The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the living room as Minho and Lily, weary but triumphant, surveyed their handiwork. Two hours had melted away in a flurry of folds and creases, the air thick with the scent of paper and the murmur of their shared endeavour. Minho, slumped against the plush cushions of the couch, exhaled a long, drawn-out sigh. The effort had taken its toll; exhaustion clung to him like a second skin. Across from him, Lily, her eyes sparkling with unrestrained glee, launched herself from the couch, a jubilant shout escaping her lips, "THEY ARE READY!"
On the coffee table, a miniature origami had come to life. A regal lion, its paper mane a testament to Lily's meticulous guidance, stood tall and proud. Beside it, a sleek, black cat, crafted with a delicate touch, gazed upwards, its small form a study in contrast. The lion, larger and more imposing, seemed to offer silent protection, while the cat, dwarfed in size, looked up with an air of admiration. "They are so cute! They look just like you two!" Lily exclaimed, her voice brimming with delight.
Minho, lost in a haze of post-origami fatigue, barely registered her words. He simply flopped back against the couch, a weary murmur escaping his lips, "I don't want to see paper ever again..." Lily's lips curved into a playful smirk as she turned towards him, her voice laced with gentle sarcasm. "Oh, come on! You did pretty well!" Minho, the corners of his mouth lifting in a grateful smile, acknowledged her compliment. "Yeah, thanks to you. If you weren't here, I was going to give up on the first fail."
Lily's smile softened, and she settled back onto the couch beside him. "I am glad to help! He will definitely like them! I will give you a box to put them in. I have an extra box in my suitcase. I will go grab it." Minho straightened his posture, gratitude etched across his features. "Thanks, Lily." Lily beamed, springing to her feet once more. "No problem at all! Let me go get it!" Minho nodded, already beginning to gather the stray scraps of paper. "Okay, I will tidy up here." With that, Lily bounded towards the stairs, disappearing into the upper reaches of the house, leaving Minho to gather the remnants of their creation before Seo-Jun's return.
But then the door to the living room creaked open, the sound slicing through the quiet like a shard of glass. Minho froze, his heart hammering against his ribs. Seo-Jun. He was early. Panic seized him, a cold hand gripping his gut. The coffee table, a battlefield of scattered papers. With a swiftness born of desperation, Minho swept the papers into a trash bag, his movements frantic. He snatched the two delicate origami figures and tucked them carefully into his sweater pocket.
Seo-Jun's gaze, sharp and questioning, landed on him. A frown etched itself onto his face as he surveyed the scene: Minho, standing next to the coffee table, clutching a trash bag. The air crackled with unspoken suspicion.
"What are you doing?" Seo-Jun's voice was low, laced with a thread of uncertainty. Minho turned, his face a mask of forced nonchalance. "Nothing! Just... cleaning up a bit." The words felt hollow, inadequate even to his own ears. Seo-Jun's confusion lingered, but he let it pass, his attention shifting. "Where's Lily?" But before Minho could answer, a voice, clear and vibrant, cut through the tension. "Jun! Coming! Just a moment!" It was Lily, who was upstairs, walking towards her room. Seo-Jun, oblivious, settled onto the couch, his attention captured by his phone.
Minho, seizing the opportunity, slipped away, the trash bag his shield, and disappeared into the kitchen. He disposed of the evidence, then ascended the stairs, his steps quick and purposeful.
Lily awaited him, her eyes alight with a mixture of excitement and urgency. "Minho! Here!" she whispered, beckoning him closer. She pressed a small, unassuming box into his hands, a sanctuary for the origami. "Put them in here! Quickly, before he finds out!"
Minho obeyed, his fingers trembling slightly as he carefully placed the folded paper figures within the box. "Now, go hide them! Surprise him!" Lily commanded, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. With a final, reassuring nod, she turned and closed the door, leaving Minho alone as she prepared to light the candles on the cake, the sweet scent of vanilla already beginning to fill the air.
Minho hesitated in front of Lily's door, the polished wood reflecting his troubled expression. "Where should I put them?" he whispered, the question hanging in the air. His gaze drifted, settling on the closed door of Seo-Jun's room, a sense of both dread and determination hardening his features. He began to walk, his footsteps echoing softly on the wooden floor, each step amplifying the turmoil within him. He reached the door, his hand hovering over the handle before pushing it open.
Inside the room, his eyes were drawn to the drawer beside Seo-Jun's bed, the destination now clear. He moved towards it, his thoughts racing. "Is he really going to like them?... or am I being stupid again for making them?" he wondered, the weight of his efforts pressing down on him. He placed the box on the nightstand, the wood cool beneath his fingertips. Beside the box, a pen lay innocently, and from his pocket, he retrieved a small, crumpled piece of paper. Earlier he quickly tried to conceal everything, but one fragment of the papers escaped his grasp and it was now in his pocket. He picked it up, the pen now clutched tightly in his hand. A sigh escaped him as he began to write, the words flowing from him in a torrent of unspoken thoughts. Once finished, he placed the note on top of the box and folded it, a final act of communication, and then he left the room. As he descended the stairs, he could hear Seo-Jun's voice, low and even, "Is Lily still upstairs?" "Yes." Minho replied, matching his tone. "Prepare the dinner." came the command. Minho bowed, a mixture of obedience and suppressed emotion, and moved towards the kitchen, the anticipation of the present and the uncertainty of Seo-Jun's reaction, heavy on his heart.
The tranquility of the evening was shattered by Lily's boisterous shout, her voice echoing through the living room and kitchen, a beacon of excitement. "JUN! CLOSE YOUR EYES, I HAVE A SURPRISE!" The command, laced with anticipation, sent a ripple of mirth across Seo-Jun's face as he rose from the couch, his back facing the descending stairs. Curiosity piqued, Minho, from his vantage point in the kitchen, cautiously peeked out, his heart quickening.
Lily, her face alight with a radiant smile, approached Seo-Jun, the air crackling with joyful energy. "Okay, you can turn now!" she announced, her voice brimming with playful glee. Seo-Jun, his eyes now open, turned to face his sister, and in that moment, Lily's proclamation filled the room: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIG BROTHER!" In her hands, she held a pristine small white cake, its surface adorned with a vibrant red inscription that declared the momentous occasion: "Happy 32nd birthday!"
A hearty laugh escaped Seo-Jun's lips as he embraced Lily, his voice filled with warmth, "Thank you, Lily!" Her words, a tender expression of affection, followed, "My big brother... I love you so much, you know this, right?" Seo-Jun's smile widened as he responded, "I know, and I love you just as much, little sis." Their embrace, a testament to their unbreakable bond, lingered in the air.
Minho, witnessing the scene, found himself unable to suppress a slight smile, the warmth of their affection washing over him. Turning back to his task, he resumed preparing dinner, a sense of contentment settling over him. The candles were blown out, and the two moved to the kitchen. Later, as Minho tidied the kitchen, Lily and Seo-Jun settled on the couch, their attention captured by the TV. A subtle smirk played on Lily's lips as she feigned a yawn, her words a gentle signal. "I will go to bed now. I am still adjusting to the time zone here." Seo-Jun, understanding the unspoken message, smiled and nodded, "Good night." Lily, with a playful lilt, responded, "Nightt."
Instead of the sanctuary of her room, she veered toward the kitchen, where Minho, was ready tidying up, awaited. She approached him, her voice a conspiratorial murmur, "Now it's your turn! Give him the present and tell me tomorrow how it went!" A nervous giggle escaped Minho, the weight on his shoulders lightening slightly. "Okay." he whimpered, the word barely audible. Lily disappeared upstairs, leaving Minho alone in the quiet of the kitchen.
He turned his gaze to Seo-Jun, who was sprawled on the living room couch, his attention seemingly captured by the flickering images on the television screen. Minho felt a familiar knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach as he began his slow trek toward the couch. The distance between them felt like an endless expanse, each step amplifying the pounding of his heart. The air crackled with tension, a silent battle waged between anticipation and dread. As he drew closer, he noticed the dim lighting of the living room, shadows dancing across Seo-Jun's face, making it impossible to read his expression. "Did you finish tidying up the kitchen?" Seo-Jun's voice cut through the silence, a casual question that belied the underlying tension. Minho nodded, then mumbled, "Sir... I wanted to tell you something..."
Seo-Jun's lips curved into a smirk. "You are horny, aren't you? We can have sex tonight, actually, if you-" Before he could finish, Minho's cheeks flushed crimson. "No, sir! I don't want to do it while your sister is here!" he blurted out, his voice sharp with a mixture of defiance and embarrassment. The words hung in the air, a stark contrast to the usual deference he displayed. Seo-Jun leaned back against the couch, the smirk still playing on his lips. "Oh, please. She already knows about us. It won't surprise her if we do it." The blush deepened on Minho's face, and he spoke with a firmness that surprised even himself. "No! I came to talk with you about something else!" The weight of his unsaid words pressed down on him, a burden he could no longer bear.
The smirk vanished from Seo-Jun's face, replaced by a sudden seriousness. "What is it?" he asked, his voice now devoid of any playful undertones. The shift in his tone sent a shiver down Minho's spine. Minho hesitated, the words catching in his throat. He closed his eyes, bowed his head slightly, and finally spoke, his voice barely a whisper, "I still haven't wished you happy birthday... Happy birthday, sir..." The silence that followed was thick with unspoken emotions. Seo-Jun's expression remained unreadable, his gaze steady and unwavering as he stared at Minho. The words, sharp and dismissive, sliced through the air. "You wanted to tell me just that? Ha, pathetic as always." Seo-Jun's sigh, a puff of exasperation, hung heavy in the dimly lit room. Minho, caught off guard, his surprise quickly morphing into a simmering anger, stared at him, a silent confession in his eyes.
Seo-Jun, seemingly unaffected by the unspoken defiance, rose from the couch. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed." His voice, devoid of warmth, cut through the tense atmosphere like a shard of ice. With a final, indifferent glance, he brushed past Minho, his footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor as he ascended the stairs, leaving Minho alone in the gathering shadows.
A surge of fury coursed through Minho, his hands clenching into fists, knuckles white. "Why am I even disappointed?" he thought, the words a desperate attempt to quell the rising tide of hurt. "He has always acted like this with me... I shouldn't feel hurt by his words. He didn't tell me anything different..." Yet, the words offered no solace. The anger ebbed, replaced by a hollow ache. He unclenched his fists, the tension leaving his body. "Is it because of Lily?" he wondered, the question a whisper in the silence. "After seeing how he acts around her... do I want him to act differently with me too?" The realisation struck him like a physical blow, a painful truth he could no longer ignore. He sighed, the sound a release of pent-up emotion, and turned toward the stairs, the weight of his unspoken desires heavy on his shoulders.
Seo-Jun entered his room, the familiar space a haven after a long, tiring day. The air hung heavy with the scent of his cologne and the subtle musk of his own presence. He began to unbutton his shirt, each button a small act of shedding the day's stresses. His gaze, however, was soon drawn to an unexpected sight – a small, unassuming box perched on the nightstand beside his bed. A frown creased his brow, a mixture of curiosity and a hint of annoyance, as he approached the mysterious object.
He reached out, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the box. A note lay on top, its edges slightly curled, as if it had been hastily placed there. He picked the box up and placed the note, without reading it, on the nightstand. "What is this now?" he muttered, the words laced with a familiar weariness, a sigh escaping his lips. But as he lifted the lid and peered inside, his expression underwent a subtle transformation. Surprise flickered across his features, chasing away the earlier annoyance, his eyes widening slightly. He reached in, his fingers closing around the contents, the texture of the item causing a small smile.
He held the origami up, examining them with a newfound interest, the soft glow of the room reflecting in his eyes. His gaze then drifted back to the note, and he unfolded it, the simple words catching his attention. "At least I tried. Happy birthday. -Minho." A genuine laugh escaped his lips, a sound that softened the sharp angles of his face, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room. He looked at the origami, his lips curving into a smirk. "He really is a kid." he thought, a hint of fondness colouring his words. With a final glance at the contents of the box, he picked it up and walked towards the bathroom. He then threw the box into the trash bin and went to take a shower, the water washing away the remnants of the day.