Chapter 7 Happy birthday

They arrive at his aunt's house at four-thirty Sunday evening. They had dinner together and then his aunt went to get ready for church. He and Alex were sitting in front of the television when his aunt came back downstairs. "So are you guys coming to church with me tonight?" she asks. "No, not tonight." Alex reply. "Gabriel what about you?" "Not tonight aunty." "Okay, I'll see you guys later then." Alex waited for about five minutes then turns to Gabriel and smile mischievously. "Feel like going clubbing tonight?" "Now, that sounds like fun. There's a new club over here that I'm dying to check out." Gabriel said getting up and heading upstairs to change. It was 2.00 am when they returned. "I'm going to lay down before I fall down," Alex said as he climbs the stairs. "I need something to drink," Gabriel said heading towards the kitchen.

He was taken aback to see his aunt sitting at the counter. "Why are you up so late aunty?" "I'm baking." She said looking up from the book that she was reading. "At this hour?" "It's never too late to bake. So, you couldn't go to church with me but you could go clubbing?" She asks sighing heavily. "Gabriel, what are you doing with your life?" "What do you mean?" He asks taking a seat beside her with a glass of orange juice in his hand. "Don't you think it's time you gave your life to God?" She asks. "You're kidding, right? Aunty, I'm only thirty years old. What's the rush?" "Yeah, I know you are only thirty and you are busy enjoying life. But none of us know how long we have. You could die at any moment Gabriel and there's no repentance in the grave."

"Aunty, it's two in the morning, do we really have to do this now?" Gabriel asks tiredly. "Look, all I'm saying is, Alex, can't save you, I can't save you, only you can save yourself." "Save myself from what exactly?" He asks taking a sip of his juice. "From destruction my dear nephew." "What destruction? Who is going to destroy who? I don't understand." "I know you don't, that's why I want you to come to church with me." "Isn't that the reason I'm here?" Gabriel asks rolling his eyes. "And I couldn't be happier. And don't you dare roll your eyes at me. Now go to bed so I can finish baking my cake, go on now." He got up and kissed her on her forehead. "Night aunty, I love you." He said and left the kitchen.

Alex was the first to wake up the next morning. He went downstairs and head to the kitchen. Aunt Lisa was already there. "Morning aunty." He said as he walks in. "Morning Alex. Slept well?" "Like a baby." "Glad to hear it. By the way, happy birthday, I baked you a cake and your present is in the living room." "Thank you, aunty." He said hugging her. "Is Gabriel up yet?" "No, but I'm going to ask you the same question I ask him last night. When are you going to give your life to God?" She asks pouring him a cup of Coffee. "Aunty please, that type of stuff is for old people. I don't even know why you do it. I mean, you are still young and you should be out in the world having fun not stuck in some stuffy church." Alex said laughing.

"Well, at least now I know how you really feel." She said in a hurt tone. "Look aunty, all I'm saying is that this Christian thing is really not for me." "Well for your sake I hope you change your mind. I will continue to pray for you and Gabriel." She then turned and left the kitchen.

Gabriel came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist to see a young lady standing in his bedroom. "Who are you?" He asks raising his brow. "My name is Trisha. I work here. I didn't know anyone was in here. Mrs. Lisa told me her nephew was coming, but I thought it would be later." "How long have you been working for her?" He asks running his fingers through his hair. "Three months now. You look very good. You have a hot body. I would love to take you on sometime." She said seductively, licking her lips. "You're playing with fire little girl." "Well, I guess you will just have to burn me then." She giggled.

"Do me a favor young lady." "Anything sexy." "Get out." He said coldly. "Are you her nephew? Or is it the guy I pass downstairs?" The girl asks again ignoring his order. "I am her nephew. The guy downstairs is my friend." 'You're not gay are you?" "No, I can assure you I'm not." He was fast losing his patience with this chick. "Prove it." She said running her hands over her breasts. Again, way too easy. He thought. "Prove what?" He asks arching his brow. "That you're not a gay." Gabriel walks over to her and roughly pushed her against the wall. At first, she was intrigued but then her anticipation turned to fear as he smiled menacingly at her. "Listen to me you little twit. I will fuck who I want when I want, where I want but all I want right now is for you to get the hell out of my face." He then turns away from her grabs his pants and shirt from the bed and went back into the bathroom slamming the door behind him.

When he came back out Alex was lying on his bed with a smirk on his face. "What did you do to that poor girl? She ran out of here like a bat out of hell." Alex said to him as he sat on the bed putting on his shoes. "Nothing, I just lost my temper with her that's all." "You sure?" "Trust me if I had given her what she wanted she wouldn't have been able to walk out of here much less run. I'm going to have breakfast but before I do, happy birthday bro." He said and gave his friend a big hug. Grabbing Alex by the hand he drags him from the room. "Come with me I'm going to give you the best birthday ever." "I really don't think you can top last year," Alex said as Gabriel drags him down the stairs. "Wanna bet?"

IT was 4.00 am when they came home Tuesday morning. "You have really outdone yourself this time bro." Alex laughs as Gabriel closed the front door behind him. "You know how much I love a challenge but I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." "Enjoy myself, that's putting it mildly. Those girls sure know how to get down." "And go down." Gabriel laughs. "But on a serious note, thank you brother, for everything. Now I think I'll go lie down before I fall down." Alex said with a yarn. "Wait a second, there's something else I have to give you," Gabriel said smiling. "There's more?" "Yes, this is for you," Gabriel said giving him a set of keys, and Alex's eyes widen with joy. "Another car!" "No, a coaster bus." "A coaster! No way, prince you didn't." "But I did," Gabriel said proudly. "Thank you! Thank you, you're the best bro you really are."