We were still all up at midnight when Cate stood up and announced that she wanted to drink water. When she opened the door, Gelle and Joey burst singing into the room with a small cake and a bottle of faux wine. Awww!!! Thanks again you guys!! You didn’t really have to give me a second cake! (They had already given me a cake last Saturday.)
After I had made my wish (no I am not telling else it won’t come true) and blown out the solitary candle (oh if I were truly one year old!), Chu gave his birthday present of three dresses which they asked me to model one by one. No, I will not post the pics here, thank you very much. But thanks so much Chu! I love them! In fact I wore one of them that very morning.
my second birthday cake
with my flatmates
with Chu and “champagne”
So that morning, I was wearing Chu’s birthday gift and there I was at my desk, tapping away at my office laptop and thinking that Betchie and Yves had forgotten my birthday because they were ignoring me, when suddenly almost the entire floor showed up behind my workstation singing the birthday song.
This is my first time to hear “happy birthday dear dee” because in the Philippines, we always sing “happy birthday happy birthday” at that part. Desmond, my treasury contact, was holding a Bakerzin tiramisu cake with one lighted candle, and Betchie asked me where my camera was. I hurriedly gave it to her, still in shock, whispering, “what did you do??” because I knew she had put these people up to it.
We moved to the pantry where I blew the candle while everyone stood far away from me, near the photocopier. Awkward moment.
I asked if I could have a picture with them. Only my boss Adeline walked beside me. I told the rest, “guys when I said everyone, I meant everyone,” while gesticulating to them. “Are you scared of me? I don’t bite!”
They eventually moved to my side and I had my first – no second – picture with new officemates. Yves, who must have planned everything with Betchie, gamely snapped the pictures.
Isaac, the AR guy who sits infront of me, gave me a wrapped gift and told me that it was my gift from Finance. I opened it and found a purple Aldo bag. They know me so well already! Thanks to Betchie, actually, who also happens to be a purple girl. Note to self: must keep bag away from her.
I tried to cut the cake with the plastic cutter that comes with all cakes that you buy in Singapore, but it was frozen and I couldn’t do so. Pooja decided to help me do the job and kind of murdered my poor cake in the process. It was fine, though, at least we got it cut up and distributed the little slices on pieces of tissue for everyone on the floor. This is my first time to encounter people greeting me “happy birthday” with a handshake. In the Philippines we either kiss or hug or just yell the greeting with no gestures.
my third birthday cake, before and after it got murdered. XD
gift from Finance team – purple Aldo bag. gift from Chu – cream-colored floral-printed dress.
HDB aka the three mouseketeers
with Boys Over Flowers? XD
UAPL Finance team
take note, the handshake is included
Then I went on half-day leave in the afternoon and brought Chu to the airport, but he missed his plane anyway. Tsktsktsk.
In the evening, I treated myself to a blissful bubble bath and massage at True Spa, then a cup of Belgian chocolate gelato at Venezia. This is what birthdays are all about, after all… being happy! Yes indeedy, it has been one very happy birthday for me.