I raise my glass. “To six years of Girls Forever.”

We cheers. “And many more to come!”

TWENTY

“Shh, don’t wake her up yet.”

“Scootch over.”

“Okay ready, count of three?”

“HAPPY LAUNCH DAY!”

My eyes fly open to the blast of party horns, and I shoot up in bed. “Oh my god, I think I’m having a heart attack!? You guys scared the crap out of me!”

Everyone bursts out laughing as I fully wake up and take in what’s going on around me. Gold-and-pink confetti is raining down on my head. Umma leans against the doorframe while Appa sits on the chair at the bamboo desk. At the foot of my bed, Leah, Hyeri, and Juhyun are all squished together, perching on the edge of the mattress, wearing birthday hats.

“What is all this?” I laugh as Leah plops a pink birthday hat with golden trim on top of my head.

“We’re celebrating RACHEL K.’s birthday, obviously,” Leah says. “Only you would sleep in on a day like this!”

“Leah, it’s eight a.m.!”

“I know, but still! We’ve been up for two hours prepping!”

“Juhyun and I can’t stay,” Hyeri says, and I notice she’s dressed for the lab in a simple pair of fitted gray pants, long-sleeved blouse, and name tag, “but we had to swing by to tell you good luck.”

“You’re going to absolutely kill it, babe,” Juhyun says, reaching over to give me a one-arm hug. “I’m meeting my brand manager for coffee, and then I’m dragging her straight to Apgujeong Rodeo Street so I can pick up one of your bags for myself. I already have a whole vlog planned for it.”

“Aw, you don’t have to do that,” I say with a small smile, a little embarrassed by all the to-do.

“Are you kidding me? Of course we do!” Juhyun says, looking at me like I’m crazy.

“And,” Hyeri adds, “even if we didn’t have to—you know, due to the rules of best friendship—we would anyway because those bags are fierce!”

“Well, if you insist,” I say, smiling brighter. For the millionth time since we met back in fourth grade, I’m struck by how lucky I am to have such amazing friends. Just then, Hyeri’s Apple Watch starts beeping out an alarm.

“Okay, now we really have to go before I’m officially late,” she says, hopping off my bed.

“Celebratory drinks later?” Juhyun asks as she follows Hyeri toward the door.

Truthfully, I can’t even let myself think ahead all the way to tonight—I’m too nervous about what the day holds. But I nod anyway and jump out of bed to give the twins each a big hug, then wave goodbye as they hustle out of my room.