"Sometimes, the scariest darkness hides the sweetest light."
Choel spun around in the pitch-black basement, every nerve in his body stretched like a drawn bowstring.
BOOM.
A sudden burst of light — not from a spotlight, not from danger, but from candles.
And party poppers.
And confetti — falling like magic snow.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHOEL!" voices cheered from the shadows.
He blinked, stunned, trying to process what he was seeing.
Right in front of him, emerging from the glow of warm candlelight…
Choen.
She stood holding a cake, its golden flames flickering against her smile. Her eyes shone brighter than the wax light. She wore a soft white dress that flowed like moonlight, and in that moment, to Choel, she didn't look real.
She looked like something out of a dream. Like someone who didn't walk into his life, but was written into it.
"Happy birthday," she whispered softly, like it was a secret only they shared.
His eyes widened. "You… what? But the note… I thought— I thought something happened to you!"
Choel's voice cracked, raw and shaken.
Without thinking, without permission from his thoughts or logic or pride, he stepped forward and hugged her. Arms around her waist, face tucked into her shoulder. Like he was grounding himself. Like he needed to feel her there to believe it.
"I was scared," he murmured against her. "So scared."
Choen's arms slowly wrapped around him too, steady, grounding, soft. "Surprise," she said gently, laughing a little against his shoulder.
Click.
Lights flooded the basement.
And standing on the steps, holding a bunch of balloons, were the rest of Glitter. Jack, Kiyo, Sunwoo, Mathew, Ren and even their managers — all grinning ear to ear.
"Yah! Get a room!" Jack laughed, popping another confetti cannon. "Our Choel's hugging someone in public? The world really is ending!"
"Should we tell the fans you looked like a rom-com hero just now?" Kiyo teased, already filming on his phone.
Choel cleared his throat and backed away slightly, cheeks flushed, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Shut up."
But his eyes — they still flicked toward Choen. Like she was the only star in the room.
🎞️ FLASHBACK — HOURS AGO, ON THE FLIGHT
Choen sat beside the window seat, her head against the soft leather as clouds passed like dreams below.
Choel had left to use the bathroom, leaving his phone behind on the tray table. It buzzed, and instinctively, she glanced.
Fan messages flooded the screen:
💬 "Tomorrow is oppa's birthday! What should we do??"
💬 "Can someone please sneak him a cake??"
💬 "He deserves something HUGE."
A thought flickered through her mind like a spark.
She looked at Choel's peaceful sleeping face hours later, earphones in, soft music playing… and decided.
He deserved a memory.
One that wasn't made by fans.
But made by someone who saw him not just as an idol…
…but as a boy who needed to feel loved.
So she planned it.
The fake note.
The address.
The decorations in the dusty old basement Glitter's team had rented for "training space."
Every detail, down to the candle count.
Back in the present, the room buzzed with music and laughter. Jack brought out soda cans disguised as champagne, and the managers handed out party hats like children at summer camp.
Choen stood quietly for a moment, watching it all unfold.
Then Choel turned to her.
"Thank you," he said simply.
She smiled. "You're welcome."
"I mean it," he added, voice lower now. "No one's ever done something like this for me."
"Well," she shrugged with a soft laugh, "get used to it."
He tilted his head. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
As the cake was finally cut and Jack smeared a little frosting on Kiyo's nose, Choel looked at the slice in his hand — chocolate, with gold dust on top. But what really tasted sweet was the moment. This memory.
And the girl who made it.
🌟 A Confetti Note from Your Writer! 🌟
Aurablooms!!! 💖 Did we just go from thriller to the sweetest birthday twist ever?!
Were you fooled by the note too? 👀
Be honest — who else thought we were headed into a kidnapping mystery?! 😂
This chapter had everything: hugs, cake, surprise parties, AND Choel being soft (we're so keeping track).
Tell me your thoughts below — and if you could plan ANY idol's birthday, what would you do? 💌
Until next time, stay sparkling & chaotic 💫
With frosting and plot twists,
~ Your Chaos Pilot 🎂🕯️