* * *

“This is trespassing. I’ll report you.”

“We came with the owner’s permission, so don’t waste law enforcement’s time and take a seat.”

“And if anything, we’re the law, so what are you gonna do about it?”

“Damn it. Isn’t this abuse of power?”

As he brushed the confetti from his hair, Ye Eunsoo’s face twisted further.

‘With the owner’s permission,’ they said.

That just made it more infuriating.

Technically, this was his house, not Yang Heewoon’s.

It was compensation from Polwel, after all.

But Yang Heewoon acted as if it were his, bringing these infuriating fools into the space as if he owned it.

“Eunsoo, come sit down.”

“Hurry up and blow it out! The candles are melting.”

“Make a wish as you blow them out.”

“…?”

To make things worse, even stranger sights caught his eye.

The living room was decorated in bright colors.

Balloons of all shapes and hues floated around, and on the table in the center, an assortment of food sat next to a large cake.

And it wasn’t just any cake.

It seemed to be custom-made, depicting the three espers and Ye Eunsoo as characters.

And the message written in the center:

♡ Happy 19th Birthday, Eunsoo ♡

And they even had the nerve to stick a heart right there in the middle.

It was clear who would have gone through the trouble of making this.

There was only one person in the world who would give him a gift like this.

“…”

But despite knowing who had sent it, it left him utterly baffled.

As he frowned and stayed silent, a white-haired esper let out a short sigh and spoke up.

“We didn’t exactly want to come either. But it’s your birthday today, apparently. Heewoon asked us to look out for you. Since you’ll be working with us as teammates, we couldn’t exactly say no.”

“…What kind of nonsense is that?”

“We know you don’t like us, but since you’re joining Special A Team, we’re comrades now.”

“That’s not what I meant… I mean, why is today my birthday?”

He read the message over and over. It felt so unfamiliar. Birthday wishes?

Yang Heewoon had done plenty of bizarre things, but this was a first.

Celebrating a birthday he didn’t even know about?

For years, he only use the new year as a basis for his age.

Eunsoo’s brow furrowed at the unexpected revelation.

As he looked at the three espers, they shared a series of quick glances, before the white-haired one stepped forward to answer the question lingering in the air.

“That’s what we were told,” the white-haired esper said evenly.

“Even the door code, 1128, seems to be set to your birth date, right?”

Eunsoo fell silent, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face.

Yes, that was true.

From the very first time he’d entered Yang Heewoon’s rented room, to now, living in the expansive mansion Heewoon had provided for him, the password had always been 1128.

He could vividly recall his own grumbling, suggesting Heewoon could choose something more secure than such a short code.

But Heewoon had only laughed it off, insisting with that strange smile of his, “At least this way, I’ll remember it easily.”

Eunsoo hadn’t pushed further, but the expression on Heewoon’s face that day had left him feeling uneasy, as if there was something more, something hidden behind those words.

To think that it was actually his birthday…

“He even pre-ordered the cake a long time ago. It’s from a rather famous bakery, apparently. He’s really devoted to you. Almost annoyingly so.”

“I don’t know my own birthday.”

“Come to think of it, that is odd. Even I couldn’t find any records on it—it’s as if they were thoroughly erased.”

“…And why were you searching for my records, anyway?”

“Because it was necessary.”

The man in black answered matter-of-factly, as though it were obvious.

Whether he did it on orders from the Bureau, out of curiosity, or for some other reason, the fact that he’d dug into my past left a sour taste in my mouth.

My displeasure was clear on my face.

“Hey, Eunsoo! Blow out the candles already! They’re melting!”

“…Hah…”

They were so noisy. These fools, they were all so annoying.

Candles, what was the big deal?

Even if they burned out, the flame would just die on its own.

I couldn’t understand why they were making such a fuss over it.

But… this was a cake and candles that Yang Heewoon had prepared for me.

A party he’d likely planned for a long time.

Back when I could barely stay awake for a few hours, he must have fought his own exhaustion to design and order this cake.

Right now, he was probably waiting for me, hoping I’d blow out the candles in my hospital room.

“…”

With my lips pressed tightly together, I stepped toward the cake and blew out the candles in a single breath.

Applause rose from those around me, though it was somewhat half-hearted.

It felt… strange.

I knew there was a custom of celebrating the day someone was born, but I never thought it applied to me.

My parents had died long ago.

I didn’t know my birthday, and even if I did, I didn’t see the point in commemorating the day I was born.

“Let’s set the cake aside and have it for dessert later. I chose the food myself; you liked it last time, so I think you’ll enjoy it again.”

“I’m not hungry.”

In truth, I was.

With no one to cook for, I hadn’t made a meal in ages.

My appetite was suppressed by stress, so I’d only been managing a single roll of kimbap or a sandwich a day.

Now, seeing this elaborate meal and catching the delicious aroma made my stomach rumble.

But… I didn’t feel like eating.

There was something I needed to do before that.

I had to see the one who organized this party as soon as possible.

“You can drive, right? Take me to see him.”

---

I felt a little guilty, knowing how much care he put into his choice, but tastes can’t be helped.

Sure enough, the book Cha Junseong chose for me was as effective as a sleeping pill.

Leaning back in the device, it took less than 20 minutes of reading before I was out cold.

I really did try to stay awake… but failed miserably.

“Hey, Uncle.”

Maybe it was because I’d fallen asleep thinking about re-reading “The Genius Guide’s Melancholy”, forcing myself to absorb the dense text. Now I was seeing things.

It was Eunsoo.

Even cuter and more lovable in person than the character I’d pictured while reading the book.

My dear Eunsoo, whom I hadn’t seen for so long.

Even if he was a hallucination, I smiled. But then he spoke again, a little annoyed.

“Uncle, if you’re awake, get up.”

“Hm…?”

I blinked. My vision gradually cleared.

Oh. It wasn’t a hallucination.

It was really Eunsoo, standing there, calling for me.

The realization jolted me awake, and I almost hit my head on the machine I was lying in.

Why was Eunsoo at the hospital?

He was supposed to be at home, celebrating his birthday with the three Espers.

Though I was surprised, there was something I had to say before I asked him anything.

The words I’d been dying to say.

If I weren’t in the hospital, I’d have told him right at midnight, before anyone else.

“Eunsoo. Happy birthday.”

Eunsoo closed his mouth, simply looking at me with those emotionless gray-blue eyes.

I reached out toward him.

A glass barrier kept my hand from reaching him, but through it, I gently touched his white cheek.

“Thank you for being born. I wanted to do more for you, but my condition kept me from it. I’m sorry.”

“…”

“You got the cake, right? It’s chocolate, so enjoy it. I heard it’s not too sweet, just right. You can share it with your teammates, with friends, or eat it all yourself. It’s yours.”

My number one bucket list item.

To celebrate Eunsoo’s birthday.

Jake Powel had erased Eunsoo’s records.

The whole thing was handled so thoroughly and discreetly, it was nearly impossible to find anything.

Eunsoo had been kidnapped not long after losing his parents, while he was still very young and deeply traumatized.

All he remembered of himself was his name and age.

His birthday was never mentioned in the story. Nobody knew it.

But that was in the book.

Outside of it, as a reader, I had access to special information provided by “The Genius Guide’s Melancholy” ’s author.

I knew when Eunsoo’s birthday was.

It was today, November 28th.

I’d wanted to tell him early on, to give him the chance to celebrate.

If it weren’t for my unexpected hospitalization, I could have made it a truly special day.

A bit disappointing, but still, I thought he’d be happy enough spending time with his future husbands.

But with him here now, I guess I underestimated things.

‘Maybe it really was too sudden.’

It was the inevitable limitation of this rushed plan I’d set in motion, determined to see it through before I died.

As I sighed inwardly, Eunsoo, who’d been watching me calmly this whole time, finally spoke.

“Uncle.”

“Yeah?”

“Come home with me.”

Eunsoo’s eyes were filled with a stubborn resolve, an unwavering determination to get me home, one way or another.

After living with him these past few months, I knew well that when Eunsoo looked at me like that, I couldn’t refuse him.

There was no choice.

Smiling faintly, I pressed the open button on the machine.

“Alright, let’s go home.”

He wouldn’t be spending his birthday with friends after all, so I’d at least stay by his side.

Ideally, I’d hoped he’d enjoy the day with his future partners, but… it seemed he still wasn’t completely comfortable with them yet.

Nothing to be done.

I slowly lifted myself out of the device, and immediately, my body felt heavy.

Breathing was hard, and staying upright even harder.

Eunsoo noticed right away and reached out to hold me up, providing me with sturdy support.

Though he couldn’t hold my head up, I leaned against his shoulder, catching my breath.

The familiar scent of him filled the air—a scent I’d missed so much since being hospitalized.

Closing my eyes, I thought…

‘…I missed you.’

* * *