At half past nine Taehyun also arri

At half past nine Taehyun also arrives. He gives the oven a curious glance, before slouching down on one of the vacant chairs. Jinwoo, meanwhile, continuously peers down to check on the scones. Still not blackened: that is something.

Jinwoo's stomach has started to rumble in protest of seeing but not tasting food, when the clock's longest hand finally hits twelve.

“All right, let's go wake the birthday boy!” Seunghoon announces cheerfully.

“Huge boy,” Taehyun adds with some derision, and Jinwoo has to press his hand against his mouth to stop himself from giggling too much.

On the way they first stop by his own room to wake up Seungyoon, who is still in three-quarters dreamland when they make for the one across the hallway.

As promised Seunghoon bangs open the door with a high-pitched 'aaiioo!' and jumps on the bed – as excited as though it were his own birthday.

Mino jolts awake at the noise, sitting upright almost at once. His hair sticks out in various places.

“Yah, it's too noisy!” he complains with a voice full of sleep, but his eyes are laughing as he takes in the sight of Seunghoon: lion hood pulled over his head, arms flailing. Jinwoo approaches together with Taehyun, loaded tray carefully balanced in his hands. A thrill of anticipation runs down his spine, though he does not know whether it's due to nerves or excitement. He just hopes what he's made is edible.

“Happy birthday,” Taehyun announces, and Mino holds his hand up for a high-five. Then he spots Jinwoo and the tray in his hands.

“Wait, what is that?” he immediately says, sitting further upright to get a better look.

“It's your breakfast,” Jinwoo says, “for your birthday.”

“My breakfast?” Mino repeats after him, and gestures with his hand. “C'mere, c'mere, I want to see.”

Jinwoo moves forward and cautiously positions the tray on the white covers of his bed. Next to the bowl with scones there is a smaller one with strawberries and a can with whipped cream. He's also added a glass of orange juice because he thought there should be something to drink with it.

Mino gapes at the sight. “What are these?” he says, pointing at the largest bowl.

“Scones,” Jinwoo answers promptly.

“Jinwoo-hyung made them,” Seunghoon supplies, “even got up at seven to do it.”

Mino turns his amazed expression towards Jinwoo. “Hyung, you made these? For me?”

“Yeah,” he replies, sensing another thrill at the sight of Mino staring at him like that. It's different than the one seconds before. It's the kind of thrill he sometimes also gets when Mino puts an arm around his waist; smiles at him, eyes crinkled in a way that's become so familiar.

It's pleasant. Exciting too, a little.

“You're supposed to eat it with strawberries and whipped cream,” Jinwoo says by way of explanation as he gestures at the other ingredients, “that's what the recipe said.”

“This is amazing,” Mino states, staring at the food as though it's the best thing he's seen since their last elaborate meal. “Can I have one now?” he asks, quickly turning his head towards Jinwoo although his hand has already grabbed a scone.

“Yeah yeah, yeah, of course,” Jinwoo replies, “dip it in the whipped cream.”