A/N; if you could imagine that everyone involved in the story is of the same age that would be great! I understand there's 00 liners, a 95, a 96 liner and a 99 liner. I'd like to think of them all being around 19/20.

Heiji POV

"Thank you so much," I smiled at the cheerful face standing before me. "You didn't have to do this."

"But I wanted to, it's really no problem," He returned the smile, as I fidgeted with my free hand unoccupied by the bouquet of daisies Seoho had just handed me. Cliché, I thought, but I would  keep those words in my mind to spare hurting his feelings, because I actually care about them. "Is anyone home?"

He takes a peak at the living room over my shoulder, and I open the door further. "You can come in, my mother is working today." 

"On your birthday?" He asks with wide eyes and I nod, it seems like a bigger deal to everyone else apart from me. "I just don't want you to be alone today, Deiji."

(Deiji ↠ 'daisy', cliché).

My mother typically wouldn't mind the presence of Seoho in the house, he's been my friend long enough and she can trust us together. Although her even reminding me that she trusts us to 'get up to no funny business' whilst she's away turns my stomach even more now than it ever did. The more time I spent with Seoho over the past two years, I found myself noticing strange little habits he has whenever he is around me, which has led me to believe that he sees me as more than a friend. However, I could just be being overly narcissistic, enough to ever believe a guy as pretty as him and as lovely as him could ever like me.

 "Do you want to get dinner? Maybe we could order something," I suggest. "And watch a movie?" He smiles and nods in return, and I know exactly what to order for him already. Not that he doesn't have a choice...  but it is my birthday. 

Once the food is ordered, I plop myself on the couch beside him, pushing out the recliner and reaching for the remote. He doesn't question the food that I ordered for us, nor the movie I chose. The dream man. 

"Should we invite the others over later?" He suddenly pipes up.

On the one hand it was a lovely suggestion, having all my friends in the one place to celebrate my birthday and have a great time. On the other hand, however, a part of me felt reluctant. It's not that I don't want to see my best friends, but I don't like the idea of having a fuss made of me on my birthday, their posts on Instagram were enough to make me feel somewhat overwhelmed. Another part of me felt a bit let down that Seoho didn't want to spend this time with me himself, I then began to question if I was deluded for thinking he ever liked me. 

"Hello? Earth to Heiji?" He yanks the blanket sitting on my laptop. I put on a smile, a half hearted one. 

"Sure, probably better they come after the food arrives? I don't want to make them jealous or feel left out, either or is horrible," He nodded, taking out his phone to assumedly text them. 

We sit in silence, it isn't an uncomfortable silence because my thoughts are all over the place, too all over the place to acknowledge whatever Seoho is doing beside me. One thought is that I am starving, and the others are mostly swarmed with the thought of my friends coming over and making this birthday a bigger fuss than what it is. And why the hell I was so bothered that Seoho didn't want me all to himself for the night... (and that sounds wrong but whatever).

I sighed as the doorbell rang. "I'll get that," I say, running over to fetch money from my purse and run to the door. I am so darn hungry. 

"Good evening, order for Miss Song?" A young man in casual clothing says, holding the plastic bag with our food in it - and its a pretty big bag. I nodded as he traded the bags for the money in my hand. 

"Please, keep the change as a tip," I smiled and bowed.

"This is far too much, but thank you," He looks up to smile at me, whilst Seoho appears behind me with another wad of change to give as a tip. "I can't accept both."

"Please, it's no problem, you've came a long way," I look out to see his small car parked outside the driveway. Both the car and face seem familiar so I try to get a better look at him as he smiles in gratitude at me before turning away. "Excuse me, do I know you?"

"I'm not too sure," he hesitantly turns back to face me. "Kim Sunwoo, if that sounds familiar?"

My eyes widen slightly, my breath hitched in my throat. He was as handsome as I could remember from high school, although I couldn't imagine that he would ever remember me. Even though we only left high school a little over a year ago, he never noticed anyone apart from those in his small circle. I'd know, because I had tried too many times to get even a glimpse from him and never succeeded. 

"You're Song Heiji, right?" He says, taking a small step back towards me. "The smart girl from my sociology class?"

I nodded, a weird sense of nervousness taking over my body and causing me to act almost too awkwardly. Probably due to the fact that I would often fantasise about him whilst in that class, since it was the only class we had together. I often crossed my fingers and even prayed, although not religious, that we'd even be put in a group project together or sat near each other so I could get a better look at him. However fate was never on my side, or maybe it was, as I got over my silly high school crush quickly. 

"Ah yes, nice to see you again," I bowed again and I haven't the faintest clue why. "You're looking... nice too, yeah, nice to see you again." 

"I'll be on my way," he laughs and I want to crawl into a hole and die, or sew my mouth shut. I waved slightly before going to shut my front door, but I heard a group of laughter and chatter from my street and recognised the sound. "Oh hey man!" I heard Sunwoo say.

I seen Hyunjae approach him, pulling him in for a hug as they began chatting. I wasn't surprised considering Hyunjae literally got on with everyone in high school, even guys like Sunwoo and his gang, he was just that friendly and likeable. Lia rolls her eyes at the two and skips towards my door with a bottle bag in her hand and a card. I smile at her as she approaches and hugs me, as Mia, Sungyoon and Haknyeon trail behind her. 

"Now I feel bad," I pouted as she observed my face and I held up the bag. "Me and Seoho ordered food without you guys, I didn't think you'd be here this early or even at all."

"I for one aren't bothered, Haknyeon might be, but I'm sure he'll resolve his anger by stealing your food," She hands me my gift, wriggling her eyebrows "but most importantly, you and Seoho all alone?"

I laugh and smack her arm lightly, as Seoho mutters "I can hear you" as Lia runs over to sit with him.

I greet everyone else as they come in, hugging me and saying happy birthday. Haknyeons nose twitches as he approaches me, eyeing the bag in my hand. "This betrayal could all be forgotten if you give me some." 

"Sure," I push him into the house playfully, still waiting at the door for Hyunjae to finish rekindling his bromance with Sunwoo. I stand there awkwardly as they laugh and seemingly reminisce, conscious of the food getting cold. Almost as though he read my mind, Sunwoos head turns to look at me, smiling softly.

"I better get going man, your food will be cold," He pats Hyunjaes shoulder. "Gotta get back to work as well, but hopefully we can catch up sometime?"

"No one told me about the food!" Hyunjaes head snaps towards me and I shrug. "But I'll text you and we can meet up."

I ignore the rest of the conversation, looking at my friends all gathered on the couches laughing. I have good friends, and I'm truly grateful for them. As Hyunjae steps in, he ruffles my hair and engulfs me in a big hug. However, I can't help but to look over his shoulder to see Sunwoo getting into his car and giving me a small wave and smile. My high school heart would have combusted, but that's not to say I didn't feel somewhat giddy now when he even glanced in my direction. But, I didn't truly know him, despite his god-like looks and angel eyes, I knew his reputation did not mirror that. Then again, why am I even bothered?

"Hurry before Haknyeon withers away to nothing!" Lea shouts, as I tear my gaze from Sunwoo. Bringing the bag through, I sit down beside Haknyeon and Seoho before dishing out the food as equally as I could. Mia turns up the television as everyone tunes into Be With You. It's gonna be a long night, but a good one at that. 

----------------------------

"This is too much unnecessary fuss!" I try to hide my embarrassed face as Mia approaches with a candle lit cake which she managed to sneak in her bag without me even considering the possibility. 

Lea cuddles into my side whilst Seoho ruffles my hair playfully, Sungyoon singing loudly in my face, his breath almost blowing out the candles. I mean, it would probably work in my favour so I don't have to sit through another minute of staring awkwardly at the candles waiting for everyone to finish this never-ending song. 

I hear the front door open and a familiar voice say "Make a wish!", as everyone turns to greet my mother. She's smiling widely, holding a large balloon in her nurse uniform. "Maybe wish that your mum doesn't kick your ass for having a party whilst she's away at work."

Though this may seem serious, my mum is playful and carefree that way. She loves my friends and again trusts everyone enough to gather in the house whilst she's away. In a way, I think she's more so thankful and appreciative that I have good friends who can keep me company when she can't. She truly is my best friend.

She puts her arm over Mia as I blow out the candles. I didn't really have to make a wish. I'm content with a lot of things in my life, and if I ever am not, it's something I can work towards and change. I'm thankful that I can think this way, I know not everyone has the pleasure of doing so. 

The night went on smoothly, everyone talking, laughing, singing, having a good time - it was more than I could have ever asked for. Haknyeon had fell asleep on my shoulder, everyone was growing considerably tired. 

"You guys don't need to stick around," I announce looking at everyone's tired eyes. "I know we all have proper lives now."

It was sad but true, some of us were working proper jobs whilst the others worked part time to make ends meet whilst studying. We weren't in the prime of our youth anymore, and my 20th birthday reminded me of just that. Sure, we're not that old, but we have much more responsibility than we ever have, and that is scary. 

As I tidied up the dishes and cups, cleaning the table, one by one everyone started to get ready to leave. Hyunjae would walk Lia home west and Sungyoon would walk with Mia and Haknyeon to their end of the city, and I assumed Seoho would be joining them until he stuck around once they were all gone, insisting he would be safe.

"Thank you for the idea of inviting everyone over," He softly smiles whilst handing me the birthday present bags people had left beside the couches. "I didn't need any of it, but thanks to you I had a great birthday."

"It's not a problem," He says, walking out the front door as I follow, standing on the decking outside the front porch. "It was kind of my plan all along."

I gasped, pulling him in for a hug. "Well, thank you again, you're the sweetest."

"My pleasure," He pulls away from the hug and stands almost too awkwardly in front of me. "I'll get home safe."

"Please do," I smile and nod. He looks like he wants to say something but I can't be too sure. He nods again, turning away on the ball of his foot and walking down the stairs. "Will you text when you're home?" 

His response is delayed and his back is still turned, and it makes me feel weird inside, as if I had done something wrong. "Would you want to do something tomorrow? Just me and you?"

"I have classes tomorrow," I start, he slowly turns around ready to speak again but I cut him off. "But if we could arrange something around it, I would."

His whole demeanour changes, as though a weight had been lifted. "Since I didn't really give you a birthday present... a mate date would suffice, perhaps?" A mate date. I knew I was a deluded moron, but I didn't let the surprise of his words play upon my face.

"Perfect, just text me and we can sort it," I said hurriedly. "Even though you have done enough for me today."

He smiles and nods, walking down the pathway onto the street, sending me a small wave over his shoulder. I took no time in getting inside and closing the door behind me, desperate to just go to sleep and be away from my thoughts for once. But with his words on my mind and Sunwoo's face accompanying, I had a feeling I would find it difficult to sleep tonight.