Unexpected Answers

“You’ve become quite the independent woman. You’re growing up so fast,” her father said tenderly. “Twelve years old today, it feels strange, since I’ve spent the other eleven with you, but I’m glad you’re going to meet with friends. Please don’t worry too much about studying. You are smart, and you don’t have to make perfect scores. Just remember to have fun; it’s your birthday, after all. You’re still technically a kid, so enjoy yourself even in the midst of your studies. Don’t worry, it’s only a couple more weeks, and when you get home, I’ll have a cake waiting for you. I love you so much, Adrian. Happy birthday. I’ll talk to you later. Bye, love you.” Adrian held back tears throughout the conversation, despite speaking with him daily. It had only been a couple of weeks since she returned to school, but she still missed him deeply. “I love you too. Bye,” she said as she hung up, knowing if she didn’t, he would never.

Less than an hour before the scheduled meeting, Adrian dressed in her uniform with a light sweater. She carried her winter coat, even though the sun was shining and spring was in the air; the night still grew cold. She had been told repeatedly through the group chat not to eat before the meeting. Although it took place in the library, her club members were adamant that they would bring snacks for the study session. Adrian would have preferred going to the dining hall, where she could have celebrated her birthday with dessert. But she was the one who asked if she could join them in a study section, and as a first-year student, who would ever skip out on upperclassmen who are willing to help, let alone their club members? She would have to see them eventually, and they would never allow her to live it down.

The sun was low in the sky as she walked over the bridge towards the library alone. Normally, Kai would walk with her, or there would always be someone around. However, it seemed as if the campus was empty of people she knew. Surrounded by strangers on a day she selfishly wished she could be in the spotlight. At first, she slowly walked until she saw the time and received some messages from other club members and friends who were already at the library waiting to start the study session. She quickly made haste, running through campus towards the library. The same blue and white colors that reminded Adrian of the ocean before appeared, with streaks of golden yellow shining through the windows. Once inside, she quickly reviewed the message to see which study room they were meeting in and then headed straight there.

Riding the elevator up to the floor where most of the study rooms for the groups were, Adrian couldn’t help but feel a bit tired. She attended many different study groups, both throughout the day and in the days leading up to it. She wished she had asked if they could have had their study session at a different time, if possible. Perhaps she should have been more upfront about wanting to celebrate her birthday. But it was too late for that, and she had to go not just because she said she would, but also because she dragged her friends from class into it as well. It wasn’t just the club; it was all the friends she had made over the last year. She was not going to disappoint them. She took a deep breath outside the door before stepping inside.

She made it just in time. Jordan stood in front of a digital board and exchanged glances with the others. “Now that we’re here, let’s get started. Pick any seat you like. Do whatever you need to stay focused.” Adrian scanned the room, looking for a seat. She noticed everyone here, every single member from the club, plus Kai, Emory, Angel, and Mia. Even if it was a study group, she felt happy to be surrounded by her friends. She quickly walked over, bent down so as not to block the view of the board, and headed to sit by Kai, who motioned for her to sit on the ball beside him. The study session began differently from others that she had attended before; it was transformed into a game, similar to what she had seen on TV. Jordan played the part of the host, standing in front of the board that had many different subjects to choose from. From those subjects, you could select easy, hard, difficult, or legendary for the type of question you may get asked, depending on which one you choose, and if you get it right, you would get points. Jordan didn’t tell them what the prize was, but he assured everyone in the room that there would be a prize for the person who got the most points.

He said to make things fair that he had created specific questions just for Adrian and her friends since they were first years. Also, her friends wouldn’t have to answer the club-related questions since they weren’t in the club and probably didn’t know much. However, if they chose to answer and got it right, they would receive double points. The room quickly grew not only in excitement but in volume as well. “Alright, everyone, pull out your notebooks and get your pens ready. You are responsible for keeping track of your own score. Please do this accordingly. Cheating will not be tolerated, and anyone caught cheating will be sent back to zero or to ‘Shame Corner’.” Jordan said as he struck a dramatic pose and pointed to the corner in the back of the room. A quiet commotion of whispers and glances ran through the group.

Lucas clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention, “Okay, let’s focus. To decide who goes first, everyone will roll a dice, the lowest number goes first. Give it your all! May the best win.” Adrian adjusted her notes and her pencil as she prepared for the first question. One by one, everyone took a turn, and Leo, who rolled a one, went first. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table with his hands underneath his chin, eyes focused as Jordan read the first question. Turn after turn, questions answered right or wrong, the game kept chugging along. Adrian was surprised by the harder questions but felt relieved when she encountered easier ones. She enjoyed not only the competition but also watching her friends as the night grew longer; they became funnier and more dramatic. Angel spun in her chair three times before answering, as she assured everyone it helped her. Scarlet bounced on the yoga ball she sat on, grinning as she got a question right. Niko often yelled the answer before Jordan could finish reading him his questions.

Halfway through the questions, Jordan realized that Kite was giving himself extra points on questions. “You must return to zero!” Jordan exclaimed. The room broke out into chuckles as many of them poked fun at Kite. But then Kite stood up and launched himself at Zero so hard that they both fell off the chair onto the floor. The room burst into uncontrollable laughter. “I meant zero points, not… never mind, back to the game,” Jordan muttered.

After another hour or two of answering questions, goofing off, and school supplies going everywhere, they were finally at the last question of the night. “What planet holds the capital of the United Galaxy Union?” Jordan asked the group as he dramatically posed. Every named planet in the universe was yelled as everyone at the table wanted the last question and the points to be there. It was so chaotic and loud that Jordan couldn’t even reward anyone. He couldn’t hear if anyone gave the correct answer. Amid all the chaos, Jordan yelled, “Adrian, since it is your birthday, if you get this question right, I’ll grant you the points, especially since everyone is yelling any name that comes to their minds.” Lucas nodded with approval. Leo leaned back in his seat as he watched her. Mia spun her chair back to face Adrian, and at that moment, every eye was on Adrian. Adrian stared back at her notes as if the very asking of the question made her forget everything she knew. In desperation, she answered, “Nexus?” A long pause filled the air as everyone turned to Jordan. In a dramatic fashion, he said, “You are correct! That’s the end of the game, everyone tally up your points.”

Adrian cheered as she got the answer right. To Angel, who was jumping up and down, she said, “I’ve got to admit, I just guessed.” Angel smiled back at her, “Sometimes just trying can get you something, definitely something more than not doing anything.” Adrian then sat down to calculate her points. As she looked around, she noticed that almost everyone was gone. In the midst of the chaos, the room emptied. Lucas, Leo, Angel, Mia, and Jordan were all that was left in the room. “Where is everyone?” Adrian asked as she searched underneath the table just in case. A mixture of answers came flooding back, ranging from “They went to the bathroom” to “Well, they had to fill up their water bottle.” Adrian wasn’t sure what to believe as everyone seemed to be on different pages when it came to her questions. But then Jordan motioned for her to sit in the chair that faced away from the door. Hesitantly, she sat in the chair as a symphony of noise came from behind her.

“Adrian, Adrian, light the way. Another year, a happy day!” Voices erupted around her as her friends brought in a variety of snacks and desserts, followed by a cake. “Cake is important on one’s birthday, so it might not be good, but we made you one,” Lucas said as he placed his hand on Leo’s head and rubbed his hair. The room was once again filled with noise, laughter, and excitement. Jordan had very cautiously handed Adrian a knife from his back pocket. She carefully sliced the cake with Jordan guiding her. Scarlet handed Adrian a plate. “It’s our custom that the birthday person gets the first piece of cake.” Adrian gladly took it and placed a piece on it. The group erupted into song, “Slice it, share it, everyone cheer, Adrian’s birthday is finally here! Laughs and smiles, cake in hand. Hooray for Adrian, the best in the land!”

Quickly, the study room became a party room. Cookies, candy, fruit, mini sandwiches, cheese, popcorn, a variety of drinks, and much more lined every edge and inch of the table, leaving no space for plates. Eventually, people had to sit on the floor. But there was no dismay in it. Music played from the board as Jordan put on a video they made for Adrian. Full of pictures that her friends took of her this past year. Adrian was slightly embarrassed but very happy to watch the video and listen to the stories each friend told about her. The stories were full of joy and laughter, with some embarrassing moments. Soon, the party games began, similar to the study game, now titled The Study of Adrian. Everyone had to answer questions about Adrian. Lucas and Kai tied in the end. Kai was closer to Adrian than everyone else, which allowed him to answer more questions right when they came to her specifically. Still, when it came to her cultural questions, Lucas definitely had that in the bag.

It was well into the night, but the party continued. Everyone was awake, fueled by sugar and cheese. Adrian couldn’t help but smile. She couldn’t stop smiling; in fact, she smiled so much her face was hurting. Her stomach also ached from not just the food but from laughter. And for a moment, as she watched the chaos of the party unfold further, she couldn’t help but think, ‘My dad was right.’ Although somewhat selfish, Adrian’s birthday wish was granted.