ALFRED

I stepped out of my car that evening with a big smile on my face. Usually, just seeing the Gonzalo mansion from the estate gate gave me a mini heart attack and made my stomach churn as much as it was my father’s house. That place always felt too serious and cold. If Dad wasn’t complaining about how bad the meals prepared by the maids tasted, he was complaining about how I needed to be courageous and take up responsibilities as the “Gonzalo heir.”

But today was different—it was my birthday.

I had just finished hanging out with my two closest friends, Kendrick and Caesar. We had fun outside earlier, but that wasn’t enough. I had brought them home to treat them to some good dishes like a true Gonzalo would. Everyone in Lacass city knew the Gonzalos as one of the richest families around, so my 30th birthday was something to keep their mouths busy for a while. The blogs, the news, everyone would surely want a piece of it.

Kendrick and Caesar got out of the car, laughing and hitting me playfully on the back and shoulders. I was in the middle and they kept teasing me.

“Have you seen your pictures on the net? Man! Everyone is just so crazy about your birthday, like it’s really a special one,” Kendrick said to me while we walked out of the car park.

“Did you say “like it’s really a special one”? Alfred Gonzalo? Not special? Common, man! You got to be kidding. Who doesn’t know the Gonzalos? Mr. Eric Gonzalo and Mrs…”

“Okay!” I interrupted with a smile. “That’s enough guys, let’s get in already.”

“I really hope there are some mouthwatering dishes in there…I can’t get enough of this celebration,” Kendrick said. A foodie!

His size and stomach were enough to tell you he could go any length to get food.

The Gonzalo mansion was enormously large—it was almost like a palace, hence, getting to the main building would take forever. A few maids walked past us and Caesar’s eyes lit up.

“Damn, Alfred,” he whispered. “Your maids are thick and fine. You’ve got sweet-looking women in this house.”

Kendrick and I burst into laughter.

We walked into the dining room, and more maids came in, asking what drinks we wanted.

“No need to ask,” I told them. “Just bring everything. Every drink you’ve got

Not long after, mum walked into the dining room. She had a big smile on her face that you could tell she was really excited to see us.

“My boys,” she said, “Welcome! Please feel free to tell the maids anything you need. You know it’s Alfred’s birthday today so…”

They understood. Mum never joked with me and today was the best one to show my friends how much she loved and cherished me. From the mouthwatering dishes she had ordered the maids to prepare the drinks. It was evident—Mrs. Marie Gonzalo could go a million miles for her son.

“Thank you, ma,” Kendrick and Caesar said together.

Just as she turned to leave, we heard slow footsteps from the stairs.

My heart dropped.

Dad.

Immediately he stepped in, the room went cold. We all fell quiet. Even Kendrick, who had a big chicken leg in his mouth, froze. The chicken dropped from his mouth onto the plate.

“Good evening, sir,” Caesar and Kendrick said quickly.

But Dad gave no response, he just gave a stern look that sent tons of messages to everyone at the table.

He was definitely not having any of it—The birthday shenanigans.

I greeted him too. “Good evening, Dad.”

He didn’t reply, as expected.

“Who are these people?”

We all looked at him.

“I heard noise upstairs that ruined my sleep. And now I see my house looking like a disco bar. Is this what you’ve turned it into?”

“Dad." I said calmly, tightening my throat. “They’re my friends. I brought them to have dinner with me. It’s my birthday…”

“Your Birthday?” he cut in. “And what makes your birthday special? Is that a reason to bring riffraff and mediocre into my house?”

I swallowed hard. I looked at Kendrick and Caesar. Their faces were stiff. Nobody knew what to say next. Caesar would have punched him in the face if he wasn’t my Dad.

I had opened my mouth to speak when mum stepped in.

“Darling, these are Alfred’s friends,” she said gently to him. “They are not some mediocre . They only came to celebrate with him.”

But Dad didn’t care. He shook his head and pointed at Kendrick and Caesar.

“I want these louts out of my house. Now!”

I stood up, feeling the anger rise in my chest. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Dad, is there anything I can do that will ever please you?” I shouted. “I’ve tried so hard to make you proud. To make you love me. But still, nothing works. Even today…on my birthday…you couldn’t even wish me well!”

He just stared at me coldly.

“I’ve been waiting for you to hand over the company to me,” I said. “I’ve worked for it. I’ve earned it.”

He scoffed. “ Did you say you’ve worked for it? Hahaha….Get a life, Alfred. And a wife. Until then, don’t dream about taking over my company.”

I froze. Another one added to the list?

A wife?

He had always complained about how nonchalant I became after my graduation from college, how he didn’t want a hooligan managing his company’s affairs.

And now that I have been turning a new leaf, he brings another condition?

Getting a wife?

I watched him walk out of the dining room, unapologetic.

“And get those friends of yours out of this house before I do something I’ll regret.” He said at the door, then he left.

Mum walked behind him, muttering, “Darling, this isn’t fair… you’re overreacting…”

Kendrick and Caesar stood up quietly.

“Bro,” Caesar said, patting my shoulder, “We’ll see you later, okay?”

“Yeah, happy birthday again,” Kendrick added.

They gave me one last look and walked out.

I just stood there.

Then I yelled and grabbed the bowl of dishes on the table, throwing it hard. Plates shattered everywhere. Food spilled all over the floor.

Two maids rushed in, looking scared. “Sir, what’s wrong?”

“Get out!” I shouted while they turned and ran off.

I sat down and buried my face in my hands. My birthday was ruined.

Dad had done it again.