65
If only anger could be measured on a scale, Archie’s anger would surpass any sum. He steps down from the cab and marches angrily inside the compound, forgetting to bid the cab driver fair well.
Darkness has already covered the sky, only the hazy light emerging from the night stars makes the night seem a bit bright.
Archie puffs out air and strides towards the door. He couldn’t believe he spent the rest of his day working on some fills. Can his principal ever stop giving him work to do?
He remembers that his father is to blame, why would he tell his principal to detain him, the fact that his father forget about his birthday isn’t the problem but the fact that he made him work for the principal on his birthday.
He clamps his teeth together and twists the doorknob, he yearns to find his father and give him an earful. Stepping inside the dark living room that is as silent as the graveyard. He make to switch on the light but someone beat him to do it.
“Happy birthday, Son!” Mr Gordon’s cheerful voice says, appearing in front of him with his arms spread wide.
“Oh, my God! Dad!” Archie gasps, staring unbelievably at his Dad with gloomy eyes.
“Happy birthday, Archie.” Melanie smiles, appearing behind Mr Gordon.
Archie stares at the two of them in surprise. He couldn’t bring himself to close his mouth as he wasn’t expecting them to remember his birthday. “Seriously, you two know that today is my birthday?” he asks, still not believing his eyes.Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.
“Silly! Everyone does.” Mr Gordon chuckles, stepping aside for Archie to see faces of people around his age, and older, in their living room, smiling brightly at him.
“Happy birthday!” They all chant in unison.
Archie screams and jumps into his father’s arms. “I love you so much, Dad! I mean, both of you,” he whines into his ears.
Mr Gordon chuckles and drops him on his feet. “You should go get dressed.” He nudges him.
Archie flashes Melanie a toothy smile before dashing into his room. Getting inside, he throws his backpack into a corner and rushes to the bathroom with his clothes on.
He steps under the shower, soaking himself while fully clothed. “Guess I’m been loved after all.” He screams out of joy, letting the cold water drench him.
He walks back to his room and the first thing he sight is the outfit that has been laid on his bed for him.
He smiles and breathes out happily. “I’m going to surprise you two.” he grins and dashed to the dressing table.
Cladding in a white crew neck T-shirt, over a gold jacket, black ripped jeans and a set of white Snickers. Archie checks his reflection in the mirror and screams happily at how cute he looks in whatever he put on.
Je checks his accessory collection and picks out a jade stud that matches his jacket. He moves his long brown hair to the back. He applies light makeup and grins throughout the session.
A knock on his door and he needs no one to tell him that it is his father. “Dad!” He calls out to him, so he should know that he could tell that he is the one by the door.
“Happy birthday friend.”
Archie trembles at the voice he’s hearing. What the hell is she doing and how did she know about his birthday? “Olive.” He stands up from the seat to see Olive smiling brightly in her purple outfit.
“Sorry, I couldn’t wish you a happy birthday in the morning. I was… No, we were restricted from doing so.” she says, handing over a wrapped gift for him.
“Oh, goodness!” Archie smiles and receives the gift from her. “Thank you.” he smiles and drops it on the table.
“I hope I fulfil my wish?!” she chuckles and he stares strangely at her.
“What wish?” he arches his brows and she moves her hair to the back.
“Being the first person to give you a gift.” she shyly hitches her neck.
Archie smile before nodding his head. “Yes, you fulfilled your wish.” he smiles at her, olive eyes glowing like the ray of the morning.
“Are you done?” she asks, checking him out. “You look stunning but something is missing.” she tilts her head, looking from the dressing table to his face.
“What is that? I think I’m cool like this.” he chuckles and she shakes her head negatively.
Olive gasped and lick her bottom lip. “This!” she grabs his hairbrush and pushes him back to the seat with his back facing her.
Walking down the stairs with olive trailing behind her, Archie trembles from the inside when his eyes catch up with the crowd of people that is present to celebrate his birthday with him. Olive grabs his hand and nudges his shoulder.
“Why? Are you scared? You are in your father’s house you shouldn’t be afraid of anything.” she hit her shoulder against his and he nods in affirm.
They walk over towards his father and Olive leaves his side when they get to the centre of the gathering.
Archie eyes search everywhere but he couldn’t have a glimpse of her. “Guess elementary kids aren’t invited,” he mumbles and turns his gaze to his father when he feels the tap on his shoulder.
“They have sung a birthday song for you, now they are waiting for you to blow out the candle.” He smiles at him. Archie’s mouth an ‘oh’, he hasn’t been listening to his speech and he feels guilty for zooming out when his father goes out of his way to prepare the party for him.
“Ahh, thank you.” he moves closer to the big cake that is pushed to his front. He bends his neck and says a wish before blowing out the candle.
The crowd cheers and put their hands together for him. Melanie cut a piece of cake and put it on a neat plate. She hands over the plate to him and Archie collects it with a ‘thank you’ smile on his face.
He hasn’t done a birthday party before but he knows how it’s done in a movie. He picks up the cake and takes a tiny bit. “This bite is for my father,” he smirked and face the crowd who are patiently waiting for a sweet speech from him. “He has always been a jerk that I wish I could not take a bite for him at all.” he glares at his father which makes the crowd erupt in a pitch of laughter.
Mr Gordon smirked and look away shyly, he was going to get back to him and he couldn’t wait for the party to be over.
Archie moves the cake to his mouth and takes a large bite, almost eating all the remaining pieces. “As you can see, this bite is deep compared to the bite I took for my father.” he smiles, staring at Melanie who’s busy flirting with Mr Gordon. “That’s for my mom.” he points at Melanie and she quickly let go of Mr Gordon. “Most of you might know my dad but don’t know who my mom is. She loves to keep a low profile.” he smiles and Melanie fondles her dress. “She is a great woman that every man would…”
“Archie!” Mr Gordon screams, shutting his son up.
“Sorry, my dad is a bit possessive,” he says, and the crowd almost go crazy at how fun he sounds.
“I love you, mom!” he blows a kiss for her and she catches it in the air.
Archie stare at the last bite and he wish his sister is present so he could introduce her to everyone and perhaps take the last bite for her. “This last bite is for every one of you that leave their comfort zone to celebrate my birthday with me, thank you very much and I love you.” he shoves the remaining piece of cake in his mouth and crunches it slowly.
The claps of the crowd almost burst his head open. He smiles at how much they are all smiling at him.
The party begin, after dancing to some rock music that lasts for about two hours. Gift start coming and Archie’s eyes glow at the piles of gift that is lying on the ground for him to open.
He packs the gift into his room with the help of olive before she vacates the house. Archie smiles warmly as he bid the guests farewell. He stands by the door and his mind drifts to the drawing in his room.
He rushes up the stairs and strides inside his room. He picks up the drawing and takes a deep breath before deciding to go look for Melanie.
“There you are.” he smiles, seeing his father and Melanie together at the bar.
“Hey, the celebrant.” Melanie smiles, gesturing for him to come closer.
“How are you feeling?” Mr Gordon asks, taking a sip from his wine glass.
“I feel good.” he grins and stretches the drawing to Melanie.
Melanie arches her brows and makes to open the drawing when Archie stops her. “My dad has something to say to you, don’t open the drawing yet,” he says. Grinning like a lost sheep.
Melanie stares at Mr Gordon who suddenly moves his gaze away from them. She remember days ago in his office, he also told her that he has something to say to her after his son’s birthday.
“Well, I’m out of here.” Archie winks at his father before dashing off to go and unwrap his gifts.
Melanie wait for Archie to be out of sight before turning her gaze to Mr Gordon.