Time For You - An IVE Rei Birthday Fic

“It’s my birthday.”

The words came more lifelessly than she had thought. As Rei pushed her comforter aside and shifted into a sit along the side of her bed, she rubbed her eyes and sighed. Once her vision adjusted to the morning light spilling into her room, she rose fully now and stretched her arms to try and wake up.

“Happy birthday to me.”

Swiping up her phone, she scrolled through her notifications. The time flashed ‘eleven-fifteen’.

Since it was her birthday, Rei wasn’t given any schedules. She loved the management for that. However, that didn’t mean the same could be said for the others.

PPOPPO: Happy birthday! Eat some good food!

Jang Princess: Happiest birthday to you <3 Let’s go somewhere nice when we’re both free <3

Aegieee: Rei-unnie~, happy birthdayyyyy!!! Let’s get some cake! My treat!!!

Grandma: Guess who’s got a special day today? It’s you! Happy birthday, Rei <3

Rei couldn’t help but smile at her member’s greetings. She’s glad they remembered—they better have. They always do. Judging from the timestamps on their messages, Rei could tell that they sent this before sleeping last night. All of them seemed to come as midnight came around, when Rei was already fast asleep.

Pocketing her phone, dressed in just her pajamas, Rei shuffled across her room and exited into their shared common room to see who was home.

The deafening silence was enough of a reply for her.

Crinkling her nose, she crashed onto the couch that she had all to herself and pushed Leeseo’s textbooks off the coffee table so she could rest her feet on it. Staring up at the ceiling, she let out a heavy sigh.

“There’s nothing to do. That’s weird.”

It wasn’t that she wasn’t grateful for some peace and quiet—god knows she could use more of these days given how close their new comeback season was—but she just thought that birthdays were meant to be more colorful. More wonderful. More energetic. More lively.

And yet here she was, turning twenty-two, surrounded by nothing but the beige walls of their shared dormitory and the lingering scent of hours-old coffee.

Her ruminations were interrupted by a buzzing in her pocket. It was her phone.

It was her family.

Jumping off the couch, she rushed to her room. Although she was the only one home, it became habit for Rei to take private calls in her room. Once she locked the door behind her, she leaned against it and picked up.

“Hello? Can you hear us?”

Rei smiled with the phone pressed to her cheek. “I can mom. You’re loud and clear.”

“Oh, thank goodness. Your dad wouldn’t shut up about calling you. He wanted us to dial in first thing in the morning, but I told him—let our daughter rest, will you!”

Chuckling, she put the call on loudspeaker. “Where’s your camera? Let’s video call.”

“Ah … we’re not at home, sweetheart,” her mother confessed as the sounds of driving filled the silence between her words. “Your sister needed some help with her business. Dad and I are heading to her place before their lunch break.”

“Oh. That’s fine.”

“Have you had lunch yet? Have you had anything to eat yet?” her mother asked. Rei couldn’t help but feel like she was changing the topic. “If so, go make sure to grab something yummy. It’s your birthday after all.”

Rei shrugged as if her mother could see it. “I’ll figure it out. I miss you. All of you. Even grandpa.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. “We miss you too, Rei. We really do. I’m so sorry we couldn’t come over like we talked about in the new year. I know you were looking forward to us visiting you again. It’s been so long since we’ve all been together.”

Rei didn’t know how to respond to that. “It’s ok, mom. There’s still next year, right? Then the year after that, and after that, and after that. I might come home in between concert dates too. It depends on how free we get.”

“Are you performing back here again? I didn’t see it in the tour dates yet, sweetheart.”

Chuckling, Rei whispered. “It’s a secret, but we definitely are. I can’t say more since management hasn’t mentioned it yet~.”

Hearing her mother laugh again warmed Rei’s heart. Throughout this entire conversation with her, she sounded stressed and worried. The issues with her sister must be quite serious. Could she really blame her—blame them—for not being able to follow through on their promise?

“Then just like before, we’ll come and watch you. All of us. I’m sure grandpa will be happy.”

“Tell him I said hello. And go scold onee-chan for me. It’s her fault you can’t come over!”

“You know that we would if we could, right?” her mother stressed. Just when she was about to continue, loud honking sounds blasted into the microphone. “I’m sorry, Rei, but I have to go now. Your father is getting distracted by the call—.”

“It’s not my fault that guy swerved into our line! What does he think driving is—some sort of game? Ah, it’s a young driver. Get your head together, will you!”

Shaking her head, Rei cupped a hand to her phone and uttered, “Miss you too, dad.”

“Miss you too sweetie! Let’s get that video call setup again soon, ok? Love you!”

“Love you too, sweetheart. Take care, and happy birthday!”

“Love you too,” Rei muttered before turning off the call.

She wasn’t sad. She had no reason to be. Her members greeted her first thing today. Her family called in even if it’s just for a while. What more could she ask for? What more did she need from the world? Wasn’t this enough?

Pressing her forehead against the door, she closed her head and sighed. “Maybe this is just how birthdays were now.”

Taylor Swift was wrong. There was nothing magical about turning twenty-two. It’s just another year.

Maybe this is just what it means to be an adult.

She’s noticed it before. Growing up, she thought it was just because she was away from home—why the celebrations aren’t as magical, why the festivities seem duller than usual, why the joy seems to drain faster than she could imagine. Maybe this was just a part of maturing. You have responsibilities. You have schedules. You have other things occupying your life.

Opening her door, she shuffled into the living room like a ghost. For Rei, birthdays haven’t been what they used to be for a while now. To her, it was just another normal day in her life.

“Oh, jagi? You’re awake?”

Those four words were enough to immediately turn on the light in her life. “Jiwon?”

Liz waved at her from the dining room. She was pouring water into a mug. “Good morning. Or is it afternoon? I thought you’d sleep in more. It’s your birthday after all.”

After stirring thoroughly, she took a sip from her mug and sighed in bliss. She then met Rei halfway at the living room and pecked her on the cheek, sliding the drink into her hands. “Happy birthday, Rei. Have some hot chocolate.”