We tried not to make it obvious at school that we were dating
but even when we tried not to show it, well...
Honestly, even before this we talked like this and all, so
no one looked at us weirdly.
And just like that, spring was coming to an end.
The pretty flowers were fading now,
and leaves with a blue tint were growing.
Now, with summer vacation drawing near,
my birthday was getting closer too.
One day, while walking with Sanghyuk as usual,
“Doa!”
“Huh?“
”Wha?”
“Your birthday’s coming up soon.”
“Yeah..? But?”
“Geez!! You know that!”
“Heh..I dunnoooo?”
“Heh..Is there anything you want to do?”
“Mm...not really?”
“What..so you’re not going to do anything on your birthday?”
“Maybe... is my birthday that important?”
“It is!! It’s the day you were born.. ”
In truth, I don’t think of birthdays as anything special.
...It’s not like I’ve ever really been celebrated on my birthday, either
The most I got was an extra 10,000 won on top of my allowance?
Because of that, I thought birthdays weren’t any special occasion.
Come to think of it, on my birthdays, there was never anyone
who took care of me.
My older brother is always out working,
and my parents... ugh, I don’t even know.
For years now, both of them have left home and never come back.
Where did they even go, leaving their middle school daughter behind...
Ugh... I don’t want to think about it.
Every time, money for living expenses gets sent to my older brother under some name I don’t know,
but...
I’ve started to forget what my parents look like.
At this point, I’ve decided to just live without thinking about them.
My older brother is enough for me.
...That’s what I’ll think.
“What are you thinking about so hard...?”
Sanghyuk asked.
“..Ah!! N-no..heh”
“But are you really not going to do anything..?”
“Mm...”
“Then I’m doing whatever I want!”
“?? What do you m..”
“Heh..wait!”
“Are you free on your actual birthday?”
“Maybe...?”
“Okay! Heh”
“What..?”
“Heh, look forward to it!”
“...? What ar..”
“Geez!! How cute, ‘look forward to it’..? Don’t, okay..
Let’s just have a happy birthday, heh.
Go on in...!!”
“..? Okaaay!! See you tomorrow~!!”
And just like that, we went home.
After going inside the house,
“You’re back?”
“Yeah, I’m back!”
“Heh..did you eat?”
“I did! What about you, oppa?”
”I just ate..
By the way, your birthday’s coming up soon, isn’t it..?“
”Yeah...?“
”Heh..sorry, I won’t be able to do anything for it again.“
”..What, all of a sudden..? It’s always been like this...”
““...Heh, sorry
for being this kind of older brother.”“No...! What’s there for you to be sorry about, oppa..”
“..! Hey, I’m heading out!”
“Oh..be careful!”
Seeing it like this, my brother really was pitiful.
Because of the parents who abandoned their child,
he has to earn tuition all on his own, and there isn’t even enough for living expenses,
so he works like this..
I wondered if my brother was happy.
At that moment, tears had started falling from my eyes without me even noticing.
“...Ha..why am I like this again..”
I didn’t want to cry.
I didn’t want to cry because of the parents who abandoned me.
And so, in some way, a bitter night was passing by.
After a few days, my birthday came.
There was a small letter from my brother on the table.
Well, there wasn’t much written in it.
It was just a formal happy birthday message.
And when I checked my phone,
a few of the kids had messaged me to say happy birthday.
And then Sanghyuk messaged me too.
“Hey, come outside! Dress up a little, heh.
Tell me when you’re ready!”
Compared to the other happy birthday messages, I liked this one better.
I finished getting ready and went outside.
When I stepped out, Sanghyuk was there to greet me.
“Heh, Han Doa!!”
“You’re here?”
“Yeah! Where are we going..?”
“We’re going to the sea!”
“..?? The sea?”
“Heh, you said you wanted to go to the sea last time.”
“Right..?”
“Heh..let’s go!!”
“But how are we supposed to get there fr..”
“Haha, I’ve already thought of everything!
Just follow me, princess~ heh.”
And like that, summer came to me with you.
( End of Episode 16 )
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