Even in the winter apocalypse, some important dates could not be forgotten.
January 31, 2023, 5:30 am, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
Zeke and Seojun were awake early for training. They were just waiting for Jihyo to wake up so they could start their warm-ups and continue their hand-to-hand combat training.
Zeke was practicing some punches when his phone made a "Ding!" sound. It had to be some sort of notification, since he knew there's no signal of any kind right now to recieve calls or messages.
He opens his phone and checks. It was a calendar notification.
"Reminder: TWICE Park Jihyo's Birthday is scheduled in 12 hours and 30 minutes from now."
"Right, I almost forgot it's Jihyo's birthday later! And it's training day so I can't take day offs to prepare..."
Zeke thought about it for a while.
"The training has been quite difficult lately... It would be rude if I asked Mr. Seojun for a day-off to prepare for this, right...? Sigh..."
Zeke approached Seojun, who was sitting at the edge of the training grounds, sipping coffee.
"Mr. Seojun..." Zeke's voice trailed off.
"Oh, Mr. Zeke. What do you need?" Seojun said.
"I want to take a day-off today." Zeke said.
"Why? Are you feeling unwell? Are you injured?" Seojun replied.
"Well, I... just want to prepare for Jihyo's birthday tomorrow. I want to surprise her. I don't know. I just want to do it."
"Oh, I see! I see." Seojun replied. "So it's her birthday tomorrow, hmm... Does it really have to be an all-day preparation, Mr. Zeke? We have vital techniques that we need to learn today."
"Uhm, well, not really... I...it's okay if you don't allow it, Mr. Seojun. I'll just make time for it later toni--"
"Just make it good, okay?" Seojun said, cutting Zeke off.
"Eh..?" Zeke gave a confused look.
Seojun sips his coffee. "I'm allowing for your day-off. But you have to promise me that you'll make the surprise for her birthday as memorable as possible."
"I... I will, Mr. Seojun, thank you.." Zeke said as he bows.
"Now, go on. I'll make up an excuse. Don't go anywhere near the training grounds so that she wouldn't see you, alright?" Seojun said as he winked at Zeke.
"Okay...! Understood. Once again, thank you, Mr. Seojun!" Zeke said as he runs off back inside the settlement.
He then sees Hyungwon preparing for his expedition with a few of his men in tow. He runs toward them with speed as he called his name.
"Hyungwon! Hyungwon!" Zeke called as Hyungwon turned around.
"Oh, goodmorning, Zeke-nim." Hyungwon said. "What's the rush?"
Zeke was panting hard, catching his breath. "I... need you... to help me... I'm planning... A surprise party for Jihyo...tomorrow..."
"Don't you have training, Zeke-nim?" Hyungwon said. "And do you have ample time to fully prepare for this?"
"Well... the time isn't the problem because I took a day off, so..." Zeke said.
"Hmm. I'm sorry, Zeke-nim. Even if you took a day off for this, I couldn't be here to help you, in all honesty. I'm going on a supply search today and I'll be out until sundown. This cannot be delayed, I'm afraid..." Hyungwon frowned.
"It's okay... I understand. I'm sorry for bothering..." Zeke said as he gave a slightly sad face.
Hyungwon thinks for a while. Deep down, he does wanna help Zeke set up a surprise party for Jihyo, but he can't postpone his expedition because he'll be needing scrap metal for the further fortification of the settlement barricades.
He soon comes up with a solution that will meet both ends.
"I have an idea..." Hyungwon said. "If I find something from my expedition that we can use for her birthday, I'll be bringing it here for you so we can set it up. I don't know what it will be, but I promise it'll be useful. I'll also try to help as soon as I get back."
"Really, really? Oh my god, thank you, Hyungwon!" Zeke said with a smile on his face.
"No worries. Now, while you wait for me, Zeke-nim, you can approach my sister to help you with the other things." Hyungwon said. "She's no stranger to setting up birthday parties, AND concealing them from the celebrant."
"Wow, your little sister has alot of talents, hmm?" Zeke replied.
"She may be annoying, and a little too energetic, but yeah, she is." Hyungwon smiled. "Don't tell her I said that, though, Zeke-nim. She's not going to stop boasting it to me for weeks. I don't want that kind of fuss in my line of work."
"Alright, alright... don't worry..." Zeke said. "Thank you, once again."
"See you later, Zeke-nim." Hyungwon waves as he turns back to his men to brief them for their expedition.
Zeke then travels to where Minji is---another makeshift apartment just near Minhyuk's office. She's outside, seemingly fiddling with her phone.
"Minji!" Zeke waves at her.
"Hi, Zeke-nim!" Minji said. "Goodmorning! What brings you here?"
"I'm here to ask you a favor. You see, it's Jihyo's birthday tom--"
"I'LL HELP!" Minji abruptly said.
"Wha...? That's... that's quick! I haven't even said the details yet!" Zeke replied.
"I know how this goes, Zeke-nim. You come to me, you're gonna ask me for help to surprise Jihyo on her birthday WHILE hiding from her to conceal the preparation. And let me guess, you took a day off of training just to fully prepare for this. Am I right?" Minji said, crossing her arms and tapping her feet.
"Yes.. yeah." Zeke replied. "But how did you know...?"
"Believe me, Zeke, I've been asked favors like these for years now, so I know how this goes." Minji laughs. "Come to think of it, I should've been an event organizer instead of a nurse, you know..." Minji said as she scratches her chin.
"Well... thank you in advance for helping me out..." Zeke smiled.
"For Miss Park Jihyo, anything, actually. She deserves the whole world." Minji smiles as she pulls a notepad from her slingbag. "So, what do we need?"