My parents normally celebrate my birthday by pampering me with a lot of food outside of our home. Sometimes, they secretly plan surprises.
This year, they invited my best friend to be involved as partners in crime. Usually, celebrations are held privately, just my family and my grandmother alone.
I remembered asking my mummy if there are any plans on my birthday. All I got was a head shake, indicating a no from her.
The night before, I was told I had to be ready to leave the house by 10:30am. On the day itself, I was brought to Orchard Central. I only knew I can eat Lenas there. Mummy joked, saying if we walked into Lenas, then my family would treat. But if we did not go to Lenas as I guessed, the treat would be on me.
We ended up on the eighth floor. Not the right way to Lenas. Quite suspicious! We were the first few in the queue. "Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant" spelt on the top of the restaurant was then my first surprise. Like a detector, I just had to question my mummy how she came up with this. She secretly reserved a table of four last Monday, 3 days before Thursday, she admitted. Wow! She told me, "It is a buffet meaning you have to eat a lot lot lot!".
I was seated throughout the eating time while my family went off to bring in more food and I think they ate a lot more than me. Not because they made me sit and not move. I just...wanted to be a queen for once. I only ate what was being given to me. Aunty Rene's home made cold noodles beat the restaurant's. Other than cold noodles, all food was excellent!! I especially love the chicken there. Tender and juicy. I realise I ate a lot of fish too! Salmon is exceptional!
And not forgetting the second surprise with a slice of Oreo Cheesecake with "Happi Issy Day" engraved on the plate. It was really pretty! You know I am not a huge fan of cakes. I do not even eat much of my mummy's home baked cakes. So how did my mummy predict I would try it, let alone the courage to taste it? I did not close one eye and ate in order to please my family for baking for me for the past few years. I only took small bites of her cakes, period.
I did not know how I ended up putting a small piece into my mouth. Not that I needed to fill up my half filled stomach at that time. In fact, I never had Oreo Cheesecake before! The moment I swallowed the first one, I was won over. In no time, I finished the whole slice of it! Now I know what next flavour to order from Twelve Cupcakes!
After sending my bro off, I suggested to go window shopping first. Mummy instead suggested to go for coffee first. I whined, saying they had to listen to me because it was Issy day, meaning they had to do what I wanted to do. I eventually gave in. I had no idea it was part of their plan. My parents brought me to Oriole Coffee + Bar cafe. We love coffee. Parents wanted me to keep seated, on the chair they wanted me to sit on, facing the wall and my mummy too. But in the middle of waiting, I told them I needed a leak. They actually panicked inside but maintained a good composure. Very good actors, parents! You two did not show even a slight of panic in front of me!
Once I was back, I knew coffee would be served by then. I took my camera and tried to take photos of the coffee. I grabbed the cushion behind my papa only to get chided by him. I intended to use it as a backdrop where mummy would hold the cup and lie her hands on the cushion for a photo. Smart papa scolded me in a soft way, saying cushion was too dusty for coffee to be placed above it, for the sake of preventing its plan from failing.
All they needed me to do was to remain seated for my best friend to pop behind me to give me a scare, or rather a surprise. In the first place, I was a little upset when he told me he couldn't be able to meet me today through WhatsApp. But he turned me into a fool. When I was about to stand up, heading towards the wall for a photo of the cup of coffee, Dave came right up in front of me. He sheepishly said "hi". Parents exclaimed "Surprise!!!", then throwing their heads backwards in a fit of laughter while I, a birthday fool tried figuring out why and how, thinking back to my WhatsApp conversation with my bff. I had no idea he was so near when I randomly messaged him my whereabouts, dropping a hint that he could join us. He replied in a very un-Dave-ly tone saying he couldn't make it because he was going out with friends. I was heartbroken. I also suspected that he might hold grudges against me because he could not have lunch with me. Haha, what a fool I was!
After bidding goodbye to my papa, the three of us spent the next few hours window-shopping and walking along shophouses and me posing for mummy, leaving poor Dave all bored. After dinner, I decided to spend some time with Dave alone, walking down Orchard Road taking photos and just lepaking while mummy rushed home to feed two hungry men.
17th December is always a memorable day for me. A yearly reflection of how fast I grow, or rather, wiser I become. I never seem to age. My fountain of youth is still going strong.
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