Thirty-Four

November 2019

"Do you have any plans for your birthday?"

I get this question a lot now. Well, since it is November now, my birth month, no wonder why my friends or even my relatives ask me this.

I don't really do those celebrations on birthdays. I don't like parties, to be honest, I mean, yes, I can crash in one but not do wild things or do any strong drinking.

All I do is have my closest friends to come by at my place and we can eat together or watch movies together or even play video games together. I don't want to spend much of money just to celebrate one occasion that happens every year.

"No, seriously, man. What are we gonna do next week?" Justin insisting to ask me while eating his food.

I sighed and glanced at him. "I told you, Justin. I don't have any plans. Besides, what are we gonna do? You know we can just-"

"Watch movies and hang out as a team." Maddie mimicked my voice. "Yes, Ash. You've said that for the 99th time now."

I rolled my eyes and sighed. They kept insisting on me doing something incredible, but I seriously don't have any interest in it. Is there anything wrong with watching movies? I mean, action movies are great right? Who wouldn't love action movies?

We finished our lunch right before our class started. Honestly, I couldn't focus on anything right now. The lectures in front of me are so hard and my mind has zero interest to focus on it.

This thing, about Alexander, bothers me. I still have this thought about him being alive.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I don't really know. Maybe he is alive or maybe not. Maybe he survived or somehow managed to escape but, the funeral...they all went there and I wasn't there so I can't really say.

I can feel that there's something off. I may not be sure but I can really feel that something is off.

Maddie, Justin, and I were on our way to the mall. We changed our clothes after school, the others are already at the mall while the three of us are still on the bus.

"Are you seriously putting on makeup right now?" Justin asked Maddie with disbelief. Maddie's eyes rolled and glanced at Justin, we were sitting on a three-seater seat, me on the window seat, Justin in the middle, and Maddie on the aisle seat.

"Yes. Is there's something wrong with that?" she sassily asked back.

"Why are you putting makeup on even though we're just going to the mall?" Justin argued.

"Mm-hmm, why do you have your raincoat on even though we're just going to the mall?" Maddie said back.

I can't help but crack a laugh on that while I glance outside. "Seriously, Ash? It's not funny." he snapped at me.

I faced him while laughing. "Oh, it is funny," I said and laughed again.

"This is called being prepared." he said and glared at me.

"Dude," I faced him. "It's not even raining."

He just stared at me, dumbfounded. "Dumb bitch." Maddie muttered. I shook my head and laughed at both of them.

We arrived at the mall in just a few minutes. The gang is all here and are ready to go shopping.

First stop, the girls wanted to buy some clothes. They went to this glamorous looking store where you can find all the fancy clothes for women. They spent at least half an hour deciding what to pick and they ended up buying nothing.

Second, we went to another clothing store, and again, they ended up buying nothing.

The third stop, the store has something that might've caught their eyes. They didn't spend too much time shopping because they already got their items with just a blink of an eye.

After all the shopping we have decided to get food for dinner. We went to an Italian restaurant where I'm sure that the foods are joined with the price of gold.

We are literally enjoying the day, not until Justin bothers me about asking my birthday plans again.

"So, Ash." he stared. I knew that he's going to ask me about the birthday thing again so I preceded him.

"No, Justin, I don't have any plans for my birthday. So, please, stop asking." I stated the whole table went silent. I know that it offended Justin in some ways so I managed to apologize to him and to everyone. "Sorry." I whispered and bowed my head while I eat my food.

"It's alright. I understand. You don't want us to hang out with you anyways."

I raised my head and faced Justin with my eyes wide open. "What? No, I didn't mean it that way-"

"I'm just kidding." Justin cut me off and chuckled. I was speechless at that moment.

"Ash, we just want you to embrace that day. It's all yours. It's your birthday and celebrating isn't bad." Mika explained to me.

Everyone was agreeing to her and she's right anyway. Celebrating your birthday is not bad. But, it's just me who doesn't want to celebrate.

We finished our dinner at that restaurant and went outside to go home. I'm not feeling good about next week. These dorks may have something planned to celebrate my birthday.

But, what could I do? They're my friends. They know what's best for me too.