Chapter Six: Birthday

  The house wasn't filled up with much people. His siblings, parents, a few cousins were present. Lit and Dave weren't around yet, as they were on their way. Priscilla couldn't make it but sent her birthday wishes and gifts so he was okay. He was sure his aunt Sophie was going to come, and with Chris too.

   Thinking of Chris… he hadn't called or texted him since morning. He wasn't angry or anything but, he'd figured he'd at least send him a birthday message or something. Even his aunt called to wish him a happy birthday and that was fucking crazy as it is. Maybe he shouldn't look too deeply into things or worry, or be offended. There was nothing to be offended by…right?

   "Quit mopping and tell me why you're not in a good mood".

   He was startled by his mom's presence in his room. His eyes widened as he suddenly registered what she said– Chris would be dead before the day ends if she finds out the reason for his mood– so he opened his mouth, trying to go for a lie and– 

   "And don't forget that you can't lie to me, honey", she said sweetly, sitting by his desk. 

   He cursed silently, unwilling to tell his mother anything. He should've just locked the door, he'd always locked his door while in so why did he forget to do that now? 

   Syne really didn't want to say anything, so he settled for, "It doesn't matter, Mom".

   Unfortunately for him, she wasn't that easy to push away. But the thing was that, even if he wanted to talk about what was bothering him, she was the last person to go to– he loved her and all but she was crazy sometimes.

   "I'm waiting", she said, looking unbothered.

   Then there was the door bell. The door bell… he could go over there to kiss whoever it was that started knocking and pressing the door bell at thesame time like a mad person. A mad and lovely person…

   "Let me check the door".

   Syne hummed in response.

   "Where's the birthday boy?!" He heard a few minutes later.

   "Syne honey, get down here!" His mother called.

   He sluggishly walked out of his room to the living room where he'd heard his Mom's voice coming from. He looked up and stopped in his footsteps.

   Great. Just who he wanted to see– not.

   There, Aunt Sophie was sitted, snuggled tightly into Chris who obviously didn't seem to mind. Why would he? Wasn't she his "girlfriend"?

   Syne felt a pang of jealousy and annoyance at that last thought and resisted the urge to say anything rude to either of them.

   "Hey", he began. "You're early".

   "Of course we are". Chris gave him a bright smile. "Happy birthday, Syne".

   "Thanks", he muttered, turning to his aunt who'd always loved him for some crazy reason despite the feeling not being mutual.

   Sophie was dressed in a tight-fitted and very, very short gown that was all shiny under the lights of the room. She looked gorgeous of course, thesame couldn't be said for everything else about her if one'd like to go deep.

   He inwardly winced as she stood up to hug him tightly, almost suffocating him with her scent and breasts that seemed to want to pop from her dress. 

   "Happy birthday Syne", she said, kissing his cheeks.

   "Thanks, aunt Sophie", he responded.

   She seemed to be satisfied. "We've given your Mom the gifts we brought", she declared. "We're just going to go upstairs to one of the guest rooms".

   She smiled at him once more then dragged Chris by the hand to go upstairs.

   "You should really pick better people to like, son. Because right now, I do not like Chris".

   He sighed. There's nothing he could say to that at the moment, she was quite right.

   He didn't wait to chat with his Mom, instead, he just left to go back to his room. It was only six o'clock in the evening, when his friends come, his mother would be sure to alert him. All he wanted to do first was to sleep for a bit and forget that his love interest was still dating his aunt and didn't even look at him properly once.

*****

   His twin cousins; Druitt and Destery had arrived, settled comfortably in the living room, their attention on the TV show playing.

   "Almost everyone's here", Syne said to himself. "Nice".

   He never really planned on celebrating his birthday. Well, he'd never been one to be excited about celebrations because it's not like he'd be doing something fun on said day, or like he had much friends– not like he wasn't grateful for the ones he had– but sometimes he just never saw the need. It was just another day, it would finish and one would continue life as usual. 

   Maybe he just needed to find something joyful in his life for once. For a young man, he didn't seem to know how to let go and enjoy life.

   "Hello guys", he greeted his cousins.

   They both gave him bright smiles as they saw him. Their smiles were honestly blinding, coupled with the fact that they looked so, so similar and their hair colour was pink. Bright pink.

   "If it isn't the birthday boy", Destery said, face beaming. 

   Aunt Sophie and Chris suddenly came downstairs, expressions not as relaxed as before. The twins looked unimpressed. They didn't like aunt Sophie and Chris. Especially aunt Sophie, too.

   Chris realized their displeasure by their obvious glares because he started looking a bit nervous and scared.

    Syne was amused. He couldn't find it in himself to feel bad for him.

   He was about to seat next to his cousins when he heard the doorbell ring and ran to open the door. He silently prayed it was at least one of his friends.

   "You guys made it!" He exclaimed.

   He laughed as Dave and Lit wrapped him up in a group hug. A very tight one at that but, he liked it, he kinda needed it.