Requested.

You had expected candles, cake, maybe the cheap soda dripping on the table. You had expected Su-ho to grin like he always did, loud and careless, pretending birthdays did not matter while secretly loving them. 'Cause well, that's how it should've gone.

You hadn't expected blood on Si-eun’s knuckles or the way Yeong-i’s breath shook.

The room had been warm, lights dimmed, the cake sitting untouched. Su-ho had been late, sprawled somewhere while pretending to only 'rest' his eyes---continuosly insisting on the fact he wasn't asleep even though it was pretty much obvious, trusting the night to wait for him. Si-eun had checked his phone once, then again. You had noticed the tension before he said anything. When he stood up, you had followed without asking why.

Outside, the air had been cold and sharp. Si-eun had walked fast. You had kept up, your shoes slapping against the pavement, heart already racing. When you reached Yeong-i, cornered and scared, there had been no time to think. Only to move.

You had stepped in. You had shouted. You had grabbed a wrist, kicked a shin, pulled Yeong-i back when she stumbled. Si-eun had fought like he always did—precise, desperate, making it look like he was a champion even though he wasn't actually that great, only determined. Together, the three of you had been enough. Not unhurt, not untouched, but enough to leave on your feet.

By the time you returned, the city had gone quiet. It was past 2am Streetlights hummed like they were tired too.

You opened the door slowly.

Su-ho was awake.

He was sitting on the floor, back against the couch, birthday hat tilted crooked on his head. The candles on the cake had burned down to nothing. Wax had pooled and hardened. When he looked up, relief flashed across his face—bright and instant—before confusion took over.

“Where did you go?” He said. Then he frowned as he let his eyes scan you all. “Why do you look like that?”

You tried to smile. It did not work.

Si-eun took off his jacket. Yeong-i stood close to you, fingers still curled into your sleeve like she was afraid you might disappear again.

Su-ho stood up too fast. “Hey,” He said, laugh uneasy. “Did I miss something? Is this a surprise I wasn’t invited to?”

You walked toward him. Up close, you saw how worried he really was, how his eyes searched your face first. You touched his wrist, grounding yourself.

“We had to help Yeong-i,” You said. Your voice sounded small in the quiet room.

Su-ho’s smile faded. He looked at Si-eun. Then at Yeong-i. Then back at you. “Help how?”

Si-eun spoke calmly, like always. He explained. He did not dramatize it. He did not apologize. He just told the truth.

Su-ho listened in silence.

When Si-eun finished, he ran a hand through his hair. He laughed once, sharp and breathless. “So,” He said, “You all went out, fought, came back at two in the morning, and left me with a dead cake? All while I slept?"

You waited for him to get angry, or blame himself.

Instead, he stepped closer to you. He cupped your face gently, thumbs brushing over the faint bruise on your cheek. His voice dropped.

“Did you get hurt?” He asked, more serious.

You shook your head. “Not badly.”

He exhaled slowly, forehead resting against yours. “You’re insane,” He said softly, then pulling back to look at the other two. “All of you.”

You smiled this time. It worked.

Yeong-i bowed her head. “I’m sorry” She said, but it was already half-hearted.

Su-ho looked at her and grinned again. “Don’t be. I guess this makes it a memorable birthday.”

He turned back to you. “Still,” A pause, “Next time you disappear on my birthday, at least leave a note.”

You laughed. He did too. The tension loosened.

You sat together on the floor. He cut the ruined cake anyway, handing you the first piece. It tasted too sweet, a little burnt.

At 2:17am, with bruises hidden and secrets shared, he closed his eyes and made a wish.

Later, Si-eun and Yeong-i fell asleep. Su-ho patched your knuckles.

"Well, I got better after getting patched up so much myself, didn't I?" He huffed a quiet laugh.