Chapter 2 - Birthday

Birthday

After the doctor announced Arthur's death, I didn't feel anything. More like I'm overwhelmed and thankful. He's been jerking off his way to the company my parents built and has been an asshole to me. 

"I'm sorry, Calliana. You heard this news on your birthday," I was in a daze when Tito Alex spoke to me.

"Huh?"

"Today is March 31. It's your birthday."

I didn't even notice that it was my birthday. Time flies so fast. And that bastard's death is today, that means double celebration? 

I smiled. "That does mean I'll have a double celebration?" I unconsciously blurted out. Even though this is my first time celebrating my birthday without Mom, I am happy and lonely at the same time. 

"You can come to our house today to celebrate your birthday, Calliana. Tatiana misses you because you no longer visit us often," Tito suggested.

"No, Tito. I've already troubled you so much by letting you go here. Also, I made plans with Ivy today. But I promise to visit you soon." I lied. I am so grateful to Tito Arthur that I'm ashamed to go to their house. 

"Okay, then. Call me anytime, hmm?" He patted my head.

"Yes, Tito."

Tito Alex arranged Arthur's cremation. He was cremated at the Memorials Chapel near the hospital. Tito and I went home around 3 a.m. He told me to not worry about Arthur's funeral because he will handle it. 

"You should enjoy your birthday, okay?" that was his parting words to me. 

Mang Robert drove me to my condo unit in BGC. I was so tired that I fell asleep immediately without even changing my clothes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Ugh! Who the f*ck is visiting at seven in the morning?!" I exclaimed irritatingly.

My doorbell keeps ringing at the same time the person keeps banging my door. This is annoying.

"Who is it? Knock it off! You know I won't open the door if you do that." 

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I let out a fume and opened the door.

"Ivy?"

"What?" she replied.

"What do you want at this hour?"

"Hello? Are you not willing to let me in first?!" she asked with a harsh tone.

"I told you that I'm not a morning person, right? I didn't have enough sleep today, too!" I pointed out.

"I know what you told me. But it's your birthday today! I won't let you go easily this time. We're going to the bar!" she pushed me and went in.

I laughed. "You can keep thinking that. Do me a favor, get it over with already. I won't come. I hate bars and crowded people!" I closed the door.

"No, no, no. You're coming with me no matter what."

"Somebody is making me crazy!" I screamed to myself. I heard her laugh. I know Ivy won't let me go today. But isn't it a bit early to come here? She should have come at 7 p.m. not 7 a.m.!

I rolled my eyes on her and left her in the living room. I need to take a shower. After taking a shower, I went out of my room with my robe on and saw her watching TV. 

"If we're going to a bar, why come here at 7 a.m.?" I asked her.

She turned her head in my direction. "Because I know that you don't have clothes to wear in a club! We're going shopping today, then we'll come back here, and prepare," she said excitedly. 

"I have dresses in my closets."

"All of your dresses are for formal events!"

"Yeah, yeah," I waved my hands to her and went inside my room. I don't want to argue with her. 

After changing my clothes, we went to the mall and decided to eat our breakfast there. We used Ivy's Porsche, her as the driver.

"Let's eat at Pancake House!" she announced when we arrived at the mall. 

We went inside the restaurant and ordered our breakfast. "What happened? Why didn't you get enough sleep today?"

"Arthur died," my face serious. 

"Wh-what?!" her face was so shocked.

"Arthur died," I repeated.

"What?!"

"Arthur died!" 

"I know, you dumb! I'm asking what happened?! How did that jerk die?" she rolled her eyes at me.

"Lower your voice!" I said. I told her what happened yesterday and this midnight. How I didn't get enough sleep and how Tito Alex accompanied me to the hospital.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so thankful that jerk died! So, today's a double celebration for you! Let's hook you up to some hot guy!"

"What? No! You know I don't do that! What if that person has STD or HIV?"

"We're going to a high-end bar, Calli. So, no worries, everyone there is either an actor or a son of millionaires and billionaires."

"I don’t care! Don't you ever leave me, Ivy! Our friendship is over once you leave me at some guy!" I threatened her.

She laughed. "Fine, but at least have some guy kiss you!" she urged.

"No!" I strongly disagree.

After our breakfast, we went shopping for clothes. She picked a deep V-neck, long sleeve red dress that shows my cleavage and stomach. This is the most decent dress that she picked for me. She wants me to wear a backless satin that shows both my cleavage and stomach. I feel like I'm only wearing a bra and mini skirt. So, this is the most acceptable dress that she picked.

"Let's go to the grocery supermarket. My refrigerator is running out of food," I told Ivy when we went out of a boutique. 

"Sure, sure. I'm gonna buy chocolates!" she said happily.

After buying food in the grocery, we went to my condo to start our preparation. 

"I'm gonna do your make-up, Calli babe," Ivy said in a singsong voice before going into the bathroom.

After Ivy did my make-up, she did hers too and we went out around 7 p.m.

"Isn't it too early?" I asked her while we're stuck in a traffic at EDSA.

"Can't you see the traffic, Calli? We'll probably get there by 8 p.m."

"But the peak of the party usually starts at 10 p.m."

"I know but the early bird catches the worm," she winked at me.

I groaned. She's determined to hook me up to a guy. 

After an hour of being stuck in the traffic, we finally arrived. I went out of Ivy's car and saw the club. Just by looking at it, you can say that it's for rich people only. The bar's name is Red Room. There were two bouncers at the entrance of the club.

"Two sexy ladies coming through," Ivy said to the bouncer while showing them a card.

"What's that?" I asked.

"I told you this is a high-end and exclusive bar. Only people who have this card can enter," she said, showing the card to me.

Loud music welcomed us. Even though it's almost 9 p.m., there were a lot of people already.

"Oh my gosh! Girl, we hit the jackpot! Maven Anderson is here!" she squealed.

I looked at where she was looking and saw Maven Anderson with his celebrity friends. Maven Anderson is a famous actor here in the Philippines. He is also a model. Girls will crawl just to get his attention.

"You're overreacting. What's so good about him? He only knows how to act and model." Ivy rolled her eyes on me when I said that.

"Ugh! That's why you don't have boyfriends. You should appreciate boys more."

"Tsk." I looked at Maven's table again but got surprised when he's looking at me also. I heard Ivy squeal again. Then, she slapped my ass. 

"Oh sh*t! Ivy!" 

"Did you f*cking see that? He looked at you! Maven Anderson looked at you!" I can see her eyes sparkling. 

"Stop that, will you? Where's our table?"

"Oh! There!" she pointed at the center sofa, where everyone will pass and probably look at us.

"What? Why is our spot there? You should have picked the last one!" I pointed at the corner of the club where no one passes.

"I picked that so everyone will look at us, Calli. That's the best spot, I tell you!"

"No, it isn't!" I whined. 

She didn't listen to me, but instead, she pulled me to the sofa. She ordered hard drinks for us.

"Give us four shots of tequila, two glasses of beer, and two shots of vodka," she ordered to the waiter.

"Are you getting us drunk?"

"That's my plan!" she exclaimed.

Ivy is my best friend since college. Even though we are so opposite in every way, we clicked. She's a wild and party girl. When mom is still alive, she always invites me to a party, but I always refuse. I don't like the smell of the club and the crowded dance floor. 

After downing two tequilas and one beer, she invited me to dance. 

"Later," I refused.

"Okay, but I'll get you later. Whether you like it or not. I'll hunt down a hottie for you," she stood up and winked at me. 

I watched Ivy raising her hands and joining the crowd on the dancefloor. The party is nearing its peak, people are getting wilder and more crowded.

I scanned the whole dancefloor and lifted my eye at the second floor of the club. A man, wearing a white dress shirt with liquor in his right hand, was looking down at the dancefloor. A girl approached him from the back and snaked her hand around his arm. 

There were only a few people on the second floor. I guess that's where VIPs go. The man shifted his gaze and went to mine. I averted my gaze to the dance floor and saw Ivy approaching me.

She was holding a cake while singing. "Happy Birthday, Calli! Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Happy birthday, Calliana!"

I smiled at her and stood up. I briefly closed my eyes and blow the candle. "Thank you, Ivy!" I kissed her cheek.

"Yay! Here you go!" she handed me a shot of tequila. I downed it in one go. My face contorted with the sudden heat in my throat.

"Let's party!" she shouted and grabbed my hand.