You frowned, looking at your communicator. No messages. Still. It was already four in the afternoon, and not one person on the entire server had sent you a 'happy birthday.'

You felt a bit selfish for being upset. Surely they were just busy, right? Besides, it was just a saying, it shouldn't bother you this much.

But it did.

It stung.

You loved your birthday, not too much for the gifts and such--though you enjoyed those--but because you got to spend time with your friends. They would gather, because of you. To celebrate you, still being there with them. It made you feel important, like you mattered and were worth something. Your birthday was something you'd always looked forward to. It hurt more than you wanted to admit to yourself for everyone to just...ignore it.

You think what hurt most was that you had told them, you'd reminded them, nearly made a big deal out of it, even. Yet, here you were.

You felt like a jerk for thinking they were being jerks.

Sighing, you pocketed your device and trudged to your bedroom. Maybe you would get some sleep, see if you had abything later. Or you'd wake up tomorrow, and pretend nothing happened.

---

You blearily blinked, squinting up at the figure shaking your shoulders. "Techno?" You croaked, yawning and rubbing at your eyes. The piglin hybrid let go of you, stepping back and shifting on his feet.

"You weren't answering, so, uh, I came over," He grunted. You licked your lips, sitting up.

"Oh. Sorry." You murmured. A bit of guilt wormed its way into your gut, and you crossed your legs, hunching over. You must have worried him.

"No, it's—I was checking in. Um." Techno cleared his throat. "Happy birthday."

Your head shot up, a smile breaking out on your face. "You remembered?" You found yourself saying. He nodded, ears flicking.

"I was working through the night and got caught up in it this morning, so I completely blanked on telling you earlier. But, well, I wanted to show you something," He spoke.