A Wish Upon a Star | Yeonbin ✓

XVII

Though Soobin soon reached the station, he glanced at his wristwatch and saw that the time was already a quarter past 10. Worried that he might've missed Kai, he looked around the place to see that Kai was sitting alone on a bench, looking as lonely as ever. For a hot minute, Kai sitting down on the bench alone, looking down at his feet, reminded Soobin of himself, the Soobin from the past, who had no people to call his own. Soobin thought of his old self, the Soobin who always used to walk home alone, the Soobin who used to relentlessly get bullied, the Soobin he was before Yeonjun had stepped into his li-

Just then, Kai noticed Soobin and called out, "Hey, hyung! I'm right here!"

Soobin saw how quick Kai changed himself, how as soon as he'd noticed Soobin, he straightened himself up and plastered a smile on his face, as though he didn't want Soobin to see the weaker side of him. "I guess we're not friends close enough to share more complicated feelings and such," Soobin thought to himself, feeling slightly dejected as he waved a hello to Kai.

"Good Morning, hyung," Kai smiled at Soobin.

"Yeah, good morning," Soobin said, returning the smile to the younger.

Right then, Kai's phone suddenly rang, glancing at the screen Kai said, "Oh, it's Taehyun-hyung." Kai answered the call,

"Hello, hyung?"

"Hi Kai, yeah, I just wanted to say that the others and I got caught up with something here so we might be a little late, okay?"

"Wait, what?"

"Yeah"

"So Beomgyu-hyung and Yeonjun-hyung are also with you?"

"Yup"

"How long will it take? Soobin-hyung and I can wait"

"No no, you guys should enjoy yourselves. It's your birthday after all. Think of it as a nice date with him, a gift from the three of us to you!"

"Wait, what-"

"Go grab something for breakfast, catch a movie later. Have him confess to you or something. The possibilities are endless!" It was now Beomgyu on the phone.

"Hyung, just shut-"

"Oh c'mon now, don't leave your date hanging just like that! Go, enjoy! Be gay! Do crimes!" and just like that, Beomgyu ended the call before Kai could protest any longer.

"What'd they say?" Sooobin asked, slightly concerned to see Kai's bothered face.

"Oh, uhh nothing. They said they would be a little late or something"

"Oh yeah, Taehyun told me"

"Oh...."

There was a short silence.

"Are you okay with that, hyung?"

"mm, why not?" Soobin nodded.

"Oh, no, I just-I uhh I mean, if you're fine with it then sure"

"Want to go get breakfast or something...? I mean, if you're hungry," Soobin said with a small smile.

Kai couldn't help but instantly feel better at the thought that Soobin cared whether or not he was hungry and wanted something to eat. With a grin Kai replied, "Sure!"

As Soobin and Kai walked along the street, Kai, wanting to spark some kind of conversation, asked Soobin, "Where do you want to eat, hyung?"

"Oh, anywhere's alright"

"Oh okay"

There was another silence as Soobin casually walked, admiring the pretty blue sky and the chirping of birds while Kai felt a small disappointment forming in his heart as Soobin hadn't bothered to lengthen the conversation by asking if there was anywhere he would've preferred to eat at.

As Soobin and Kai walked on, they encountered two children running around, "It's my birthday today so I get to pick my role in the game," one declared. "That's not fair," the other argued as they both ran off.

Realizing that he hadn't wished Kai a happy birthday yet, Soobin suddenly ended the silence between them, "Hey, Kai"

"Yeah?"

"Happy Birthday to you," Soobin smiled at Kai.

Realizing that Soobin hadn't even remembered until the two children had basically reminded him, Kai grew more upset but returned Soobin's smile with a softly said, "Thank you."