Chapter Text
Normally birthdays are okay, Jungwon tells himself. What is not okay is it being a school day. You know in primary and high school, it used to be fun. He used to be excited when it's his birthday and it's a weekday. His classmates would greet him and high five him, wishing him a happy birthday.
This time, birthdays aren't looking as good.
Is it even his birthday today? Or was he mistaken? Because Heeseung didn't knock on the door until it's broken while singing him a happy birthday.
"Jake already left," Sunghoon had told him when Jungwon zombie-walked towards the kitchen island. And he's drowsily putting milk in his cereal bowl himself. "Hyung! Shower faster. I have exams in forty minutes." He shouts at Heeseung who's taking his dear time in the bathroom.
Heeseung probably can't hear him, Jungwon can hear him singing Taeyeon's new song.
Jungwon grumbles, goes back to his room to get his towel. He remembers he has exams in an hour.
He remembers–it's literally finals week.
-
Thus, the plan of just laying in bed and maybe ordering cake and chicken for dinner has been ruined. Heeseung told him he and Sunghoon might be out for a while since there's an early Valentine's party going on, out in the west campus dorms. Wherever that is, Jungwon isn't bothering to ask. All the buildings are connected to each other anyway. And he doesn't live on campus to want to get involved.
Which brings him to his current predicament: the library. No, not really his duty tonight. He specifically asked one of his seniors for a day off so he could celebrate his birthday alone. Technically he is alone, but with a bunch of unwritten essays and activities due in two days. Not to mention the exams until Saturday.
Maybe he'll just celebrate his birthday when he's done with school. From the looks of it, this will be a yearly occurrence.
"Ten o'clock." He mutters to himself, aggressively clicking the cursor on the Save button of his second word document repeatedly. "I'll finish these by ten o'clock, then go home."
He grumbles, realizing he hasn't had dinner yet. Sunoo gave him a cookie box at lunch when they met past the Science building–helped him to stay awake, really. It was delicious, and too sweet. Thank you, Sunoo.
Jungwon finished the second document before going back to the first doc, because he was running out of ideas to talk to for Asian Lit. He's overthinking again; he thinks everyone's going to go with a Studio Ghibli-focus essay so now he's left with zero topics.
It's due on Friday. He mentally curses.
It's 9:45pm when he's finally given up and chose Only Yesterday as the focus for his Asian Lit essay. It's not that big of a deal, just the prof telling them to write a critical essay about an animated Asian movie.
Jungwon sighs, packing up his things while his laptop is shutting down. He looks around, college students hogging every last bit of the library space; just another normal day.
-
Jungwon taps the keycard onto the screen, the door beeps and opens itself to welcome him. While taking his shoes off he pulls out his phone from his coat pocket, seeing an array of message notifications from his roommates' group chat to Jay.
15 unread messages, it all belongs to Jay.
From heys to where are you heeseung says it's your birthday and have you had dinner yet? Jungwon smiles upon himself and strides towards his room to change before he orders a very late dinner. Also, he needs to reply to Jay.
thank you ^^
i just got back from the library
i'll be having dinner in a while hehe
Jay replies in an instant just as Jungwon was opening the food delivery app.
heol no way?
have you even had seaweed soup
it's your bday
u at the apartment??
Jungwon responds yes, im at the apartment . Leaving the part where Jay asked if he's had seaweed soup. Because he hasn't, and he almost feels bad. That's literary tradition and culture that he's missed.
omw there
Jungwon's eyes double in size, dramatically, already typing an excuse so Jay won't go on his way to visit him–for what?–but the older was quicker to type:
gonna make u seaweed soup
happy birthday jungwon :)
He waits, only a couple of minutes. Jay knocks lightly on the door, "Hey, Jungwon." He mumbles softly outside the door. Jungwon could hear him along with the confusing, loud thrumming in the left side of his chest.
Jungwon clicks the door open inviting Jay inside holding a bag of items he couldn't figure out.
"I went to the convenience store before heading here." Jay tells him, setting the kitchen counter with the ingredients he's bought. "And I didn't want to buy you the instant one. They're quite salty."
Jungwon just watches him get the pot and bowls, cut the seaweed to the right length, turning the stove on to boil the water. He watches there, surprised at how comfortable Jay is regarding this whole making a seaweed soup for Jungwon–a guy he only met because of his mischievous dog–like it's what he's meant to do for this very day.
"Do you, uh, need help?" Jungwon snaps out of his reverie and walks closer to where Jay is currently waiting for the water to boil.
The older looks at Jungwon, pursed lips, smiling. "No need, go sit there. I'll bring this to you. Have you ordered dinner?"
"Yeah, it's coming in a few minutes I guess."
Jay nods, "Great, this will cook fast."
Jungwon wanted to thank him for doing all this, but his mouth couldn't form any of those words other than asking him why he's not at the party Heeseung and Sunghoon are at.
"Party?" Jay chuckles, "During finals week? Who would do that."
"They say it's an early Valentine's party." Jungwon explains, sitting himself on a stool, facing Jay's back.
"Riki mentioned something about that." Jay tells him, turning around to fix the bowl and grab utensils inside one of the drawers. "I don't really like parties. Especially if they're holding it at the dorms. Too crowded."
"You don't like parties?"
"Do you?"
Jungwon looks down at the empty bowl and shakes his head. "Too crowded."
He hears Jay snicker. "So, we both think so."
Once the bowls are rightfully placed on the dinner table, and the chicken Jungwon has ordered arrives, Jay claps his hands to start.
"I'm going to sing happy birthday." He teases, raising a brow at Jungwon at which he laughs.
"Go ahead."
Jay enthusiastically sings him a happy birthday; Jungwon couldn't help but laugh at him for it. This could have just been quite a boring birthday–a new normal Jungwon is determined to accept because, college. Yet, Jay is here celebrating it with him, and it makes it seem a little bit better, more magical than just two guys eating seaweed soup and fried chicken.
Why does it feel more magical with Jay?