What Is Tahlia's Sorrow?

Sorrow has its own happiness
It is her sixteenth birthday.
Tahlia used to celebrate birthdays with her family in a small intimate party at her house in her her hometown. Tahlia’s city is not as peaceful as Pittsburgh, where she is living right now; it is crowded with people and motorbikes. On her birthday, there were no candles or any special presents. There were only her parents, her brother and Tahlia. With only four people, Tahlia’s family is loud most of the time. The happy family talked about random stories, and random stories are endless. Tahlia’s birthday is not an exception.
This year’s birthday is really quiet.
She has always imagine about her first sorrowful birthday without her family. Tahlia does have some friends, but she does
Tahlia came to this school as a junior, in which she is the newbie to this class. She was a little worried that people had formed a special bond since their freshmen and sophomore year. Luckily, Tahlia has made some good friends, whom surprisingly do not share any same character with her. One of her close friends is really loud and super-extroverted.

Her friends, including Ashley, Aykay, Katherine and Lucy, take her out for dinner today to celebrate her special day. Tahlia is excited to come. Ashley would pay for her dinner as a special present. Foods are always the top choice whenever come to present. They go to “Lee”, an Asian restaurant, for her birthday party.
Tahlia is a little worried if her friends would tell jokes and she cannot be truly involved in it. The language barrier still exists. Tahlia still feels not involved whenever they discuss about a TV show series since sheI has no idea about what it is. Or when they laugh about a joke that she cannot understand why they laugh. She feels different and separated. At the same time, the little girl appreciates that they choose to befriend with her, a new international student who still has problem when she
They can talk for hours about silly stories that only us can understand. They love the same TV show series. They choose the same Korean drama to watch. They have secrets that only them keep it to one another.
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Ashley, Aykay and I discuss about food we might order when we get to “Lee”. It is an Asian restaurant, so maybe I can get some Asian food I want on my birthday, which might make me feel less homesick somehow. Still, I miss the flavor of my favorite noodle soup that my mom usually makes it in the weekend for our family. Our family ate noodles last year for my birthday. I love the food my mom makes. My mom’s foods have a distinct flavor, which for me, no famous restaurants’ food can be compared with. It is the flavor of love, care and memories.
We have arrived. The noisy atmosphere in the restaurant makes me want to go home. I’d prefer a quiet space rather than a crowded space full of people that I have no idea who they are.
Lucy and Katherine are waiting inside, along with a balloon with the line “Happy Birthday” on it. I’m a little surprised that they are here