Min Ho’s 18th birthday party was big.   His parents had prepared for the event from two weeks earlier and the amount of guests within that three bedroom apartment was massive. His family was very accommodating; it made his five friends feel rather jealous, wishing they had a big 18th like this.   “Krystal, what were you doing on your 18th?” Luna questioned, though she knew the answer already. When a teenager turns 18th and goes out clubbing, it marks the beginning of adulthood, but having your parents holding a massive party for you isn’t a simple matter.   “Studying for the HSC,” Krystal replied in a flat tone.   “Kris?” Luna inquired.   “Went for dinner with my family and then went out with you guys,” he said, watching new guests piling in; a family of four, who obviously was Min Ho’s cousin’s family.   “Suzy?”   “Studying for the exam at home.”   “Same here,” Henry, whose birthday was just a day after Suzy, piped in.   “Amber?”   “Dinner with my family,” Amber answered, watching the well-mannered Min Ho chatting with his cousins and work friends from Coles.   “L? Oh, wait, don’t even answer!” Luna said, rolling her eyes.   The boys guffawed. L’s birthday was on the 13 March, the earliest amongst them all. Not much assignments and homework had to be attended to.   “Our party boy obviously had plans,” Kris remarked good-naturedly.   L smirked and shrugged. “That’s why you should be born at the beginning or at the end of the year.”   “How many people were invited?” Amber wondered.   “About 50, I think,” Henry said, sipping on his white wine.   “Well, at least, we’re all 18!” Suzy said matter-of-factly and cheered, “We can go to the PUB or club after this!” They all nodded in agreement. “Who’s going to get drunk?”   “I’m not,” Krystal said. “By the time we finish from here would probably be almost midnight. I don’t want to go back to the hotel tipsy.” Kris smiled approvingly and patted her hand, to which she responded with an affectionate smile.   Besides being invited to this big party, the Choi had made sure they booked a hotel room for Min Ho’s seven friends. Didn’t that just prove how good their hospitality was?   “I wish Dong Woo’s here,” Luna, the party girl, pouted, “I would have gotten drunk and let him take care of me the next day.” If only her boyfriend did not go to Korea with his family to visit his grandparents, they could have celebrated Min Ho’s birthday and Christmas together.   “Me neither,” Amber joined in, shaking her head, “but I’ll stay as long as Min Ho wants to.”   Henry just shrugged. “I’m fine with whatever.”   “You guys are chickens,” L rolled his eyes.   “If you feel like drinking, then just drink,” Amber said in a sharp tone. “Don’t force us to drink if we don’t want to!”   “I’m not forcing you,” he gave her an odd look, “I can’t even express my opinion, Amber Liu?”   Tension escalated on their table and Suzy nudged Amber, gaining both of their attention in the process, “Don’t fight here. There are little kids.” She tilted her head to the other end of the table where five kids were sitting next to Krystal and Luna on both of their sides.   “You always seem like you hate me,” L scoffed.   “I don’t,” Amber defensed, “It’s the way you talk!”   “What’s with the way I talk?”   Henry, who was sitting next her, attempted to restrain her, “Amber, calm down.” He shot L a look, “Do you have to argue with a girl?”   “A girl?” He almost laughed at the absurdity. “She doesn’t even look like a girl!”   “And you think you act like a gentleman?”   He sent her a penetrating glare as she mirrored him. Everyone could see the two’s nostrils flare in rage.   “Guys, is everything okay?”   Everyone’s attention was shifted to the birthday boy who had come to take a seat next to L. Dinner was about to start. Amber broke into a wide grin and said, “Happy birthday!”   The rest followed, with Henry and Kris extending their fists to Min Ho to greet him, as L rolled his eyes at her behaviour. When everyone finished, he turned to Min Ho and let their fists meet, “Happy birthday, mate!”   “Thanks for coming, guys!” the birthday boy said, his smile never left his face. He just could not hide his happiness that his friends and family were there to celebrate his 18th with him. It wasn’t about where and how he spent the event, but who he spent it with. His sister, Hyo Rin, had come from Melbourne for the weekend to be at his party and help their parents with the preparation. He could still remember how big her 18th was and his parents didn’t seem to be unfair with how they treated their beloved children. “Are you guys having a good time?”   Min Ho was the type of person who accommodated others, who wanted to make sure that his friends had fun as much as he had. That was what so likable about him, but also his downside; he put others before himself.   “Yeah”s were uttered all around the table as Min Ho’s parents and grandparents brought the food over to the tables to be shared. When the lasagna came, Min Ho cut it into pieces before placing a slice into the plates of people closer to him.   “Ber!” L exclaimed. “Look! Your favourite lasagna!”   “Yay!” she half-heartedly cheered and let him give her a slice.   “You used to love my mum’s homemade one.”   “Well, my mum’s is better,” Min Ho smugly told him.   L laughed. “Just because you’re the birthday boy!”   It saddened Amber how much her relationship with L had changed. She used to know him so well, until high school came and he changed. From that little boy she rode a bike with, roller-skated with, swam with, showered with as a little girl, he had turned into that rebellious boy in the popular group, who d