Ch.119119. The Main Character’s Birthday

Juyeon’s birthday was approaching.

Those preparing for the birthday were aware of this, but so was the person in question.

A birthday party.

Though she didn’t have them in middle and high school, this culture of receiving more celebrations after entering university felt like a blessing to Juyeon.

Something that seemed impossible to achieve through her own efforts had simply happened because she was part of this group.

“I wonder… what gift I’ll get…”

Every time, the members pooled money to buy a gift, so there would surely be a contribution from her this time too.

While she was looking forward to the group gift, she was also curious whether Suhyeok would give her something.

Are we just friends… so he’ll skip it?

But even just friends might give each other something…

One thing was certain: Juyeon definitely wanted to celebrate Suhyeok’s birthday when it came.

Since he had declared he wouldn’t date anyone until the winter performance, she thought she would have plenty of time to prepare something for him.

The microphone that hadn’t been used for quite some time since she stopped broadcasting.

Juyeon pulled up a chair and placed the guitar on her thigh.

The easiest song Suhyeok had taught her.

A song that could be played knowing just four chords.

Juyeon turned on the recording program and connected the guitar to the amplifier.

Living in a studio apartment, she kept the amp volume at 2.

The already small amplifier produced sound barely louder than a Bluetooth speaker.

-Ziiiiing

Her awkward right hand.

She wasn’t used to the strumming technique.

But despite that, she could do something Suhyeok couldn’t.

“Because I didn’t want to cry.”

“I bit my lip.”

That was playing the guitar while singing.

In truth, if she wanted to play this type of music, buying and learning an acoustic guitar would have been more helpful for her.

But the reason she started playing guitar wasn’t to make music.

It was an instrument she began playing just to get more attention from Suhyeok.

She started playing guitar because she wanted to like what he liked.

Only in her second week, it was too early to judge her talent, but Juyeon didn’t neglect practice.

-Chaka chaka chaka chaka

The muting wasn’t done properly, causing notes to stick out awkwardly here and there.

But even so, Juyeon didn’t stop playing.

Her lovely voice became the melody, contrasting with the amateurish accompaniment.

“The time I missed you.”

“The nights I couldn’t sleep.”

“I guess I have to let them go now.”

Why did it have to be a breakup song, of all things?

She didn’t dislike these kinds of songs, but Juyeon felt somewhat resentful of Suhyeok’s song choice.

Next time, she’d have to ask him to teach her something sweet, like a spring love song.

Juyeon finished recording by pressing the stop button.

She had planned to casually contact Suhyeok and let him listen if it sounded decent enough.

“Ugh.”

The accompaniment is so bad…

Her cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment at her messy playing.

Why was she so embarrassed when no one was watching?

Still…

Maybe she’d improve with practice.

Juyeon gently stroked the guitar body.

“…Help me out here, Cream.”

Juyeon had already named her guitar.

* * *

Although they were splitting the cost equally, someone had to go pick up the gift.

Suhyeok and Hana were chosen by drawing lots.

The day before the birthday party, the two met early to head to the bakery where they had reserved a pie.

“Hmm… The Instagram reviews are amazing, but I wonder what it tastes like.”

Hana had eaten ordinary bakery pies before, but never one that cost over 50,000 won.

“Yeah, I wonder.”

Suhyeok, looking at the map on his phone beside her, responded.

“Should we suggest opening it at the party today to try it?”

“That’s up to Juyeon. She might want to eat it all herself.”

“Juyeon doesn’t eat much. She has a small appetite.”

“Still, she might want to savor it slowly.”

Suhyeok remembered going out for hamburgers with a group in middle school.

He had sat at a table with kids he wasn’t close with, and ended up having all his french fries confiscated.

There had been a suggestion to put all the fries together to share, but innocent Suhyeok had started eating his burger first, and he had to pay the price for that.

“…Let’s just not say anything until Juyeon suggests sharing it herself.”

Suhyeok, the spokesperson for introverts, restrained Hana out of consideration for Juyeon’s feelings.

“Excuse me! I have a reservation under Yoon Hana!”

Inside the hotel with its vintage purple carpet, Suhyeok stood back waiting for Hana to receive the pie.

It came out quickly.

Now they just needed to take it to the party room that Seo-eun had reserved.

“Ah~ What should we order to eat?”

“Chicken?”

“We definitely need to order chicken.”

As soon as they sat on the bus, Hana started looking up delivery restaurants near the party room.

“Hey, Lee Suhyeok.”

“Yeah?”

“How’s your schedule for next semester?”

Juyeon’s birthday approaching meant the new semester was just around the corner.

“Me… Just the usual. Major and liberal arts courses, about 19 credits?”

“That’s reasonable. Let me see your schedule.”

Suhyeok pulled out his second semester schedule to show Hana.

She took out her phone to compare it with her own schedule…

“Hmm…”

“What?”

“We just don’t have any overlapping times.”

If they had similar free periods, they could at least eat together.

Suhyeok and Hana’s schedules were so different, as if someone had deliberately separated them.

“But we’re in different departments anyway, so…”

“…You and Juyeon will still be taking almost all classes together, right?”

From Hana’s perspective, it couldn’t feel entirely good.

It meant that during all the times she couldn’t see them, Juyeon and Suhyeok would be together.

“Yeah. Since we’re in the same department.”

Hana, displeased with the answer, repeatedly puffed up her cheeks and deflated them.

“…Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Should I transfer departments?”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“I’ve been getting interested in economics.”

Hana gently leaned her head toward Suhyeok’s shoulder.

“If I become your senior, could you help me out?”

“Oh. Wait. Are you serious?”

“If you guide me well, it’s not impossible.”

“Your GPA… Juyeon’s is better, so you should probably consult with her…”

Hana liked how he panicked and took her casual suggestion so seriously.

Of course, she didn’t like him telling her to go to Juyeon, but Suhyeok was definitely fun to tease.

“Sigh… But what’s the point of transferring? We’d barely see each other at school anyway.”

While Suhyeok would spend about two years in the military, Hana would become a senior.

There was the option of taking a break from school, but Hana had no such plans yet.

She’d probably just continue normally until graduation.

“…True.”

When Suhyeok thought about it from that perspective, he seemed to become gloomy too.

He didn’t know about Kang, but the female members would likely see less of each other at school.

Hanging out together like this every day.

Gathering in a group for parties.

It meant they could only enjoy these moments now.

“Lee Suhyeok.”

Hana smiled brightly at Suhyeok, who was looking out the window with a dejected face.

“Yeah?”

“Come on. We’re not strangers just because we’re in different years.”

This was Hana’s honest thought, and also a sophisticated strategy to win over Suhyeok.

“Even if I become a senior, or even further, when I graduate.”

Hana’s golden hair sparkled.

“I’ll still be me.”

Things that change.

Things that don’t change.

Hana wanted to tell him.

Even if he stubbornly refused to date until he entered the military, the bond between her and Suhyeok would not break.

Suhyeok’s eyes widened.

It seemed like she had read his thoughts completely.

“Hey. You weren’t planning to ghost me when you go to the military, were you? I was going to visit you and everything.”

“What? No, why would I…”

“Geez. But if I visit you, wouldn’t that make you super popular there?”

Hana flipped her hair like a shampoo commercial model, as if showing off her beauty.

“Hmm. I think this would be enough to get the senior soldiers to like you.”

“…How do you know so much about this?”

“Preparation. Just preparation.”

In fact, Hana had looked up stories from military girlfriends online a few times.

“Ah… seriously…”

To go along with his “no dating because of Spirit” excuse after all this—

Hana felt like she deserved a thank-you gift from Spirit’s alumni for not destroying the club.

“…Hana.”

“Yeah?”

“We need to get off.”

Did he understand her feelings?

Suhyeok carefully picked up Juyeon’s gift and stood up from his seat.

Seo-eun and Choi-gang were already there.

At the entrance, the birthday girl Juyeon was also with them.

“Happy birthday! Juyeon!”

Though they hadn’t even entered the party room yet, the members laughed brightly and messed up Juyeon’s hair.

“…Thank you.”

And so, the final party of the summer break began.