1st June 2018

So I truly wasn't expecting anyone to throw me a birthday party, but Kelly got me good.

The park near where I stay is called the Jollyman park. It's the park Kelly and I go to play basketball and the one I cycle/walk past everyday on the way to college. On Fridays Kelly usually walks back home with me to my house, maybe stop by the park to shoot a few hoops, before her uncle takes us out for dinner. That's what usually happens on Fridays nowadays.

Under the guise that we were gonna shoot some hoops, Kelly led me to the playground of the park where Louise, Kei, Jason and even my housemate Joanna were waiting. They had balloons, cake, packet drinks, everything.

As much as I hate to admit it, I was truly surprised. We ate, chat, had a great time overall, despite me hating to be the centre of attention anywhere.

It did made me think though. Did Kelly only think about throwing this party because I told her I felt like the other Malaysians were gonna throw me one? A few weeks before, Wayne had asked me in the cafeteria, "Your birthday is on the 31st right?" He couldn't have known that. I felt suspicious, and I told Kelly I had an inkling someone was planning something for me, and it made me a tad bit uncomfortable because I'm not an important person among the group (as in I was a first year student). But maybe NO ONE was planning it in the first place, and Kelly just felt like she had to plan something because she misinterpreted my words as passive aggressive "I wish someone would plan something for me"?

I don't know. But I was still touched. The guys had to leave early, leaving us girls just chatting at the park. Just the four of us. A small group. I do have to say tho, watching my Malaysian friends interact with my American housemate was like watching a crossover.