CH 52

When they were younger, they had been unable to celebrate his younger brother’s birthday properly. Despite wanting to celebrate like others, -their circumstances made it difficult to put on a small party. It was hard for him to make a living — forget buying a cake. Hyeon-woo did all he was able to, buying a loaf of bread and putting a candle on it. He normally gifted a notebook or pencil.

Seon-woo smiled at the memory, but it remained sad in Hyeon-woo’s.

‘I want to treat him properly this birthday.’

Like how everyone else did it, Hyeon-woo wanted to buy a pretty cake at a bakery, cook meat, and get his brother a proper gift.

‘I still have a problem ...’

Hyeon-woo still didn’t have any money. There was a lot of money on the card Seon-woo gave him, but the moment he used it, Seon-woo would find out that he was preparing for his birthday. Besides, getting someone a birthday present with their money felt weird.

‘Money. I need to get some money.’

Hyeon-woo’s eyes widened and he opened an employment website. He wanted a short-term part-time job for a few days. Seon-woo hated him going out alone, but what if it was just for a day? While he was thinking that, he heard Do-jin’s voice from behind.

“Do you need money?”

Hyeon-woo was surprised out of his focused efforts. He was so preoccupied with Seon-woo’s birthday that he didn’t even notice Do-jin approaching. It wasn’t like this in the Demon Realm. Even still he noticed right away when Kero approached. It seemed that he had become very relaxed after coming here.

Hyeon-woo realized this and answered Do-jin.

“Yes, I’m in need of some.”

“For Ji Seon-woo’s birthday present?”

“How did you know?”

Hyeon-woo looked at Do-jin with surprise.

“I have money, but I’m guessing you need money of your own. And I just heard that Seon-Hyeon Guild Leader’s birthday is coming up.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is it a secret from Seon-woo?”

“Yes, shh.”

Hyeon-woo put a finger to his mouth.

“But it seems like working part-time would be difficult.”

“Why?”

“Your face is already known.”

“Wouldn’t it be okay if I wore a mask and a hat?”

“Even if you get permission and go out, there will be bodyguards attached to you. You’d still get caught right away.”

“I can pretend that I want to work part-time to save up to buy something for myself.”

He didn’t think his brother would be fooled by his excuse, but as popular as he was in the public’s eye, he wouldn’t go unnoticed by one or the other.

“Why don’t you make money some other way?”

“How?”

“Like filming a CF [1] or something like that.”

It was risky for him to go outside. Do-jin knew that staying inside was good for Hyeon-woo’s safety. But thinking about the look on his face when he bought a camera not long ago, he thought it might be a good idea to go out once in a while.

He would protect him somehow. He hoped Hyeon-woo would be able to do what he wanted to his heart’s content.

“Isn’t that too big a thing to do?”

“I think it’d be a better cover for his birthday preparations.”

Hyeon-woo accepted Do-jin’s advice. He decided to shoot a CF. The news reached Seon-woo first.

“Why do you want to do a CF all of a sudden? You said it was annoying the other time.”

“I just got a little interested.”

“All of a sudden?”

“At first it felt annoying, but after seeing the short film, it looks fun.”

He evidently had no talent for lying. It was quite difficult to hide the truth, especially from his brother. But fortunately, Seon-woo didn’t ask too much.

“Okay. Then I’ll tell the Deputy Guild Leader. Hyung can do whatever you please.”

“Thank you!”

Hyeon-woo left Seon-woo behind and quickly looked for Chan-young.

“A CF that makes you the most money?”

“Yes!”

“Are you doing this because you need money?” Chan-young asked with a confused face.

“I don’t want to use Seon-woo’s money for this.”

At Hyeon-woo’s determined words, Chan-young spoke,

“I’ve been keeping the money they paid for your appearance on that variety show. Can I just issue it to a card?”

“How much is it?”

“This is about it.”

Chan-young wrote down the amount and showed it to him and Hyeon-woo immediately smiled broadly when he saw it. It seemed that this would be enough to buy all the cakes, meat, and birthday presents he could possibly want. Giving this amount for one broadcast appearance, do broadcasters have a lot of money?

“Then you’re not going to film a CF, are you?”

“Yes!”

“What do you need the money for? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Hyeon-woo thought about it for a while, but soon he came to the idea that he, the Deputy Head of the department, would know about Seon-woo’s birthday. Other guild leaders also threw huge parties every year, so Seon-woo probably did too. Then it might be better to mention his plans in advance. He wanted to take care of it personally, but since there would need to be some preparations at the guild level, he thought it would be better not for them to overlap.

“Seon-woo’s birthday is coming up soon.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s the Guild Leader’s birthday soon.”

“The guild must have prepared something, right?”

“No. The guild doesn’t normally prepare anything.”

“Why not?”

Hyeon-woo, freaking out, asked again.

“Why not? Other guilds throw huge parties!”

Some rented a building in the outskirts of the city or rented a cruise. They rented a large space wherever, invited people, and held the birthday party. But Seon-woo’s Guild didn’t celebrate their Guild Leader’s birthday at all?

“Because the Guild Leader doesn’t like making a big deal of it.”

He didn’t like his birthday? Seon-woo used to love his birthday so much. A few days before his birthday, he would already be diligently preparing for it. In case his brother had forgotten, Seon-woo would circle the 15th on the calendar with red colored pencil and brought up his birthday several times a day.

“That’s nonsense.”

“Well, that’s the reason the guild doesn’t celebrate specific birthdays.”

“Do you know why?”

“He’s been asked about it before by reporters during interviews. Wait a minute.”

Chan-young rummaged through the bookshelf on one side of his office and pulled out a magazine. Like a fashion magazine, it had a stylishly dressed woman adorning the cover.

Hyeon-woo immediately looked for and flipped to the interview section.

Q. It is now the middle of autumn. Isn’t it your birthday coming up?

A. That’s right.

Q. November 15th, right? Now, let me ask you something to clear up some of the questions. Why don’t you celebrate your birthday every year? You said you don’t accept even the smallest of gifts, is there a reason for this?

A. A birthday is a special day for me. Only on that day, my Hyung, who was busy every day, would come home early to celebrate with me. Even though I knew he wasn’t able to do much, I’d keep talking about it because I was afraid my Hyung would forget my birthday.

Q. You were so cute when you were little!

A. I wonder if I was cute. I don’t know.

Q. So you don’t celebrate your birthday right now because you have no one to be your Hyung?

A. (Ji Seon-woo-ssi answered with a smile. However, the smile was filled with sadness, making even the reporter feel his pain.)

Hyeon-woo’s hand that held the magazine gradually regained strength. He had a thought of this once in the Demon Realm.

He wanted his younger brother to be happy even without him. But he also hoped he wouldn’t forget him. Even though he knew that it would contribute to Seon-woo’s sadness, he couldn’t completely abandon his selfishness. And the moment he saw the reason why Seon-woo didn’t celebrate his birthday, he was happy even in the midst of his heartache.

‘I shouldn’t be like this.’

Hyeon-woo held the magazine and covered his face.

“Don’t crumple it. It’s a magazine I barely managed to get a hold of.”

He heard Chan-young’s nervous voice, but he didn’t pay it any mind. After Hyeon-woo managed to control his expression, he took down the magazine.

“Let’s throw a birthday party.”

“Really?”

“I’ll tell Seon-woo. Let’s party bigger than other guilds! If there’s not enough money, I’ll shoot a CF!”

“Seon-Hyeon doesn’t lack money to the point we can’t host a birthday party. But a big birthday party? There’s less than two weeks to plan and throw it.”

“So you’re saying we can’t?”

Chan-young laughed at that.

“There’s nothing that I can’t do. Anything is possible. Please only get the permission for it.”

One just needed money and people. And Seon-Hyeon was a guild rich in both. He didn’t know if the invited guests would attend, but it would work out somehow. Chan-young had been wanting to celebrate Seon-woo’s birthday similar to other guild leaders, hence his quick agreement to Hyeon-woo’s suggestion.

“Then I’ll get Seon-woo’s permission and report back!”

The completely secret birthday plans had already been blown away. Hyeon-woo left the office of the Deputy Guild Leader and headed towards Seon-woo’s office. He said while opening the door vigorously,

“Let’s have a birthday party!”

“?”

Seeing Seon-woo staring at him with a surprised expression, he shouted again.

“Let’s have a birthday party!”

“Whose birthday party?”

“Your birthday party!”

At Hyeon-woo’s words, Seon-woo smiled softly.

“It would be nice if you could do it for me.”

“Right? Then, where should we have it? A party on a boat? A hotel on the outskirts? Or do you just rent a building and set it up from scratch?”

Seon-woo’s expression, which had been smiling softly, slowly cracked. However, the excited Hyeon-woo didn’t notice it.

“Do you really have to do all that?”

“But you said you’ve never had a birthday party so far and everyone else does it like that!”

“Yeah, that’s what everyone else does.”

That statement encouraged Hyeon-woo’s actions. Doing this and doing that. He wanted to make it possible for them to have a splendid birthday just like they saw on TV.

“What if we kept it small?”

“How could I allow that? Up until now, I haven’t been able to celebrate your birthday properly.”

“I’ve been fine though.”

“That’s a lie.”

“I’m telling the truth.”

It really was the truth. His Hyung blamed himself for not taking care of his birthday, but they were all happy memories for Seon-woo. That was why he didn’t celebrate his birthday anymore after Hyeon-woo disappeared. However, Hyeon-woo came back again and now it was November.

His heart started pounding at the thought of being able to celebrate his birthday again. But his Hyung didn’t seem to be satisfied with that.

“Hyung, do you want me to have a big birthday party like everyone else?”

Seeing Hyeon-woo nodding his head, Seon-woo quietly buried the idea of the birthday he wanted.

“Great. Then let’s do it big this time.”

When he said that with a playful grin, a smile appeared on Hyeon-woo’s face as well. Yeah, all he needed was for Hyung to smile. There were many birthdays left in the future. For this birthday, he decided to do whatever his Hyung wanted.

Footnotes:

[1] CF - Commercial Film