"He's been ignoring me all week."

I slumped my head over my forearms, left cheek meeting with the soft material of my pullover. The cup of tea that was previously settled on the teak wood table clattered, ripples sending through the green liquid.

Huffing, I raised my chin, propping it against the palm of my hand, taking hold of the spoon and swirling it in the hot beverage.

"Maybe he truly is busy?" Naeon suggested, brows lifting upward with worry. "Don't beat yourself up about it, Ray, I'm sure it's nothing." She reached over the table, sliding the tiny plate in from its place near the corner of the tabletop. "Now drink, or else it will get cold!"

With a puff, I chuckled, taking hold of the little handle. "Thank you, Unnie." I let out before bringing the rim to my lips, allowing the green tea to intrude my organism, delighting it from all joints. "Oh- this is actually better than I expected!"

"This is the best cafe in town, I told you." Naeon smiled, enjoying her latte.

"You have such good tastes..." I pouted cutely, rewarded by a pat on the head. We both giggled afterward, glancing outside of the window, asking for more drinks, and occupying my mind with stuff that didn't involve my best friend, Seonghwa.

He's been distant, so distant, stuttering whenever I engaged in a conversation, exiting rooms whenever I entered... Honestly, it's a bother and I don't understand why he's acting this way.

One day, he was on the phone, plopped on a bench in a park. I could only discern the word 'secret', and it has tolled in my brain ever since. Was he going to leave abroad and not tell me? Or maybe transfer to another high school? So many possibilities crossed my mind, ones I wanted to erase forever.

Seonghwa couldn't be so cold-hearted to not confide me details with such significance. He would try to spend as much time with me before anything happened... That's what I thought, but it was slowly

My phone suddenly dinged from my pocket, Naeon's eyes traveling to meet with mine. Slowly, she nodded, motioning for me to check it. With hesitance, I assumed it wasn't my buddy and dragged it out, swiping up the new message. All I knew was that my assumption was wrong.

[Hwa ☕]
Meet me at 2 P.M., my place

"EH?!" I spit out my pain remedy, coughing while attracting the attention of everyone in the locale.

Naeon shot up, speeding around the table to hit me on the nape, hopefully, stop my burst.

"RAY, ARE YOU OKAY?"

"N-NO, I D-DON'T THINK SO-"

"BREATHE PLEASE!"

"HCK-"

° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

I sighed, peeking up at the suite complex. Quite tremendous, might I say.

Glancing down lazily, I brought my hand before my eyes, checking how the clock read 1:57 P.M.

"Early." I stifled a laugh, infiltrating through the white-painted entrance. I then skid toward the elevator, ready to use it, however, a large sign stopped any passerby from getting near the electrical panel.

'Not functional,' it said...

"Jeez, just my luck." I whistled, looking up the stairs. If it meant being ten minutes late, but get to finally confront Seonghwa, I was damn well going to do it. Furiously scowling, I got all my energies ready to pass through the inferno of climbing the stairs.

At the first level, I was determined. The fourth had me clutching the railing tightly, shaking like an old woman in a market.

Now, the seventh floor wasn't that hard, except for the image of a dying creature panting for dear life, but I wasn't going to stop. "I-It's my mission..." I rasped, dragging my legs toward the next misery.

When I hit the top, my knees almost gave out. "Why did I not follow Jongho to the gym back then?" I questioned myself, summoning the powers to stand on my feet properly. Brushing the dust on my shoulders, as well as the burden I carried to the comrade's door, I exhaled a deep breath. "Oh, you've got one huge storm coming."

Two steps ahead, and the whole block was sure to wake up from their afternoon nap.

"PARK SEONGHWA! OPEN UP BEFORE I BREAK YOUR-" I stopped mid-sentence as his entrance creaked, darkness welcoming me into his humble abode. "...door..." It was quiet, too quiet for my liking, so I couldn't possibly see anything inside.

"If this is some dumb joke of yours, I'm gonna whip out my black belt, alright?" I announced, tone dripping with a frightening vibe.

It wasn't something he did often, prank me. Hwa knew too well that I was a sensitive person and didn't take scares well, especially after that one time at the movie theater, when the monsters on screen were jumping from a building to another, growling after the protagonist.

Scary times, really...

Mustering a bit of courage, I puffed out my chest, stepping into the pitch-black that surrounded his living corners. If it weren't for the dim light of the hallway outside, I was going to freak out while the flash of my device shook in my trembling hands, for sure.

Out of nowhere, a pair of arms snuck from behind, settling onto my waist.

"WAH GET OFF, GET OFF, GET OFF!" With my pulse pumping and adrenaline running high, I couldn't help but set my panic mode on 100%, kicking every varmint that dared breathe my way.

"Calm down, Ray, it's me- it's Seonghwa, ACK THAT HURT, STOP IT!" His hands grabbed hold of mine, attempting to put a stop to my fit.

The familiar voice elicited confusion to overlook me. "Uh... Hwa?" Did I thump down in my bestie's apartment and smacked the living daylight out of him? No, I most definitely didn't do that.

"I need an ice pack now."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry-"

"SURPRISE!!!"

Not even a millisecond sooner, the room lightened immediately, seven males appearing into the sight, confetti, and cone hats adorning their ruffled hair, large grins plastered on their faces. The sight was almost unbelievable.

"How- when- why- but-" I stuttered, unable to form a rational sentence. Words just wouldn't pour out, no matter how much I tried yanking them out. At the contentment that reached my eyes, I melted, giving up on any seriosity that my system tried putting up with. "YOU GUYS~"

"Happy birthday, Ray!!!" They chuckled before blowing in their multicolored party horns, the noise leaving me dumbfounded. No one forgot, contrary to what I initially thought... Therefore, my birthday didn't mean just another day in the calendar, some other 24 hours to pass by without thinking it was someone's special moments of the year.

"You weren't kidding about that black belt!" Yunho slumped on the couch, laughing heartily.

"Yeah, poor Hyung will need serious recovery time." Pointed Mingi, following the other's gesture.

"Stay right there, Seonghwa." The blue-haired minion sighed, scurrying into the kitchen in search of that frosty touch.

Meanwhile, the boys settled around, finding common subjects to discuss, as well as the one that implied how their Hyung was now dwelling in pain.

"Did you have to hit that hard?" He asked, massaging the right side of his head.

"I- Serves you right." I scoffed, crossing my forearms over my chest. But then, I remembered my strength's potential and fidgeted for a bit. "Uhm... Will Hwa be okay?" I turned to face him, noticing how his expression melted into a smile.

"Hwa had to pass through worse. Of course, he'll be okay." He said sweetly before sucking a breath through his teeth. Ouch...

Limping forward, Seonghwa tried reaching one of the chairs in the living room. I couldn't help but dash and embrace him in a hug, my chin resting on his left shoulder blade. "Listen, I didn't mean to..." Despondently, I uttered. It honestly felt bad and somehow, I had to make up for it.

One of his hands ran up and down my back in a soothing manner, replacing the distress with comfort.

"I won't jump you in the dark next time, I promise. It was my fault, so you shouldn't feel like this at all."

And that's Hwa for you.

The one to never hurl blame on others, always facing the bright side of the matters and believing in all sorts of healing. The physical wounds? He was there to patch it up. The emotional ones? Also there to offer kind words and pats on the back, reminiscing that 'All passes.'

"It's alright... Say, whose idea was it?" I whined, retracting a tad and punching his chest lightly.

"Hmm... Mine. But the boys indeed helped with preparations and presents." He caressed his chin, seemingly thinking of the activities that the other males aided him with. "Oh, and Yeosang's sister was sweet enough to recommend things you'd like~"

"Huh- Naeon?... But you..." Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "Y-You didn't have to avoid me like that... I was so concerned that something might've happened- or that you wouldn't want to be friends with me anymore-" I stopped, sniffling in my sleeve as I glanced up at his expression.

It held responsibility, brows shifted in pity, something I told him I never needed. Carefully, he skipped the small distance, reeling me back in a heartwarming bear hug.

"I'd never do that to you. I'm so sorry, if only I had known-"

"It's good now, Hwa." I returned his gesture, squeezing all the air out of him, a huff straining from his lips.

"You truly are a gem, you know that?" He chuckled faintly, grinning at my halt.

In a puzzled manner, my chin raised, pressing against his broad chest. "For real?"

He hummed, taking a stride back to look down at me, and in a moment as such, I find myself envying his height once again. Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, Seonghwa seemed to realize the fact and tried getting my mind off of it. Honestly, there were no better words that could've left his mouth.

"Now! Wanna open some presents?" He asked excitedly, a bright smile shining in the gleaming environment.

"P-Presents?! LET'S GO, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?"

<3

{A/N: The reader's name is Ray in this one, hence why the chapter is titled "Surprise"; a present for a very dear friend of mine, and I hope she enjoyed it.

Happy birthday, ryseongie !!! I wish all of your dreams and ambitions come true <3 Thanxx for being a light in my life, you deserve all the happiness there is! Love you!}