---
Chapter 26: Happy Birthday
Ju-kyoung's eyes widened in surprise. "It's your birthday?"
Soo-hoo just kept eating the noodles.
Ju-kyoung's brow furrowed slightly. "Then what are you doing here?"
Soo-hoo didn't answer. He continued eating while Ju-kyoung watched him take small bites of the noodles.
"Don't you like watching people eat?" Soo-hoo said, his eyes still fixed on the food.
Ju-kyoung almost choked, coughing gently, and before she knew it, the noodles came out of her nose.
Soo-hoo's eyes widened in shock. Ju-kyoung was about to sniff it back in.
"Hey, don't sniff it in!" Soo-hoo said in a slightly worried voice.
"Just look away," Ju-kyoung muttered, her face burning red with embarrassment.
Not knowing what else to do, Soo-hoo covered his eyes with his hand.
"What should I do?" Ju-kyoung's voice turned anxious.
Soo-hoo peeked slightly. "Pull it out."
Ju-kyoung tried, coughing as her nose stung.
"Be careful," Soo-hoo said.
"My nose hurts," Ju-kyoung winced.
After a while, she finally managed to sniff it out.
---
Later that evening, after a long day, they both decided to head home. Ju-kyoung cleared her throat awkwardly as she and Soo-hoo stood in front of the comic store.
"I'll give you the copy of Cursed Mask on Monday."
"Okay," Soo-hoo replied.
"Oh, and…" Ju-kyoung reached into her pocket and pulled something out. It was the item she had found earlier in the book. She stretched her hand forward. "Here."
Soo-hoo glanced at it, then at her. "Another bribe?"
Ju-kyoung gave him a look. "No. A gift."
He took it, his gaze lingering on the small object.
"This is a very rare item. It's over twenty years old," Ju-kyoung explained.
Soo-hoo stayed silent.
"I came across it, but I'm giving it to you specially," she said softly.
Her voice lowered as the night breeze brushed against her skin. "You're now my friend—the one I've shared my secret with. So I should care for you."
Ju-kyoung didn't realize that the "secret" Soo-hoo knew wasn't the one she thought.
Her smile was warm and gentle. "Happy birthday."
For a split second, Soo-hoo's eyes met hers, caught off guard, before she gave a small wave and walked away. He stood there watching until she disappeared into the darkness.
---
When he returned home, Soo-hoo placed the gift on his table before going into the washroom. Fifteen minutes later, with a towel on his head and dressed in a casual top and light trousers, he returned and noticed the gift again.
He opened the wrapping carefully and discovered a sticker of two skeletons, shaped like a heart.
He stared at it quietly, his mind drifting back to when she told him, Happy birthday, and smiled at him.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, he peeled the back of the sticker and placed it gently on the lamp beside him. The skeleton couple in the heart-shaped frame glowed faintly under the warm light.
His cold expression softened more than usual.
---
The next morning, Ju-kyoung carefully folded Soo-hoo's uniform that she had stained with makeup. A small smile lingered on her lips as she looked at the spotless shirt.
She picked up the book she had promised him and placed it in a thick disposable bag.
"Thanks for keeping the secret about my no-mask face," she thought.
Grabbing the bag and her lip tint, she stood in front of the mirror, applying it carefully. But then she froze, staring at her bare reflection.
"I look totally different without makeup," she whispered. Her brow furrowed. "So how did he recognize me? So strange…"
She shook it off and left her room.
---
At the bus station, the bus had already started leaving. A male student noticed her and quickly shouted for the conductor to stop.
Everyone's eyes turned as Ju-kyoung ran gracefully toward the bus.
The conductor pulled over, and she climbed in, flashing her most adorable smile. "Thank you."
Students stared in awe, whispering as they made way for her.
"A true beauty," one of the boys muttered, moving aside.
Ju-kyoung smiled warmly as some called her "goddess" while others remained speechless. Boys waved shyly, eager just to be noticed.
She took her seat, her smile lingering.
But her mind drifted back to her old school—when no one spared her a glance, when she was shoved to the window, when her classmates looked at her with annoyance and disgust.
Now, here she was—admired, respected, adored.
She inhaled deeply, opening the window beside her. The morning breeze brushed her face as she gazed outside at the trees passing by, a quiet smile still on her lips.
---
Author's Note
To all the girls out there: don't let anyone make you feel inferior, ugly, or incapable. You are beautiful, capable, smart, and strong. Be confident in yourself. Love yourself first, before trying to please others. And boys, this applies to you too—everyone is beautiful regardless of height, class, wealth, or position. Always be true to yourself.
♡ This is your author, Favour Ada, signing out for now. Scroll to the next chapter!
---