The alarm rings. On the third beat, I slammed it without leaving my bed, a skill I've mastered since entering college. 

The sounds of another person putting her blanket aside felt strangely surreal, and soon the tap in the toilet was running. 

She brushes her teeth at a lazy rhythm. Up up down down, left, up, right, up.....A few gurgles and she lets the water cleanse . The tap runs again.

Outside the window, morning murmurs and greetings were heard. My eyes snapped open. Everything in my room seemed hyper-real. This feeling was familiar - it happens once a year. 

It's my birthday.

I dragged my feet to the toilet after Hyeyoung came out, engulfing me in an embrace and cheerily wishing me a happy 20th birthday. I smiled and muttered a quiet "thank you" before closing the toilet door behind me. 

It's not that I hated birthdays, I just hated it when it was my birthday. Birthdays tended to me a license for people to infringe on your free time - they come up with surprises for you when what you really wanted to do was to spend longer hours between the shopping aisles, or maybe to rush some work. I'm usually quite a sociable person, but not with particularly large groups. They just seem to sap me of energy so quickly. My ideal birthday - a few of my favourite people, a simple cake, and just reflecting on my year. 

 My day started with my favourite girl of the building - Hyeyoung. As I headed for class, two males waiting for me to head to the same destination ruffled my hair, not caring that I would turn up in class looking like I barely woke up. Even Vernon dropped by our classroom first to send his well wishes. 

The day was going great so far, and I couldn't have asked for more. 

A few more congratulations along the way as I headed to the supermarket, and I was at ease again walking through the aisles to gather my own groceries. Our of habit, I grabbed Minghao's favourite chips, Mingyu's hair gel (he's been running low recently due to our sessions) and Hyeyoung's choco pie off the shelf. Subconsciously, I reached out for the juice that I had once seen Vernon gulp down as well. 

I stared down at my own cart - nothing but a single chocolate bar was mine. I smiled and paid at the counter, the cashier greeting me cheerfully as she recognised me as the girl who came weekly. 

The trip up the stairs back to my room was easy - somehow, Vernon and Minghao were waiting for me downstairs. The last I talked to them seemed so far away, although it really wasn't. So much had happened in a week I've almost lost track of time. 

"Why is it that you choose to spend your