’t want to think too much about it, but maybe it meant how he didn’t think of Byungjoo like he did the other friends he had. There was something…different.
Today wasn’t about him though, it was about Byungjoo, so with a smile he lifted a hand to pat the younger’s cheek with a cheerful grin. “Are you tired? Or would you like to go for some late-night ramen with me?” He hoped the answer would be the latter, but he knew how tiring training must be, so he simply reached over and placed the handles of the bag now containing the bracelet box and the sweater into Byungjoo’s hand, before shoving his own hands in his pockets, ignoring how he could barely feel them anymore.
He just hoped he’d get to the spend the last few hours of Byungjoo’s birthday with him.
he almost forgot it was his birthday.
byungjoo got a text from his cousin sometime that afternoon; he had checked his messages between practice and was surprised to see what she had written. was it already the eighth? so much had been going on that byungjoo completely forgot about it; so the message was sweet. the rest of his birthday though would be spent practicing for the big dance collab he had to do with the rest of the nova boys - it was tiring. his thighs throbbed and his feet were sore but he still managed to keep up with the choreo and the music as best he could. still, he had a long way to go but the day was done faster than he anticipated and he was dressed and ready to crawl back home.
what he didn’t expect was hansol’s appearance. much like on christmas, hansol pulled him by his wrist to the side and this time around; he wrapped his arms around byungjoo in a tight hug. there was something about the warmth he got from the quick embrace; something about the whispered words, “happy birthday” that made his heart just thump a bit faster than usual. he only managed to return the hug for a second before hansol stepped back and he was presented with gifts.
his lips turned up and though his smile was tired it was happy; he allowed the shorter to dress him in the gifts and took the boxes from the other with a small laugh, “you know i never say no to food.” he mused, “so lets get some food before i drop dead for the night.” he had practice the next morning at seven; but he hadn’t seen hansol in so long. he’d be a bit drowsy but it was worth it.
as they walked to their little ramen shop, he glanced at the bracelet and wondered if it had a deeper meaning. the style was perfect, something simple yet chic - but it seemed to be much more than just a fashion statement. twisting his wrist around, he admired the beads and let out a small sigh.
hansol was too good to him. the elder took such good care of byungjoo and he’d forever be grateful. for his birthday, byungjoo made a mental note to save up money to get the other something amazing.
something from the heart too - like he figured this bracelet was.
