STORIES BY YOUTH 𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬

" ᴢᴇʀᴏ "

"... Jesus Christ!" Screamed Mark the moment he walked into the living room of his own house. The male tightly gripped onto the material of the shirt over his chest while he leaned against the wall. "You all scared the day lights out of me!"

He turns the rest of the lights on to reveal two boys — one who was older than him by months and the one younger. Dark brown haired and the other with newly dyed strawberry blonde.

The eldest picked up a magazine while maintains eye contact with his best friend. "What's all that shouting for, it's not like we're buglers or anything."

"You're right," sighed Mark. "Both of you are much worse."

He sets down the backpack he had on his shoulder with a groan. He had been carrying that thing all day long, from early in the morning when he got on the train to Seoul to now, late in the night when he just came back home after being on a public transport for four hours.

He hated the fact that the subways were closed late at night. And to come back home tired, and almost die from a heart attack didn't really sound like something he'd find himself enjoying.

Even if it was his best friends.

"Well, Jaemin and I got here like what — 25 minutes ago?" The latter nodded while standing to go into the kitchen. Make yourself at home, Mark thought sarcastically. "Jisoo and Doyoung left an hour ago, they cleaned the apartment for you and even left you cake."

"I know, I saw the note on the shoe shelf." The boy answered and dropping his body onto the couch lazily. "Jaemin! While you're in the kitchen, get me a beer please!"

But Yukhei shook his head. "No, you're not getting drunk on your birthday! We are not going to be the weeping wagon today!" Mark turned to glare at his best friend who had a knowing look. "Every time you get drunk — every time!"

"Goddamn it Lee Taeyong! Why did he have to be so lucky!" Shouts Jaemin from the kitchen in a mocking voice.

"Hey! Have some respect for me!" The boy with dark hair whined.

The younger soon came back into the living room with a plate that had a piece chocolate cake covered with blue icing — homemade by one of the closest friends they had.

The plate was placed in the table that was at the very center of the living room. Mark stared at it while his two best friends soon enough had soft smiles aligning on their lips.

"Happy birthday, Mark." Said Yukhei.

"All the best." Joined Jaemin.

Mark was quiet for a split second, before he scoffs lightly and turns to his best friends. "Are you serious? Not even turning off the lights? Candles to blow on?"

But the two boys simply shrugged. "You're not that important." Jokes Yukhei before bringing his finger up. "We didn't have time, some we have a special candle this year."

"Your finger...?"

"It's special, it will make wishes come true." The taller implies with a grin. "Now, come on, make a wish!"

Jaemin laughed at how his best friend rolled his eyes, but even so, he did as told. When he opened his eyes, Yukhei and Jaemin laughed while clapping their hands.

"Happy 19th birthday, baby!" The taller boy wiped away an imaginary tear that slid down his cheek before leaning in and placing a kiss on the birthday boy's cheek. "I'm proud of you, Lee Mark!"

The same pushes Yukhei away. "Yeah, yeah, thanks." Mark secretly smiles before digging his finger into the cake and bringing it up to his lips. He hummed before the room had gone into silence.

The three boys were all silent, that's when they all took notice of the picture that was on top of the table. A picture of their group from childhood.

It was a picture of eight people — five teenagers and three pre-teens. Four girls and four boys. And the youngest boys in the pictures all had their grownup versions staring at them, and soon, their eyes trailed to different girls in the picture.

Silence continued to settle in the room for another before the youngest in the room sighed beneath his breath.

"Mark-hyung, should I get you that beer can?"

Mark and Yukhei nodded. "Yeah, get one for yourself too, if you want. Do you want one too, Yukhei?"

"Yeah, get a can for me, too."