31st May 2018

It's my birthday. My dad wished me first on WhatsApp.

The first person who wished me in person was Jake. We crossed paths outside the cafeteria. The past few weeks we would eat lunch together in the cafeteria if we found each other eating alone, sometimes with his brother Wayne. I usually like being alone, since I can get work done or watch videos while eating, but to doesn't hurt to have human company once in a while.

Did I talk about Giang? I think I've mentioned her before. She's a Vietnamese girl I met through Habreen and Alex. She's in my math class and sits in front of me. We would sometimes exchange notes and cover for the other person when one was absent.

I like her. She's brash, she's tough, she's straight-forward. She's rational. She grew up under a very strict household, with a mother who pushed her to get 4.0 GPA and would criticize her body a lot. Despite that she was a very confident, self-assured person. She's incredibly hardworking too, and took her studies seriously. She didn't like her Vietnamese association because she got into a bit of drama - a girl there liked a guy she was close to and slandered her to everyone. She decided she didn't want that kinda "bullcrap" in her life and doesn't hang around them anymore. "It's so hard to find level-headed, mature people nowadays."

I didn't tell anyone my birthday today. Not even Anshu from Physics whom I've known since the start of Fall quarter. I was planning to celebrate my birthday alone this year, all to myself. I wanted to take advantage of the new environment and new friends to do it. But I told Giang, and she wasn't gonna let me have any of it.

"Alone?" I've never seen someone so aghast at the idea of being alone. "No no no no no.... that won't do."

"I'll be fine. I wanted this."

"Nononono that's ridiculous. What time do you finish class?"

"2.30pm. But you finish at 3.30 and you have a ride and-"

"My ride can wait, and I sleep in Astronomy anyways. Text me when you're done and I'll come out. We'll go have boba or cake or something."

I was no match for her. After classes, we went to Paris Baguette and had some cake and pastries. She insisted the cashier take her debit card instead of mine. "It's her birthday, you HAVE to take my card."

Because of her, I lost my one chance of getting to spend my birthday alone. But I guess, as much as I like being alone, it doesn't hurt to have human company once in a while.