LOVER | YANG JUNGWON

Letters

I was starting to enjoy my days more now that school was over for the year. It felt so refreshing knowing I didn't have to set my alarm early in the morning. Though, the first couple days were annoying since my body naturally woke up around 7 a.m when I planned to wake up late.

I woke up to the constant knocking at my bedroom door, followed with the not-so hushed whispers of my family. Only seconds later they were all huddled together at the side of my bed with a singular balloon and frosted cupcake.

"Happy Birthday Iseul!" They all said very out of sync, making me laugh lightly.

"Thank you guys!" I replied, my dad placing the balloon with some sort of block weighing it down to prevent it from floating to the ceiling.

"Come eat, I made breakfast and it'll go cold if you don't hurry.." My mom sternly said. Thinking about it now, I realize how my mom was never really affectionate with hugs or saying "I love you". Instead she would show her love with food or doing things for me.

The dad and siblings rushed behind her and made their way to the kitchen. I placed the cupcake down on my nightstand and searched for my phone that was hidden somewhere in my tangled bedsheets. After finding it I looked at the screen to check the time, 9:18, well at least I got more than eight hours of sleep.

Towards the bottom of the screen was a flow of several messages coming from two different people. They were mostly sent close to midnight, but I guess I just fell deep asleep that I didn't even wake up to the notifications.

Won🐑:
Seulie!!!!! Happy Birthday!
I hope you have the coolest day ever and I can't wait to see you later :)))
Sleep well! hopefully I didn't wake you up
okay ill stop texting now

Me:
THANK YOU WON OMG
im going to see you later? I thought we were going to do something a different day😯

Won🐑:
well I cant not visit you on your birthday
I mean if you're busy we can definitely do whatever works for you! I dont want to intrude

Me:
no today works perfectly, ill see you when I see you :D

I had no idea what he was planning or what time we were even going to see each other but now I felt sparks of excitement. I opened Hana's messages next.

Hana:
HELLO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE SEAT PARTNER🫶
IM ACTUALLY SO GLAD WE MET ur honestly such a good friend
i'm looking forward to getting closer with you and making more memories <33
Also we need to hang out again👿

Me:
stop ur so sweet >:(
ILY HANA and we for sure will 😈

I sent the message and quickly walked to the kitchen before my mom gets mad at me. She set down a bowl of seaweed soup, steam rising up from the broth.

~~~~•~~~~•~~~~

I opened the front door, closing it almost fully behind me, leaving only a small gap. Jungwon standing on the steps in front, holding what I was assuming was my present.

"Hi," he said quietly with a tight smile on his face.

"Hi" I replied with the same quietness.

"Are those for me?" I asked, referring to what he had in his hands.

"No these are actually for your mom,"

"Oh," I felt a little confused, I couldn't tell if he was joking or not because of how causal he sounded.

He went from a straight face and later broke out into a small laughter, "I'm kidding, these are yours." He handed me a small plant, then a gift bag that he was holding in his other hand.