a two-way thread, featuring @lgclevi.
the end of the year is looming, with this being the penultimate zenith of 2019 before the calendar turns for the better — or worse, who knows. one thing that he’s preparing besides bracing himself for the international new year would be his roommate’s birthday. another special day, for sure, and he’s determined to get the surprise to work. being a senior trainee is a feat, in which he’s celebrated so many trainees’ birthday, and his own soon… it’s going to be his fourth birthday with legacy when january descends, just in about half a month. december alone has passed with so many celebrations, each of which he’s cherished. this one shall be of no exception, for sure.
he texts xujia while he’s still in the company building, saying a hello using a pikachu sticker.
[ message to: xujia ] don’t wait for hyung…
[ message to: xujia ] late practice… see you in the morning.
and ends it with another pikachu sticker to convey his ‘sadness’.
it’s 11.18pm, his body aching from the cold weather. should’ve worn thicker sweater, but hansol would like to think of himself as a champ against winter, which has always been his favorite season. the cake is prepared in the box, bought from the boulangerie he frequents a lot, along with the bag of the presents: it’s xujia’s nineteenth, so it’s extremely important, or at least that’s in his culture… unsure about xujia’s perception on this. but he’s trying his best, and that’s the very least he can do.
he heads back to the dorm when the clock strikes 11.30pm, ensuring that he arrives on time in unison with his other roommates. the cake is simple, with the zhōng wén “祝你生日快乐” calligraphed on top of the cake, just underneath the “19” candles. entering the room where xujia is supposedly asleep at midnight sharp, he starts singing the happy birthday song in english, hoping to make this third birthday with xujia’s fellow trainees feel like a home away from home still. “happy birthday!” he says, a grin plastered on his face. “make a wish and blow the candle!”
