Haneul's pov

Usually, days go about the same, even if I'm in University, you'd think it would be somewhat different but it isn't. My schedule may not be the same but I still do the same thing. I know it's a routine and others clearly don't follow that but that's what University is like, it'll be all worth it in the end.

Yet, today is supposed to be exactly one of those days but it isn't. It might be because it's a Friday but no, it's my birthday and I'm turning 18. Even I can't ignore such a thing.

Others expect me to celebrate my birthday or go out or something but no, even if it's my birthday, I won't risk ruining something.

But even if I don't do much for my birthday, some people do care about it, my family.

I rarely call them and they wish I'd call more but I have no reason to. Maybe it's because I rarely call them that they decided to surprise me by calling me.

Haneul: Hi? Why are you all calling me?

Haneul's mom: You didn't think we'd forget your birthday, did you?

Haneul: Of course not.

Haneul's dad: Wow, my baby is 18.

Haneul: Oh come on, don't be like that. You were the one calling me a young lady last time I saw you.

Haneul's dad: I know but it's still a big thing, you're studying on the other side of the country and Myung is less and less often at home.

Myung: Hey! I heard that!

Haneul's dad: But what? It's true.

I laugh at their ridiculousness.

Haneul's mom: You don't call often, how are things over there?

Haneul: They're good, I already have good grades and I've adapted quite well to University.

Haneul's mom: Well, that's good to know. I was a bit worried but I know you'd make it with how strong-minded you are.

Haneul's dad: How are things in the dorms? I hope you're not shutting down your roommate.

Haneul: As expected people are crazy in dorms and have no sense of responsibilities. It's surprising knowing they are Yale students.

Myung: So I guess, this means your roommate is one of those two?

Haneul: Yeah, she and I don't get along at all. She has no sense of shame and she's disturbing my studies.

Haneul's dad: It doesn't mean it's reason to
cut her off.

Haneul: I don't want to associate myself with the likes of her, she crossed the line.

Myung: Wow, what'd your roommate do to make you hate her like that?

Haneul: Things that are out of line.

Haneul's mom: I won't say I am surprised but don't be too mean to her, she's still your roommate. You have to be able to communicate with her.

Haneul: She tried at first but I don't intend to be friends with her.

Myung: It is quite difficult to get you to come around after all.

Haneul: What is that supposed to mean?

Haneul's mom: Back on the birthday subject, it's unfortunate that you can't be back home so we can throw a proper celebration.

Haneul's dad: At least I hope you'll do something with that Jonathan friend at the very least.

Haneul: Is celebrating your birthday that important?

Haneul's mom: Yes, out of 365 days in a year, there's only one day that's your birthday,
so your birthday becomes important.

Haneul: It's true but sometimes there are leap years with 366 days.

Haneul's mom: OK, smartass, the point here is to enjoy your birthday.

Haneul: Yeah, yeah, I will.

Myung: Happy birthday again!

And I hung up.

I was not expecting that call especially not when I was still on campus but at least I was outside.

It's starting to be a bit dark as it's close to 6 p.m. Yeah, I'm one of the unlucky ones who has a class till 5:30 p.m. on a Friday.

I mean I had a class this morning, then got to
work at the cafe and then got to another class. What a day.

I better leave the campus and go back to the dorms.

——————-

I arrive at the dorms after walking and unlock the door. I hope Alexandra is not there and left to go see her girlfriend or whatever. Through I was dead wrong.

I open the door and instantly notice people, not just random people, Alexandra and her friend, Jonathan there too. What is going on? What is the meaning of this? Are they drinking too?

"Hey! Here is the birthday girl!" Carla says excitedly with a beer in hand but I ignore her.

Instead, I directly go to Jonathan and snatch him.

"What on earth is going on?" I say in an irritated whispery voice.

"Your roommate wanted to surprise you for your birthday and wanted to throw a party for you. Chase was invited so he asked me to be present, I wanted to say no but I knew that I had to be there for you." Jonathan says already feeling guilty.

"What is wrong with her? Who does she think she is? I thought we mutually hated each other and now she does this?!" I say this a bit too loudly and the others all hear.

"Wow, Haneul I didn't know you hated Alex that much. We just wanted to be here because it's your birthday!" Chase exclaims loudly and Alex looks slightly coldy.

"I know we have our differences but I couldn't just ignore your birthday," Alexandra says and I come closer to her.

"And you thought you had the right to do this? Who said I wanted this?" I say sharply.

"It's still my role ambassador to help you but seeing as you clearly don't want that..." She trails off.

"Hey, maybe you don't like parties but it's still your birthday, your roommate made all the effort for this," Chase says sharply too and I glare at him.

"And I didn't ask her to do that." I glare back at him.

"Wow, let's all calm down, shall we? Now that Haneul is here, we might as well celebrate." Clara says trying to stop the conflict and I glare at her too.

"Who are you to say this? I didn't ask you to be here?"

"It's Alex's dorm, she can do what she wants and she wants me here," Carla says staring annoyed at me.

"For your information, this is my dorm too and
I decided I don't want anyone else here!" I yell so angry at them.

I don't give them to react as I storm off the dorm and go into the hallway.

What is wrong with her? She has a serious problem. First, she's being overly friendly to me and annoying me, not leaving me alone in the process, then she disturbers my studies, then she has the guts to have sex with her girlfriend on the couch and now she does this?

She has no shame and respect for me. I don't know on which planet she lives but it sure isn't a realistic one, must be all rainbows and sun shines. She's the worst roommate ever.

Suddenly someone joins me, of course, Jonathan.

"I tried telling them you wouldn't like it but they wouldn't listen to me."

"It's not your fault, you weren't behind this."

"I know but I knew you had no interest in celebrating your birthday like that."

"You thought I would ever want to do something for my birthday?"

"I mean...I was planning to do something just us but now..." Jonathan says trailing off.

"You were? What were you planning?"

"I don't know, we probably would have just done as we usually do."

"Wow, it does seem lame but I actually wouldn't mind that."

"Really? Even after everything?"

"If you're thinking about going to your dorm? I don't want to go there."

"Ah, yeah, you're mad at Chase. So what do we do? You didn't eat did you?"

"No, I didn't. I was supposed to eat my pasta but there's no way I'm going back in there."

"I know you hate going out but I think it would be a good idea to eat out somewhere."

"Yeah, we kinda have no choice. You're right I hate it but it's better than dealing with Alexandra."

"Agreed." He smiles and I can't help but smile too.

"OK, I'll call to see what we're able to eat. I have to go get my stuff in my dorm, so you can wait in the meantime." He's probably going to change outfit or something, he has no reason to try to impress me.

"Sure."

This was horrible but even if I really did not intend to go out, at least it's only with Jonathan and I am fine with that.

——————-

In the end, Jonathan did find a restaurant. They were all mostly booked but there was one place left at the restaurant where he wanted to show me. According to him, Chase showed him that place a month ago when he took him out to show the city. Ugh, just thinking about that guy, annoys me.

When Jonathan said a restaurant, I wasn't expecting this kind of restaurant, it's luxury! Everything is expensive here! We don't have money for this! Why is he doing this? It's just my birthday. I really hope it's not because he still has hopes he and I could be a thing because that's never happening.

"Jonathan, I thought you said just a simple restaurant, not this." He smiles, ugh why is he doing this?

"How couldn't I? It's your birthday and you deserve the world for all the efforts you've made this past year."

"Yeah, but it still doesn't justify wasting our money over this."

"Hey, relax. I'll pay for you tonight."

"How? You don't even have the money."

"That's where you're underestimating me. You know the job I told you about?" Oh yes, Jonathan also got himself a job a month ago once we moved here.

"Yes?"

"Well, little did you know that I made enough already to pay for tonight."

"Nonsense, working at the canteen on campus does not bring you a ton of money, in fact, I make more than you."

"Now, this is untrue. I also make money from helping Chase with his Mbtube and NikNok accounts." Just hearing that name pisses me off right now...Wait what?!

"You make money from managing Chase's social media since when?!"

"It's pretty recent? I guess I forgot to tell you. Last weekend, Chase asked for some help with the managing process, you know how good I am with that."

"Yeah?"

"So yeah, I agreed and just the first time he gave me a ton of cash for it."

"How much?"

"500 just to start it off."

"What? That is huge! I can't believe you didn't tell me!"

"Sorry, I was sure I told you. It's almost our turn so we'll talk about it some more once we're at the table."

"Yeah..."

The line we were waiting on finally moves and it's our turn to have the waiter show us our reserved table.

Then, we sit down.

"Seriously, I still can't believe you didn't believe such a big thing."

"Usually, I would be pretty proud of that and burst your eyes about it but tonight is not my night, it's yours."

"Ugh, stop making it about me."

"But what? It's your birthday and I want you to have fun."

"Sure but what you're new job is important too."

"Later, I'll tell you some more later. Now I'm serious let's enjoy the night." This is so unlike him to say this and so unlike me to agree but here I do.

"Fine..."

The waiter comes to our table.

"Here is some water for you two. Do you know what you'll order?" The waiter says. Ah, I entirely forgot to look at the menu, stupid Johnny.

Jonathan orders first and recommends me something and I order it. Then, the waiter leaves.

"You made me forget to look at the menu," I say unimpressed.

"It's not the end of the world Haneul. You weren't gonna know what to pick anyways."

"Fine, have your way," I say annoyed.

"Hey, happy birthday, let's make a toast for it."

"Seriously?" I say unimpressed again.

"Yes," He smiles.

And we do just that.

"Cheers to you for turning 18!" Jonathan says.

We clink our glasses and we drink.

"This is really different from how we celebrated my birthday back in April," Jonathan says. Flashbacks come back to me and immediately, I don't like it.

"What's the point of bringing that up?"

"I mean, I can't help but think about that."

"It's a good thing that this time it's different than last time."

"Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you accepted my kiss that night?" I can't believe he's bringing that up now.

"No, not really. I've been over that a while ago. If you think the answer might have been yes, it's always been a no."

"Ouch that hurts but I know that you didn't want anything to do with dating but I couldn't help it, you know?"

"I know, you told me before but despite how many times I slipped it, you and I weren't meant to be." My answers surprised me.

"Wow...I thought you would shut down this conversation again."

"That's what I thought too."

"So, you never liked me? Not even at prom?"

"Johnny, you've always been my best friend and always will be. I think I made it clear enough."

"Yeah..." He says sadly despite smiling.

"Now that you know you and I aren't possible, when do you think you'll date next?"

"If I didn't know better I would think you're jealous but yeah, I don't know...There's anyone here that has caught my attention like you, you know?"

"Jonathan, you've had others before me, I find it hard that you suddenly don't like anyone else."

"I guess I'm just focusing on myself and my future right now. So I don't know but not gonna lie I do miss dating."

"Yeah, it's been more than a year."

"Wait, are you worried again that my next lover will steal your spot?"

"Of course not."

"I knew it! It bothers you!"

"Ugh..."

"I know you'll never want to date but if you had to, how do you want your future boyfriend to be like?"

For some reason, the word boyfriend feels off. Yet, I can't believe he's asking this kind of question.

"Why are you asking me this?"

"Would you rather talk about Alexandra?" Immediately, my mood darkens.

"I don't know really. I never think of such a thing." I answered his question.

"Wow, ok. You're dead set on staying single."

"Yeah, can we just stop talking about things that annoy me? As you said, it's my birthday."

"Yeah, yeah. I can do that."

And for the rest of the night, we celebrate my birthday at the restaurant and luckily, Alexandra isn't there once I get back to the dorms to sleep.

———————

It's been a week since my birthday and to say the least, tension between Alexandra and me is at its worst. As I usually do, I just ignore her and avoid being near her at all costs.

Through, even if on weekends she's mostly not here, on weekdays she is and it's easy to tell. She's so noisy! How can I study in peace!? And she doesn't even clean up after herself all that much.

I'm at a point where I don't know if I should lecture her about this or just continue to ignore her.

I can tell she's not happy with me either but so be it, it's her own fault.

Otherwise, eating out at the restaurant with Jonathan last Friday was nice but now I have lots of tests coming up and assignments and that means I can't waste anymore tim. Speaking off, I even have a group project with that girl Alyssa I first met at the start of the semester.

There was no way I was working with anyone else. She's the only one who takes the project seriously despite a few slip-ups.

Regardless, it's Friday and again I have a work shift at the coffee shop between two classes. It's taking time away but I have to make money. I'm on a scholarship, unlike those spoiled wealthy students.

I put on my apron and once I get behind the counter, I notice my other co-worker this morning, Arlo.

Arlo Grabbs. He's not that older than me just by two years apparently. His hair is cut in an undercut, back hair like me. He also has fair skin, yeah like me but he has blue eyes and doesn't look Asian. He's short for a guy and slender too, about 5.7 ft, he doesn't compare to Jonathan.

Indeed, he notices me too and comes closer.

"Hey, Han, ready to work a power shift?" He winks at me while giving his usual boyish smile and

"Yes, I am."

We both started working and everything went well until a face I didn't want to see showed up.

That said person notices me and looks at me in surprise, it's none other than Alexandra.