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‘Your first @ owes you some soup dumplings!’ is what is flashing on Mark’s screen as he scrolls through his Instagram reels, splayed over his couch like a ragdoll. The sun has already faced the other side of the earth, city lights around his apartment start shining brighter than the stars in the sky as the lights of his neighbours go out one by one.
Yet here he is, still alive than ever.
Bored to his bones, he clicks share and lets out a choked laugh as he sees Donghyuck fucking Lee – the guy who just cannot stop sending him shit, sometimes even tells him to react to every one of them because quote unquote, the memes he sends are so funny.
Sighing, Mark puts his phone down and lets his eyes wander around his place. It's a decent size and he really does not like it when a place is too big for him, claiming it’ll just be a waste of money and space. The kitchen area is small but big enough to accommodate at least two grown adults simultaneously doing whatever kitchen thing they wish to do, and it’s not like Mark cooks often. Most of the time, he only uses the kitchen area to wash the dishes. Mark thinks his friends even use it more than him. He pouts at the fact.
His phone lighting up brought his attention back to the small device. A picture of someone’s legs with three cats looking up greets him along with another notification from the little devil himself, Donghyuck, as he sends another Instagram reel. Mark rolls his eyes as he clicks on the notification, which reads, ‘Your birthday is getting close. Take this birthday cow.’
Huh?
Mark gets up from where he was comfortably laying down, eyebrows shooting higher than Mount Everest itself. He puts a hand over his mouth in shock as he immediately checks the date on his phone: 10:36 PM August 1st. It means there’s at least two weeks before Jaemin ’s birthday. And a day before his .
Oh.
It’s not like Mark forgot his birthday, but ever since he and Jaemin became friends eleven years ago, he got used to sharing his birthday with the guy because that’s what their friends do. They greet him on the 2nd but they celebrate it on the 13th. He doesn’t really mind, if he’s being honest, sharing a birthday with someone close to you feels quite nice. Especially since it’s Jaemin we’re talking about.
Jaemin who has a contagious smile.
Jaemin who never fails to remind him to eat his breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Jaemin who never gives up on teaching him how to correctly fry an egg.
Jaemin who always listens to every word he says, even if he thinks they are not as interesting as he thought they’d be.
Jaemin who makes funny faces to cheer him up.
Jaemin who he loves so much.
Jaemin.
Jaemin.
Jaemi–
Mark’s phone lights up once again. ‘It’s probably Donghyuck and his three bread sandwich,’ he thought – a memory of said three bread sandwich Donghyuck sent the other day still etched on his mind – but behold, the owner of the legs on his wallpaper greets him with a message: Come over to my place, Marky. The babies and I have got something for you.
Mark has never run out of his place this fast.
–
Even though Mark can enter the passcode blindfolded, he still knocks on the black door in front of him, waiting for Jaemin to open it for him. His place isn’t that far from Jaemin’s, it’s like a 15 to 30 minute drive depending on his luck on the stoplights. That’s why their friends are confused that they don’t live together already and when they have asked Mark the reason why, well, Mark doesn’t know either! But their friends, Donghyuck and Chenle in particular, kept asking him non-stop that it pissed off Jaemin.
The question never left anyone’s mouth since.
The door opening stops his reverie, revealing a Jaemin who wears a simple white tank top, which, unfortunately for Mark, accentuates the younger’s well-toned biceps. Mark blinked rapidly, trying to see whether the sight in front of him was just a product of his imagination and undying love for Jaemin.
Come to think of it, Mark can’t remember any instances that he was headlocked by Jaemin before. Not that he ever requested for such a scandalous act to happen to him! It’s just that… he wonders how it’d feel…
“Mark, baby?”
A warmth slowly creeps on both Mark’s cheeks, shy. “Y-Yeah? Hey, Jaem…” Mark mumbles, gaze never leaving the sight before him as if he’s a sculptor trying to memorize every little detail of his muse. This is not the first time he sees Jaemin in such clothes, hell, Jaemin even cuddles with him topless sometimes! So what’s bothering him now? Is he expecting a birthday sex? No no NO! They only hug! And kiss! And tell each other ‘I love yous’! Why would there be sex!
Jaemin puts his weight against the door frame, observing the older with a smug twitch of his lips. But as much as the unfolding scene amuses him, he really needs to get Mark inside. A tease lingers on Jaemin’s tongue but resists himself from getting it out past his lips, knowing the older will mostly fly out of his place and Jaemin doesn’t want that. Crossing his arms, God please help Mark , Jaemin asks, “Done ogling now? Come inside.”
“No.”
“What?” Jaemin tilted his head, confused, an eyebrow raising. Yet there’s still a smile on his face, unable to resist the cuteness Mark is showing.
Mark tore his gaze from Jaemin quickly, the heat flushing his cheeks crimson red, which spread like wildfire up to his ears. He cannot meet Jaemin’s eyes for his thoughts, what do you mean headlocks? Birthday sex?! Mark internally groaned as he steps inside Jaemin’s place, his hands becoming a very interesting object to look at. He went here because Jaemin and the babies got something from him and here he is, scandalous thoughts running in his mind because Jaemin chose to wear a tank top today? Ridiculous!
Clearing his throat, Mark replied, still avoiding Jaemin who looked at him weirdly , “O-Oh, nothing! What did you guys get for me? Where’s the babies? I-I haven’t seen them in a while! You don’t even send me their pictures anymore!” He throws himself on Jaemin’s sofa that he thinks is softer than his beloved bed. As much as the cushion feels comfy against his ass, he did not stop talking.
“Did Lucy get, um, bigger? What about Luna, did she uh… stop eating your chairs now? Where are they? They, they, they should’ve jumped on me now! Or are they sleeping?” Mark starts to lower his voice, “Am I disturbing their sleep…? Oh God, I should’ve kept my mouth shut! Argh, this is why they don’t, uh, go to me even if I have treats! Or a-a-are they staying in your mom’s house? But that’s weird because you said,” he gulps, “you said you and the babies, the babies!, have something for me!”
Mark starts fidgeting with the hem of his plaid shirt, the first clothing that he snatched when he was hurrying to get here and now he cannot wait to get his ass out of here. Not because he doesn’t like Jaemin anymore – no! That would never happen! He just feels embarrassed and… guilty? Guily, yes! Jaemin should never ever know about this! This should be between him and God!
“Also, Dong-Dong-Donghyuck kept sending me weird Instagram reels, you know? Three bread sandwiches, birthday cows, I don’t want to see what his Instagram reels look like. He’s my first @ for free s-soup,” Mark coughs, voice coated in embarrassment now barely audible, “soup dumplings, d’you think I should ask him for that tomorrow? He doesn’t stop teasing me, maybe it’s time he shou–!”
Mark was interrupted by a sudden voice, singing .
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, my Marky
Happy birthday to you
Mark clasps his hands, words get stuck on his tongue. He starts blinking rapidly, checking whether this is a dream and he might’ve passed out on Jaemin’s sofa out of embarrassment. But no, there he is, the light of Mark’s life, standing in front of him, wearing a pink Hello Kitty apron, as he holds a cake that was painted in his favourite colour – blue. Jaemin’s place was well-lit when Mark came inside, but now? All he can notice is the reflection of the candle light on Jaemin’s face. Jaemin looks… innocent right now, a small smile on his face as he watches Mark watch him – all while carrying a little blue cake that awaits for its owner to claim it.
Mark holds his breath as he waits for Jaemin’s next moves but he guesses Jaemin won’t bulge until he does something because the younger one laughs, “Baby, make a wish and blow the candle.” He brings the tiny cake near Mark, “We don’t want the wax to get on the cake, do we?”
Mark dumbly nods, his body leaning forward as he gets nearer to the cake. Hands trembling, he put them on top of Jaemin’s. His breath hitched as he inhaled, and if Jaemin noticed his foolish heart pounding wildly, he never said a word.
Closing his eyes, Mark thought of something to wish for. He has a happy life. He has Jaemin. He has his best friend Donghyuck who he loves very much even though he is a little shit. He loves the three cats Jaemin takes care of. He has a stable job that pays him more than enough to spoil himself a little every month. Mark thinks he’s got everything he could ask for, really.
Still, Mark wished.
Jaemin and I’s happiness. Together. With our friends and cats.
Mark smiles and opens his eyes, finally putting Jaemin at ease because the younger one was calling all the Gods for the candle wax to not drop on the cake. They still gotta eat it, you know?
Jaemin puts the cake down on the center table and joins Mark on the couch. “What d’ya wished for?” He questioned in a soft whisper, his hand finding Mark’s like they’re magnets, to which he immediately intertwined the moment he found what he’s looking for and started tracing circles on the back of Mark’s hands. Jaemin looks at the older intently, patiently waiting for Mark to reply though he knows the other won’t tell him.
Mark, on the other hand, is still caught off guard since Jaemin sang him a happy birthday. Come on now, don’t blame him! He was talking non-stop and there Jaemin was, with the cake and all! He shakes his head, “Don’t wanna tell. It might not come true, you know?”
Not taking any offense that Mark didn’t tell him, the younger invited himself in Mark’s personal space – not that Mark minds it – and put his head just below the older’s chin. Jaemin then buried his face on Mark’s neck now that he has full access to it, heart heavy with love and contentment. They stayed like that for a few seconds, abandoning the blue cake Jaemin had gotten for a moment.
“Mmmhnngmmhn,” is all that Mark heard when Jaemin suddenly talked after a few seconds of comfortable silence. Mark started rubbing the younger’s side, “Mhm? What did you say?” he muttered and looked down at the man that grips his body like a koala or like how a panda holds its bamboo sticks – Mark doesn’t know, he really does not watch animal documentaries.
Jaemin looked up at him, pouting, “I hate it when they push your birthday a few days later just to celebrate it along with mine,” he admitted with a soft voice, sounding almost akin to a young boy. Mark shrugs, “I don’t, though. Maybe if it’s other people, I’d be upset,” he pinches Jaemin’s cheeks, “but it’s you so I’m very much fine with it.”
“Heh,” the younger one rolled his eyes and tipped Mark’s chin down. Now, Mark’s once again looking down at him. A confused expression is probably written all over his face because Jaemin laughs at him before leaning forward – their faces are so close that Mark starts hitching again as he inhales, because look! Who wouldn’t when the space between their lips is no thicker than a strand of ha–
Jaemin kissed him.
“Happy birthday, baby,” Jaemin whispered softly against his lips, “wishing you only experience all the good things this world has to offer.”
And he kissed Mark again, “I love you. I know you know that.” Mark is going to combust. Right here. Right now.
Before poor Mark could even react, Jaemin got off him and finally, finally paid the abandoned cake some attention. He points at it, reminding the presence of the tiny cake to Mark. “We gotta eat this bad boy right here. I think I spent a good 30 minutes trying to perfect the lion,” Jaemin shared, which immediately piqued Mark’s interest. He knows Jaemin is a great cook but he hasn’t heard of him baking. And what did he just hear, lions?
Mark leaned forward once again to properly look at the cake Jaemin baked, gaze lingering on the decorating sitting atop of it. It is coated with blue colored icing with an art of lion and a slice of watermelon. The lines were a bit wobbly but he didn't care – Jaemin did all of this for him. And wow, that really looks like him.
Mark was so absorbed in appreciating the cake Jaemin got for him that he didn’t notice Jaemin taking off his Hello Kitty apron and hanging it on a chair in the kitchen before he went back to Mark in the living room.
Swiftly getting a bit of icing from the cake – to which Mark noticed right away – Jaemin pushed Mark back on the couch, making Mark shriek. “Wha–!”
The younger one straddled Mark’s lap in record time, reminding himself to not put all of his weight on the older, and placed the icing he got to where he thinks it belongs – right on top of Mark’s cheeks. “Oh no! You have some icing on you, Markie! So clumsy!” Jaemin remarked with fake reprimand, voice now suddenly switching to that of a preschool teacher.
“But you know, I haven’t given you your gift yet.”
Arching a brow, “What is it then?” Mark asked, wiping the icing Jaemin placed on his cheeks with his thumb and tasting it – it’s not too sweet, and Mark now really wants to eat the cake. He thought they’re going to eat the cake but why is the one who proposed the idea sitting comfortably on his lap?
“Me,” Jaemin replied and started taking off his tank top, all while on top of a now panicking Mark.
“JAEMIN!” The older one shrieks, “I wanna eat the cake!”
Jaemin burst out laughing, “That’s not the cake I wanna eat though?”
Mark screams.