Seventh Chapter: Happy Birthday (1)

Cadwallader Residence.

Accompanied by a screeching sound, the metal gate opened widely, a familiar middle-aged woman around her fifties came to my view.

“Come in,” a calm and warming voice welcomed us.

“Excuse us, Aunt Sotiria!” Big Bro happily greeted her. “Still as pretty as ever.”

Aunt Sotiria smiled, pleased with Big Bro’s flattery, she reached out to hug him. “Look at this boy, what a sweet talker!”

“Just telling the truth~” Big Bro said, playing with his words.

Aunt merely brushed it off with a playful snort. “You’re both so big now,” Aunt also hugged me and I accepted it with open arms.

She cupped the side of my cheeks. “How’s your day?”

I smiled as I looked at Aunt Sotiria, as always, Aunt’s always so affectionate and youthful. Even in her fifties, although you can see the years on her face, Aunt still remains beautiful with her natural gray hair and chubby figure.

I remember, when we were kids, Aunt always prepared cookies and milk for us to eat after playing outside in the afternoon—it was the good ol’ days.

I held her hand and replied. “Tired, school’s started,” subconsciously sounding spoiled towards Aunt.

Aunt Sotiria lightly chuckled, she reached out to caress my hair.

“Poor Alex. Don’t worry, I prepared a lot of food inside, make sure you get your fill,” she said, full of pampering in her voice.

“What about me, Aunt? Favoritism, boo!” Big Bro childishly said, making a fake sad face and putting his thumbs down in exaggerated acting.

Seeing that, Aunt, actually going along with Big Bro’s comedy play, said: “You said you’re already an adult, right? Take care of yourself, mister.”

Big Bro notwithstanding continues his nonsensical play, he puts his hand on his chest, gripping it as if he’s having a heart attack. “Ack! Nobody even loves me anymore!”

I rolled my eyes at him and said. “Aunt, let’s just leave this idiot behind and go inside.”

“I’d prefer that, fufu,” Aunt replied, covering her mouth while chuckling.

After hearing that, I gently pushed Aunt’s back towards the door, leaving behind the idiot wailing at the back.

“E-eh? Wait for me!” Big Bro exclaimed, breaking out of his character.

I ignored him and opened the door, letting Aunt inside first. I looked at my sad excuse for a brother.

“Bye,” I mockingly said and shut the door in his face.

Slam!

Ankur quickly blinked his eyes several times and muttered. “How harsh …”

***

In the living room.

Presently, food and drinks occupied my hand, some dessert on the table, and several snacks on the side.

“Alex, make sure to eat a lot,” Aunt said, putting the plate of fruits on the table.

I forcefully swallowed the food in my mouth and replied. “Yes, Aunt.”

Although I took pride in being a heavy eater, Aunt is on another level. She kept on bringing and putting different types of food in front of me. I don’t even know where to start.

“Eat well, Sis!” Big Bro cheered me on—I feel like he’s mocking me, though—while slapping my back, a little too hard.

I’m about to splatter my food on the table by this guy’s incessant slapping … Thankfully, Aunt came to the rescue.

“Ankur, stop doing that,” Aunt reprimanded, gently tapping his head with her fingers. “Alex is eating, don’t bother her. Here, you also eat.”

Aunt pushed a plate full of food to him, a very subtle and polite way to say ‘shut up and eat’ to someone.

“This looks so delicious, Aunt! Thanks for the food!”

Big Bro, finally distracted, dug in with relish. For now, I can eat in peace and not entertain this man-child. Thanks, Aunt. You’re the best. But, I genuinely wonder what’s in this guy's mind sometimes.

Is he legit, already twenty? Grade schoolers are more mature nowadays than this guy.

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Suddenly—

The sound of a door creaking followed by footsteps, gradually increasing in volume, can be heard from the entrance to the living room.

“I’m home, Mother,” a firm but monotonous voice said.

Looking over towards the voice, I can’t help but let my expression sour a little. The person I don’t want to see brought himself right in front of our faces.

He is an almost six-footer guy, which I find normal; since Uncle, his father, is huge. He has buzz-cut hair, giving him a military–vibe look. Again, another normal thing since Uncle is a soldier. His body is quite well-built, after all, Uncle always makes sure that his son doesn't look like a wimp. I remember, Uncle used to train him every time he went home after serving in the military.

“Oh, Matt! Come, come, eat something!” Aunt enthusiastically invited him to eat, waving her hands in a ‘come’ gesture.

“I know you're tired, so sit down and I’ll prepare your food in a sec.”

“I am able to get my food, Mother. Do not tire yourself out,” Matthaios replied, austere but the care in his words cannot be missed.

“Sit down, young man,” Aunt Sotiria sternly said, pushing Matthaios down on the sofa beside us. “Let your mother do her job.”

Big Bro snickered and butted in. “Matt, you need to loosen up sometimes, eh.”

He continued while putting his arms on Matthaios’ neck. “Let Mama take care of you. That’s how they show their love.”

“...”

Matthaios did not immediately reply, as if thinking seriously about what Big Bro said. “I see. All right then, I shall wait for Mother’s food,” Matthaios said with his never-changing stoic face.

“That’s more like it!” exclaimed Big Bro.

Matthaios faced us with a serious face (it was like that in the first place).

“Pardon me for not greeting you sooner. A pleasant evening to you, two; Ankur; Alex,” he greeted formally, slightly bowing his head to both of us in succession.

“Don’t be distant, Matt! We’re like family already,” Big Bro energetically replied, smacking Matthaios’ back.

Meanwhile, I nodded and waved my hands, more reserved than Big Bro. I side-eyed Big Bro, though, after hearing the latter. This guy … I know for sure he meant that in other ways. He intentionally said it like that.

How obnoxious.

“Roger,” Matthaios curtly replied.

“...”

A moment of silence filled the room in an instant. Nobody spoke after that, creating an awkward atmosphere. However, I found it comforting and preferable.

Big Bro, restless, kept on looking back and forth between me and Matthaios. I didn’t pay it any mind since I knew what this guy was thinking. He is an insufferable idiot.

And then, as if realizing something, he bumped his fist on his palm. “I’m gonna g—”

No, you don’t.

I was about to shut his mouth up and prevent him from leaving … When Aunt appeared from the kitchen.

“I prepared your favorite!”

Aunt was holding a plate of Pastitsio, walking towards Matthaios.

Seeing that, I place my hand, halfway toward Big Bro’s face, back to my food.

Matthaios stood up and grabbed the plate from Aunt’s hand. “Thank you, Mother.”

Holding his hand over the plate, Aunt lovingly said. “Make sure to eat it all, Matt.”

Witnessing this scene, I can’t help but unknowingly smile at them. A loving mother and a caring son, it’s a view anyone would find beautiful—or enviable if they don’t have the same bond with their family.

Although I said I don’t want to see Matthaios, it’s not because of him per se. He’s a good guy … It’s this brother of mine that makes me so averse to meeting him. He kept on shipping us together, annoying me like the crowing of roosters in the mornings, whenever he saw us together.

Someone nudged my side with their elbow, I glanced to my left and saw Big Bro’s teasing grin.

“Someone’s in looove …” he whispered annoyingly.

My face contorted into a disgusted face at him. I elbowed him back, much harder than he did.

“Ouch!”

Aunt, surprised by Big Bro’s sudden cry of pain, said. “What happened?” worry evident in her tone.

“Haha,” Big Bro chuckled embarrassedly. “nothing, nothing.”

He waved his hand in dismissal, showing it was something trivial.

Aunt showed a curious expression but decided to not pay it any more attention.

“Ah! I forgot to ask,” Aunt exclaimed, remembering something. “Where’s your sister, where’s Margareta?”

“Sister said she will be here soon. She informed me earlier.”

“As she should,” rebuked Aunt. “Her guests are already here; yet she’s still nowhere to be found.”

From there, Aunt continued nagging about Sis Marga’s absence, to throwing complaints about her husband. Saying things like how she’s just like her father and the like, always nowhere to be found … And if she wasn’t so loyal, she’d probably left with Arturo—wait, who the heck is Arturo?

Aunt Sotiria has built up a lot, huh … I slightly sweat-dropped for Uncle.

That’s some real shade on her husband … I feel like patting Aunt on the back; and you, Uncle, go AWOL now, your wife’s about to abort mission your marriage for Arturo!

Big Bro leaned near my ear and whispered. “Arturo was Uncle Vasileios’ rival in love, back then.”

I quirked my eyebrows at him. “How’d you know that?”

He paused … His eyes lost their luster for a moment. “Mothers … they’re scary beings …”

Based on his reaction, he probably had to sit through one of Aunt Sotiria’s afternoon throwback stories. Honestly speaking, I love Aunt Sotiria, but sometimes I just want to stuff her mouth with cotton. Sorry, Aunt.

I patted Big Bro’s back in consolation, relating to his experience … I had the honor to suffe—I mean, enjoy one of Aunt Sotiria’s story time before.

I looked over to Matthaios' side, despite looking as serious as the first time he came; for me, he looks like he needs and wants help. Even someone as stoic as Matthaios had been left at the mercy of Aunt Sotiria. Mothers are truly scary beings.

Pitying him, I decided to help him. You owe me this one, kid.

“Your fathe—”

“Aunt,” I called out. “Aunt Sotiria!”

Aunt interrupted mid-speech, turned towards my call. “Yes, sweetie?”

“Can I have more of your delicious lamb?”

“Of course! Eat as much as you want,” Aunt Sotiria, happy about my appetite, rushed to the kitchen to get more.

“Matt, text your sister one more time!” Aunt shouted one last time, before disappearing into the kitchen.

“No rush, Aunt!” I shouted at Aunt’s fading back.

Matthaios, now free from the clutches of Aunt Sotiria, sat beside Big Bro.

“Many thanks,” he thanked with gratitude, or as much as his monotonous voice can do.

“You owe me one,” I replied, chewing and focusing on my food.

“Roger that.”

“...”

Again, the room descended into another awkward silence.

Big Bro, as if unable to take it no more, stood up with vigor.

“All right! Let’s play!” he strongly suggested. “Matt, get all the cards!”

Matthaios nodded in compliance. He stood up and went to get all the playing cards in the house.

***

“Uno!”

“Arrgh! Blacky, that’s the third time!” Big Bro frustratedly complained.

“Then don’t be an idiot, and say it first.”

“How?! You kept on guarding me!”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Not my fault.”

Matthaios simply observed us in silence, he put down a card and said:

“Uno.”

“Ahhhh!” Big Bro wailed in frustration, throwing his card up in the air.

“This game is rigged!”

“Just say you can’t win.” I rebutted nonchalantly while eating my lamb.

“I can! I’ll show you, just you wa—”

“My, my, I was wondering why my ears were hurting, so you were here, Ankur,” a melodious voice insulted Big Bro with grace.

She gracefully walked towards us with poise, that she made the floor seem like it is adorned with a red carpet where she proudly strutted to her throne.

“Ah … so that’s why I kept on smelling something rotten, so you were there, Marga,” Big Bro fought back instantly with mockery in his voice.

“The pot calling the kettle black. You’re better off washing your stains off first, Ankur,” Sis Marga replied without missing a single beat.

Brother lost that one for sure.

Both, Matthaios and I, silently watched their battle as sparks flashed between their eyes, neither of the two backing down. I nonchalantly took a bite of my lamb meat once more.

Until …

“Margareta Cadwallader! Do you know what time it is?!”

“Mom,” Sis Marga calmly called.

The tigress made her appearance.

“Don’t you say excuses to me, young lady!”

Aunt continued. “They’ve been here for hours already, and where were you?!”

“I have matters to attend to, Mom,” Sis Marga answered, maintaining her demeanor.

“Show me then,” Aunt Sotiria challenged, waiting for her reason.

Sis Marga merely glanced down at what she was holding. Aunt followed her gaze down, realization on her face.

“I went to the bakery to pick up the cake … but because someone put the wrong date, I had to order a new one and wait for it in line,” Sis Marga said with a smiling face, but I could see that her eyes were not.

“O-oh … is that so …” Aunt managed to say, with a hint of embarrassment.

“Yes, it is so,” Sis Marga repeated.

She put her hands on her cheeks and sarcastically said. “But that someone, after aaall, my hard work decided to complain immediately at home …”

“Well, why didn’t you say so? More importantly, you just got home. You must be hungry; I’ll go get you some food!”

Aunt rushed to run away from the situation, smoothly avoiding further opposition; opting to use the ‘you must be hungry’ card.

The tigress got her crown stolen by her cub.

Seeing that, Sis Marga just smiled and sighed, giving her mother some leeway. She looked around and stopped at my figure.

Finally noticing me, her eyes brightened and she smiled widely, this time genuinely. Sis Marga walked in a hurry and wrapped me in a big, tender hug, burying my head in her breast.

“Alex! I’m so glad to see you!”

C-can’t breathe …

I thought as my face was smothered between her valley, thinking that maybe this was a good way to end my story …