What if?

Chapter 60: Birthday Plan

Nick

It has been months since I started to go to this school and now I can’t believe that I am still not friends with Jake even though we really talk to each other about some things. He has been teaching me to play the guitar too but still nothing improves our relationship. Honestly, I don’t seem to understand him because there will be times where he is really talkative with me then suddenly he changes his actions and would talk to me as if he is forcing himself to. Jake is not just my problem but also my other classmates, we are not that close. They are really different. Although we talk but not really friends. So if I am going to add it all up, Michael and John are still my only friends here in the classroom. 

Every break time I eat lumpia in the canteen, I fall in love with it. I also like their new lumpia. They call it RICE TURON which looks like the normal lumpia but it is a bit sweet. What is amazing is that there is sticky rice inside the roll and the rice inside is just a bit sweet and not really sweet, which I really like. I asked Janice once how to make one, but she told me she knows how to make it and she even made one for me but the tastes are different. There I thought that maybe they added something to make the sticky rice inside a bit sweet. When I researched it, there were some recipes about it that actually add milk on the rice to make it better. Upon reading what I saw on google I came to understand that it was really the thing. 

I tried to make one together with Janice and it tasted a bit the same. I just don’t know how much milk they add but one thing I know, I stopped making and troubling Janice and just bought it every day in the canteen. The seller even asked me once. Maybe she was really curious that I kept buying the same food every break time. The seller asked why I always buy the same thing and I just answered that I really like their product. I even have a discount every time I buy. I know the discount is not that big but at least I have a discount. 

I also let Michael and John eat it but they didn’t seem to like it as much as I do. I am okay though, people have different opinions. I get why they don’t like it that much, it is because it is sweet. I guess they don’t like sweets that much. 

“Nick, can I talk to you?” John said as he put his arm around me. “Yeah. What is it?” I asked John. He is quite really close with me but not as close as I am with Michael. Of course Michael is still different from others. He is someone that nobody can change in my life. “What made me realize that John and I are really close to each other already?” It is only because he likes to do a lot of annoying things with me too. He would even plan with Michael what they are going to prank me with. See? Having both of them is really frustrating. Even if I seem to be frustrated with what they are doing, I somehow feel happy deep inside because they make my day meaningful. I think that if the day that they will ignore me comes, something will be missing to my day. 

“You already know that Michael’s birthday is coming right?” John asked me which made me think for a few seconds. “Oh yeah! I almost forgot that his birthday is coming.” I said to John as soon as I realized the celebration that will be happening after a week. “Whaa… Unbelievable! How could you forget your brother’s birthday?” John said to me while trying to make me feel guilty. 

I know it is really not good that I forgot Michael’s birthday. But he can’t blame me because this is the first time and besides, it was just told to me once by Michael that his birthday is on October 17. How can I remember it that much? “Whatever!” I said to John as I turned my back to him. I am really feeling guilty. I turned my back not because I am mad at John but because I feel so guilty of not knowing my brother’s birthday. Which I should really remember and not forget because it is an important day. “Hey! I am kidding! Don’t take it that seriously, okay?” John said as he tried to turn me so I could face him. 

“I know, you are a master of that.” I said to John as I lightly pushed him. “Now, because it is your beloved brother’s birthday, do you have any plans?” John asked me a question. “I still don’t have any but I am sure that mom and dad will hold a birthday party for him.” I answered John’s question. “Yeah I know that one too but you know what? In the past we just had a very small birthday party. It is just your family and mine every time he has a birthday party.” John said which made me think a little. “And?” I asked because I think there is nothing wrong about that. I would love to just have a small birthday party rather than having a big party with a lot of people. I can’t take that, I hate the crowd. 

“Ugh! You don’t really get it.” John said, trying to let me understand. “What? I don’t get you, I mean if it was me I am really okay with that and I think it is okay at the same time with Michael. Why? Do you want other people to attend the birthday party?” I asked John because that is what I get to what he is trying to say to me. “Very good! That is what I want to tell you.” John said while doing a thumbs up sign to me. “What? So you are trying to say that you want our classmates to attend the party? I don't think Michael will like that, he totally hates that.” I said to John. 

What kind of silly thinking is he doing? He knows that Michael is not the kind of person who wants to befriend his classmates. He barely even talks to them. Just like me and him. “No! The thing is Michael likes helping people so I think it would be nice to hold a party together with kids with disorders. I think that it will definitely make Michael really happy as well as the kids too. Isn’t that nice? Having a birthday party for those people?” John explained everything. 

He could have said it in the first place. Why is he even making me guess? “Yeah! That is a good idea.” I said to John while nodding my head. John is really a good person too. “So… you are going to tell your parents about it and then you update me, is that okay with you?” John asked me a question. “Ugh! Yeah I will.” I replied to John. “Tell me your update this evening, okay? But, do not tell Michael about this first.” John said to me trying to be a sneaky person. 

“By the way, John, why did you come to this idea?” I asked John. I believe that there is deeper meaning to the idea that he offered to me. “Hmmm… it is only because Michael once said to me that it would be nice that he will spend his birthday doing this kind of thing. He even mentioned that he wants to see that smile of kids his age with disorders.” John explained to me. I get Michael to his perspective. Seeing people with problems smiling makes you feel encouraged. Thinking that they even try to smile amidst all the problems that they have, it is just so encouraging to see that.

“I get it. I will surely tell mom and dad about this secretly. I think they will be okay with this idea though.” I said to John. “I can’t wait for them to follow it and when the time comes? It would be really surprising for Michael and I think he will even say that it is his best birthday ever. I will gamble on this.” John said to me. “Pfft! You are over the top. Stop it!” I said to John and slightly pushed him away from me. “Hey, Michael is near. Pretend we did not do anything.” John said and acted as if nothing happened and no conversation happened to the both of us. 

He is also a great actor though. “Michael, where have you been?” I asked him as soon as he was close to us already. The president of our club told me that there will be an important meeting today so we have to be there on time.” Michael said softly. Why do I feel like he is tired? Or maybe it is just me. The teacher will come inside the class anytime soon so I walked to my seat. “Why is Michael weak?” I asked myself while walking. “Maybe they have a problem and that they need to tackle it immediately. Too bad. At a young age, he is already stressing himself a lot. Which is not healthy for him. I know he can handle it but seeing him like that is not just good for me. “After this class, I will ask him if he has something in his mind.” I said to myself as soon as I sat on my seat.

After a few minutes, our subject teacher started teaching his subject. While the teacher is teaching his subject. The thing that I want to ask Michael is still on my mind and I cannot focus on what the teacher is discussing. I just hope that he will not ask me questions.