Chapter Text
6 February
Somewhere along the way, they agreed not to get each other birthday presents. There was no need, they reasoned, because they had been together as TVXQ for so long, were going to continue together for even longer, that presents would just become an unnecessary burden.
But it had been a particularly good year - a year of celebrations and of reaching new records – that Changmin decides he should at least give Yunho something.
Well, that’s only partly true.
The actual truth is that on the way to meet Yunho, Changmin is waiting for his coffee when he spots a single strawberry cupcake in the café display cabinet. He remembers the date and thinks it would be hilarious to give it to Yunho for his birthday, after all Yunho's weakness for strawberries will forever be funny.
And, because it has been a good year, he buys a candle too.
Yunho doesn't look particularly impressed with the cupcake. He looks at Changmin sadly.
‘I don’t remember raising you to be so stingy. You could have at least brought me an actual cake.’
Changmin pulls out a single candle and sticks it on top of the cupcake.
Yunho sighs audibly.
‘Changminnie, you are short quite a few candles.’
‘Shush,’ Changmin waves a hand at him. ‘I’m being considerate. At your age, I don’t want to exhaust you brain with unnecessary arithmetic.’
Yunho just rolls his eyes.
‘Sing me happy birthday then.’
Changmin sings for him, loudly and intentionally off tune and then softly and grinning so madly his cheeks hurts.
When Yunho leans in to blow out the single candle, he pauses to make his birthday wish.
Yunho wishes that such simple joys could continue forever. He wishes for more birthdays spent with Changmin.