Chapter 1 - The Sweetest Birthday
"Some memories become precious only after they become impossible to relive."
The morning sun painted the campus of Haneul Arts and Science College in warm golden light.Students hurried through the corridors, laughter echoed across the campus, and colorful banners fluttered in the gentle breeze.Among everyone, one person attracted every gaze.Kang Min-jun.Final-year student.College dance club president.The most handsome boy on campus.Girls admired him from afar, juniors copied his style, and every cultural event felt incomplete without his breathtaking dance performances.Yet the reason everyone admired him the most wasn't his looks...It was the way he looked at only one girl.Han Seo-yeon.The girl with the brightest smile.The voice that could silence an auditorium.The singer who won every college music competition.She wasn't the best dancer—in fact, she couldn't dance at all—but whenever she sang, every heart listened.And everyone in college knew one thing.Kang Min-jun and Han Seo-yeon were inseparable."Where is Min-jun?" Seo-yeon whispered, nervously looking around.Behind her was a table covered with a white cloth.Hidden beneath it was a stunning birthday cake she'd spent weeks planning.The cake was elegant, covered in smooth white frosting with deep blue floral decorations, tiny edible stars, and a handwritten message in chocolate."Happy Birthday to My Forever Favorite Person."She smiled softly."I hope he likes it..."Just then—"Surprise!!"Min-jun's friends dragged him toward the courtyard."Guys! What's all this?" he laughed.The moment he turned...He froze.Seo-yeon slowly uncovered the cake.Everyone around them gasped."Whoa...""It's beautiful!"Min-jun looked at her with surprise."You... did all this?"She scratched the back of her neck shyly."I wanted your birthday to be unforgettable."For a second...Neither of them spoke.His eyes said everything.He walked toward her and gently held her hands."Thank you, Seo-yeon.""It's the best birthday gift I've ever received."Her cheeks turned pink."You haven't even tasted the cake yet."He laughed."I don't need to.""The person who brought it is already the sweetest gift.""Ughhh!"Their friends immediately started teasing them."Someone stop these two!""We're all still single!"Everyone burst into laughter.Min-jun's closest friends joined him.Cha Hyun-woo—the funny one who could make anyone laugh.Lee Do-hyun—calm, mature, and the voice of reason.Hyun-woo dramatically wiped imaginary tears."I'm witnessing true love."Do-hyun chuckled."I've already accepted they'll probably get married before any of us."Meanwhile, Seo-yeon's best friends walked over.Yoon Ha-rin, her closest friend since first year, wrapped an arm around her shoulder.Beside her stood the cheerful Kim Na-eun, always ready with a joke.Ha-rin smiled warmly."See? I told you he'd love it."Seo-yeon grinned happily."Okay!" Hyun-woo shouted."Birthday boy, cut the cake already!"Everyone gathered around.Phones were lifted.Someone started singing."Happy Birthday to you..."Soon the entire courtyard joined in.Min-jun closed his eyes for a brief moment before blowing out the candles.Applause erupted.He cut the first slice......and, without hesitation, fed it to Seo-yeon.The crowd immediately exploded."Woooooo!""They're so cute!"Seo-yeon laughed before feeding him a piece in return.A little frosting landed on his nose.She giggled."Oops."He narrowed his eyes playfully."Oh... you're in trouble now."Before she could run, he dabbed a tiny bit of cream on her cheek."Min-jun!"The two laughed while their friends snapped countless photos.Hyun-woo folded his arms dramatically."I've said it before and I'll say it again.""In this entire college...""You two are the most famous couple."Do-hyun nodded with a smile."Seriously.""I've never seen two people understand each other the way you do."Na-eun clasped her hands."I swear... no evil eye should ever fall on you two."Ha-rin smiled softly."You deserve to stay this happy forever."Min-jun looked at Seo-yeon.Then gently intertwined his fingers with hers."As long as she's beside me...""I don't need anything else."Seo-yeon's smile grew brighter."I'll always be with you."The wind gently carried their laughter across the campus.None of them knew...Life was quietly counting down toward a day that would test every promise made beneath that clear blue sky.And some birthdays...become the last truly happy memory.
