I Wished For You [Michaeng]

Chapter 11: Forever Nine

A/N: This chapter is considerably longer than what I normally write, so I really hope you enjoy it!

There are flashbacks within the chapter, but it starts and ends in the present. And just to let you know, Lee Hyeon is a pure original character, no idol relation.

TW: mentions of child abuse within one of the flashbacks (a description of one of the punishments Mina went through as a child), brief mentions of alcohol during Momo's birthday dinner, and minor violence for a fight between Mina and Jeongyeon near the end of the chapter.

Glossary of some terms (all food-related):

Miyeok Guk: seaweed soup
Gomtang: beef-bone soup
Kimchi Jjigae: kimchi stew (I think many of you know this one)
Ddeokguk: small rice cake dumpling soup
Gui: roast beef and/or fish
Soju: Korean rice wine

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"Hey, Hirai. Why do you look so down?" another servant asked.

His name was Bang Chan. Despite being a more recent addition to the servants he was fairly good at his job. He was also a nice person who worried about his co-workers. Not to mention, he was very handsome as well. If she didn't already like someone else, maybe Momo would've considered going for him.

"Do you know what day it is?" Momo asked.

The words came out a little harsher than she wanted. Bang Chan ignored it as he responded, "Today is the 9th of November."

"The day which so happens to be my birthday."

"Oh. Happy birthday!"

"Thank you, but it's been a long time since I actually enjoyed myself during it, save one thing."

"I see. I hope you can someday come to like it again, in all its aspects."

Momo couldn't agree more. She ached for the day when her birthday would be more than a hurtful reminder of the fact she was the king's dirty little secret. However, since she knew that luck was rarely on her side, she learned to be content with the only thing she actually liked about the day, the tradition she had with her sister and her best friend. They made her a cake with a singular candle in the middle. It never failed to put a smile on her face.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Hey, get back to work!"

It was a woman who had been a servant for longer than Momo had been alive.

"Yes, boss!" Bang Chan exclaimed with a salute.

"Yes, boss," Momo said with far less enthusiasm, still looking down.

Their boss, Lee Hyeon, never failed to notice when the other servants were not doing their best. She might've been a strict person, but everyone knew how truly understanding she was. Plus, since she had been here for so long, she knew better than anyone what today was.

"Hirai! Take a break," Hyeon said.

Momo nodded and started to walk away, but stopped when she saw Bang Chan with his hand raised. "Wait, what's the story?"

"What story?" Hyeon asked.

"Why does Hirai dislike her birthday so much?"

"Are you sure you want to hear that?" Hyeon and Momo asked simultaneously.

Bang Chan nodded vigorously as he exclaimed, "Yes!"

Momo shook her head but obliged anyway. He deserved to hear it. The story of how she became a servant and the reason behind why she hated her birthday so much.