×3rd person's pov×

Sunghoon and Heeseung enjoyed their breakfast, the conversation flowing easily between them.

They talked about Sunghoon's upcoming ice skating competition, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of excitement and nerves.

Heeseung listened intently, peppering Sunghoon with questions about his routines, his costumes, and his expectations.

"It's going to be huge, hyung. The whole world will be watching."

"And you're going to be amazing, as always. I can't wait to see you perform. Speaking of the competition, will Jay be there? I know he's in America right now."

Sunghoon's smile faltered for a moment before he nodded. And Heeseung didn't know why.

"He'll be there."

A wave of sadness washed over Sunghoon's face, a fleeting shadow of disappointment that Heeseung couldn't miss.

"But... he'll miss my birthday."

Sunghoon's voice was barely a whisper, almost inaudible. He added, his voice a little more firm, but still filled with sadness.

"It's in two days and he'll be back in three weeks."

Heeseung's eyes widened slightly in feigned surprise, a practiced act of innocence masking a knowledge he held close.

"Oh, really? I didn't know it was your birthday soon. I'm sure Jay will make it up to you once he is back, he won't leave you like that."

He gave a small, almost awkward smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He knew, of course. Knew the date, knew the surprise party the others were planning, everything.

Heeseung's heart ached just a little at the subtle hint of sadness that flickered across Sunghoon's face.

He wanted nothing more than to tell Sunghoon that Jay wouldn't miss his birthday, but he knew he had to keep the secret. It was a surprise after all.

As they finished their breakfast, Sunghoon insisted on paying, but Heeseung quickly countered, his hand reaching for the bill before Sunghoon could even react.

"No way, Sunghoon."

Heeseung said, a playful smirk spreading across his face as he paid the bill quckly.

"This was my treat. It was my way of thanking you for everything."

They walked out of the café, the sun bathing the street in a golden glow as Heeseung opened the car door for Sunghoon.

Sunghoon smiled, a grateful warmth flooding through him. He knew Heeseung was trying to make him feel special, and it was working perfectly.

Heeseung drove them back home, the soft hum of the engine and the quiet comfort of the car creating a sense of peace.

Sunghoon leaned back against the seat, content and happy, lost in his thoughts about the competition, his birthday, and the warmth that Heeseung seemed to radiate.

Back in Jay's house, a flurry of activity filled the air. Jay was frantically packing his suitcase, the sound of zippers and the rustling of clothes echoing through the room.

His phone, resting on the bed, blared with the voices of the boys - Jake, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-ki, all on speakerphone.

He was in the midst of a whirlwind of packing, moving around constantly, so he'd opted to leave the phone on the bedside, his calls a comforting background noise to his frantic preparations.

"Dude, you're seriously packing like a tornado hit your room."

Jake's voice boomed from the phone, amusement lacing his tone. Jay chuckled, grabbing a neatly folded sweater and tossing it into his suitcase.

"Hey, I'm trying to be efficient. Sunghoon's birthday is in two days, and I'm not missing it for anything."

"We know, hyung, we know. You're practically sprinting across the Atlantic to reach Korea."

Sunoo chimed in, his voice laced with a teasing lilt, and Jay smiled, shaking his head playfully.

"Okay, so, the decorations are sorted, the cake is ordered from Sunoo's favorite bakery, and we've got the perfect playlist ready."

Jake's voice was brimming with enthusiasm, as Sunoo quickly added something more on the list.

"We're making sure the ambiance is perfect. Lighting! Candles! The whole shebang. It'll be magical!"

Jay chuckled, barely able to keep up with their rapid-fire updates. They were all really excited.

"You guys are going all out. I knew you all would make it special for him."

"Yeah, well, it's Sunghoon hyung's birthday, and he deserves the best."

Jungwon's voice, calm and composed, provided a grounding contrast to the others' boisterous energy.

"And besides, hyung's absence has been a void, so we're making up for it tenfold."

Jay laughed as he heard Jungwon's words, the sound a little breathless from his exertion.

"I'll be there, I promise. I'm taking that nine o'clock flight tomorrow, so I can be there before midnight on his birthday."

"See? Told you he'd come sprinting."

Ni-ki's high-pitched voice piped up, adding a dose of youthful energy to the conversation.

"Hyung's really going to surprise Sunghoon. He'll love it."

"Definitely."

Jay confirmed, a warm feeling spreading through his chest at the thought of Sunghoon's reaction. He could almost picture it, the surprised smile, the surprised gasp, the warmth of their reunion.

"Well, you know how big of a deal his birthday is for him. He loves all the fuss."

Sunoo said, and the group chuckled, remembering Sunghoon's expressive reaction to birthday surprises in the past.

"And Heeseung hyung's been making sure he doesn't have to worry about anything related to his competition. We've all been doing our part."

"It's a team effort."

Jay said, his voice filled with admiration for his friends. He was incredibly grateful for their dedication to making Sunghoon feel special.

"Speaking of teams, remember what roles we decided? Cause I forgot mine."

"Right. Heeseung hyung is making sure Sunghoon's schedule is cleared and that he's well-rested."

Jake calmly explained, used to Ni-ki forgetting literally anything, each passing day, as if he had dementia.

"Exactly. You, Jake, will be our DJ, Sunoo takes care of the decoration, Won will undertake the lighting, and Ni-ki will pick up the cake, and make sure you've invited everyone to the party."

"And you, hyung, are bringing the warmth, the excitement, and the best birthday present of them all, yourself."

A wave of warmth washed over Jay, making him feel incredibly loved and appreciated.

"I'll make sure I do."

He paused, the image of Sunghoon's face flitting through his mind. He couldn't wait to see the smile that would illuminate his face when he arrived.

"He's going to be so happy."

Ni-ki said, and his words echoed the sentiment everyone felt. It was obvious that none of them could wait until that day.