𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐬, 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 || 𝐉𝐊 𝐅𝐅

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓸

"Ready, birthday girl?" I murmur, leaning in just enough only for Nare to hear.

Side by side, we face the massive three-tier cake—chocolate with cherries, her favorite, covered in black marbled sugar paste. Mum, Nare, and I picked it out together. My hand rests naturally on her waist, the warmth of her skin seeping through the thin fabric of her dress, grounding me in the moment.

"Any wish you make tonight, I promise I'll help make it happen," I say, throwing in a wink to lighten the moment.

A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth, still biting her lower lip, the way she always does when she's deep in thought. Her eyes flicker between the candles and me, the flames reflecting in her gaze.

The crowd bursts into song, their voices harmonizing as they belt out the birthday tune, all eyes on us and the towering cake.

For a second, I was worried the crowd might overwhelm her, but in the adrenaline and joy of the moment, she's steady. There's no trace of panic, just the focused calm as she readies herself to make a wish.

The song reaches its peak; it's time. With a shared glance and a nod, we blow out the candles in unison, our breaths mingling as we focus on the flickering flames. Nare's breath extinguishes the candles marking her 24th year, while mine takes care of the ones for my 27th.

Cheers erupt from the crowd, and just like that, the moment flips from quiet to celebration mode. Before I can even get a word in, the crowd sweeps her up—hugs, kisses, all of it. The girls swarm around Nare, drowning her in hugs and congratulations. Sophie, Jess, and a few others encircle her, their laughter cutting through the noise as they start snapping photos and chatting away.

Stuck on the sidelines, I watch as she slips further away, her attention pulled in every direction but mine. A flicker of something—annoyance, maybe—tugs at me. It should've been me wishing her first.

Unacceptable.

Before I can dwell on it, Taehyung's hand lands on my shoulder, his grin wide. "Happy birthday, cap!" he says, pulling me into a tight hug. More of my teammates pile in, patting my back and raising their drinks in a toast. The noise ramps up—clinking glasses, playful banter, and the rustling of wrapping paper as gifts are exchanged.

Catching a glimpse of Nare's face through the crowd, I see it lit with pure joy. Sophie and Jess have guided her to the side, away from the spotlight. They sit at the garden's edge, sipping what looks like cold lemonade, chatting quietly.

Even with the party in full swing, there's satisfaction in knowing that, out of everyone here, I'm sharing this day with my best friend.

With a quick nod to Taehyung, I gesture toward the far side of the garden, where the oak tree stands. Just like the girls, I could use a bit of quiet. Taehyung picks up on it immediately, and we head off together, walking through a narrow path where the bushes rustle softly in the evening breeze.

This corner of the yard, shaped by my mom's careful touch, feels cut off from the rest of the party. The greenhouse looms behind the oak, its glass walls catching streaks of moonlight. At the end of the path, the bushes give way to the open space in front of the oak. To the left, the flower beds stretch out, purple and pink shades dulled by the dim light.

"Looks like the party's a hit," Taehyung says, nodding toward the crowd. The twinkling lights reflect in his eyes, and there's a hint of a smirk on his face. "The girls really know how to throw a bash."

"Yeah, especially Nare went all out with this one," I reply, my voice steady but a bit distant.

Navigating big crowds and being social when needed—it's part of the job, something that's expected. But there's a limit; too much of it drains me. Over the years, I've learned to cut out the unnecessary—the events that don't matter, the friendships that don't go anywhere. Reading people has become second nature, knowing where I stand with them. Fake smiles and over-the-top energy? They'd irritate me if I let them. So I don't. I focus on what benefits me, on avoiding what might come back to bite me later.