When my brother was 16, we, as a family, collectively forgot his birthday. Not for fun, not even as an intentional practical joke. We forgot for real. With a z. Forrealz. (Well that was gay.)
I actually didn’t mean to forget a few days prior, I was looking forward to his middle of the year celebration since it meant cake. And believe me, I liked cake. But on that very eve of his birthday, I forgot whereas I’m usually the one with the big birthday gigs for my loved ones.
So back to that morning. There he was, grinning happily at our “forget his birthday” act. I remember it like it was yesterday, him believing we “forgot” just to mess with him. School was about to end in a few days, so our morning get-to-school, we’re-almost late routine was less hectic than usual. It probably clicked somewhere in his head that we really forgot, and then he got a little sullen but still spunky, saying with a heartrendingly painful dramatic flair (and I quote), “On this day 16 years ago, someone was born.” Queue him gazing at us with puppy eyes. Queue our shocked faces, le gasps and the works. He may be 16 then, but that was already a master troll.
Guilt-ridden, that after school I went and got him the quickest gift I could find: a premade t-shirt with a rock basketball and the words, “Jesus is my rock” and gave that to him along with my picking his cake, because I like cake. He loved it, and wore it until it faded. My brother is now 26. Before we left the Philippines for good, I folded that shirt and tucked it away neatly along with my college books and items. He took it with him when he left for Mapua, and he still wore it until it was shoddy and frayed and looked like it should be burnt, not washed.
Anyway, long story short, I will get him something like that before he leaves for SG so he knows he will be sometimes forgotten, like that day, because he isn’t very memorable. Hahaha. Kidding aside, I will try to make his sole request (a guitar pick that only costs $5) funny by mailing it to our box and keeping it hidden so he can at least open an envelope on Christmas day.
PS: Guys who are tech savvy and are loaded with $$ are hard to buy for. Srsly.
Went to many places, but this is the best. Could’ve sneaked a bite if the gingerbread houses weren’t cased in glass boxes. Drat.
Also went to H&M, but couldn’t take pictures because of severe brain fart: too strong smelling beauty products, plus about a billion people inside the store.
Grad present. My brother got the same on his graduation 3 years ago, except his is a different colour. I’m in love with it. I will get mine engraved soon with the date.
I didn’t prepare at all. While everyone was in make up, all I had on was my usual dark wine lipstick and messy hair. I really didn’t like the sleeves of the blouse we had made especially for this occasion, but as we stood, it looked pretty sweet on all 16 of us girls, and that we weren’t the only ones who looked too fancy-slash-retarded.
The rehearsal was my favourite part, naturally. 3 undergraduate degrees under my belt meant 3 times on stage, 3 bows, 3 possible handshakes on the big day and 3 rolls of pseudo-diplomas.
Everyone was laughing at me and with me, saying I should just graduate for them all. It really was unlike any other. It signified the many sleepless nights I forged alone, the many tears shed to get here. I worked for this. I wanted this so badly. So, finally. Finally.
After the many picture taking moments to preserve this day forever and the highest of highs, the biggest possible downer of the day was in the form of a mock exam from the physics department, containing chemical engineering principles. Of 20 questions, I only guessed 2. And I answered everything, saying I give up, I’m happy with my answers to Issy, and she replying, “I’m happy with your answers.” Hahahaha. Let’s just say I answered 5-8 exams today. And I never thought I’d remember anything I’ve learnt..
After more pictures, we headed out to eat, where we proceeded to gorge on hot, delicious food til we reached bursting point: we couldn’t move afterwards. So much laughter, so much rejoicing. We deserved this victory. We ached for this moment more than any other candidate sharing the joy of graduating. And there was cake; a sweet, crazy birthday celebration. Happy birthday, Mabel! She got free ice cream from the wait staff, and all the while, I got sentimental inside. I looked at the happy, laughing faces, and thought about how we forged a friendship from the worst year of our lives, we stand as THE closest graduating class to ever exit our school. To know that we went through the same thing together, to have fought the same battles and won, we are victorious.
I was silent during the homily and memories of everything college was flashed before me; I may love the idea of leaving, but I also know how each tragedy molded us into the people we are today. We are different, stronger, and closer. We may be the last graduating batch of 2010, but we are the happiest.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us this day, to be together, to be thankful, to be alive.
I’ve done this more times that I can count even when I’ve tried making myself practice saying eraser instead of rubber, but it’s as second nature as breathing. That’s another mistake I make what with my british english background. Thank goodness most of my college classmates aren’t very quick with the colloquialisms and frankly don’t care. I find this highly entertaining. :D :D
Manilyenas lost in Los Banos. Well, not lost. With purpose, of course. In the years that encompassed my college career, I never thought it possible that I would be rooming with 4 new/old friends, in a place we’re not completely familiar.
We went apartment hunting and reserved ourselves for review. Which only means: this is it.
I am also moving out of a home I’ve known for 6 whole years. Goodbye, swimming pool. :( Goodbye, convenience. I’m heading back to my hill, and one pointed due south.
Oh, the trials of getting attached to inanimate objects. I will miss this place sorely, but to move on, one must move forward and let things go. :)
I am still not asleep and in 6 hours I am heading to UP Los Banos to apartment hunt with future roomies, this is for board exams, people. I must review. Hrhrhhr.
Pics or it didn’t happen! Hahaha! Will update moar. Moar is moar!! HAHAAH!
1. Have you ever had a song written about you? No, but I’ve been song titled (Deftones - Kimdracula) and briefly mentioned (Nickelback - Photograph). Apparently I was his first kiss and I’ve had a coupla bebies. Sweet cheeses.
2. What song makes you cry? Staind - Excess Baggage. I featured it in the past, click on my audio posts to give it a listen.
3. What song makes you happy? Say it with me folks. Loooser. You’ll say it after I say the answer. It’s…. Mmbop by Hanson. I don’t know the lyrics entirely, it’s true, but that don’t mean no nevermind to me, no, I sing me hearts out, mmbop style. Ask around. It’s true.
Funny thing about Mmbop. I was in the 5th grade I think, it was my best friend’s favorite band. I hated them, so she felt it her duty to make me listen to their album. To get her off my case, I told her they weren’t bad. All I could remember is that I thought they were all girls. Man, she was this close to tearing me a new asshole.
Also, I had to miss school for a week and a half due to severe fever and flu during this Mmbop time frame. Every morning I’d hop into the shower and get dressed only to have my mother tell me I will not be heading to school that day. So each time I hear this song, I’m a 5th grader once more.
4. What do you like to listen to before bed? Really noisy stuff. I’ve had people knocking on my door because I play music at supersonic range. At 3 in the morning.
5. Name a song by Coal Chamber. El Cu Cuy. Bradley. Big Truck. Rowboat. I know my Chamber Music, people. Ya don’t need to ask.
6. Who was/were your idol/s when you were younger? Shirley Manson at 11. Talena Atfield at 14. At a younger age than 10, I’d say sailor saturn. Yes, people. It happened.
7. First album you ever bought? Garbage’s 2nd album. I was 11.
8. Name a song that reminds you of someone and why? Cranberries - Dreams, my mother, august 1994. That song reminds me of buying textbooks in Causeway Bay with my mum. It was raining super hard that day, we got soaked but we were laughing. I love me my mummy. :”) I also remember sniffing the pages of my new books, haha. It had this newly printed acetate-like smell to it. Hahahah.
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