The next day arrived faster than I expected. The sun was already high in the sky when I woke up, its warm rays streaming through the windows. I groaned, rubbing my eyes and glancing over at BaekHyeon, who was sleeping next to me .
Last night's impromptu game of ping pong cup had gone on longer than we planned, but it had been worth it. We needed that escape.
I stretched and grabbed my phone, seeing a couple of messages from Quinn and Mike in our cousin group chat.
Mike: "Beach house party is ON! Noon sharp. Bring your A-game."
Quinn: "Y'all better not flake. See you soon!"
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. A part of me was still feeling hesitant about the whole pre-birthday celebration. It wasn't that I didn't want to hang out with everyone; I just wasn't sure how wild the day was going to get. The party tomorrow was already going to be overwhelming enough.
BaekHyeon stirred and sat up, looking as groggy as I felt. "What time is it?"
"Almost eleven," I replied, tossing my phone onto my bed. "Mike says the party's on for noon."
He sighed, standing and stretching. "Man, last night was fun, but I'm still exhausted."
"Same," I muttered, swinging my legs out of bed. "But we said we'd go."
"Yeah, yeah." He scratched his head and wandered over to his suitcase. "Guess we'd better get ready."
By the time we made it downstairs, Mom and Dad were already up, sipping coffee and discussing last-minute details for the big celebration tomorrow. Mom noticed us first, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "You two look tired. Did you stay up late?"
"Just hanging out with the cousins," BaekHyeon said casually, grabbing a piece of toast.
She eyed us both for a second before sighing. "Well, just make sure you're rested for tomorrow. There's going to be a lot going on."
"Don't worry, Ma. We'll be fine," I reassured her, even though I wasn't completely sure myself.
After a quick breakfast, we headed out to the beach house. The drive wasn't long, but it gave me time to clear my head. The ocean came into view as we rounded the last bend, and the familiar sight of the family's beach house nestled near the shore brought a wave of nostalgia.
When we pulled up, the place was already buzzing with activity. Mike and Jay were setting up a makeshift volleyball net while Quinn and a couple of other cousins were unloading coolers full of snacks and drinks from their car. The atmosphere was relaxed but full of anticipation, like everyone was ready for a day of carefree fun.
"Hey, finally!" Quinn called out when she
spotted us. "I thought you guys were gonna sleep through the whole thing."
"Nah, we're here," I said, giving her a wave.
Jay jogged over, shirtless and already looking like he'd been in the sun for hours. "You guys ready? Volleyball, beach games, food, drinks—the whole works!"
"Sounds good," BaekHyeon said, looking more energized now that we were actually there.
We joined the rest of the cousins near the volleyball net, where teams were quickly formed. I found myself paired with Quinn and Jay, while BaekHyeon was on Mike's team. The competitive energy kicked in again, just like last night, and soon we were laughing, shouting, and diving for the ball like we were all back in high school.
After a couple of rounds, we took a break to cool off, lounging in the shade and sipping cold drinks. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore mixed with the distant chatter of our family, making everything feel peaceful.
"So," Quinn said, leaning back in her chair, "how are you two feeling about tomorrow?"
BaekHyeon and I glanced at each other, both of us knowing the weight of the question. "I don't know," I admitted. "Excited, I guess. But also kind of… nervous?"
"Yeah, it's a lot of pressure," BaekHyeon added. "Mom's been hyping this up for months."
Quinn nodded sympathetically. "I get it. But remember, tomorrow is just one day. After that, it's all about what you two want. Don't let the big celebration weigh you down."
I appreciated her words, even if I wasn't sure how much of the pressure would really go away after tomorrow. But she was right—at least for today, we could just focus on having fun and not worry about the future.
As the sun began to set, the vibe shifted into an even more relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. We all gathered around a bonfire that Jay and Mike had built, roasting marshmallows and talking about old times.
The sky above turned shades of pink and orange, and for a brief moment, it felt like the world outside our family didn't exist. It was just us, the ocean, and the fire crackling softly in the background.
"Tomorrow's gonna be great," BaekHyeon said quietly, nudging me with his elbow. "No matter what happens."
I smiled, feeling a sense of calm settle over me. "Yeah. I think so too."
And as we sat there, surrounded by family and the warmth of the fire, I realized that maybe adulthood wouldn't be so scary after all. We had each other, and that was enough.
———————————
As the night started drag on we started saying goodbye and everyone started heading home, until it was just Quinn, Mike, Jay, Hyeon and I.
"What a night!" Quinn sighed as she placed the last empty box of drinks in the trash.
"It's almost midnight, that means it's almost your birthday!" Jay walked into the kitchen cheering.
Jay's excitement filled the room as he leaned against the counter, a goofy grin on his face. "The big day is almost here! You guys ready for it?"
BaekHyeon and I exchanged glances, both feeling the weight of what tomorrow meant. But instead of the anxiety I had been carrying for days, I felt a strange sense of calm. Maybe it was because we had just spent the evening surrounded by family, laughing and forgetting about the pressure for a while.
"Yeah, I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be," BaekHyeon replied with a small smile.
Mike came up and slung an arm around both of us. "You know what? No matter what happens tomorrow, you guys are going to crush it. The whole family is proud of you, and that's what matters."
Quinn smiled from the kitchen, her eyes a little softer than usual. "He's right. Just enjoy it. You only turn eighteen once, and it's a big deal. We'll all be there, cheering you on."
Jay grabbed a couple of bottles of soda from the fridge, cracking them open and handing one to each of us. "We can't end the night without a toast!" He raised his bottle, and we all followed suit.
"To Jihoon and BaekHyeon," he began, his voice turning more serious for a moment. "To family, growing up, and to never forgetting where we come from, no matter how big we get."
Quinn and Mike chimed in with a loud "Cheers!" and we all clinked our bottles together.
I took a sip, the fizzy sweetness of the soda feeling refreshing after the long day. The sound of the waves crashing outside was the only noise now, the house finally quiet as the chaos of earlier settled down.
"Well, it's officially midnight," Quinn said, looking at her phone with a grin. "Happy birthday, you two."
Jay clapped us on the back. "Eighteen, baby! You made it!"
"Thanks, guys," I said, feeling an unexpected warmth in my chest. "It means a lot."
Mike stretched, letting out a yawn. "Alright, I think it's time we head out. Big day tomorrow, and you guys need to get some rest."
Before I could even place my drink down my phone started ringing, I pulled it out of my pocket and it was Minji calling.
"Who is it?" Jay asked.
"You guys go ahead, I'll be right behind you." I said placing the drink on the kitchen counter and headed out the house.
"Hello." I said as I answered the call.
"Oh, I didn't think you would actually answer my call. You've been ignoring them for a while." His said the excitement visible in his tone.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Oh, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday." He replied.
I could feel my heart skip a beat, a feeling that I've only felt with one person. But how did he know it was my birthday, I've never mentioned it and I'm Sure Hyeon has never said anything since they were not close.
"Thank you." I replied nonchalant
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, the sound of Minji breathing lightly filling the silence. I could almost imagine him standing there, wherever he was, probably with that same stupid smile that he always wears whenever I pay close attention to him.
"You don't sound very excited," he said, his tone still light but with a hint of something else. "You're turning eighteen, Jihoon. Shouldn't this be a big deal?"
leaned against the porch railing, staring out at the quiet beach. The waves rolled in calmly, matching the strange mix of emotions swirling inside me. "I guess so," I muttered, unsure of how to respond.
There was another awkward silence, "thank you for the wish, I'll text you when I'm back."
There was another pause, longer this time, and I wondered if he was waiting for something more from me—something I wasn't sure I could give. I kept my eyes on the waves, letting their steady rhythm ground me as I held the phone to my ear.
"Alright," Minji finally said, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. "I'll be waiting for that text then."
I could feel the tension between us, something unspoken hanging in the air. I wasn't sure if it was from the way I treated him or from the feelings I don't want to admit. I am... complicated. And I wasn't sure if I was ready for what talking to him would mean, especially on a day that was supposed to be all about celebrating.
"Yeah," I said quietly, glancing back toward the house. "Talk to you later."
"Goodnight, Jihoon."
"Goodnight."
I ended the call and stuffed my phone back into my pocket, taking one last look at the darkening sky. The beach was empty now, the soft crash of the waves the only sound cutting through the quiet. I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I tried to push the conversation to the back of my mind.
Tomorrow was going to be enough to deal with without the added confusion of Minji.
When I finally headed back inside, the house was quiet, Jay, Mike, and BaekHyeon already gone. The lights were dimmed, and the leftover snacks and drinks from the night were still scattered across the counters. I grabbed my drink from earlier, finishing it off before heading to the car where they were waiting for me.
TBC