Something, Nothing

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 21 — BIRTHDAY INVITE

"So, you're going to see the friend you had an argument with?" Shiv questions me.

I could have taken a bus to the carnival or even borrowed my brother's car but something inside me tells me it would be better to have a support person and the only I can rely on at the time being is Shiv.

"Yes," and I have somewhat prepared acceptable answers for the possible questions I may get from him, "We talked and we're okay now,"

"And you're going to see him immediately after resolving whatever you guys had argued about,"

"Not immediately," I say, sinking further back into the seat, "Just... he invited me,"

"To what?"

"It's his birthday,"

"And you have to go?"

I sigh, "No, I don't have to go. And you don't have to come with me. So, if you don't want to just tell m-,"

"Yadda, yadda," he interrupts me, "Shut up,"

"You're the one who's asking questions,"

"Would you come to my birthday if you were in college and I asked you to come?" he asks, causing me to have a mini heart attack.

Where did that question even come from?

"Yeah, sure. Why?" read: I don't know. Stop being weird.

"When is my birthday?"

"July 15th," I scoff — if only he knows how much I know about him. I shake my head to myself. This is weird. Why does Ken inviting me to his birthday is bothering him so much?

"You know," he says, sounding very much surprised.

"Of course, I do,"

"But you didn't even wish me this year,"

Shit.

Yes, I didn't wish him on his birthday this year. But that's not because I forgot. It was more because I remembered. I glance at him sideways, and at the phone he has fixed on the stand to see the ETA — 10 more minutes. It is going to be the longest unending 10 minutes of my life, if I don't find a way to divert this topic to something else, anything else.

"I had... assignments to finish,"

"For how long?"

I pick at my fingers. There's no excuse to give him, "I'm sorry," I say. I didn't even think he would notice, and not only has he noticed but he has remembered it until today to ask me about it. I don't know what I should make of it. Now it makes sense why he thought I was mad at him.

"So, you remembered but just chose not to wish me?"

I don't think Shiv has any plans of letting this topic go.

And that's exactly it — I remembered but I didn't want to wish him. I was trying to get rid of some unnecessary feelings that I had associated with him and the best way I knew how to do that was by ignoring him for a while. It worked but I didn't realise I would be facing so many consequences after.

"I didn't realise the date," that's the best excuse I can come up with and fortunately Shiv buys into it although with a little huff. "I promised you I would be in touch with you more after this, right? I won't forget your birthday again," I try my best to pacify him.

He just grunts in reply.

Before he can start up another topic, I quickly reach out and turn the volume dial up, letting the song replace our conversation for the six minutes left we have to reach our destination.