Just A Number

My birthday was in 2 days, I have no idea how fast the weeks would go by, I’ve been working nonstop keeping myself busy. Of course, I hadn’t made any plans on doing anything for my birthday, I pretty much stopped celebrating it after I turned 24, I mean it’s no reason to, however, this time Minyong told me to take a week off on my birthday since she has plans for me. I’ve been asking her every day until now what the hell we’re doing, and still, I get no answers.

“C’mon at least give me a hint!” I begged holding on to her arm as she was trying to eat her ramen. “Ya! Let go!” she swatted at me, “Why won’t you tell me, I did what you asked! And plus, I deserve to know considering it’s MY birthday!” she rolls her eyes blowing on her noodles, “please!” I groaned, “Alright only if you shut up!” “Yay!” I clapped my hands, “I’m only going to give you a hint so be grateful,” I leaned towards her on the table waiting for her to finish chewing, “Sunscreen,” “What?” “You heard me, sunscreen.” “What the hell does that have to do with my birthday?” She rolled her eyes continuing on eating, “That’s all I’m saying, now go away.” “Ugh, whatever.” My phone vibrated and it was a text from Seokjin,

Jin: Ready?

Oh crap, I forgot we plan to hang out today,

Me: Yes!

Jin: Cool, send me your address I’ll pick you up.

In less than 15 mins he was already here, I walked outside and saw a red 2 door Kia parked out front, he waved at me from the driver’s side. “Hey, nice ride!” I say sliding into the car, “Thanks, it’s pretty new, I saved enough for it,” he chuckles. We decided to go to an American Restaurant ‘Hard Rock Café’ to try out the food. “Wow, I haven’t eaten American food in years,” I laughed as I was going through the menu, “I was just there last week,” Seokjin sipped his lemon water, “Really?” “Yeah, for a small fashion show in California, I love it out there.”

“That’s cool I never been to California, only just the east coast there, my grandpa is from Virginia,” “Oh really? So you’re mixed American?” “Kind of, my mom is half American and half Korean, she was born in Daegu and moved to America when she was 5, and then moved back to Korea with my grandma since my grandparents divorced. So, she went to Uni here in Seoul where she met my dad.” “Are your parents still here?” “No, my mom moved back to America to be with my grandpa since he’s sick, my mom and dad divorced a while ago, last time I heard from my dad he was living in Osan, we’re not that close.”

I bit my lip, my dad and I used to be close when I was younger until I found out he was having an affair with another woman. After the divorce, my mom would make me call or visit him for us to maintain a relationship but I didn’t want to, I couldn’t stand the sight of him, he didn’t just hurt my mom he hurt me as well and I hated him for it. After I turned 18 my mother stop forcing me to continue a relationship with him, I guess because I was legally an adult and could make my own decisions, which hadn’t changed.

I haven’t spoken to my father since. “Sorry about that,” Seokjin stared at me, “No you’re fine that’s all in the past,” I smiled. We both spent the afternoon eating and walked at a nearby parking just talking about work, fashion, and our favorite foods, Seokjin is my first actual guy friend that I have made and it felt nice. We have a lot in common and it doesn’t feel weird being out with him knowing we only see each other as just friends.

“Any plans for your birthday?” he asked moving back in forth on the swing, “Mm, not sure my best friend Minyong has something planned for us, she made me take a week off from work but won’t tell me anything about it.” “Ooo, sounds like you’re going to have fun if she isn’t saying anything. What about your boyfriend, Junho, is he going to spend time with you?” My eyes widen, I forgot I told him about ‘Junho’, how are we friends and I can’t even tell him who I’m actually dating, “Mm, no, he’s going to be really busy working.” I said sounding a bit sad, “Oh that sucks, hopefully he can make it up to you.” Yeah.” I replied, “hopefully.”



I sigh looking at my exhausted face in the mirror, it’s May 31, my birthday. I’m officially 29 years old, how depressing. It was early in morning and I was getting ready to start my birthday week with Minyong. I walked out of the bathroom after my shower to Minyong’s room to ask her what I should wear for the day, “Min?” I knocked on her door, no answer, don’t tell me she’s still asleep when she was the one who told me to be up and ready by 7am!

I opened her door getting ready to attack her on her bed but no one was in the room. “Min?!” I called out in the apartment, it was empty. Did she…ditch me?! Just then my phone ranged, it was her. “Bish where the hell are you!?” “Easy there killer I had to run to the convenience store for some stuff, could you come down and help me with bags?” What?! I have to help her with shit on MY birthday?! “Ugh, fine,” I rolled my eyes hanging up. I put on a plain white tee-shirt and some cute jogging shorts and ran down the stairs, I mean it’s still really early so I don’t think I need to get fancy now.

As I walked out the complex door I saw her standing in the parking lot with…no bags. “Min…what the hell?” I walked up to her, she was just smiling at me, “What are you doing?” She threw her arms out grabbing me for a hug, she hugs me tight, “W-what?” “Happy Birthday!” she lets go of me, “T-thank you, but what? What are you doing?” I asked so perplexed, “Yuna, you deserve all of this, you’re going to have a great time!” she exclaimed, “Deserv--?”


Two hands gently grabbed both of my shoulders, I turned around and my eyes boggled, “Namjoon, Jimin, Hoseok?!” “Happy Birthday!” They all said in unison. “What…what are you guys doing here?!” “We’re here to take you to the airport,” Jimin smiled “What?!” “You’re going on a trip!” Hoseok pinches my cheeks, “But why? I’m just going to be with Minyong?” “Mmm nope she's not going,” Namjoon chuckled, I turned around to look at Minyong for answers she was just grinning from ear to ear, “Then who am I going on a trip with…?” The answer from her lips almost made my heart stop,

“Jungkook.”

Notes