There comes a point in life when you suddenly realize that everyone around you is slowly growing up.
Last day, I got the chance to be part of one of my closest friend’s eighteenth birthday, and I was chosen as one of her eighteen treasures. The whole experience felt exciting and nerve wracking in the best way possible.
I read about the meaning behind eighteen treasures, what kind of gift to give, and how important the role actually is. After reading everything I finally understood that it is one of the most heartfelt parts of a debut because it symbolizes how much the celebrant values the people she chose.
I thought about a gift that would remind me of her. Something cute, personal, and very her. She is a huge fan of Kuromi and she talks about Kuromi almost every time we shop or scroll through online stores. So of course I ended up buying her a Kuromi plushie. It felt like the perfect gift because it represents her personality and I knew she would instantly smile once she saw it.
The event was held in their house and the moment we arrived I already felt the fun and excitement in the air. Most of our friends were already there so that helped lessen my nervousness. We found our designated table and settled in. While waiting for the birthday girl to come out we took lots of photos and talked about how excited and nervous we were to speak in front of everyone. We kept joking about messing up our speeches even though we all knew we would do just fine. It felt like a small reunion because we do not always get to see each other complete.
When the program started the atmosphere felt even more magical. Her family was there and they were all so welcoming. It also made me a little extra nervous because I was not sure if they would get our typical humor so I decided to keep my message sweet and respectful. The sun had already set by the time the celebration fully kicked off. The lights looked warm and soft which made the whole setup feel even more special. She had her eighteen roses and eighteen candles then finally it was time for the eighteen treasures.
When my name was called my heart almost jumped out of my chest. My voice trembled a little because I was so nervous. I could feel everyone looking at me but when I saw her smiling at me it calmed me down. She looked so happy and that alone made everything worth it.
After the speeches and the laughter and the sweet moments it was finally time for dinner. I have to admit this was slightly my favorite part because I was starving the entire time. When I saw the lechon my eyes lit up because I had been craving it for such a long time. The food was delicious and it felt even better because we got to eat while talking and laughing with friends.
When the event officially ended we took a few photos with the birthday girl. We wanted to capture memories before heading home. We did not have an after party because it was already late and her house was quite far from ours. After taking photos and chatting a bit more we slowly said our goodbyes and went home with happy hearts.
The whole day felt warm and wholesome. How beautiful it is to watch your friends grow and celebrate important milestones. Being part of her eighteen treasures will always be one of my favorite memories because it made me feel appreciated and it also made me realize how much our friendship has grown through the years.