Seperate bounds || Minsung

25. How the Night Changes

A/N warning: Depictions of death, violence and blood in this chapter
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The party was a blast. Everyone played a bunch of different board games and online collaborative games, with families on different teams to trying to work in teams. From dancing with one another to eating whatever snacks everyone's brought and collaborated for the day. It was an enjoyable evening for everyone. Hannie danced around with Bbama while Minho danced with Felix, Jeongin and Seungmin also. With that both Felix and Jisung's families and parents also joined in, making the most of the day with their loved ones.

After a few more hours of enjoyment, it was almost midnight in which Minho helped Mr and Mrs Han bring over the cakes for Jisung and Felix. Minho self baked them both for the two, one specialised for Felix with the looks of a freckled chick and the other specialised for Jisung with a cute little Quokka design. Mr and Mrs Han made sure to make use of Minho's cooking skills as much as possible. Even though he was more confident in cooking than baking he agreed since he wanted to contribute where he could.

Cakes were brought over and placed in front of the two friends, with candles then lit and clock timed. 11:55 was the time. 5 minutes until midnight. Happy Birthday was sung to the two, with everyone wishing them both the best birthday ever, such as every year in the past and every year in the future.

Then 1 minute to midnight. Everyone waited eagerly as Mrs Lee kept track of the time.

12 o'clock came as Mrs Lee yelled "Midnight!! Go go go!!". The candle blowing battle  commenced, with 10 candles lit between both cakes, 10 candles to blow out each, time was ticking and timed. In which a righteous feat was won by Felix this year who blew them a second before Jisung who groaned in loosing the battle.

Felix raised his arms up in happiness and blew his tongue out to Jisung who fake cried as everyone cheered and smiled, enjoying the 20th year of traditions. Minho comforted Jisung by pecking his forehead and contradulating Felix as happy birthdays and cake went round.

It was a magical spectacle of what would have been an ordinary day for any other human. 

Minho once finished helping everyone get a slice of cake and went to watch from the sidelines in thought. He observed, as both family and friends were cheerfully talking to the two birthday boys. Happy smiles from Han Jisung to Lee Felix and their families around, the sight reminded him of a slow motion setting within a movie. With sparkling lights hung up, shining eys, cake, a perfect comforting setting. The moment was perfect. Families getting together, birthdays being celebrated, presents starting to be unwrapped. And it wasn't even christmas yet. 

This probably was Jisung and Felix's best and most memorable birthday yet. As said every year gets better, through many hardships and tough days of the year, they made it to aged 20 each. Which for them, was a great feeling despite upcoming circumstances. 

Minho rested on the wall smiling, the view of everyone was beautiful in his eyes, mesmerising the scene as though it could forever be kept in a still picture, for all he could do on the sidelines was watch. He felt as though it would be the exact same if he wasn't there, and if he didn't meet Jisung, it very well probably would have been. For at this moment he wasn't in the main scene. 

All his life, from past to present, from a young aged to elder, celebrated his birthday alone.

Of course he did have a family, but after his parents death happened, he indoubtly was blamed for the accident. For being too naive. Too young. Too irresponssible. Unaware of his surroundings. He should've been stronger. Aware. Powerful to keep himself safe. Instead he wasn't good enough for the family he name he inherited. The family legacy he grew up with. It as a inescapable feeling he'd always known, still to this day. He'd do whatever he could to mend the pain he kept, the want for revenge and accomplishment against the incident, yet all was futile and couldn't even be done. He just had to live with it. All the guilt. All the loneliness.