Ha-Joon woke up with a burst of energy, bouncing happily on his bed. He stretched his arms above his head, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Happy my birthday! Happy my birthday!" he cheered softly, his excitement impossible to hide.
He leapt out of bed and hurried to the bathroom, quickly fixing his shirt. Catching his reflection in the mirror, he winked at himself and ruffled his grey hair, feeling proud and confident.
Without hesitation, he slid down the staircase railing with a playful grin, landing softly on the floor.
In the kitchen, his mother was already busy preparing breakfast, humming softly to herself.
His older sister, Ji-Woo, was busy setting up decorations—colorful balloons and streamers ready to make everything festive. Min-Ju, his younger sibling, was nowhere to be seen, probably still asleep or off somewhere.
His dad had gone out earlier to buy the last few things they needed for the celebration. Mrs. Kim, noticing Ha-Joon, looked up and smiled warmly.
"Happy birthday, son," she called out gently.
Without hesitation, Ha-Joon ran over and threw his arms around her in a big hug. "Thank you, Mommy!" he exclaimed happily.
He then moved to Ji-Woo, who was carefully hanging up banners. She looked up and smiled.
"Happy birthday, Ha-Joon," she said softly.
"Ji-Woo, what are you doing?" Ha-Joon asked, eyes curious.
"Making decorations," she replied with a smile. "Have you invited any of your friends?"
Ha-Joon shook his head with a grin.
"I'm going now," he announced, already eager to start his day. With that, he sprinted outside, hopping onto his bike.
He hummed a cheerful tune as he pedaled away, the wind rushing past him.
His destination was Joy's house. When he arrived, he burst into the living room, surprising Joy and Mrs. Noh.
"Joy! Oh, hi, Mrs. Noh," Ha-Joon greeted, grinning.
Mrs. Noh smiled kindly and waved at him. "Hello, Ha-Joon."
He beamed and said eagerly, "Joy, it's my birthday today! I'd love for you to come tonight."
He paused, then added playfully, "Tell Ji-Hoo, Nira, Joon-Seo, and Yuki—the seniors, okay?"
Before Joy could respond, Ha-Joon bolted outside again, hopping back onto his bike and paddling away.
On his way home, he passed by his café and suddenly spotted Nara. His face lit up with a bright smile. He paddled over confidently.
"Nara!" he called out, his cheeks tinged with a little nervousness but his voice full of excitement.
Nara looked up and smiled warmly. "Hey, Ha-Joon."
He hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage.
"Hi, Nara. I wanted to invite you to my birthday party. Yeah, I know I'm too big for that, but I want to celebrate my journey into adulthood," he said playfully, a twinkle in his eye.
Nara nodded, understanding the excitement behind his words. "Okay, I'll come," she said softly.
"Thank you so much!" Ha-Joon replied, grinning wide as he paddled off, feeling happy and a little proud of himself.
Ha-Joon had just finished telling his only friends about his upcoming birthday party. Feeling happy and excited, he jumped onto his bed and lay flat on his stomach. He let out a long, happy sigh, enjoying the moment.
But then, he remembered something important. He sat up straight and took his phone out of his pocket.
Without hesitation, he dialed a number, thinking to himself, "I haven't told In-Su yet."
The moment he called, In-Su answered with a video call. In-Su looked effortlessly handsome. His curly hair was falling over his forehead, and his eyes looked a little tired. He yawned slightly, stretching as he answered.
Ha-Joon asked him,
"Were you sleeping?" with a teasing smile. In-Su smirked and then moved his phone back to show off his shirtless, fit body, with a rough bed in the background. He asked playfully, "What does it look like?"
He then moved the phone closer, so only his face and neck were visible, teasing Ha-Joon.
Ha-Joon smiled and said,
"You didn't have to do that," happy about In-Su's playful attitude.
Then, he added, "But I'll let it slide because today is my birthday, and I'm inviting you to the party tonight."
In-Su looked worried and gulped, asking softly,
"What? Do your parents know you're inviting me? Didn't they say I'm different?" He sounded unsure and a little nervous about how his invitation might be received.
Ha-Joon reassured him, "Yeah… but they told me to invite my friends. And you're one of them."
In-Su's expression changed, and he seemed concerned.
He thought to himself, "Ha-Joon's parents aren't supposed to see me… and is he pouting What should I do?" He looked like he was in a dilemma, feeling conflicted.
"Please, In-Su," Ha-Joon's voice came low and cute, trying to persuade him.
In-Su thought, "He's too cute, I can't say no," and groaned in frustration.
Finally, In-Su agreed, saying, "Okay, I'll go. Are you happy now?" Ha-Joon nodded happily, smiling. He waved goodbye and ended the call.
Ha-Joon's face disappeared from In-Su's phone screen.
In-Su grunted and tossed the phone aside, letting out a sigh. He muttered to himself, "Oh, Han-Joon, so frustrating. What will I do now?".
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The big house hall was beautifully decorated for Ha-Joon's birthday. Bright, colorful balloons floated in clusters along the ceiling, and shimmering streamers draped across the walls, catching the light and adding a festive sparkle.
A long table stood at one side, covered with a crisp white cloth, and it was lined with an assortment of delicious snacks—crispy chips, sweet candies, colorful cupcakes with swirled frosting, and a giant birthday cake decorated with candles and bright icing.
The aroma of sweet treats filled the air, making everyone feel hungry and excited.
Ha-Joon stood in the middle of the hall, dressed sharply in an grey elegant suit. His grey hair was styled perfectly, with soft waves that looked both stylish and mature.
His smile was warm and confident as he looked around, taking in the beautiful decorations and the cheerful atmosphere.
His family was dressed beautifully too. His dad wore a fresh green shirt paired with casual jeans, looking relaxed but stylish.
His mom wore a silky red dress that shimmered softly under the lights, her hair styled neatly and elegantly.
Ji-Woo was dressed in a pretty pink dress, carrying a small white bag, her hair styled in soft waves framing her face.
Min-Ju looked adorable in a light blue suit, giving the whole family a coordinated, polished look. Everyone looked nice, happy, and ready to celebrate
Soon, Ha-Joon's friends started arriving all gift in hand.
Yuki looked sharp in a casual but cool outfit—perhaps a neat shirt paired with jeans and sneakers.
Nira's long brown hair was styled beautifully, flowing smoothly past her shoulders, with gentle waves giving her a soft, elegant look. She wore a chic dress—maybe in pastel or neutral tones—that suited her well.
Joon-Seo arrived dressed in a smart, casual style—perhaps a neat shirt and trousers—and he had an expressionless face.
When Nira saw Ha-Joon, she softly said, "Oh, hi, Ha-Joon," and gave him a warm hug, making everyone feel the friendly atmosphere.
Yuki cheerfully said, "Happy sweet eighteen!" with a big smile. Ha-Joon giggled happily and replied, "Oh, thanks, Yuki!"
He then looked at Joon-Seo, and his expression suddenly softened.
His tone became a little more serious.
He bowed slightly and said quietly,
"Enjoy the party." Joon-Seo glanced at him, put a hand in his pocket, and walked away calmly, as if he had his own thoughts.
Ha-Joon watched him go, then turned back to Nira and Yuki, who waved at him and headed into the hall to join the others.
Suddenly, Joy and Ji-Hoo arrived, wearing a the outfit they wore in the movie MV project making Ha-Joon smile brightly.
Joy's face lit up when she saw Ha-Joon.
Excitedly, he ran over and hugged her tightly, exclaiming, "Joy!"
"Happy birthday, Ha-Joon! You're eighteen now," she said warmly.
Ha-Joon nodded happily and glanced at Ji-Hoo who was beside her.
"Oh… grandpa, are you sure it's your sweet eighteen and not bitter eighty-one?" he teased, making Joy nudging him playfully.
'' And guys, you look amazing you look like a cute couple'' Ha-Joon a mischievous glint in his eyes.
''Ah it's nothing I didn't know he was wearing that, If I'd known I wouldn't have worn it'' Joy said hitting Ji-Hoo's shoulder.
''You literally called me and begged me to wear it'' Ji-Hoo revealed and Joy shot him a look.
They shared a laugh and then walked inside together, leaving the hall lively and full of joy.
Meanwhile, Ha-Joon was looking around for someone specific—In-Su.
Suddenly, In-Su appeared, dressed in a stylish black suit. His hair was perfectly styled, and he wore a mysterious mask and sunglasses, giving him a cool, slightly dramatic look.
As In-Su entered the house, Ha-Joon called out,
"In-Su!" His face lit up with happiness.
In-Su sprinted over, smiling and joking, "Hey, Ha-Joon, nice party!"
Ha-Joon nodded, noticing In-Su's sunglasses
He blinked and asked, '' The uhm....'' before he could finish In-Su interrupts
"My eyes are hurting," trying to diverse the conversation.
In-Su tried to pull Ha-Joon away, acting casual and mysterious, and they headed inside together, ready to enjoy the celebration.