I prefer opening my eyes to the sun rays peeking through my window. Instead, it was my blaring alarm and the one I was supposed to get up at, seeing how I snoozed five already.

Yawning, I picked up my phone. The blinding light proved too much and I squinted my eyes. I opened them again, focusing on the digits above Bangtan's faces.

7:58 am.

Aishhh! I'm late.

Absent-mindedly searching for an outfit, I made my way to the bathroom. Managing everything in five minutes, I was down the stairs and standing beside my brothers who were about to step in the car. No doubt, leaving me behind.

"Took you long enough." Said Aiden but I ignored his comment and sat down, calming my heart.

Passing by the streets, an uneasy feeling stirred in my stomach which only meant one thing.

I was forgetting something.

But the only problem was, I didn't know what.

Bidding my goodbye to dad, I hopped out. The morning sun shone with its brilliant light and the sky was an unbroken backdrop of blue.

I entered the class with a befuddled look. The whole group was nowhere in sight except for InHo sitting at his usual spot, air pods tucked in.

The usual.

The past month has been anything but normal. SooMin was expelled after it was revealed that she had ADHD. Everyone eventually happened to know what kind of person she truly was. I would've befriended her if only she hadn't 'accidently' spilled juice on top of my head on her last day.

Dejected, I took my own seat beside InHo. The creaking sound of the chair did nothing in disturbing him. I took out my notebook, wanting to write a few lines.

"Why the long face?"

Startled, I glanced up. InHo had his eyes focused on my notebook. Upon seeing me, he raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing." I shrugged.

"You're wondering about the others?" He folded his arms, relaxing back in the chair.

"Kind of." I gave him a sheepish smile. I didn't want him to know that I wasn't appreciating his presence. If anything, at least I wasn't alone.

He observed me but didn't say anything. The slight smile on his face didn't go unnoticed but I didn't question it.

What was I forgetting?

I put my head on the desk as Mr Lee went on about the Joseon Dynasty. Somehow, the gentle breeze blowing the flimsy white curtains seemed more interesting than a trip back in history. Those topics bored me the most and besides; why care about something that happened in the past?

~

Only SaNa showed up by lunch, doing nothing in brightening up my mood. Time seemed to have stopped as I observed the cafeteria. Lazily, I kept on stuffing my face.

SaNa passed me a note, not caring how immensely focused I was on the lecture Ms Park was delivering.

"Enjoying Ari?" It stated.

I looked at her - dumbfounded. That's why she had to disturb me! Shaking my head at her, I wrote back.

"Very." And in the end, "Do not disturb."

That seemed to make her day as she burst into laughter, waking up the backbenchers whilst earning a pointed look from Ms Park.

Nobody wants to get on the bad side of Ms Park.

The last bell rang and I was more than happy to go home. As I got up from my seat, my phone buzzed. I took it out only to have a new text from dad.

"I won't be able to pick you guys up today. Make sure to come with InHo."

Great.

I informed InHo about the matter. He nodded and made his way out of the class. I kept waiting for the twins to show up, only to have them send me a text as well.

"Don't worry about us sis." Aaron texted.

To my surprise, Ji-Hun was going with the twins too. This day just couldn't get any better.

~

"SURPRISE."

Confetti exploded the moment I stepped inside my house.

"Happy birthday."

It took me a second or two to process everything, even though it was right before my eyes. Then I felt my lips stretch wider into a gaping grin and eyebrows shoot into the sky.

"Happy birthday hun." Mum and dad exclaimed in unison.

Amazement doesn't quite cover what I felt. It was like someone took out my soul and dipped it in all that's lovely in this world. I couldn't move my lips to form a coherent sentence. After mum crushed me with her hug, leaving me feeling like a bus rolled over me, I blurted out.

"You so lovely, I'm so lovely, we so lovely. Lovely lovely lovely." (1)

Way to go Aria.

Everyone decided to ignore it and I couldn't be more embarrassed.

"Why weren't you at school today?" I questioned in an attempt to seem normal.

"We wanted to surprise you." Taehyun stated.

"Why didn't you let Chris accompany me at school then?" I inquired, recalling how I had such a tedious day.

"We all know how much of a secret keeper Chris is." SaNa replied, earning a mean face from him.

"Besides, you couldn't figure it out the entire day." InHo said, making himself comfortable on the couch.

"Oops?" I responded, shyly glancing at my feet.

Always a smooth approach.

~

We all had a blast as mum and dad had my favourite chocolate cake made along with my gifts. Honestly, the gifts are the thrilling part of a birthday every year. The only difference is this year I had a lot more, thanks to my friends.

"It's time to go now." Taehyun declared, exchanging a certain look with the others.

"Oh oh, right." InHa answered, looking at my mum.

"Where?" I questioned.

"Just go hun." Mum assured, rushing us all out the door.

"Where are we going?" I tried again.

"It's a surprise." Chris said cheekily.

After an anticipating walk, we all were standing before the Han River each with a Tteokbokki in hand. The city lights enveloped the night sky in its blanket of coziness. The stars above gave the promise of life in the darkness, a sense of warmth springing from the cold.

I didn't mind the cool breeze which promised the arrival of spring. The buds were informers of the warmer season to come, of those blissful and ambient days. With the change of season, I felt a change within myself. Had someone told me six months ago, I would be standing in front of this amazing view with such kind souls, I would've laughed.

Yet here I was, with all my flaws, with friends who accepted me and most importantly, understood me. This was my time to bloom, my winter bloom.

_________________________

(1) Those iconic words are from this video, make sure to check it out. You'll thank me.

That'll be an end of this story. Do check out the next part.

Till then..