The world seemed to explode in a kaleidoscope of colors.
"SURPRISE!!!"
The sudden roar of voices, the pop of confetti cannons, and the brilliant flash of decorative lights hit Seongjii all at once. He stood frozen at the threshold of his own room, his eyes wide as saucers. For a moment, his brain struggled to process the scene: his room, which usually felt like a quiet sanctuary, was now a vibrant festival of balloons and cheering friends.
Beside him, Araya was jumping up and down, clapping her hands like an excited toddler who had just discovered candy.
Zoe stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You didn't expect this, did you?"
"Man, you should've seen your face just now—priceless!" Minho barked, slinging an arm around Seongjii's shoulder.
A lump formed in Seongjii's throat. He looked around at the faces of his friends—Zoe, Satoshi, Minho, and Hyunwoo—and then at his parents, who were standing at the back with beaming smiles.
"You guys..." Seongjii's voice wavered, a soft, emotional smile tugging at his lips. "Seriously... thank you. This means a lot."
Araya leaned in, whispering loudly enough for only him to hear, "He almost cried! He's totally getting misty-eyed, hehehe!"
The room erupted in laughter, the tension of the surprise melting into a warm, joyous atmosphere.
The celebration moved to the dining area. A chocolate cake sat in the center of the table, its candles flickering like tiny stars. Seongjii's mother watched him with a gaze full of pride, while his father held up his phone, determined to record every second of the "historic" moment.
"Make a wish, sweetheart!" his mom encouraged.
Araya, who was hovering suspiciously close to the cake, leaned toward Seongjii's ear. "Wish for more cheesecake, maybe?"
Seongjii glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his tone playful. "Or maybe I'll wish you'd stop stealing mine."
He took a deep breath and blew out the candles. As the smoke curled upward, the room filled with the rhythmic chanting of "Happy Birthday, Seongjii!"
While the friends were busy grabbing plates, Seongjii's parents retreated a few steps, whispering to each other.
"Who's that girl beside him?" Mom whispered, nodding toward Araya. "She's... quite pretty, isn't she?"
Dad smirked, a knowing glint in his eye. "Maybe a girlfriend? Huh?"
Mom gasped softly, clutching her cheeks. "Oh my! Our boy is growing up so fast!"
Dinner was a chaotic, beautiful mess of homemade dishes and constant laughter. The air was thick with the aroma of spices and the sound of friends teasing each other.
Minho, ever the curious one, leaned across the table toward Araya. "So, Araya, how do you know this guy? He's usually a bit of a loner."
Seongjii nearly choked on his food. "We—uh—we met through social media!" he blurted out, his face heating up.
Araya grinned, propping her chin on her hand as she looked at Seongjii. "Oh? You didn't tell them about me? I'm hurt, Seongjii."
Mom smiled warmly at her. "Well, welcome to our home, dear! It's lovely to finally meet a friend of his."
"Likewise, ma'am!" Araya's eyes lit up as she took another bite of her dessert. "And I have to say, you make the best cheesecake I've ever tasted!"
The table erupted in another round of laughter. For a moment, everything felt normal—almost too normal.
As the clock struck late, the party finally wound down. The cool night air greeted them at the gate as Zoe and the others prepared to leave.
"Hey, should we drop Araya home?" Hyunwoo asked, reaching for his car keys. "It's late, she shouldn't go alone."
"Yeah," Zoe added, looking at Araya. "It's better to be safe."
Seongjii's heart skipped a beat. "No, no—it's fine! I'll drop her myself. She lives... uh... really close by."
Minho raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "Ohhh... how gentlemanly of you, Seongjii. Taking the long way home, are we?"
After a chorus of chuckles and waves, the gate finally clicked shut. Silence returned to the street.
Araya let out a long breath, her form flickering slightly in the moonlight. "You handled that pretty well. For a second, I thought we were busted."
Seongjii let out a relieved laugh, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Yeah... I guess I'm getting better at lying to survive."
"Hehe~ be careful, mortal," Araya teased, her eyes glowing faintly. "Lying can become a habit!"
With a playful giggle, she spun around and vanished into a streak of light, retreating back into the safety of the lamp hidden in his pocket.
"Goodnight, troublemaker..." Seongjii whispered to the empty air.
Seongjii walked back inside, the adrenaline finally fading. His parents were still in the kitchen, tidying up the remnants of the party.
"Back already?" Dad called out. "That was fast."
"Yeah, she lives just around the corner," Seongjii replied, keeping his voice casual.
He retreated to his room, feeling the weight of the day settle on his shoulders. He stretched, sat at his desk, and opened a notebook, trying to focus on his homework to calm his mind.
Suddenly, a shimmer of light appeared on his bed. Araya materialized, pouting deeply.
"Ugh, I couldn't sleep," she complained, flopping onto his pillows. "Your world's night feels... noisy. All those cars and humming lights."
Seongjii sighed, amused despite himself. "Then don't come out, you maniac. Stay in the lamp."
"But it's boring in there!" she huffed, crossing her arms.
They shared a quiet, genuine laugh—a moment of peace in the middle of the secret they shared.
Creak.
The bedroom door swung open.
"Sweetheart, we forgot to give you your—"
His mother froze mid-sentence. Her eyes traveled from Seongjii at the desk to the girl sitting comfortably on his bed.
The color drained from his mother's face. "Wait... isn't this the same girl who just left?"
Dad stepped into the doorway, his jaw dropping as he stared at Araya. "What in the world—?"
Seongjii's heart plummeted into his stomach. Araya sat there, frozen for a second before a nervous, awkward smirk spread across her face.
They were caught.
To be continued....