What Time Forgot | Minsung

|16|

Minho and Jisung made it back to the building and opened the door.

Upon the door swinging open, they were met with the sweet smell of food being cooked.

The two walked in, a little awkward from their shared kiss back at the river and neither knowing where this would lead in the slightest.

They were confused, Minho more so since he knew how it would end.

Felix peeked out of the doorway to the makeshift kitchen and turned back to talk to one of the other boys.

"They're back!" Felix called to Chan who peeked out of the doorway as well where Felix was standing and smiled.

"Welcome back boys," he said, "we decided to have a little celebration for everyone's return. So go set your things in your room so we can get started,"

Minho and Jisung nodded before walking up the stairs.

"It's been so long since we've celebrated anything.." Jisung said with a smile that seemed so genuine that it made Minho grin softly as well.

"I don't think I've celebrated anything since my eleventh birthday," Minho said in return.

"You've never celebrated your birthday since?" Jisung asked Minho who shook his head upon reaching the top of the stairs.

"When's your birthday?"

"I don't remember.." Minho said and shrugged as he really hadn't thought about it much in the past years. There had simply been too much going on. Too much stress and more stress and worry that he never thought about it over the years and it slowly faded from memory along with most of his childhood.

"Happy birthday, Minho," Jisung said softly

"What?"

"You don't remember the day.. so today's the day.." jisung said and smiled at the other who only looked at him confused.

"Everyone deserves a birthday," Jisung said and shrugged, "go put your things away and we'll go back down yeah?"

With that, Jisung left Minho standing there for a few moments before he walked into his room.

Minho never asked for much recognition. He never shoved it in anyone's face that anything was all about him or that he was the most important on any day of the week. However, it brought so much joy in his heart to know that someone cared enough to give him even a small celebration for being born. That he wasn't just a failure and that someone was thankful for his birth. That someone was happy knowing he was alive and worth celebrating.

It was his birthday today.

Minho quickly set down his things and walked out of his room to see Jisung waiting at the top of the stairs for him.

"Let's go," Jisung said and grabbed his hands as they both clambered down the metal stairs excitedly.

"It's Minhos birthday today," Jisung said with a big smile on his face upon entering the room.

"Are you serious? And I'm just now finding out?" Hyunjin asked dramatically

Felix gasped, "I could have gone and picked you flowers if I'd known!"

Jeongin ran up to Minho and pulled him into a tight hug "happy birthday! How old are you turning?"

"Twenty I think?" Minho said, blushing from all the attention on him.

"Happy birthday, kid," Chan said and handed the younger a shot glass filled with a clear liquid.

Seungmin also came up to Minho and smiled before ruffling his hair and patting his head.

"Happy birthday," he said with a little grin and laughed as he ran away when Minho grumbled about his hair being messed up.

Chan passed around shots while this all went on and everyone stood around Minho, wishing him a happy birthday by singing and holding their shoes in the air.

"Happy birthday our dear Minho...Happy birthday to you~" they finished and all looked at him expectantly.

"Birthday boy gets the first shot!" Jeongin exclaimed and jumped up and down excitedly, spilling a little over his fingers and Chan grabbed a piece of ripped cloth to help him wipe his hands, filling his shot again.

"But first make a wish," Jisung told Minho with sparkling eyes in the artificial light around them.

Minho closed his eyes.

He wished for nothing more than this.. for peace, for love.. and most of all, for family.

He then opened his eyes and raised his shot glass before downing it all in one go and the rest cheered, raising their glasses in the air and downing the small amount of alcohol in them.

Hyunjin then grabbed the bottle and made his rounds again. Once everyone's glasses were full, he smiled and stepped back, raising his shot glass in the air.

"To everyone making it home safe," he said with a smile and looked around at everyone and then let his eyes linger on Minho.

"And to family,"

"To family!" Everyone cheered and took their second shot.

It was safe to say, Minho had never been more happy than this moment right here.