i can give you the life you deserve (say the word)

Minjeong should have known something was wrong the moment he asked her two weeks in advance. Most people sent birthday invitations; he hovered.

The first mention came on a Tuesday evening while he was standing in her kitchen, stealing strawberries from a container he’d been explicitly told not to touch.

"My birthday's next month," he said.

Minjeong looked up from her laptop. "That's nice."

He narrowed his eyes. "That's all I get?"

"Would you like a certificate?"

"No."

"Happy early birthday."

He looked unconvinced, and Minjeong’s suspicion flared instantly.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What."

His smile widened. "There's a party."

There it was. Minjeong closed her eyes briefly. Of course there was a party.

"Jimin's organising it."

Even worse. "Mm."

"I want you there."

The words landed with alarming force - not because of what they meant, but because of how easily he said them. Like it was obvious. Like the possibility she wouldn't be there was unimaginable.

"You're looking at me like that again," he said.

Minjeong narrowed her eyes. "Like what?"

"Like I've just handed you a legally binding contract."

"You have."

"It's a birthday invitation."

"That’s even scarier."

Silence settled between them briefly before Minjeong eventually spoke again, eyes narrowed. “Why?”

He blinked. “Why what?”

“Why do you want me there?”

For the first time since bringing up the party, he looked slightly caught off guard - like he'd expected resistance. Complaints. Negotiation. Not that question.

Minjeong closed her laptop slowly. “It’s your birthday,” she said. “You’ll have friends there. Family. People you actually like.”

“I actually like you.” The answer came so quickly she almost missed it.

His expression remained completely open. No teasing. No grin. Just simple honesty - which somehow made it significantly worse.

Minjeong looked away first. “You barely know me.”

His smile softened slightly. “I know.”

The room settled into a quiet she suddenly found difficult to navigate. He stole another strawberry. Minjeong watched him do it.

“That's still theft, by the way.”

“Worth it.”

“You’re impossible.”

“You like me anyway.”

Minjeong rolled her eyes. Unfortunately, he looked entirely too pleased with himself.

“Why do you want me there?” she repeated.

This time he thought about it. Not long. Just enough. Then he shrugged one shoulder.

“Because it’ll make me happy.”

The simplicity of it caught her completely off guard. The absence of performance, the lack of teasing, the sincerity in his voice - it made it infinitely harder to refuse.

"Please."

God, that was unfair. That was deeply unfair. 

Minjeong stared at him, then sighed.

The victorious grin appeared instantly.

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Stop looking so pleased with yourself."