our crossed paths | jww.

twenty six.

Jiwoo sat in her cozy apartment, sipping her morning coffee as she checked her emails.

Her usual routine was interrupted by the notification that her schedule for the upcoming month had arrived. She skimmed through the dates, noting the back-to-back shifts in the emergency department.

As her eyes fell on a particular date in November, her coffee cup paused mid-air—her birthday was coming up, Friday the 8th.

She sighed, not exactly thrilled. Jiwoo had never been one to make a big deal out of her birthday.

In the past, it had mostly been casual affairs with Seokmin and Mingyu, grabbing a meal together or barbecuing by a campfire. As time passed and life got busier, even those gatherings became less frequent. Last year, they had barely managed to squeeze in a quick dinner.

She took another sip and thought about the tradition she had maintained: taking the day off as a small gift to herself. It wasn't about celebrating; it was about taking a break from the chaos of her job.

She would typically avoid visiting her parents, as the visit would usually turn into a lecture about her age and life choices. But she did send her mother a gift every year, acknowledging the woman who had brought her into the world.

But this year, things were different. A quick glance at her schedule showed her assigned to a long shift in the ER on her birthday. Jiwoo hesitated, debating whether she should apply for leave. It wasn't that she didn't deserve a break—she did—but with how swamped the ER had been lately, she wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.

Instead of making a decision on her own, she reached for her phone and sent quick messages to Mingyu and Seokmin, casually asking about their plans for Friday and the weekend.

Mingyu responded first:

Mingyu: Got some research to finish up on a new project. Why, what's up?

Seokmin followed up shortly after:

Seokmin: I've got a conference this weekend. Why, Ji? Need something?

Jiwoo glanced at their responses and smiled to herself. Of course, they were busy. She didn't blame them—it wasn't like her birthday was a huge event in anyone's calendar. She replied to both of them:

Jiwoo: Oh, nothing. Just asking.

Then, with a slight hesitation, she messaged Wonwoo. They hadn't seen each other for a few days, maybe even a week, thanks to their conflicting work schedules. When his reply came in, it was the same as the others:

Wonwoo: I've got a commercial shoot on Friday and some other schedules over the weekend. Is there anything up, love?

Jiwoo chuckled softly, typing back:

Jiwoo: Don't work yourself too hard. You need some rest!

Almost instantly, he replied:

Wonwoo: It's all worth it, for Ahrin and for you.

Jiwoo felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words but pushed it aside.

They were both swamped with work, and there was no reason to make a fuss about her birthday. After all, it was just another day, another year of growing older.

Deciding to scrap the idea of taking leave, she marked her birthday as a workday.

Maybe over the weekend, her friends would remember.

If not, that was fine too.

"It's just a birthday," she thought, trying to convince herself. "Older, closer to death, as they say."