Our little child is now 30. Can you believe it? That’s what we call Gay even though technically she’s the oldest in our gang, because she has such a refreshing childlike aura. We celebrated her birthday the night before that with a BBQ steamboat buffet dinner at a place on the corner of Beach Road and Beach Street, in front of Beach Hotel (I know, right?). I don’t know what it’s called because the name is in Chinese characters which I can’t read, but for reference, I took a picture of it. [Edit: My teammates have translated it for me, they say it’s Tian Tian Huo Guo.]
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| The BBQ steamboat buffet place. |
Gay chose the place because she says it’s better than the last BBQ steamboat buffet we went to in that their BBQ meat is already seasoned, unlike the last one where we ended up making our meat too salty because we’re not exactly chefs.
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| Maya with the birthday girl |
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| Me with the birthday girl |
The food was good. And there’s something gratifying about eating something you cooked yourself.
After stuffing ourselves full of all the meat and seafood and veggies we could boil and grill, we stood up and walked towards the nearby mall, Bugis Junction, where we planned to have coffee at Starbucks.
The original plan was actually to watch a movie, but Gay changed that, saying we should have coffee and talk instead because, and I quote, “Narealize ko parang bitin chikahan natin if nagmovie after… and you know naman us, kulang pa ang isang day sa chikahan.” She had a point, so we readily agreed.
But before heading to Starbucks, we looked into the shops first, and we somehow found ourselves inside Meyson Jewellery, where we saw some pretty diamond stud earrings that were more affordable than others. In fact they cost about the same as the rose gold studs which I bought some weeks ago.
I told Gay so, and she got interested. Gay doesn’t wear earrings, actually, she got allergic to fake jewelry years back and the holes in her earlobes closed up. But I convinced her that it was about time she wore earrings again, and what better 30th birthday gift to herself than this? And either because I am very convincing or Gay is just very impressionable, she bought a pair of diamond stud earrings in yellow gold. We were all happy afterwards.
After that, we looked for a shop where Gay could supposedly have her ears pierced but they were closing, so we had to leave that for next time. So we headed towards Starbucks and ordered individual drinks (I had my go-to hot mocha) and shared a piece of chocolate peanut butter stack.
Then we brought out the cake that we had brought for Gay and gave her our presents as well – a makeup brush set and makeup for the little girl who is now all grown up. We told her she had to learn how to use them – or else we’d confiscate them back. LOL.
Incidentally, they and a few other college friends actually gave me the same brush set for my birthday back in 2009, I think, and it was the one that started my love affair with makeup.
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| Birthday girl with her cake and presents |
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| A closer look at Gay’s birthday cake |
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| A closer look at our presents for Gay |
We spent the rest of the night talking, as anticipated. We eventually had to part ways so we could catch the MRT home. But has our 30th birthday tradition been started then? Buffet, shopping for diamond jewelry, coffee and talking? Excited for my turn. I’m next, actually.
The next day, on Gay’s birthday, I gave her this:
For background: I chose the song “All My Life” for this video because back in college, when we first became friends, Gay had a crush on this guy with a great voice. He had sung the song “All My Life” and so that became our codename for him.
So that song has a history for us, a shared past, and, I realize now, its lyrics are applicable to us, for haven’t we known each other (almost) all our life? And don’t we want this friendship to last all our life?
I actually say the same thing in my message for Gay in the video. In case our scrolling messages on the video are too hard to read, here are the transcripts.
From Zenie:
Happy Birthday Gay! Wow you’re 30 now. I remembered we met when we were just 16-17 years of age which means you’ve been in my life for 14 years now and it has been a blast. You’ve been one of my closest friends and I am glad that we have been ever since. Thanks so much for the friendship and on your birthday, I want nothing but the best for you my very good friend! I don’t know what else to say but thank you for that wonderful 14 years of friendship and sana mahitabu tanan imung wish! Happy Birthday Gay and Love You!
From Maya:
Happy 30th birthday! Grabe, dili ko kabilib na 30 na diay ka. lol. I am very happy for you that most of your wishes were granted before this age. I am very sure (as in 100%) na this is your best birthday ever… I mean you have a great job and a great love life. What can you ask for pa? You are very much blessed.
Thanks for the friendship. Tho we rarely communicate or meet up, but the bond never fades. Even if we do not talk for months, it seems like it was only yesterday that we chat. You are one of the best things that happened to me. I hope we keep this friendship kahit maputi na ang buhok ko.
Take Care always gay and go for what makes you happy.
Feliz Cumpleaños!
From Heids:
OMG trenta ka na. But what a nice number, isn’t it? The big 3. You have the big 3 rag dolls who have been in the big 3 phases of your life.
Almost half of your life ago, “All My Life” became a part of your life, our lives. Now I see that song was actually a foreshadowing of our friendship – I’ve known you all my life, I’ve loved you all my life, I want this all my life.
Though a lot has changed since we first met, I am glad to see that you are still, in some ways, the same old (or young?) Gay that I met then. May you keep that childlike heart of yours forevermore.
Love you. Happy birthday! To the next 30!
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