VIXX | Ken (Lee Jaehwan)

Happy Birthday Jagi

She watched him run around, the most energetic boy in the class. The teacher told him to slow down, but since when did 5 year olds pay any attention to their teachers?

He started running the perimeter of the room but when he passed her corner, he failed to notice a little brick on the ground and tripped over it. No one noticed the fall but her, and she let out the faintest of giggles. He looked up from his scraped knee and grinned at the sound, his smile growing even wider when he spotted her.

"It’s my birthday today, you know," he informed her matter-of-factly.

She grinned with the carefreeness that came with childhood innocence. “It’s mine too!”

"That’s so cool!" He beamed at her. "You’re the first person I’ve met who was born on the same day as me."

"You too!" she exclaimed in reply. "Happy birthday!"

"And you." He smiled happily.

That was the day the two became friends. Little did they know how close they would truly become in the years to come.

***

"Jaehwan-ah, what are you doing tomorrow?"

"Spending our birthday with you, of course!"

The two (almost) ten year olds exchanged excited grins. As always, they were holding a joint birthday party, this time at his house. Her parents would provide the cake and snacks; his would cover the cost of the decorations. Their roles switched every year.

"What time do you need us to be there?"

"Just come at 6, like you always do."

It was the one day of the year they willingly got up that early and their parents could never keep up with their birthday fuelled energy.

"Are you gonna sing this time?"

He reddened and looked at the floor. In an unusually subdued voice, he replied, “Not this year.”

He was still shy about sharing his talent in public. It was only by accident that she had discovered his aptitude for singing and this was despite the fact they were best friends.

"When are you going to? You need to share your voice with people. It’s really good, Jaehwan."

"Stop it. You know I’m uncomfortable about performing in public."

She shut up, not wanting to push him. They stayed quiet for a bit, but then he started being his normal cheerful self again and the conversation was forgotten.

***

"Hi, everyone. Welcome to our 16th birthday party." He paused, letting out a nervous chuckle. "Some of you might know that I like singing, but this is the first time I’m performing in front of an audience." His eyes darted around nervously until they landed on a person in the audience whose reassuring smile had always had a calming effect on him.

She looked up, heart full of pride, at the boy she had grown to love as he took a deep breath and started the song a capella. She didn’t even notice the tears that rolled down her face as he sang her favourite song, his voice growing stronger with every note.

His eyes never left hers for the entire song.

***

The phone rang, rudely interrupting her from the sweet dream she was having.

Groggily, she picked her phone up. “Yoboseyo?”

”__________.”

Her eyes flew open, sleep all but forgotten. Jaehwan never called unless it was something important.