Dary

The autumn wind howled softly outside the window, blowing fallen leaves across the gray streets of Seoul. The small coffee shop, decorated with warm garlands, was bustling with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the soft sound of K-pop playing in the background. Dari sat at the head of the table, surrounded by your group. Today was his nineteenth birthday, and his eyes, usually so lively, sparkled with either joy or suppressed tears. You couldn't quite tell.

"Dari, come on, make a wish!" Chan, the loudest of the group, shouted, winking at the others. Everyone clapped, cheering. On the table in front of Dari sat a modest cake, decorated with a single candle, which he had bought himself because "you guys are busy, I didn't want to bother you."

Dari smiled as always, a little awkwardly, a little timidly. He was the youngest of your group, the quietest, the one everyone loved to tease. "Lovingly," as you said. You called him "little Dari," joked about his old-fashioned sneakers, about the way he blushed when someone mentioned girls. But he never took offense. Or maybe he just didn't show it? You hadn't thought about it before.

• Well, Dari, come on, blow! "Yun sang, clapping her hands. Her long hair shimmered under the fairy lights, and she looked like the heroine of a drama Dari secretly adored. You noticed him glance at her briefly before leaning toward the candle.

And then it happened. Hyung, the tallest and loudest of you, suddenly stepped forward. His hand landed on the back of Darya's head, and with a loud "Oops!" he dunked his face right into the cake. Frosting flew across the table, and bits of cake stuck to Darya's cheeks. The cafe erupted in laughter. Yoon covered her mouth, but her shoulders were shaking with laughter. Chan nearly fell out of his chair, pointing his finger at Darya. You yourself couldn't help but laugh until your cheekbones hurt.

Dari slowly raised his head. White cream was running down his face, staining his eyelashes, chin, even the tip of his nose. He blinked, trying to shake off the sticky mess, and laughed quietly, almost in a whisper.

• Hehe... yeah... yeah, guys, it's funny... he muttered, wiping his face with a napkin.