Chapter 118

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The SBC Gayo Daejeon was over.

After that, due to schedule issues, I moved while sleeping in the car all through the dawn, but my condition was the best it had been in the past month.

This was because the manager, who seemed so excited as soon as the broadcast ended, told me everything about the current public opinion in great detail.

-It has completely turned upside down!

The members’ expressions at that time were worth seeing.

Anyway, after that, everyone, regardless of who it was, seemed to have relaxed their tension and slept soundly even though it was inside the car.

Thanks to that, even the fact that I wasn’t at the dorm alone because the company called me this morning was tolerable.

However, I had no idea why they called me.

‘Well, looking at their expressions, it doesn’t seem like something bad.’

I wondered if a new individual schedule had been set.

And as soon as I entered the back entrance of the company building, I could see the cause of the call.

So many boxes were piled up that the small entrance for officials was bursting.

Each one with elaborate packaging and matching ribbons… they were gift boxes.

They looked similar to what I saw at the dorm entrance during the last vacation, but the scale was much larger.

‘Uh?’

Wait.

One of the staff members who was out there said with a smile.

“Moondae-ssi, your birthday presents are here~”

“……!”

…I see.

Today was December 15th.

It was Park Moondae’s birthday.

‘…I didn’t even guess.’

Because of the endless schedules and practice repeating, I had lost my sense of date and completely forgotten.

Recently, I didn’t check social media on purpose, so I couldn’t find out through that either.

‘…Since it wasn’t my original birthday in the first place.’

No, even before I entered Park Moondae’s body… it was rare for me to celebrate my birthday particularly specially.

‘It was just to the extent of eating a meal with slightly more expensive ingredients.’

Thanks to that, seeing the gift boxes filling up two walls, my feet froze on their own.

All of this came to me?

“It seems like it’ll be hard to keep them at the dorm… Moondae-ssi’s home… um.”

The staff member seemed to realize Park Moondae’s family history while talking, and their words trailed off abruptly.

And they kindly corrected themselves again.

“For now, shall we put them in the company warehouse? Things like electronic devices or luxury goods, I’ll send them to the dorm. You can go and open them there.”

“……Those who brought these, did they say anything else?”

Just looking at it, it seemed like they were put in separately from three or four places with different packaging styles.

‘At least one or two teams would have tried to deliver them directly……’

“Ah, they used a professional delivery company. I received the delivery contact the day before yesterday.”

The staff member shrugged.

“And I think they told me to tell Moondae-ssi that he doesn’t specially need to authenticate it……. Right. They did.”

“…!”

Only then did I realize the situation.

‘……They intentionally delivered it quietly.’

If it was the day before yesterday, the internet was in the middle of taking issue with Teastar for the Rookie of the Year award.

If we hadn’t had an all-out war at SBC yesterday, it would naturally be the same now.

In that situation, if I even authenticated receiving such a large gift support, they would have worried that it might become room for nitpicking again.

‘Did they not even come in person because they were conscious of such things……’

It felt strange.

It was strange that there were people who cared and put in so much effort for someone else they couldn’t even properly interact with.

The fact that the target was me was… even more strange.

“Aren’t you going to open them? Should we just move them to the warehouse for now?”

“…Wait a moment.”

I finally moved my steps and approached the boxes.

Beyond the frames made by printing my photos and the ribbons tying brand shopping bags, boxes uniformly wrapped with the same wrapping paper were visible.

Tags were attached to each packaging ribbon.

“……”

Countless clothes, electronic devices, and accessories were seen for each tag.

‘…What should I do.’

I was almost on the verge of being overwhelmed. I didn’t know which ones to take to the dorm first based on what criteria.

‘…For now, with items that are easy to authenticate, just three pieces for each wrapping paper design……’

While contemplating, one tag caught my eye.

It was a tag attached to a box that was relatively smaller than the others.

[Message Book]

“……”

I hesitated, then picked up the box and unwrapped the packaging.

A gold-colored hardcover book that looked like it was personally produced was revealed.

As I opened the hardcover book, edited sentences within a neat design were revealed.

-The moment I saw the stage, I knew. That guy is my idol! hehe

I’m always cheering for Moondae, who does his best and keeps developing. But even if you don’t do that, it’s okay. I’ll always cheer for Moondae’s happiness ♡

-My star that I want to see for a long, long time

-My insomnia disappeared after meeting Moondae! I’m happy just looking at you and my heart flutters just thinking about seeing you… I love you in the future too

-I’m grateful but also feel sorry to Moondae, who always cares about the fans whenever he does anything ㅠㅠ Our Moondae, let’s do everything you want to do. Really, Moondae is allowed to do that!

Among the long prose, sentences that seemed restrained popped up. It felt like even refined hearts were squeezing through.

-Noona still hasn’t forgotten the Tibetan fox, Moondae-ya… I love puppy Moondae too, but I love Tibetan Moondae too ㅠ

“Haha.”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

Really… they were peculiar people. It was an unbelievable kindness.

Of course, emotions are not eternal. These people also use words like ‘always, for a long time, forever,’ but I know they can’t do that as long as they are human.

But at this moment, just the fact that there are people somewhere who think like that made me feel like I couldn’t help it for some reason.

I wanted to do something.

“……”

“Moondae-ssi?”

“…Ah, I’m sorry.”

I barely came to my senses. And I quickly packed a few gift boxes.

As I had planned, …no, a bit more than I had planned.

“…Can you take them to the dorm?”

“I have a car. It’s okay.”

The manager accompanied me. By now, they must be drinking a beverage or smoking a cigarette at the lobby in front of the building.

“Um… I see. Have a safe trip. And happy birthday!”

“Thank you.”

I headed to the parking lot with my hands full of gifts.

The manager I met in the middle was horrified.

“You brought all that by yourself?! You should have called!”

“It’s okay. It’s a short distance.”

“Oh my… anyway, congratulations on the gifts. Happy birthday. Should hyung buy you a coffee or something?”

“Next time.”

“Look at you, you’re not refusing.”

I just laughed. I wondered if some empty wind had entered my head, everything felt pleasant.

“Have a safe trip~”

“Yes. Thank you.”

I parted with the manager in front of the dorm building. Then I packed the gifts full again and went up to the dorm.

And it was the moment I got off the elevator.

A strange smell was felt in front of the dorm door.

“……?”

Isn’t this the smell of burning?

‘Don’t tell me.’

I piled up the gifts on one side of the hallway and immediately unlocked the door lock of the entrance.

And after leaving the fire hydrant open, I opened the door.

“……?!”

“No!!”

…And I witnessed Cha Yujin and Seon Ahyun sprinting across the living room holding a pot.

Smoke was rising from the pot.

I asked with difficulty.

“…What were you guys doing?”

“M, Moondae-ya! I, it’s nothing much……”

“Chicken soup for the soul!”

Cha Yujin shouted that and began to run away back to the kitchen holding the pot.

A terrible silence began to flow from Seon Ahyun, who was left in the living room in a daze.

“……”

“……”

“…H, Happy…… B, Birthday.”

“Thanks.”

I’m grateful for the congratulations, but I wanted to hear an explanation of what on earth was going on.

* * *

“…Birthday present?”

“Yes!”

“A, no… the, the gift is separate! J, just as a way of saying thanks……”

“I have more gifts too.”

Listening to Cha Yujin and Seon Ahyun chatter was not organized at all. It seemed like the conversation didn’t go well between the two of them either.

The other members, who woke up in a daze due to the pot commotion, tried to organize instead.

“So, since it’s Moondae’s birthday and we happen to have time in the morning, you were thinking of making something delicious for him?”

“Yes!”

“……With that many people?”

When Bae Sejin muttered to himself quietly, Seon Ahyun bowed his head with a gloomy face.

“The, the recipe was certain so…… I, I thought I could do it.”

“…Is it really a certain recipe?”

To Bae Sejin’s question full of doubt, Cha Yujin replied happily.

“It’s my mom’s recipe! Chicken soup!”

“…!”

Bae Sejin’s pupils shook, then he added hurriedly.

“That… even if the recipe is great, a beginner might not be able to do it.”

“Let’s try again!”

“Wait, sit down.”

I sat Cha Yujin, who was about to jump up, back down. And I recalled the pot I saw in the kitchen.

‘…It was burnt pitch black.’

Moreover, looking at the cutting board or the sink, the cooking process itself probably wasn’t normal.

“Come to think of it, didn’t they say Yujin is good at cooking~?”

“I’m good at grilling. It’s my first time boiling……”

“Oh dear.”

It was nothing short of a comedy routine. Big Sejin clicked his tongue, then when our eyes met, he waved his hand.

“Ah, Moondae, happy birthday~ I sent a gifticon?”

“…Chicken?”

“Chicken. Two of them too.”

I got back exactly what I gave in August. It was a result befitting a guy who was quick at calculating.

“Thanks.”

“M, me too! Wait a moment……!”

Seon Ahyun, who was sitting like a criminal, suddenly jumped up and headed to his room with a thumping sound.

Then he brought a small, well-wrapped gift and held it out.

“H, Happy Birthday!”

“Uh… thanks. Can I open it?”

“Y, yes!”

When I opened it, a department store gift certificate was inside.

“……”

This… I feel like I’m collecting some friend fee.

But Seon Ahyun looked proud.

“I, I really didn’t have time to go buy it……. Because I, it’s better to see and choose for yourself!”

“…Um, yeah. Thanks. I should go when I have time.”

“U-uh!”

Next time I go… I should buy something for Seon Ahyun too. It was an amount that was a bit excessive to receive from a friend or a coworker.

‘Come to think of it, I think he gave something expensive on Big Sejin’s birthday too.’

I wondered if I should tell him sometime that he didn’t need to do that.

“Ah, I bought one too.”

There was no item as unexpected as Seon Ahyun’s, but even after that, I unexpectedly received gifts from one or two people.

First, Cha Yujin gave a huge container of jelly.

‘He’ll probably eat half of it himself.’

It was clear that he took it from what he ordered himself.

And unexpectedly, whether Bae Sejin is the type to remember other people’s birthdays, he gave me a hoodie.

“I’ll wear it well. Thank you, hyung.”

“…Well, sure.”

With that, the gift-giving ceremony ended.

Honestly, it was the first time in my life that I received so many congratulatory gifts on the day.

‘It feels strange.’

I packed the boxes I received from fans and moved them to my room along with the gifts I received from the members.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t prepare anything. I’ll buy you a meal next time. What do you want to eat?”

“You don’t have to be sorry, um, shall we eat what I want to eat then?”

“Sure. Let’s do that.”

While I was making up for it with a meal with Ryu Chungwoo, who was sorry for not knowing when it was normal not to know, Kim Raebin shouted in a solemn voice from the side.

“I’m sorry for not knowing your birthday…!”

“…I said it’s okay.”

“I have a beat I recently made… if you use that as your solo song……!”

Why are you handing over your song here all of a sudden?

…But for now, let’s agree.

“Yeah. It seems like it’ll be a good song. Let’s check it when we have time.”

“Yes!”

Kim Raebin, as if he had finally relieved the burden on his heart, let out a big sigh of relief and disappeared into his room staggeringly.

“……”

I think something bad will happen to him too if he keeps that up, I should tell him later not to come out with such a low posture.

I lay down on the bed after organizing the boxes next to the bed.

And after a long time, I turned on the data on my smartphone. Then, the first message came in.

It was Big Sejin’s gift.

[Big Sejin’s Gift]

: Orim native raw chicken 1.5kg

“……”

And a little while later, Big Sejin’s message filled with ‘ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ’ arrived.

‘This guy, seriously.’

I reflexively typed my sincere feelings.

[Do you want to die?]

A reply came immediately.

[Big Sejin: h, I don’t want to]

“……”

I was about to jump up and run to Big Sejin’s room, but I held back.

That would be exactly the reaction this guy wants.

Instead, let’s deliver a calm and ideal blow.

[There will be no photo uploads from you from now on.]

[Big Sejin: I’m sorry]

As expected, this works immediately.

I turned off the smartphone and tried to sleep.

As I closed my eyes, the shapes of the gifts I received today and the sentences in the message book wandered leisurely in my head.

…For some reason, I thought I would have a good dream in this nap.

* * *

But after a pleasant deep sleep, unwelcome news was waiting from the manager I met again.

“Moondae-ya, a phone call came for you?”

“Yes? Who is it?”

The manager handed me his smartphone and muttered with his mouth shape.

‘VTIC Cheongryeo!’

D*mn.