Chapter 12 - Birthdays
Y/N sat on the floor of her room, surrounded by a pile of clothes and memorabilia from her closet. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional chirp of birds outside the window. Next to her was the photobook she had received a few weeks prior as a birthday gift. She was lost in a sea of memories, reminiscing about the precious moments she had shared with her fellow members.
As she flipped through the photobook a particular memory caught her eye, prompting a warm smile to spread across her face. The photo that captured her attention was from the surprise birthday party her members had thrown for her a few days prior to the release of their teasers. The sight of the decorated practice room, the joyous expressions of her members, and the heartfelt messages of love and appreciation flooded Y/N with emotions, transporting her back to that unforgettable evening.
As it was only a few days before the release of the teasers, Y/N had been under the impression that her members were too busy with their individual schedules and preparations for their debut, so she didn’t bring up her birthday. It’s not like she expected anything special, but she still kept it to herself.
On the day of her birthday, Y/N woke up to find a small note on her bedside table. "Meet us in the practice room at noon!" it read. Curious and slightly puzzled, Y/N couldn't help but wonder what her members were planning.
Later as Y/N entered the practice room, she was greeted by darkness and silence. "Hello?" she called out, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
The atmosphere in the practice room was electric with anticipation. The members of Le Sserafim had been planning this surprise birthday celebration for Y/N for days, and the excitement was palpable.
Suddenly, the lights flicked on, revealing the room decorated with a sea of pink balloons, a small table adorned with Y/N’s favorite treats, and a beautiful pink birthday cake with delicate icing that read, "Happy Birthday Y/N!" in elegant script. As the members of Le Sserafim jumped out from their hiding spots, shouting, "Surprise!", Y/N's eyes widened in shock.
"You guys... What is all this?" Y/N exclaimed, her eyes glistening with tears of joy as she took in the heartfelt decorations and the beaming faces of her members.
Sakura stepped forward, holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers. "Happy birthday, Y/N! We wanted to surprise you and celebrate your special day before things get too hectic with our debut."
“It’s not much, but…” Eunchae trailed off, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“No! It’s- It’s perfect! Oh my god, thank you,” Y/N said, her voice filled with emotion as she reached forward to hug Eunchae. The youngest member melted into the embrace, her eyes shining with happiness.
Y/N was overwhelmed, her emotions bubbling over. "I... I don't know what to say," she stammered, struggling to find the right words as she stood next to Eunchae and Sakura.
Chaewon wrapped her arm around Y/N's shoulders, pulling her into a gentle hug. "We love you, Y/N. You do so much for us, and we wanted to show our appreciation and love for you."
“YES! WE LOOOOVE YOU!” Yunjin screamed, her excitement getting the better of her as she tackled Y/N to the floor, causing a playful commotion. Everyone burst into laughter. As the pair stood up again, a still laughing Chaewon called for Y/N's attention.
“We got you something,” Chaewon exclaimed, handing Y/N a medium-sized box covered in pink wrapping paper. Y/N was surprised as she didn't even expect a party, let alone a gift.
“There’s more? You’re crazy!” Y/N exclaimed, her voice filled with gratitude and disbelief. As she unwrapped the box, something seemed off. She spotted… legs? Who scribbled on this? WAIT. STOP.
“Is this ONE-REELER?” Y/N's voice trembled with excitement. The color drained from her face as she spotted the scribbles on the cover.
Chaewon and Sakura exchanged mischievous grins, their eyes twinkling with amusement. “IS IT SIGNED???????” Y/N's eyes filled with tears of joy as she clutched the album close to her chest.
“Happy Birthday!” Chaewon spread her arms dramatically, her face lighting up with joy.
“Unnie!” Y/N lunged forward, enveloping both former Iz*one members in a heartfelt hug. "You are crazy! Oh my god! Thank you so much!”
“I know you already have this album, but we figured you’d want to have this,” Sakura said softly, stroking Y/N’s head affectionately.
Just as Y/N was about to thank them again, Eunchae announced that there was one more gift left. This time, Yunjin and Kazuha stepped forward, holding a small burgundy colored book.
“Open it,” Yunjin said with a smile.
With trembling hands, Y/N opened the book to find a collection of handwritten letters from each member of Le Sserafim, expressing their love, gratitude, and appreciation for her. Tears welled up in Y/N's eyes as she read each heartfelt message, feeling loved by her fellow members.
The photobook was filled with candid shots of Y/N, capturing her in the midst of laughter, her eyes sparkling with joy. There were photos of her enjoying the delicious treats, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and shots of her sacrificing sleep to help other members during their infamous midnight-sessions.
One particular page made Y/N chuckle - a series of Polaroids capturing her and Yunjin asleep on the couch, totally cuddled up together. Their faces were peaceful, and it was evident from the photos that they were more than just members - they were best friends. The images warmed Y/N's heart, reminding her of the deep bond she shared with each member of Le Sserafim. Y/N looked at Yunjin and reached for her hand, this time a couple of tears ran down her cheeks.
As she closed the book, Y/N looked around at her members, her heart overflowing with gratitude and love. "Thank you, everyone," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "I'm so lucky to have you all." After a moment of everyone taking in the first birthday as Le Sserafim, Yunjin turned around to talk to Sakura, and Y/N felt a presence behind her back.
The soft warmth of Kazuha's embrace enveloped her, pulling her into a gentle backhug. Y/N felt her heart skip a beat, the close proximity and the feeling of Kazuha's arms wrapped around her waist sending a rush of warmth through her cheeks.
“I didn’t get to congratulate you. Happy Birthday, unnie,” Kazuha whispered softly into Y/N's ear, her voice tinged with genuine warmth and affection. Y/N turned to face Kazuha, her cheeks flushed with a mix of surprise and flustered excitement.
"Thank you, K-Kaza,” Y/N stammered, her voice slightly shaky as she tried to maintain composure. She could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment at the slip of the tongue, but Kazuha's gentle smile and blushing face reassured her that the moment was shared.
Kazuha chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "K-Kaza, huh? That's a new one," she teased gently, her voice soft and playful.
Y/N laughed nervously, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I- I guess it just slipped out," she admitted, her eyes meeting Kazuha's, causing the latter to form a light blush as well. The brief moment of tension between them was palpable.
Just as the silence between them began to stretch, Chaewon's cheerful voice broke through the moment, disrupting the tension and bringing a sense of levity back to the room.
"Alright, everyone," Chaewon teased with a playful grin, "as much as I love the cozy atmosphere of the practice room, I think it's time we head back to the dorms. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and we could all use some rest and food."
Kazuha and Y/N exchanged sheepish smiles, their cheeks still tinged with a rosy hue.
"Yeah, Eunchae's right," Kazuha agreed, her voice soft but cheerful. "Let's order some food and get some sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow."
Y/N was drawn from her thoughts when a soft knock echoed through the room. “Come in.”
“Hey unnie, wanna do some Korean tasks with me? It’s fine if you don’t—" Kazuha's voice trailed off as she peeked through the slightly open door, spotting Y/N engrossed in the photobook.
“Oh, you’ve been going through the photobook again. You actually liked it?” Kazuha asked shyly, now stepping through the open door.
“Like? I loved it! This was so thoughtful of you.” Y/N turned to Kazuha, her eyes softening with affection. "I still can't believe you guys did all this for me," she said, her voice tinged with wonder.
Kazuha's smile widened, her eyes shining with happiness. "We wanted to make your day special, Y/N. And I have to admit, I'm really looking forward to celebrating everyone else's birthdays too," she said, her voice filled with excitement and anticipation.
“It’s funny how you and Kkura unnie, and me and Chaewon unnie are so close with our birthdays,” Kazuha mused, her eyes sparkling with fond memories of Sakura's recent celebration. "I have to say, Sakura's reaction was priceless too. After we gave her the knitting tools, she looked at each one of us with so much gratitude. She even said it was one of her best birthdays yet."
Y/N's smile widened, her heart swelling with warmth. "That's so like Sakura, always appreciating the little things. We couldn’t even have a real party like you guys prepared for me…”
"Yeah, unnie just wants us to eat well; that’s most important to her," Kazuha agreed, her voice softening. "But I honestly love what Chaewon unnie got her. That initial bracelet was so beautiful.” Oh, yeah, Miss Kim did not jump onto the low-budget train.
“One day when we have a lot of money,” Y/N began, causing Kazuha to raise an eyebrow in intrigue. “Yes, I’m manifesting this,” she continued with determination, “I wanna buy Kkura unnie the most expensive gift. She always takes care of us so well. I wanna repay her somehow,” Y/N said, her gaze drifting to the book in her hands.
Kazuha nodded in silent agreement, the gravity of Y/N's words hanging in the air between them. Both girls were quiet for a moment, lost in their thoughts and the deep bond they shared with their fellow Le Sserafim members.
Y/N's eyes filled with tears of gratitude, reflecting on Sakura's selflessness and the profound connection they all shared. "We really are a family, aren't we?" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Kazuha's heart swelled with pride and love as she nodded in response. "Yes, unnie. We are."