#13
It had been one of the prohibited items for years. They had argued about this issue just yesterday, so his sudden change of heart was somewhat puzzling, and Ha-min worried whether he had reluctantly given permission.
“…Go ahead. Before I change my mind.”
Tae-rim responded with a gentle smile at Ha-min’s extremely cautious demeanor.
“Thank you. I’ll be back safely.”
Ha-min smiled brightly and fidgeted with his fingers before grabbing his hand. Somehow, he felt good. Rather than being happy about going on a trip with friends, he felt like invisible trust had been built in just one day, making him smile slightly.
“Be careful on the road.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t drink whatever they give you.”
“…I’m not a child.”
“Answer calls promptly.”
“…Yes. Of course.”
Ha-min nodded, answering dutifully like an obedient child. Just as he was leaving the bed to head to the bathroom to prepare, Ha-min turned to Tae-rim with a sudden realization.
“But… why did you change your mind so suddenly?”
When he asked with a clear face out of curiosity, Tae-rim, sitting on the bed, smiled smoothly.
“What can I do?”
“…”
“The one I like more can only lose.”
At this unexpected answer, Ha-min stared at him blankly. Today especially, his smiling face looked more handsome and beautiful. It was as if his already good looks were shining even more.
In that moment, Ha-min’s face turned bright red, and he headed back to the bathroom as if escaping. His heart was beating louder than usual, making him breathless. He calmed his racing heart and quietly looked at his flushed face in the mirror. There was his foolish face, not knowing what to do with himself from excitement.
He said he lost, but he was actually someone who couldn’t lose.
**
After the trip incident, Ha-min felt strangely closer to his hyung. When hugging, kissing, or having sex, Ha-min always shrank back first, but these days he was trying to be a little more proactive. Just as his hyung had made concessions, he was full of desire to do something more for him.
Standing at the counter of the café where he worked part-time, Ha-min quietly looked through the front glass window. Three months had passed since then, and winter had arrived. There wasn’t a single fallen leaf on the road, and passersby were bundled up in thick padded jackets or coats. Feeling that the downtown area looked lonely in this season, Ha-min unconsciously checked the calendar next to the POS.
December 25th.
Ha-min stared aggressively at the date marked in red. The arrival of winter meant that his hyung’s birthday was just around the corner. His hyung was a special person even in terms of his birthday date. It was truly difficult to decide what gift to give such a person every year. His hyung was someone who had everything and also someone who didn’t particularly value material things.
But this year, he decided to execute a plan he had been planning for a long time. It was one of the reasons why he had been working part-time for years alongside his studies, despite his hyung telling him not to. Ha-min took something out of his pants pocket. What he fumbled to take out was a thin piece of paper. The long piece of paper had marks slightly drawn with a pen.
“What’s that?”
One of the other part-timers who noticed it while passing by asked casually. Ha-min looked at it proudly and smiled quietly.
“…A ring size.”
“No way. Really?”
“Yes.”
Ha-min nodded happily at the part-timer who seemed to have guessed immediately.
“You finally saved enough money?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, amazing. Is your partner’s birthday coming up soon?”
“…Yes.”
The part-timer, who had worked with him for quite a long time, asked familiarly. They also knew the reason why Ha-min had been working so diligently. Ha-min had once casually mentioned the reason. To ask about ring brands.
“Are you going with the one you chose then?”
“Yes, in white gold.”
“That’s great. Your partner still doesn’t know, right?”
“No… I want to give it as a surprise on their birthday.”
“You’re quite romantic, Ha-min.”
It was the first event he had planned. His hyung had organized numerous events throughout their relationship, but Ha-min, who was far inferior to him both economically and in ability, had always hesitated, thinking he couldn’t do better than his grand events. But this was something he had planned for years. Since receiving the watch from him, he had been preparing for this since that first day when he thought their hearts connected.
Ha-min quietly smiled alone with his grand dream. He had simulated thousands of times: going to the reserved restaurant on his birthday, having a delicious meal, handing over a bouquet from the reserved flower shop, and putting the ring on his finger. Having always felt concerned about not giving much compared to what he had received from him over the years, he really wanted to succeed on that day.
“You look really happy.”
Seeing him smiling to himself continuously, the part-timer teased him subtly. But Ha-min nodded readily without being embarrassed.
“…Yes.”
Thinking about how much his hyung would like it, he couldn’t stop smiling.
**
“Shall we have dinner after work?”
On his actual birthday, Tae-rim, who had to go to work despite it being a holiday due to unavoidable circumstances, casually asked while tying his tie. His face showed no sign of knowing or caring that it was his birthday.
Ha-min, who was eating toast made by Tae-rim, opened his eyes wide and immediately answered.
“I, I already made a reservation.”
He almost choked for a moment in his haste to respond. Ha-min had woken up early, perhaps because he was so tense with worry about his grand plan. He immediately checked the restaurant reservation and meticulously checked the time to pick up the ordered ring.
“You did?”
As if Ha-min’s words were unexpected, Tae-rim asked quizzically.
“…Yes. It’s your birthday today, hyung.”
When Ha-min spoke with clear eyes, Tae-rim sighed softly as if just realizing it, “Ah—.”
“I was suggesting dinner to celebrate Christmas.”
“…You don’t even know your own birthday?”
“It comes every year, what’s so special about it?”
“…But you celebrate my birthday like it’s a big deal.”
“Are your hyung and Ha-min the same?”
Tae-rim smiled gently and hugged Ha-min from behind. Then, resting his chin on his shoulder, he whispered affectionately.
“Your hyung doesn’t like Ha-min feeling burdened because of his birthday.”
He spoke dismissively and naturally kissed his cheek repeatedly. The smacking sounds echoed familiarly. Ha-min pouted with a slightly sulky face.
I’ve never felt burdened.
And what if I do… It’s my only hyung’s birthday…
His face, showing no expectations for his own birthday, made Ha-min a bit sad. Was it because he hadn’t properly celebrated it for him all this time?
“Send me the restaurant reservation and time. I’ll go right after work.”
“…Okay.”
“Do you have part-time work today too?”
“Yes. The owner asked me to help a bit since it’s a holiday.”
“I see. Don’t overdo it.”
Walking him to the door, Ha-min nodded obediently. Tae-rim, seemingly pleased with Ha-min always answering each of his words, kept smiling and then leaned down to plant a kiss on his lips with a smack.
“Ah…”
Looking up with a surprised face as if caught by a stolen kiss, Ha-min saw Tae-rim smile with curved eyes.
“How do you still get surprised every time, even though we do it every day?”
“…Ju-just… go.”
Ha-min stuttered, rubbing his neck with a face that had already turned red.
“I’ll be back.”
“…Yes. Take care.”
With the morning farewell, the door closed with a thud. Only then did Ha-min feel that the day had begun, and he moved with a solemn face.
Today seemed like it would be a very long day.
**
“Which number was the grapefruit ade?”
“Ah, that was canceled. It changed to an Americano.”
“Ha-min, can you go to the refrigerator inside and bring out a cake?”
Working anywhere on Christmas was busy. People were crowded everywhere, and the overflowing crowds made it chaotic. Ha-min, who was cleaning up, quickly headed to the kitchen at the owner’s direction. While moving, he checked the time on the wristwatch his hyung had given him. There wasn’t much time left until closing, but whether he could leave as planned was questionable. There were more customers than expected.
“Good timing, Ha-min. Can you bring some lemon syrup from the storage room?”
The manager, who was busy moving in the kitchen, urgently requested. Ha-min took his eyes off the watch, took care of the cake first, and then agreed before moving quickly.
20 minutes. Only 20 minutes left. He hadn’t planned the time so tightly, but he wanted to follow the simulation that had played in his head numerous times.
Rushing back to the kitchen, Ha-min headed to the storage room as instructed by the manager. Even while working frantically, Ha-min kept checking the time.
Not only were there customers waiting because there were no seats, but as soon as some customers left, the staff began to feel rushed. Given the situation, there was even competition for seats, making it insufficient to have even two bodies. But as soon as it was time to leave, Ha-min untied his apron and cautiously approached the owner.
“B-boss. I need to go…”
“Ha-min, garbage. Can you empty the garbage just once?”
“What?”
“There’s a complaint that garbage is overflowing on the second floor. Can you take care of that before you leave?”
Ha-min showed reluctance for a moment but soon nodded. After all, it would take less than 10 minutes to just clean up the garbage. But that day, Ha-min learned for the first time:
That life never, ever goes according to plan.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
