Dressed in a thick red turtleneck and a long black coat, Lee Ji-gyeong grumbled as he shoved Kang Hyeon inside.
“Why the hell didn’t you pick up your phone?”
“…Had it on silent while I was sleeping.”
“Happy fucking birthday, hyung.”
Stuffing the bouquet deep into Kang Hyeon’s arms, Ji-gyeong then held up a cake box in his other hand until it reached eye level.
“What kind of little brother does this, huh? Shows up first thing in the morning to say happy birthday. Get dressed—we’re going out for breakfast.”
Ji-gyeong grinned wide, but his face slowly froze. Before he could even take off his shoes, the rich scent of seaweed soup filled the air, followed by a familiar voice ringing out.
“Hey, Ji-gyeong.”
“Ah… Yes. Didn’t know you were here, hyung.”
Startled by Yoon Do-yeong’s greeting, Ji-gyeong glanced over at Kang Hyeon with wide eyes and stepped into the room. His gaze naturally swept over the table full of food, then moved to the sink, which clearly showed signs of someone cooking by hand. Finally, his eyes locked onto Yoon Do-yeong, standing in comfortable loungewear with bedhead. Ji-gyeong asked flatly:
“When did you get here? Weren’t you still overseas?”
“I got in last night and came over early this morning. You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“…Well, no.”
Ji-gyeong answered grudgingly and stood awkwardly near the table. Although it was a table for four, there were only two chairs. Kang Hyeon set the bouquet down on the bed and gave Ji-gyeong a light pat on the shoulder.
“I’m almost done. Just hang on a bit.”
“Hyeon, sit down and finish your meal. I can eat later.”
Do-yeong smiled warmly and gestured to Ji-gyeong.
“I haven’t touched anything, so go ahead.”
He stepped aside and picked up the bouquet from the bed, bringing it to his nose to smell. Then, glancing around as if wondering where to put it, he asked:
“Hyeon, do you have a vase?”
“Nope.”
“Guess I’ll have to dry them, then.”
Do-yeong carefully set the bouquet down on top of a dresser in the corner. Ji-gyeong’s eyes followed him, irritation flickering in them as he watched Do-yeong handle the flowers like they were his own.
“Thanks for coming all the way here so early. You must be cold. Go on, eat.”
Kang Hyeon gestured toward the seaweed soup.
“Do-yeong made it. It’s really good.”
He then pushed a bowl of braised spicy chicken stew toward Ji-gyeong, adding, “Try this too.” Ji-gyeong stared at the food for a moment, then glanced over at Do-yeong, who was straightening up the bed. Just as he clapped his palm on the spot where the bouquet had been, their eyes met—and Do-yeong smiled gently.
“…Thanks for the meal.”
Clearly displeased, Ji-gyeong muttered toward Do-yeong, then picked up his spoon. He took a sip of the soup, then lifted the whole bowl and drank straight from it. Across from him, Kang Hyeon watched and asked:
“Did you drink last night?”
“Yeah.”
Ji-gyeong downed the soup in one go, then picked at the seaweed. Kang Hyeon kept eating his rice soaked in broth and picked the meat off a chicken drumstick. Watching the two, Do-yeong walked over to the sink.
“Hyeon, want more soup?”
“Give some to Ji-gyeong.”
“Then I won’t have any left.”
Silence fell like a curtain. Ji-gyeong, mid-bite, turned his eyes toward Do-yeong without moving his head. Still smiling faintly, Do-yeong casually walked to the fridge and asked:
“Want me to make egg soup instead?”
“…No, that’s fine.”
“Come on. Just eat what’s already here.”
Before Ji-gyeong’s lukewarm response could settle, Kang Hyeon cut in firmly. Nodding, Do-yeong ladled half a scoop of seaweed soup into Ji-gyeong’s bowl. Ji-gyeong forced a smile.
“Thanks. Appreciate it.”
“Sure. After drinking, even if you don’t want food, soup always hits the spot.”
Do-yeong’s comment grated on Ji-gyeong. His eyes drifted down to the dishes crowding the table.
“…True.”
He corrected his expression and slowly sipped the soup by the spoonful. Watching him silently, Do-yeong poured him a glass of water. Ji-gyeong glanced at the cup but didn’t touch it. Instead, he matched Kang Hyeon’s pace, eating seaweed one strand at a time—ignoring the other dishes entirely.
Kang Hyeon hurriedly finished his rice and stood up.
“Take your time.”
“You eat.”
He pulled Do-yeong over to the chair and made him sit. Just as he headed to the sink to serve him, Do-yeong handed over a plate of chicken.
“Just finish what you were eating. I’ll get mine.”
Brushing him off lightly, Do-yeong scooped up rice and soup for himself. Kang Hyeon nudged the spicy chicken stew closer to Ji-gyeong again, saying it was good. As Do-yeong sat down, Ji-gyeong ostentatiously picked up a piece of meat and peered into the small potted plant on the table.
“What’s with the plant?”
Do-yeong smiled and answered.
“It’s a rose begonia. I got it as a birthday flower for Hyeon.”
Ji-gyeong pulled out his phone and searched the flower name, scoffing at the cheap price tag. He looked over at the bouquet of 29 roses he’d brought and muttered under his breath.
“You’ve got all that money, and this is what you buy…”
“Flower bouquets wilt fast.”
“…”
“Rose begonias look like roses, and they bloom all year round. You can enjoy the flowers every day. They don’t need much water, so they’re easy to care for. The size is perfect for a table, not overwhelming. And since they’re easy to grow, there’s no reason to throw them out.”
At the line “no reason to throw them out,” Ji-gyeong’s brow twitched. Do-yeong stared serenely at the plant and added with a soft smile:
“The flower meaning is unrequited love.”
Both Kang Hyeon and Ji-gyeong’s eyes turned toward the rose begonia. The rose-like blooms were bright and full, with many buds just starting to rise. Blooms all year round, the words echoed in their ears. Ji-gyeong stared at the plant for a moment, then stood and walked over to Kang Hyeon, blatantly ignoring Do-yeong.
“Hyung, it’s your birthday—anything you wanna do today? I’ll make it happen. Ji-gyeong’s giving you a one-day pass!”
The smile vanished from Do-yeong’s face, though he continued eating as if nothing happened.
“Let’s go to the beach.”
At Kang Hyeon’s words, a smile spread across Do-yeong’s face.
“It’s freezing out. Let’s go somewhere indoors.”
“Winter beaches have a special vibe. Let’s get sashimi like you wanted, watch the sunset, and come back.”
Hearing that, Do-yeong turned his head toward him, eyes full of dissatisfaction.
“Let’s all go out and get some fresh air.”
“All of us?”
“Do-yeong-hyung too?”
Their voices were light, but the tension in their eyes was sharp with annoyance. Both forced polite smiles and waited for Kang Hyeon’s answer.
“It’s hard for me to handle Do-yeong alone, but with you there, Ji-gyeong, I’ll feel more at ease. You’re good at dealing with sudden situations.”
Avoiding Do-yeong’s disapproving look, Kang Hyeon met Ji-gyeong’s eyes instead.
Honestly, he enjoyed being alone with Do-yeong—but it also felt like too much at times. With Ji-gyeong around, he could stay grounded, think rationally, and act naturally. And though he felt guilty toward Do-yeong, who clearly wanted time alone, it would’ve been rude to turn away Ji-gyeong, who had shown up first thing in the morning with cake and flowers.
“Let’s have lunch, catch the sunset, then watch a movie when we get back.”
He smiled softly at Ji-gyeong, who didn’t look thrilled.
“It’s my birthday, after all.”
“…Fine, but let’s rest a bit first.”
Ji-gyeong flopped down on the neatly made bed Do-yeong had tidied, flinging an arm over his forehead, making a show of his reluctance. As Kang Hyeon tucked a blanket over him, a loud clink came from the table—the sound of a spoon being put down.
“Hyeon, can I get more soup?”
Do-yeong’s voice prompted Kang Hyeon to head to the sink and lift the lid on the pot. The pot was still full. Glancing at Do-yeong’s bowl, he noticed barely a few sips had been taken. Sitting across from him, he realized Do-yeong was using the soup to silently protest Ji-gyeong’s presence.
He stroked the cake box, a not-so-subtle reminder of whose birthday it was.
“Take your time.”
Even after pushing the dish toward him, Do-yeong didn’t lift his spoon. So Kang Hyeon took the spoon himself and placed it in Do-yeong’s hand. Only then did he take a sip.
“Hyung! You’ve got a call.”
Ji-gyeong grabbed his phone from the corner of the bed and waved it.
“It’s your grandfather.”
That got Kang Hyeon moving fast. While he answered the call, Do-yeong let out a shallow sigh and continued eating in silence. Still, his full attention was split between Kang Hyeon on the phone and Ji-gyeong, lying on the bed like he owned the place.
He’d been worried about Baek Ga-yeong, but this unexpected wildcard named Ji-gyeong had blindsided him. Over the past month, no new faces had shown up around Kang Hyeon. He spent the most time with Baek Ga-yeong, but their “dates” were just quiet mornings at the café. Ji-gyeong hadn’t shown up since the spicy monkfish stew dinner.
So then why now…?
Was he really just here to celebrate?
Do-yeong felt a lump in his throat thanks to Ji-gyeong’s early morning appearance. He ended up not even finishing his food and quietly cleared the table. He couldn’t very well kick out a guest who’d come to celebrate, so he sighed softly and did the dishes.
Later, while Ji-gyeong sat at the table sipping coffee brewed by Kang Hyeon, Do-yeong tidied the bed and even cracked the window to let in some air. Ji-gyeong, watching him out of the corner of his eye, turned his head with a smirk like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
