THE ALPHA KING SAMAEL
Birthday surprise

My phone rang, I almost threw it out the window but after one glance at the caller's ID, I quickly answered it.

" I'm sorry I won't make it today," my dad started without much ado. I was a bit disappointed about that,

" I'm attending a business seminar in Russia, I'm on the plane right now" he continued

" What about my present?" I asked

" I'll be getting a promotion after the seminar, I'll gift you something good" he said. I know right now he was smiling.

" Be safe then, safe travel" I beamed, a promotion? that was really good news. I wondered what he'd get me.

" Bye son" he said then hung up

I was just preparing to go back to sleep when the door to my room opened, it was then followed by my curtains being drawn open. The sun was already up? I squinted my eyes open.

" How are you feeling?" Meryln asked. She reminded me of my yesterday's meal

"Alive" I sighed

"I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier.."

" I'm good" I smiled not wanting to recall the ordeal

" Well then get up , visitors are already arriving" she said then left the room. I noticed that she was fully dressed, I even heard noise from the living room.

I showered for five minutes, spent twenty minutes grooming my curly hair which had overgrown past my shoulders and spent almost thirty minutes grumbling at myself infront of my mirror. I even felt ashamed to stare back at my reflection. The suit was a perfect fit, it wasn't bad at all only that I felt weird wearing it.

"Wow..." Kate barged into my room startling me. She wore a beautiful fluttering pink dress with short pink heels.

" I know I look weird..." I sat defeatedly on my bed.

" You look handsome...let me" she took a comb and brushed my hair so that they were behind my ears. She then gave me white rubber shoes that matched my white t shirt.

" If anything goes wrong I swear..." I started

"Easy nervous hulk.." she chuckled then held my hand " your friends are already here" she then led me to the living room.

The house was like a damn kindergarten, kids were running around screaming happily chasing after each other. From the window, I saw that some people were seated outside. Kate was right that many people would come. Kate left me to go greet some visitors,as such, I was left standing awkwardly.

"Woah...prince charming" someone bumped my shoulder. I turned to see Cruiz and Shurk

" You came.." I smiled

"You remind me of a certain singer.." Cruiz chuckled. I didn't know whether to feel complimented or not. It really depended on which singer he saw.

"I'm so glad you came..." I smiled at them " how you holding up Shurk?"

"I'm fine... shouldn't we be celebrating?" she lightly blushed

" This way please.." I slapped my head . I led them to a certain empty couch.

" These are for you...eat as much as you can" I pushed them a tray of snacks

" How about we take things a notch higher tonight" Cruiz suggested. It made me look at him curiously

" I'm inviting you to my home, my parents won't be around..."

" I don't know....." Shurk frowned

" Is it a good idea?" I asked

Cruiz edged closer to my ear

"There's beer" he whispered

"I'm so in" I immediately said. What a great way to end a birthday party. Free booze.

Shurk stared at our faces for some while before she sighed.

" I won't drink....and I won't walk to your house"

Cruiz almost screamed in happiness.

" I'll drive you..." he attempted to stay calm, I only shook my head amused.

" Old granny wants to see you" Kate came to fetch me after some while of chatting.

"Whose old granny?" I asked as she led me to the kitchen. Meryln was currently talking to an old chinese lady.

"Your granny" Kate answered

"You must be Sam" the granny said. I nodded my head

" Meryln tells me you enjoyed my Wang zhi speciality" . It took me a while to realize it was my dinner yesterday. She was the one who cooked them. I prepared to oppose her but I changed my mind when Meryln sent me an eye signal to play nice.

" It was.... Uhm .... Uh... really... different" I said

" I'll have more prepared for you" she smiled. It made me flinch then cringe. If she only knew I was dying yesterday. I'll just feed them to the chicken.

Uncle Stark called everyone to attention, Kate made me push some chairs to make room for the visitors who sat outside.

"Friends and family, I'm so grateful you found time to make it to this once in a year occasion. Since we are short on time, let's invite the master and mistress of this party"

Claps resounded as we made way to the temporary dais which was just infront of our TV. Admittedly, I felt now comfortable when I heard the strings of compliments murmured. I'll keep this suit. Well ,I couldn't recall every word Kate said but I had to admit, she was a really good public speaker. She held the attendees at her fingernails, she was the kind to leave the crowd in awe. Even after straight thirty minutes of thanking and complimenting each person, I wasn't feeling bored at all. When it came to my turn, I wondered what I would say to these lot of unfamiliar faces. I said what came to my mind.

"Ladies and gentlemen... kids. I am grateful that you attended this function. As you all know, a party is not a party without people, you are basically as important as I am in this event. Who would sing us happy birthday if not you guys" I paused as a series of chuckles resounded. I wasn't messing it up, was I ? . Meryln gave me an encouraging smile.

"Im so glad that we have this opportunity to share our joy with you. I know you are all extremely busy men and women but you actually made time to come, I'll say yet again, it's an honor hosting you. We have a lot of snacks at your disposal, let not your time here be in vain, I highly recommend you to stuff yourselves to commemorate your experience here....... " I paused to widen my eyes in surprise. Was I imagining things? joy flooded me. Claire was leaning on the door with a beaming smile. Her black hair hung loose over a beautiful white dress. I thought I'd never see her in a dress in my life. She winked at me then pointed at the crowd which was expecting me to continue.

"Thank you for coming once again" I said then directly went towards Claire, she actually suprised me on my birthday.