Good Night, Brother! - Chapter 13.1

It had been a string of late nights at work.

Eun hyun let out a sigh as he pressed the send button on the final file he needed to submit today.

Is it even okay to work a pregnant woman this hard? he thought. What’s the point of having policies for pregnant employees if you can’t even use them?

Pouting slightly in frustration, Eun hyun instinctively placed a hand on his rounded belly. Nearly 20 weeks into his pregnancy, his bump had grown noticeably, showing even under his shirt.

After shutting down his laptop, he began tidying up his cluttered desk. At least tomorrow was Saturday—a day to rest. Feeling somewhat relieved, his gaze fell absentmindedly on the calendar hanging nearby. His eyes immediately caught the red circle around today’s date, September 27.

Why did I mark that date? he wondered, blinking in confusion. He murmured the date under his breath, searching his memory.

“September 27… September 27…”

Suddenly, his face turned pale.

“Oh no! What do I do?”

September 27 was Yi Hyeon’s birthday. He had circled it days ago, reminding himself to prepare a gift, but the date had completely slipped his mind.

I didn’t prepare anything. How did time fly by so quickly? he scolded himself. I should have set a reminder or ordered something online earlier! But regret was useless now.

Hurriedly grabbing his jacket, Eun hyun rushed out of the office. In the hallway, he frantically hit the elevator button, anxiously waiting for it to arrive.

Now I understand why Yi Hyeon seemed off this morning when he drove me to work, he thought. His brother’s slightly bitter smile and subdued demeanor made sense now. It’s his birthday, and I didn’t even say happy birthday.

Once outside, he realized that finding a suitable gift on the streets of Jongno at this hour was nearly impossible. It was already past 8 PM, and the department stores were closed. He tried visiting the fountain pen store he often passed by, but it, too, was shut.

Forget the gift for now. At least I can get a cake, he decided, checking his phone for nearby bakeries still open. The only options were franchise bakeries. With no other choice, he headed to the nearest one.

Inside, the display case offered a variety of cakes.

Chocolate chiffon, blueberry, tiramisu, cheesecake…

There are too many options. What does Yi Hyeon like again?

He ruled out tiramisu and cheesecake since his brother didn’t particularly like cheese. A simple fresh cream cake with strawberries seemed like the safest choice.

The store clerk skillfully packaged the cake and asked, “Would you like candles?”

“Uh, just two long ones, please… No, wait.”

As he pulled out his card to pay, Eun hyun noticed a colorful array of number candles displayed at the counter. Normally, he wouldn’t have given them a second thought, but today he felt the need to make an extra effort. Picking out a “2” and a “0,” he handed them to the clerk.

“Please add these to the total.”

Carrying the cake, Eun hyun was about to head to the subway when he remembered the large bookstore at Gwanghwamun Station, which was still open.

A book could work as a gift, he thought.

Although it felt a bit lacking for a birthday present, it was still better than showing up empty-handed.

At the bookstore, he headed straight to the poetry section. A poetry book seemed more appropriate as a gift than a novel, but he was entirely clueless when it came to literature. After wandering aimlessly among unfamiliar author names and poetic titles, he finally picked out a few bestsellers from the new arrivals shelf.

By the time he arrived home with the cake and books, he was completely exhausted. Still, the sight of the cake box and shopping bag in his hands gave him a sense of relief—at least he had something to show.

As he stepped inside, Yi Hyeon came out to greet him.

“Hyung, you worked hard today,” he said warmly.

When his eyes fell on the cake box and shopping bag, his expression shifted to one of surprise. His eyes widened momentarily before curving into crescents as his mouth stretched into a radiant smile.

“What’s this, hyung? You remembered my birthday?”

Seeing his younger brother’s delighted smile, guilt pricked at Eun hyun’s conscience. Trying to act nonchalant, he replied, “Of course I remembered.”

He forced a smile as he took off his shoes and stepped inside. Yi Hyeon eagerly took the cake box and the bag of books from him.

Looking at the clock, Eun hyun noticed it was already nearing 9:30 PM. There were only two and a half hours left of his brother’s birthday. Hanging his jacket over the back of a chair, he suggested, “Let’s light the candles and sing quickly.”

“Okay!”

After washing his hands, Eun hyun set the cake on the table and opened the box of number candles. As he unwrapped the “2” and “0,” a wave of emotion washed over him. The realization that today marked Yi Hyeon’s 20th birthday—his transition into adulthood and their first birthday together as a couple—hit him.

I should have prepared something more special, he thought, feeling the weight of his belated regret.

Pushing the thoughts aside, he carefully inserted the candles into the cake, avoiding the strawberry and cream decorations. Lighting them, he quickly turned off the lights in the living room and kitchen before sitting across from Yi Hyeon.

“Hyung, sing for me!” Yi Hyeon’s face, illuminated by the flickering candlelight, was brimming with anticipation.

Although he had already planned to sing, being asked so eagerly made the simple act feel unexpectedly significant. Flustered, Eun hyun clapped his hands lightly and began to sing:

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Yi Hyeon, happy birthday to you.”

As he finished the song and clapped, Yi Hyeon beamed, his smile as bright as the candles on the cake.

“Hyung, do you really love me?”

“…Just make a wish and blow out the candles already. The wax is dripping.”

At Eun Hyun’s frown, Yi Hyeon clasped his hands together as if in prayer and closed his eyes tightly. Perhaps he already had a wish in mind because, in no time, he reopened his eyes and blew out the candles in one swift breath. Eun Hyun waved his hand to disperse the thin trail of smoke rising from the extinguished flames. Through the dissipating haze, Yi Hyeon’s smiling face emerged, his gaze fixed on Eun Hyun.

“What wish did you make?”

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