birthday surprises // jy & jh
As soon as the offer is voiced, Junghwan can’t even attempt to hide his surprise, not having even expected that Jinyoung would try to return the favour. Normally, the student wouldn’t even care about his own birthday all that much, only really recognising it as another time where the family would bombard him with loud singing and congratulations. But the thought of it being Jinyoung to care about his birthday one day, some day, now that was enough to make him look forward to it. Just the idea of being able to spend the occasion together with the person responsible for the fluttering in his chest, or the one person he can’t even think about without a stupidly goofy smile, is way more than enough to excuse the older from returning the favour. Lips curl into a grateful smile regardless, chuckles bubbling up past his lips whilst managing to respond. “Of course you don’t have to! Honestly, just- Just getting to see you would be enough to make me happy.” His words trail off almost sheepishly, embarrassment flooding his system once realising just how obvious he must sound. He begins to turn away so he can slip his shoes off, hoping that the flush on his cheeks would remain hidden whilst attempting to recover the impression he might have left. “I mean, you’ll have to wear a party hat, so you won’t be getting off too easily—”
Thankfully it seemed he’d be given more time to recover than expected, once hearing that the elder had moved into the other room. He pats at his cheeks a little, trying to regain some sense of normality so he could keep it together. Though that was certainly easier said than done, considering this was the first time Junghwan had ever had so much as a crush, let alone having to try and appear like no such thing was happening. Even if the younger had come to terms with what was happening, that didn’t mean he was planning on acting on them; knowing all too well that getting to keep Jinyoung’s company was much more precious than what he hoped to be fleeting feelings. The lighter flying in his direction soon tugs him out from his thoughts, fumbling the catch with no small amount of flailing before finally managing to get it safely in his palm. Laughter is soon to slip from him, making his way to start putting the candles in the cake, needing a couple of attempts each to light them all. Once done, he sets the lighter aside and hops behind the older male, hands on his back guiding him to stand in front of the cake, before finally swallowing down whatever nerves were flying up his throat to start cheerily singing. “Happy Birthday to youuuu~ Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Jinyouuuuung… Haaaappy Birthday to you~!”
A fluttery heart was unable to stop itself from racing, as hopeful words penetrated a thick skull. If seeing him, albeit in a stupid party hat, on his birthday, was enough to make him happy, then maybe -- just maybe that meant something. "Well, of course, you're going to see me that day. Birthdays are important, though mine is the most important, obviously. But you're going to see me, with a cake made for you too. And my cakes are amazing, so you should look forward to that. ...But I'd be cute in a party hat, right?" Sometimes, it was difficult to keep his words devoid of all sentimentality towards Junghwan, but he had been doing just that, for a very long time. And no crush would get in the way of the image he had worked so hard at to create, no matter how disgustingly cute his friend's potential reaction might be, if he were to give in to such urges.
The show his younger friend offered him, in attempting to catch the lighter, was a delightful and entertaining one. It was rather annoying how the boy portrayed every ideal quality Jinyoung could find in a person, yet deep down, he knew that he was not the sort of person who dabbled in casual affairs. It was tragic, and he felt it in his bones, but feelings were not permanent, and he could only hope his suffering would be short-lived. Today was not that day though, as chills lined the spot on his back where coveted fingers graced it, and Jinyoung closed his eyes, in order to properly appreciate the way Junghwan's voice sounded, when he sang. It was indeed silly, and any other time, he would have rolled his eyes and felt annoyed by the entire procedure, though now, his stomach flipped and his knees felt more akin to Jell-O than bones and flesh.
"T-thank you..." he muttered, blush rushing to his cheeks, and teeth gnawing at bottom lip. With a completely clear mind, he leaned in to blow out the candles adorning his birthday cake, only to have a single sentence invade it, as breath defeated the flames. I wish Junghwan would be my boyfriend. His back shot up, each and every atom, making up his entirety, tingling with a formerly unknown feeling. It seemed that his trip to hell would be a bit longer than he had formerly hoped. That word, never had Jinyoung thought it, without immediately rebuking it, or tasting acid on the back of his tongue. If said person was not here, the weight of the thought would surely cause Jinyoung to cry. But it was his birthday, and it was supposed to be a happy day, which it would remain. As awkward silence fell upon the two men, the elder escaped momentarily, coming back with knife in hand. "I'm not sure if I trust you with one of these--" he attempted to joke, holding it out to the other.
