Butterfly Effect | Han Taesan

22.

Saneul had been planning this for days, coordinating everything with his family to make sure the day was special. She had even enlisted the help of his younger sister, Yerin, to ensure everything went smoothly.

Taesan headed to school, completely unaware of the flurry of activity happening behind the scenes. He was too preoccupied with his final submissions and the stress that had been building up over the past few days.

Though he just saw her not too long ago and spent a whole night with her, he craved for her presence. His dire need to want to have her with him at all times was starting to concern him. He debated on whether he should visit a doctor to get himself checked on.

And maybe she read his mind, because in that very moment, a notification appeared on his lock screen. The only notification that can heal the longing in his heart.

My Sanshine ☀️💛

have a good day today my birthday boy ❤️

thank you Sanshine
starting the day with you already made my birthday amazing

ah geez
you and your amazing way of words

only for you 😘😘

😩🥰🫶🫶
ok anyways
you definitely have a lot of final work to do I shall not distract you
I will be filming some branded content today so I might not respond often!

okayy

I'll talk to you later then!
byee
11:32

Saneul, on the other hand, was in fact not filming a branded video, but instead she was busy baking a cake with Taesan's mother. The kitchen was filled with the delightful aroma of freshly baked goods, and they chatted happily as they worked. Saneul had grown close to Taesan's family, and they welcomed her with open arms.

"Thank you for helping with the cake, Saneul," Taesan's mom said, rolling out dough with practiced ease. "I remember when Taesan was little, I used to bake him the most elaborate cakes. He loved dinosaurs, so one year I made a cake shaped like a T-Rex."

Saneul smiled, imagining a young Taesan with a dinosaur cake. "That sounds amazing. He must have been thrilled."

"Oh, he was," his mom chuckled. "He ran around the house roaring like a dinosaur for days. Birthdays were always a big deal in our house. We'd have family, friends, neighbors—all celebrating together."

As she spoke, Saneul couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Her family never celebrated her birthdays with such enthusiasm. They were always too busy or simply forgot. Taesan's mom noticed the change in her expression.

"What about you, Saneul?" she asked gently. "Do you have any favorite birthday memories?"

Saneul hesitated, then spoke softly. "Oh uhm... My family doesn't... uhm doesn't really celebrate my birthdays ah ha ha. They're usually too busy, and sometimes they just... forget."

Taesan's mom looked at her with a mix of sadness and compassion. "Oh, Saneul, I'm so sorry to hear that."

Saneul tried to smile, but her eyes were glassy. "It's okay. I'm used to it."

Without a word, Taesan's mom set down the rolling pin and pulled Saneul into a warm, motherly hug. "From now on, we'll celebrate every birthday with you," she promised. "You're part of our family now, and we won't let you feel forgotten."

Saneul felt a lump in her throat and blinked back tears. "Thank you," she whispered, feeling a warmth she had never experienced before.

She couldn't help but to feel a pang of disappointment and resentment towards her own parents. She hasn't heard anything from her parents since her birthday and though it hurts her, she actually feels relieved that they are finally stepping away from her life.