Chapter Text
Jongho’s heart raced with excitement as he boarded the flight to the UK. This birthday was going to be special; he wanted to surprise Yunho with an unforgettable celebration. He had secretly booked a hotel room near Yunho’s place, picked out a beautifully decorated cake, and even prepared a small gift that he knew Yunho would adore.
As the plane touched down, Jongho could hardly contain his giddiness. He had envisioned this moment for weeks—dreaming of their time together filled with laughter and love. After dropping off his bags at the hotel, Jongho made his way toward Yunho’s neighborhood, rehearsing his lines in his head. “I miss you so I bring this cake to celebrate with you…”
However, as he approached Yunho's house, he suddenly spotted a car pulling up. Jongho stopped in his tracks, squinting to see who was inside. When the door opened, his heart sank. Yunho stepped out, followed closely by a woman he didn’t recognize. They laughed together as they walked toward the house.
Who is that? Why is Yunho with her? A surge of jealousy washed over Jongho. The woman seemed too comfortable with Yunho, and the easy laughter between them twisted something sharp in Jongho’s chest.
With a heavy heart, he turned on his heel and walked away, the excitement of the surprise turning into bitterness. He couldn’t face Yunho now; it felt too raw, too painful. Instead of celebrating his birthday, he felt like a fool.
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Meanwhile, back in Korea, Mingi had just finished dinner when he felt a sense of unease wash over him. He had encouraged Jongho to celebrate his birthday with Yunho but hadn’t heard from him since he left. He tried calling Jongho, but all he got was voicemail after voicemail. “Jongho, pick up! Are you okay?” Mingi muttered to himself, glancing at the clock. It’s already been hours.
His heart sank as worry gripped him. What if something happened? Jongho had promised to keep his trip a secret, but Mingi’s instincts told him something was wrong. With a determined expression, he decided to call Yunho instead.
“Hello?” Yunho answered, sounding cheerful and slightly surprised.
“Yunho! It’s me, Mingi,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady despite the anxious flutter in his chest. “Have you heard from Jongho?”
“No, I haven’t. Why? What’s going on? Is he supposed to be in the flower shop right now? I know it's still bright there” Yunho’s tone shifted to concern.
Mingi took a deep breath. “He went to the UK to surprise you for your birthday. But he hasn’t picked up my calls, and I’m starting to get worried.”
“What? Jongho’s in the UK?” Yunho’s voice rose in surprise, followed by panic. “Why didn’t he tell me?”
“I actually suggested that he go there to celebrate his birthday with you. So I guess he probably wanted to surprise you. Do you have any idea where he might be?”
“I’ll find him,” Yunho said firmly, determination filling his voice. “Just tell me where you think he might be.”
Mingi hesitated for a moment. “He said he was going to visit you and bring a cake. He might be at your house or somewhere nearby. He didn't tell me the specific hotel where he was supposed to stay. Just… make sure he’s okay.”
“On it!” Yunho replied, a sense of urgency in his voice. He quickly hung up, heart racing as he grabbed his keys and headed out the door.
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As Jongho sulked back in his hotel room, feeling sorry for himself, he couldn’t shake off the bitter taste of jealousy. He had expected joy and laughter, not this awful ache in his heart. He took out the cake, staring at it as if it were the source of his disappointment.
Just then, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Mingi. “Hey, have you talked to Yunho? I’m worried.”
Jongho’s heart clenched. He wanted to respond, to let Mingi know how he felt, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he tossed the phone onto the bed, his emotions a tangled mess of hurt and jealousy.
After a few moments of silence, he finally picked up the phone, an idea forming in his mind. What if I called Yunho? It was a reckless thought, but he needed to hear Yunho’s voice, even if it was to confront him. He took a deep breath, fighting against the urge to let it go.
With trembling fingers, he dialed Yunho’s number.
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Back at Yunho’s place, he had just hung up from Mingi when his phone rang again. He glanced at the screen, his heart skipping a beat when he saw Jongho’s name flashing there.
“Jongho!” he exclaimed, picking up the call. “Hey! Where are you?”
Jongho’s heart raced, but his tone was less than enthusiastic. “I’m in the hotel, Yunho.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could’ve picked you up!” Yunho replied, his voice a mix of excitement and concern. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just… fine,” Jongho replied, trying to keep his tone neutral. “I saw you with that woman earlier.”
There was a pause on the other end. “What woman?”
“The one who got out of the car with you. I thought you were seeing someone else,” Jongho muttered, his jealousy creeping back in.
Yunho’s heart dropped at the misunderstanding. “Oh no, Jongho! That was Mrs. Han, my neighbor! I was just helping her with her groceries. She’s like a grandma to me! I would never—”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?” Jongho interrupted, trying to keep the hurt out of his voice.
“I didn’t know you were coming! I thought you were in Korea! I’m sorry! If I had known, I would’ve never let her take up my time!” Yunho exclaimed, his voice full of urgency. “Please, let me come see you. Can we talk?”
“I don’t know,” Jongho said, fighting against the wall he had built around his heart.
“Please, Jongho. I miss you. I want to celebrate your birthday with you,” Yunho pleaded, his voice softening. “I promise I’ll explain everything in person.”
Jongho felt a flutter of hope at Yunho’s words. He wanted to believe him, to trust that everything was okay, but the jealousy lingered like a stubborn shadow. “You really want to celebrate with me?”
“Of course! You’re my little bear, and you deserve to be celebrated! Just tell me where you are, and I’ll be there.”
Jongho took a moment, looking around his hotel room. The cake sat on the table, the frosting still bright and inviting. Could he really let go of the jealousy? With a small sigh, he relented, his voice softening. “I’m at the hotel near the park. Room 307.”
“On my way,” Yunho said, relief evident in his tone.
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Moments later, Jongho heard a soft knock at the door. He hurriedly wiped his eyes and opened it to find Yunho standing there, looking slightly disheveled but with determination in his eyes.
“Hey,” Yunho said, stepping inside. The moment the door closed, Yunho wrapped his arms around Jongho, pulling him into a warm embrace. Jongho melted into Yunho’s warmth, feeling the tension of the day start to dissolve.
“I’m so sorry for making you feel that way,” Yunho murmured against Jongho’s hair. “You mean the world to me. I should’ve told you about Mrs. Han.”
Jongho pulled back slightly, looking up at Yunho’s concerned expression. “I just didn’t want to feel like I was bothering you. I wanted it to be special.”
“It is special,” Yunho said, cupping Jongho’s face in his hands. “You being here is the best birthday gift I could ask for.”
Just then, Jongho’s phone buzzed again. It was a message from Mingi: “I’m glad you’re with Yunho. Make sure you enjoy your birthday!”
“See?” Yunho said, smiling at the message. “Even Mingi knows how special this is.”
Jongho smiled back, feeling warmth spread through him. “I brought a cake…”
Yunho’s eyes lit up. “Let’s eat it! It’s your birthday; you should be the one blowing out the candles!”
Together, they set the cake on the small table, and Yunho took out the little candles he had brought with him. “How many candles?” he asked with a playful glint in his eye.
“Twenty,” Jongho replied with a mock-serious expression.
Yunho chuckled and lit the candles, placing them carefully on the cake. “Alright, make a wish before you blow them out.”
Jongho closed his eyes, thinking of all the moments he had shared with Yunho, the love they felt for each other, and the promise of many more birthdays together. He took a deep breath, blew out the candles, and opened his eyes to see Yunho clapping.
“Happy Birthday, little bear!” Yunho cheered, his face beaming with joy.
“Thanks,” Jongho said, a warm blush creeping onto his cheeks.
As they sat down to enjoy the cake, Jongho couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. The earlier jealousy seemed trivial now, replaced with the sweetness of the moment. He knew that no matter what misunderstandings might come, their bond was stronger than any doubt.
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As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow through the hotel room window, Yunho pulled Jongho into a cozy embrace. “Thank you for coming, little bear,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to Jongho’s forehead. “I’m so glad we celebrated your birthday together.”
Jongho smiled, feeling safe and cherished in Yunho’s arms. “I’m glad too. I was worried you’d forget about me.”
Yunho chuckled softly. “Forget you? Never. You’re always on my mind.”
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other’s warmth until Jongho's phone buzzed again. This time, it was Mingi.
“Hey! How did the surprise go? You better be with Yunho!”
Jongho chuckled, his heart swelling with love. He quickly typed back: “We had a great time! I’ll tell you everything later.”
Not long after, Yunho’s phone chimed with a message. He glanced at the screen and raised an eyebrow. “It’s from Mingi. He’s checking in on you.”
“Of course he is,” Jongho said, rolling his eyes playfully. “He worries too much.”
Yunho smiled, his eyes dancing with affection. “Well, he’s just looking out for you. Let’s give him a call. I think he deserves to hear the whole story.”
Jongho nodded, knowing that Mingi would want to hear about their day. “Okay, but let me warn you—he might babble.”
Yunho laughed. “I’m ready for it!”
They dialed Mingi's number, and after a few rings, Mingi answered, his voice bubbling with excitement. “Jongho! Yunho! You guys are together! Tell me everything!”
“Slow down, Mingi! We just had cake,” Jongho said, unable to suppress his smile.
“Cake! You had cake without me?!” Mingi exclaimed dramatically. “You know I love cake! How could you betray me like this?”
“We can celebrate again when we’re back,” Yunho interjected, trying to contain his laughter. “You’ll get a piece too, I promise.”
“Fine, fine! But I want details! How was it? Did you enjoy the surprise? Tell me!”
Jongho looked at Yunho, who nodded encouragingly. “Okay, okay! So, I arrived in the UK and got a hotel. I had this whole plan to surprise Yunho with cake and gifts to celebrate my birthday.”
“That sounds perfect! But what happened?” Mingi prodded, sensing there was more to the story.
Jongho hesitated, recalling the painful moment when he had seen Yunho with Mrs. Han. “Well, I went to Yunho’s place, and I saw him getting out of a car with a woman.”
Mingi gasped. “A woman?!”
“Yeah, but it turned out to be his neighbor! I was being stupid and jealous!” Jongho admitted, feeling sheepish.
Yunho chimed in, “He thought I was with someone else, but I was just helping Mrs. Han with her groceries. I would never betray Jongho like that!”
Mingi sighed, a mixture of relief and exasperation. “You two really need to communicate better. Jongho, you worried me to death! I couldn’t reach you, and then you went off to the UK without telling anyone.”
“I’m sorry, Mingi! I wanted it to be a surprise,” Jongho said, feeling guilty.
“Yeah, well, it’s a good thing Yunho is as dense as a brick,” Mingi teased, making Yunho laugh. “You should’ve just called him instead of running off like that.”
“Okay, point taken,” Jongho admitted, his cheeks heating up. “But it all turned out well in the end, right?”
“Yes, it did! But seriously, Jongho, next time just text me! I can’t take the stress of not knowing!” Mingi said, his voice laced with concern.
“Deal! I promise to keep you in the loop,” Jongho replied, feeling grateful for his brother's support.
Yunho added, “And I promise to always keep Jongho safe and happy. You don’t have to worry about him, Mingi.”
Mingi let out a small laugh. “I know. You two are adorable together. Just make sure to tell me the juicy details when you’re back!”
“Of course!” Jongho said, a smile spreading across his face. “I wouldn’t leave you out of the loop on anything.”
After a few more light-hearted exchanges, they ended the call. Jongho felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. With Mingi in his corner and Yunho by his side, he knew he had everything he needed.
“Thanks for understanding, Mingi,” Jongho said, turning to Yunho, who was looking at him with warmth. “I really appreciate you both.”
“Always,” Yunho replied, pulling Jongho close again. “Now, how about we make some more birthday memories?”
Jongho grinned, his heart full. “Sounds perfect.”
And as they settled in for the night, Jongho knew that this birthday, despite its rocky start, had turned into something truly special—filled with love, laughter, and the bond between brothers that would always remain strong.