Time Flies
“Mm~” Jeongin groaned, rubbing his eyes as the sunlight hit his face. He sat up and sighed before checking his phone. “What time is it?” he muttered groggily, standing up and slightly bumping into the nearby wall.
230 messages.
Each one probably had a heart, a cake emoji, and a smile with the caption:“Happy birthday, Jeongin-ah.”He smiled slightly, then opened the group chat.
Shawty Rizzlers
br0wni3b0y:Is anyone coming to grab chicken with me?Sent: yesterday 11:55 p.m.
I hate y’all ghosts! Sent: yesterday 12:00 a.m.
Il0vese0ch@ngb!n:Felix! It’s literally midnight!Sent: today 00:01
Jeongin’s eyebrows furrowed, disappointed that none of his friends had texted him a happy birthday. He kept checking his private DMs, but none of them had any wishes either.
“Ouch—” Jeongin rubbed his forehead after hitting it against the wall. “It’s just a wish, Jeongin...” he muttered to himself. “It’s fine...”
He came out of the bathroom fresh, with no real plans for the day. Throwing himself into his messy closet, he searched for a fit—and eventually found one.
“I think this will do for the day!” he huffed, before leaving his house and locking the door.
He walked to his car, opened it, and screamed.
“JISUNG HYUNG, WHAT ARE YOU DOING UNDER THE CAR SEAT?!” Jeongin yelled, clutching his chest from the jumpscare.
“Happy birthday, maknae cutie boy!” Jisung popped up with a gift box in his hand.
“You could’ve just texted, you know, hyung?!” Jeongin chuckled, even though he absolutely loved the fact Jisung had made a little surprise. Still, he wasn’t sure how Jisung had managed to sneak into his car.
He took the gift box, opening it to find a sick pair of socks.
“Really, hyung?” Jeongin gave Jisung a skeptical look, to which Jisung shrugged and plopped into the driver’s seat, snatching the car keys from him. “Hop on, maknae... let’s go celebrate your birthday, baby boy~” Jisung cooed at the younger, making him roll his eyes.
“I’m not a baby!” Jeongin huffed as he went to the passenger seat, though he smiled afterward. Jeongin loved his hyung.
They reached a small place that looked like a rental home.
“Wha—” Jeongin exclaimed as he exited the car, only to be squished in a chokehold from behind.
“You need some workout, maknae,” Changbin chuckled before releasing the grip and kissing the top of the boy’s head. Jeongin tried to dodge the kiss but failed. The younger made an “eww” face as Changbin kissed him again. “Happy birthday, boy!”
“My gift?” Jeongin asked, his eyes practically smiling. He knew his hyungs wouldn’t leave him, and neither would he. “I just gave you... two of them! Why? Do you need more? I can give you later in the bedroom...” Changbin winked, making Jeongin groan and run inside their temporary rented room.
“Waaa~” he looked around the house, where a lot of groceries were stacked up, along with clothes and boxes of gifts.
“NO, SEUNGMIN! YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IT AS IT IS—THAT’S GONNA BURN THE PANCAKE!” a deep voice shouted from further inside the house. “HYUNJIN! WHAT THE HECK? WHY IS THERE A MOUSE TAKING THE COOKIE DOUGH?!”
“I—I don’t know?! Catch it! Catch it! AHHH, IT’S CHASING ME!!!” another voice yelled, followed by frantic footsteps shuffling everywhere.
“ONE NORMAL DAY IS ALL I ASK FOR,” Chan’s voice boomed from the left side of the house. “WHY ARE Y’ALL LIKE THIS?”
“HOLY SHIT!” Seungmin exclaimed, running out of the kitchen. “EVERYONE! JEONGIN IS HERE, HIDE ALL THE PRESENTS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF HIM RIGHT NOW—oh...”
Changbin chuckled, walking into the kitchen only to run back out screaming. “WHY IS THERE A MOUSE IN THE KITCHEN?!”
“Happy birthday, Jeongin!” Jeongin turned around from the chaos, only to meet a pair of cat-like eyes. Minho smiled and handed him a Coke can, which Jeongin accepted with a smile in return. “Thanks, hyung!” he said, before taking a sip—only to spit it out immediately.
“HAH! Salty Coke isn’t that bad, Jeongin!” Minho pinched his cheeks, making Jeongin swat his hands away.
“Can someone go check the kitchen? I think the pancakes are not fine...” Felix said, hiding behind the already hiding Hyunjin.
Jeongin looked around and sighed, smiling. He wouldn’t trade them for the world.
Everyone gathered around the huge table, Minho now taking the lead in cooking as he stood at the head.
“Changbin, Seungmin! You guys go and wash the vegetables...” he pointed to the two boys who were stuck together. Everyone else “oohed” at them as they went into the kitchen to wash the vegetables.
“BE SURE TO ONLY WASH THE VEGETABLES AND NOT DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE THEM DIRTY!” Hyunjin yelled, earning a smack from Felix. “Focus, Hyune!” Felix scolded.
“Chan...” Minho continued. “After they wash those veggies, it’s your job to chop them all.” Chan nodded, giving him a small salute, which made Jeongin chuckle.
“Hyung is cute!” Jeongin chuckled, drawing everyone’s attention. Everyone melted instantly, seeing the birthday boy all happy and giggly.
“M’kay!” Minho continued, shaking his head slightly. “Hyunjin, Felix, Jisung—you guys go and take care of the cake...”
“WHAT?” Hyunjin scoffed. “You are NOT sending Jisung with us!”
“Hey!” Jisung whined, before turning to the cooking leader. “Hyung!!! I’ll come with you to cook the tteokbokki!”
“No,” Minho said firmly, heading into the kitchen.
“I can’t even be with my boyfriend without roaches third-wheeling us!” Hyunjin flipped his long hair, going over to the counter to gather all the bakery items.
“JUST WAIT, JACKASS! I’LL ONLY BE IN BETWEEN YOU AND FELIX NOW!” Jisung clung to Felix’s arm, making the latter laugh.
Jeongin walked over to Chan, who was now sitting on the floor, preparing everything for chopping—knives, cutting board, a bowl full of water, and his sharp jawline.
“Can I help you, hyung?” Jeongin asked, plopping down beside him. Chan looked at him with a smile—an apologetic smile that confused Jeongin.
“Hyung?” Jeongin asked again as Chan returned to sharpening his knife.(It’s a—It’s a KNIFE!)
“I’m sorry, Jeongin...” Chan trailed off, looking at him once more.
“B-but why?” Jeongin asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Chan let out a bittersweet chuckle. “Don’t ask anything, baby~”
Jeongin’s heart skipped a beat, and he forgot what he was about to ask.
Seungmin came over and handed Chan a bucket filled with tomatoes, spring onions, and sweet potatoes.
“Mm!” Jeongin picked up a small tomato and bit into it. “This tastes so sweet!” he said, making Chan smile.
“You look sweet—” Chan muttered under his breath before quickly returning to chopping.
Chan chopped the onions and potatoes, his movements becoming sharper and more forceful as he went on. Suddenly, his cutting speed increased.
“CHAN!” Jeongin snatched the knife out of his hand. “You were about to cut your finger off!” He grabbed Chan’s hand, checking it for cuts. “You could’ve cut your vein, dummy!” Jeongin lightly shoved his forehead before ushering him to stand up. “Stand up! Stand up! I’ll do it...”
“Jeongin...” Chan warned, but eventually gave in to the persistent boy.
Everyone gathered around the table, which was now filled with the delicacies they had made. A big chocolate cake with“HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY JEONGIN”written in wiggly handwriting sat at the center, alongside a whole pot of ramen, another pot of hot steaming tteokbokki, and a cold sweet potato salad.
Felix lit the solitary candle on Jeongin’s cake before switching off all the lights, making the room go dark, with only the candle’s glow illuminating the space.
“Maknae-ah,” Changbin whispered. “Happy birthday~”
Everyone clapped lightly, singing an opera-styleHappy Birthday, led by Jisung. Hyunjin finished the song with an ear-piercing high note and a dramatic hair flip.
“Go on—make a wish!” Chan nudged the chuckling Jeongin, who nodded before closing his eyes and clasping his hands together.
I wish... that I could stay with my hyungs forever.
He opened his eyes and blew out the candle, making everyone scream in excitement. Changbin and Jisung went to the front of the table, throwing it back, and Hyunjin gladly joined them.
“I would never have a normal day, would I?” Chan muttered, absolutely done. Jeongin looked at the older boy beside him and suddenly wrapped his arms around his neck, facing him and leaning forward, his forehead slightly grazing chan’s jaw.
Chan’s hand automatically rested on the boy’s waist, utterly shocked.
“Hyung—” Jeongin breathed out, before—
CRASH!
The chandelier tore free, glass exploding as it plummeted.
“JISUNG!” Minho’s yell ripped through the room.
“JISUNG!!!” everyone screamed, rushing toward the shattered glass, with Jeongin and Chan running to the spot.
“NO! NO! HELP ME LIFT!” Minho and others, with all their strength, moved the huge chandelier away, revealing the boy’s body.
Seungmin’s steps halted as he saw the sight in front of him.
Blood.
Jeongin fell to his knees, his hands slipping from Chan’s grip as he reached for Jisung’s face.
There was no breath.
“HYUNG!” Jeongin let out an ugly sob, his hand lingering in the air before sinking onto Jisung’s chest, feeling the thick blood oozing from the cuts.
“HYUNGGG!!!” Jeongin pulled the limp body into his arms, letting out a huge wail, tears streaming down his cheeks as he held the boy closer.
Jisung died.
(For anyone who’s wondering, “Hyung” is a term used when a boy calls another guy as a brother or as an elder and “Maknae” is the term that people use for the youngest in a group)
