#tl — bday xxiii.

[rowonlgc]

minjun asked one of the hyungs in dorm F for permission and left a box on top of rowon’s bed. inside the main box, there would be a smaller, black velvet one, and inside there would be a white gold bracelet. it’s simple, with an inscription inside that reads ‘from the first to the last season. always.’

the second parcel is a thinner one and is wrapped in silk paper. inside there are 4 polaroid pictures that show a view from a rooftop at night. between the buildings, the sun setting can be seen, except for the last picture, which was taken at night with the light coming from the said buildings. every picture would have an inscription of the season it had been taken. along with it, there was also a drawing of a cozy kitchen, a sketch of a dream, an inspiration, along with a letter written in the back

to my dearest hyung,     I spent a long time trying to find the perfect gift for you but whenever i thought about it, they all seemed…not suitable. so let me write about something else. first, let’s get the main reason you’re reading this letter off the way, which is to wish you the best of birthdays. we will be practicing so it’s a shame i won’t get to talk to you the entire day, but i would like to wish your journey is full of accomplishments, and i promise i will be closely watching and cheering for you every day.     i sincerely want to thank you, hyung. i know it’s your birthday but i can never stop thanking you for being around me this whole time. i’m not the easiest person to be with, and sometimes not the best, i know, but i value every moment i get to spend with you. thank you for all the late-night talks on the rooftop, borrowed hoodies and the movies watched during the days off, thank you for showing up in my swimming competition, chuseok and cooking meals together. without you i’m certain i wouldn’t realize home isn’t a place, but a feeling and sometimes, a person. for every spring, summer, autumn and winter to come, i hope i can still be by your side.     happy birthday,     love, minjunnie.

  little by little, bit by bit.

  he reads the letter, then he reads it again.

  for years, he thought happiness only came in highs – heart racing, adrenaline rushing, bright smiles, and bright lights – temporary, inevitably timed, like each season passing by.  what he finds in these written words is not that.  there’s a mellow warmth that resides within him, one that he’s nurtured for a while now.  it’s subtle, but it’s stable.  most days, it goes without acknowledgment.

  but little by little, bit by bit, this warmth makes itself known.

  he feels it flicker when he wakes on his side, wrist resting against his pillow where his head lies.  the white-gold bracelet is the first thing he sees.  it’s a good morning he has come to recognize.

  he feels it flutter when he stops by the window to water the small plant that’s reminiscent of the ones detailed in the cozy kitchen.  it sits across from the illustration that he has framed on his desk.

  and he feels it flare when he looks through the polaroids in the exact same spot they were taken.  the last one – winter – differs from the rest.  he wonders, albeit briefly, if he was there that night and if that is why.

  little by little, bit by bit.

  he leans against the rooftop and watches the sun as it starts to set.  words aren’t enough.  he has thanked minjun for the gifts, shown him his wrist, his desk, the polaroids tucked safely in the back of his phone case – but none of that captures how happy they make him.  no, not just happy.  warm.  comfortable.

  a small smile settles on his lips.

  he can get used to this.

[rowonlgc]

tae was someone who was really good at giving gifts. he hardly ever was nervous. but when rowon said he wanted him for his birthday present what was he suppose to do? deny his best friend what he wanted? not a chance. so right before he knew that rowon would get home from work he playfully fixed the card on top of the huge box in their shared bedroom and then hid under it.     note -> ‘lift box for present’ from hyuntae    now all he had to do was wait for rowon to come home and lift the box. when would he actually get home? hours? minutes? only time would tell.

   rowon stops short the second he spots a large box sitting in the middle of the room.  it’s rather indistinctive aside from its sheer size .. which is an immediate cause of concern in it of itself.  while his dormmates aren’t known for pranks – at least, not in his experience – he doesn’t fully trust some of them.  his steps are careful, cautious.  he inches closer and closer until he catches a glimpse of the note.  from hyuntae.  ah.  safe, then.

   but it’s strange.  the box is notably not sealed at the bottom, and hyuntae doesn’t seem like someone who would miss such a detail like that –

   “i wonder what this is,”  rowon drawls, his words almost sing-song as he strolls around the gift to add to the suspense.  “hm, knowing tae, he would’ve put a lot of thought into it .. could it be an electric scooter?  a treasure chest of snacks?  a puppy perhaps, or the best gift of all –”  he lifts the box abruptly.  “– the gifter himself.”  a smile curls along his lips.  “aren’t presents supposed to come with a bow on top?”  rowon looks around the room before retrieving a red bow from a present he’d received earlier.  he places it on hyuntae’s head.  “there we go.”

   “adorable.”  his eyes gleam as his hands come down to squish hyuntae’s cheeks to the same shade of red.  “you’re mine for the rest of the day.”

[rowonlgc]

🎂 Hanbin planned to surprise Rowon with a special birthday gift, texting him to meet at midnight, under the cover of a night, snowy sky. The gif box holds a small bunny plushie, grasping onto a perfume bottle tightly. He searched for quite some time until he found the exact scent Rowon wears. "Happy Birthday, Rowon~!"

   amidst a snowy landscape, in-between breaths of bitter cold air, rowon arrives with his signature red scarf, adorned with the yellow-gold bracelet he’d received just days prior. he’s in a particularly good mood tonight, and this second gift from hanbin just makes it all that much better. the small plushie is as adorable as what it’s meant to represent, though rowon can’t help but notice the way in which it firmly grasps the bottle – whether intentional or not, he likes how it reads.

   “you wanted to be the first,” he muses, testing the perfume on his pulse. it’s the precise one that he wears around hanbin: a fusion of his favourite with a top note that’s reminiscent of a certain bunny – not a well-known scent, so it must’ve taken a while to find. he rests his wrist against the side of hanbin’s neck, hand curling around the warm nape, thumb brushing along the curve of a softer jawline. “i appreciate that.”

   and then – his hand slips off. he leans closer. the perfume drifts between them, and this time, it’s not as subtle. mm. rowon hums, pleased. “you smell good.”

[rowonlgc]

✉ ⸻ sent ! Happy Birthday. Enjoy your present.    The gift of Seunghyun’s acknowledgement. ( The text. The text is the present. You’re welcome, Rowon. )

   rowon stares at the message, half-expecting something else to come through, half-knowing there’s likely nothing of the sort.  ah, this little sh –

SENT TO › 한승현  12 / 27

   ✉️ › new phone    ✉️ › who this

[rowonlgc]

incoming gift!    normally, she’s all for handing things off herself (especially a birthday gift), but she took pride in it. so to know she couldn’t see his exact reaction disappointed her, however, duty calls. when spotting his bag in the far corner of the dance room, maylin tucked a black shimmer giftbag behind his own for discretion. inside of the said bag is a thick black scarf with a tiny spider embroidered on the bottom corner, white has outlined the fabric with small hints of web designs. underneath the scarf is a small box with a light-scented cinnamon cologne. attached to the box with a note with small writing:    Happy birthday    I happened to pass by a station with many perfumes and colognes filling the air. I figured this scent would sit nicely on you… I can never pinpoint the exact scent you wear but try this out for fun. enjoy your day.    May ✗

  his collection of fragrances is nothing less than – at this point – obsessive.  with more than a few dozen stashed away in the uppermost drawer of his desk, it comes as a surprise that this is his first cinnamon-forward scent.  it’s simple.  subtle.  suitable and welcoming for the wintery season.  maylin has good sense.  

SENT TO › 메이린 12 / 25

  ✉️ › warm and spicy   ✉️ › reminds me of a certain someone   ✉️ › i like it.

  he shifts a cologne from the top row – his usual go-to favourites – to make room for the newest addition.  a small, satisfied smile dances across his lips as he closes the drawer and moves over to the mirror to adjust the scarf .. only to stop when he catches a glimpse of the tiny spider.  from the looks of it, maylin had personally embroidered it on.  his hand falters, thumb ghosting along the detail.  how endearing.  she had taken the time to customize it, and that is what makes it all that more precious to him.

  📸 › [  SELCA OF HIM WEARING THE SCARF, SHOWING OFF SPIDER  ]   ✉️ › i named it spider-may — DELETED!   ✉️ › it’s cute ~

[rowonlgc]

KKT ( 7 ) > 로워니이이 🕺🏻🍯🍤

[ voice message of iseul singing / 54 sec. ] — ROWONNIEEEEEEEEE — HAAAPPPPYY BIRTHDAAAAAAYYYYYY — i guess i already sang it in the voice msg ... [ gift voucher for chicken + cola combo ] [ gift voucher for baskin robbins cake ] [ kakaotalk emojis gift ] — ily!!! enjoy!!!

  rowon plays the voice note – stops it five seconds in – plays it again – stops it fifteen seconds later – and proceeds to bury his face in his hand. he can’t do this. not because it’s embarrassing, but because iseul actually sounds adorable. and now for a brief intermission: purchasing cat emojis to spam iseul with.

SENT TO › 조이슬 01 / 01

  ✉️ › [ EMOJI OF CAT SHAKING BOOTY ]   ✉️ › [ EMOJI OF CAT BLOWING KISSES ]   ✉️ › [ EMOJI OF CAT HIDING IN A BOX ]   ✉️ › cute   ✉️ › [ EMOJI OF CAT SQUISHING CHEEKS ]   ✉️ › you   ✉️ › [ EMOJI OF CAT BITING ANOTHER CAT ]   ✉️ › us

[rowonlgc]

[ 💬 peachy oppa ] oppa! happy birthday! i almost missed it because what day of the week are we even 😫 hahaha anyway enjoy yourself! i'll be heading back to seosan in january, will facetime you for our tree~

SENT TO › 유미란 05 / 12

  🔊 › “heard we didn’t get many peaches last year.       do me a favour and give it some extra love?       so it doesn’t feel neglected ~”   🔊 › “maybe i should join you. it’s been a while.”

  ✉️ › i like your part in ditto   ✉️ › you sound good   ✉️ › proud of you.

[rowonlgc]

It was a cold day.     Seyoon took one of Rowon’s frigid hands and rubbed it between his palms, diligently sharing his precious warmth.     “Happy birthday, hyung!” The fluffy white scarf Seyoon wore covered the bottom half of his face, but the smile in his eyes was radiant. “Let’s hang out,” he said, tucking Rowon’s other hand into the thick folds of his scarf. Against his neck. Next to his pulse. “Can I get the birthday boy to buy me dinner?”

  rowon hums, delighted at the warmth radiating against his frozen fingertips.  for a moment, he considers asking seyoon where he would like to go for dinner – but it’s his birthday, no?  he should pick.  .. only, he’s not craving anything in particular.  everything sounds fine.  just fine.

  “let’s go western,”  he decides after some thought.  “there’s this new steakhouse near the station that i’ve been meaning to visit.”  he’s been there before but no matter;  he wants to treat seyoon to something nice, since seyoon has graced him with his presence – on a friday, no less.

  ( but really, rowon’s just curious about how seyoon likes his steak cooked. )

[rowonlgc]

Sujin unzipped the garment bag and freed a long black overcoat from its confinement. He held it up to his own body first in the mirror, assessing every detail until he finally nodded with satisfaction. “We match,” he declared, handing Rowon his birthday gift. Sujin was wearing the exact same coat, only in white. “Happy birthday, Rowonie, and learn some respect this year. I am still waiting to hear you call me hyung.”

  “hm.”  rowon takes the overcoat, holds it up, looks to sujin’s white one, then back to his, then to the white one again, then back to his –  “i like yours better.  let’s switch.”  the corner of his mouth twitches in amusement, but before sujin can even do or say anything, rowon stops him with a nudge, i’m kidding.  knowing sujin, he would’ve taken it seriously.  that’s where they differ.

  he pulls on the coat and gives himself a once-over in the mirror.  perfect fit.  top quality.  most likely purchased by sujin’s personal stylist but hey, it’s the thought that counts and all.  “susu has good taste,”  he commends, delightfully ignoring sujin’s request to be called hyung;  they’ve known each other since diaper days so rowon doesn’t see the need for honorifics.  but just to make it up to him – “let’s go for cake.”