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»birthday party

"That'll be 15,000 won." The cashier said in a bored tone.

After I handed her the money and thanked her, I picked up my bags and left the store. Good thing the apartment I shared with my uncle was close by.

I arrived in just a couple of minutes, and got inside the building, going upstairs. I managed to find the keys in my jacket's pocket and so I opened the front door, rushing inside.

I turned on the lights and went in the kitchen. I found it odd that he still wasn't home and so, I decided to call him.

"Yah, kang young jae! Where are you?" I said as I heard a lot of background voices through the phone.

I suspect he left the noisy environment so he coul speak. "Hi to you too, niece." He said in a cheery tone.

"... I know it's your birthday so I wante--"

"Jiyeon, listen out." He sniffled loudly enough for me to hear it and so, I scrunched up my nose. "I'm actually having dinner with a few friends from school so come here. I forgot to tell you sooner!"

I felt a little sad. I was planning to surprise uncle and cook something nice for him. That way, he would've been proud and I could've gotten a few tips out of him.

With a sigh, I let all the images of my uncle actually being impressed with my imaginary cooking skills vanish out of my mind. "Where is it? Should I bring anything?"

"Good." He told me what restaurant it was and since I was already acquainted with the places in the area, I knew exactly where it was. "Oh, and bring my coat please! You know, the dark blue one? Thanks, love you!" He hung up before I could even say anything.

My blood soon started boiling. Besides not being able to surprise him, I'd have to endure his colleagues or whatever.

I grabbed his jacket from his room and left the house.

[...]

I went inside the place and my eyes searched around for my uncle. As soon as I spotted his hair I almost yelled at him.

When I reached the table, my anger vanished due to the eyes of five men on me, waiting for me to say anything.

"Niece!" My uncle yelled. "Come here, come here." I greeted everyone as nicely as possible and sat down beside my uncle.

As soon as I sat beside him, everyone went back to their conversations and so, I took this as a chance to scold the adult beside me. "You!" I said, pinching his ear. "I was going to cook for you! How dare you not telling your niece you weren't coming?!" I whisper yelled.

He complained about his ear and so, I freed him. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Oh, your jacket's here." I threw it on his lap and he thanked me. I sighed and let out a smile. "Happy birthday, uncle."

Suddenly, the guy besides him tapped his shoulder and then they started talking. I was left alone.

I decided to order some noodles since I was kind of hungry.

My uncle got up and hugged the guy who just arrived. I looked up to see a familiar blur of light brown hair.

"Oh!" I let out, subconsciously. "It's chef!"

It's only natural they knew each other since my uncle owns the restaurant and gave hansol-ssi his position there. Uncle got a job offer from a great place in town so, that's why he hired someone else.

Chef greeted everyone including me, and then he sat down beside me. "You should've told me you were coming too!"

"I'm sorry che-- hansol-ssi." My uncle leaned over me so he could talk to chef.

"Should I get you some?" He lifted his soju bottle, making chef laugh. He accepted the offer and so, my uncle started looking around for the waiter.

My noodles came along with the inumerous bottles of soju. I guess I was the only one who was planning to actually eat.

A bottle was put in front of me as I slurped my noodles. I put down my chopsticks and patted my mouth clean with a napkin, staring at the bottle.

Suddenly, my uncle grabbed it and handed it to me. "Aish, don't just stare at it." He said raspidly. Then he turned his attention back to hansol-ssi. "How's the restaurant going? You like it?"

Chef smiled and nodded vigorously, taking a sip of his soju. "Yeah, man."

"How's she doing?" He asked pointing at me with his bottle.

Chef separated his lips from his bottle to answer. "See for yourself," I stared at chef puzzled, not understanding what he meant.
I felt my uncle grab my hand that was laying on top of the table. "You cut your finger? In the kitchen?!"

I sighed at his attentive look on my finger. "Yeah..." I freed my hand from his grasp and took it to my bottle, taking a gulp of it. I felt the soju burn down my throat.

"Aish, I didn't teach you like this. C'mon niece, you know better." I gulped down some more soju and put down the bottle, going back to eating my noodles.

My phone started ringing all of a sudden, and as soon as I read the name Jun on the screen I hit myself mentally for not saying anything to him.

I picked up the phone. "Jun?"

"You didn't say anything, I was worried."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry!"

"I assume you're not home yet?"

I took the bottle away from my lips. "Yeah, I'm not! It's my uncle's birthday."

"Really? Tell him I said happy birthday, yeah?"

I turned to my uncle and interrupted whatever conversation he was having with the guy in front of him. "Jun says happy birthday."

"Oh yeah?" My uncle said. "Tell him he's a loser and that I hate him."

I heard jun laughing over the phone. "He says--"

"I miss you, jun-ah!!" My uncle yelled onto the phone, making me flinch slightly.

"I heard that."

"Good. I'll be going now, okay?"

"See you tomorrow. Don't be late."

"I won't!" I hung up the phone and threw it on the table. I gulped down what was left of my soju bottle, feeling it warm up my throat.

All I remember is the sound of mixed laughter between drinks and the feeling of a soft carpet under my cheek.