A tall, handsome gentleman with a bleached shoulder-length hair and pale brown eyes, dressed in a blue tracksuit, shuffled into the large plush living room exuding an air of extravagance.
"Morning, Clarence. How're ya doing?" He greeted the middle-aged woman wiping the table in a friendly manner as he dragged himself to the fridge. He pulled the door open and took a bottle of chilled mineral water.
"I'm doing great, Sir Vladimir." Clarence beamed a smile at him, resuming her cleaning.
Vladimir uncapped the bottle and took long greedy sips. With a relieved exhale, he settled the bottle on the centre table and shoved on the plush pink couch.
He looked around the living room. It was missing something — his brother. He alighted from the chair and pockets his hand in his joggers.
"Have you seen Drystan?" He inquired from Clarence who was done wiping the kitchen table and had moved to preparing breakfast.
"No, sir. I believe he's still upstairs." Clarence broke a few eggs into a bowl and began to whisk them.
With one free hand, Vladimir stroke his chin. "Hmm. He never misses breakfast for any reason."
"Perhaps, he's busy, Sir." Clarence suggested while getting the frying pan heated.
"If he was, he could've told me." Vladimir's eyes went up the stairs, and he found whom he was looking for, descending the steps with a sour look on his face.
"Why are you looking ugly this beautiful morning?" Vladimir couldn't contain his laughter as Drystan got to the last step on the staircase.
"Who says I'm ugly? I'm the most handsome person you'd ever met, and you know it." Drystan said with a mischievous smirk on his face.
"You've gotta be kidding me." Vladimir laughed. He had a soft spot for his elder brother. Despite his strict looks, Drystan was friendly and playful.
Drystan chuckled and gave him a light punch in the arm.
Vladimir made a fake wince. "You trying to break my arm or something? I make a living with these hands."
"You make a living? Well, last time I checked, I'm the sole breadwinner of this house." Drystan replied. On his face was a derisive expression of scorn.
"Breadwinner? I'm yet to understand the meaning behind that statement. Besides, I don't see you winning any bread." Vladimir threw his head back, his deep laugh boomed around the room.
"Look at you cackling like an evil witch." Drystan pulled his brother's head in his underarm and began to ruffle his hair. "Apologize to me."
Vladimir attempted to wriggle free from his brother's hold but Drystan had more muscle power than he (Vladimir) does. "Bro, let go off me. The maids are watching. They're laughing at us."
"Let them laugh. You have to apologize to me." Drystan was still hell-bent on receiving an apology from his brother.
"Jesus. Drystan, please let go off me. This is so embarrassing." Vladimir chuckled as Drystan went from ruffling his hair to pulling it.
"Oh come on." Vladimir tickled his brother's tummy, and he broke into a loud laugh. The muffled laugh came out as a snorting chuckle — a loud one.
"Stop doing that" Drystan interrupted himself while trying to reply his brother. He had loosened his grip on V's hair but still had the man's head locked in his underarm.
"Let go of me first, and I'll stop." Vladimir regretted tickling him because Drystan was laughing so loudly in his ears.
"Aww. So cute." Clarence who along with other maids, were setting the breakfast table made the remark that made both brothers pull away.
Drystan went from funny to strict mode in less than 5 seconds. He quizzed the maid who stood behind the breakfast table. "Is breakfast ready?"
"Yes, sir." Clarence cupped her hand over her mouth to hide her snicker and looked away.
Vladimir rolled his eyes. "She's laughing at us. You happy now, bro?"
Drystan said with a scoff. "Shut up."
During breakfast, Drystan couldn't help but snicker to himself.
"You mind telling me what's funny?" Vladimir looked up from his plate.
"Nothing." Drystan tore a pancake with a knife and threw it in his mouth.
Vladimir chuckled and resumed eating. "Whatever it is you're hiding, I suggest you keep it to yourself."
"Me? Hiding? No. I'm way too innocent for that." Drystan smirked at his brother who rolled his eyes.
"Okay. Spill it. I won't take another bite until you tell me what's really going on?" Vladimir settle his fork on his plate and folds his arm across his chest.
"Come on, V. There's nothing to hide. Now, come on. There's nothing I'm hiding." Drystan smiled at him.
Vladimir took the tray containing his food. "Yeah, right. You're acting weirder than usual. I'll finish my breakfast in my room. And don't come into my room till what ever is wrong with you stops."
Drystan laughed. "Oh come on, V. I was just kidding around."
When Vladimir left, the middle-aged brunette came up.
"He doesn't even remember it's his birthday." She smiled.
"That's V for you." Drystan chuckled.
"Make sure V doesn't go anywhere today. I've got a surprise for him." Drystan told her.
"Sure thing, Sir Drystan." The woman replied.
Drystan alighted from the chair, and she went to clear the table.
Realizing he had spent so much time upstairs, Vladimir decided to leave his room. On getting to the bottom of the stairs, he saw that the house of empty. Not even a single soul was around. He found odd. Normally, the maids would be preparing dinner, but there was no one in the kitchen. No one was in the living room. It was as though everyone had disappeared.
"Did the biblical rapture take place?" He whispered to himself.
The grandfather clock on the wall tolled loudly: it was dinner time: 7pm. But no one was around here. His sense kicked up when he heard a noise outside. Slowly, he pulled his gun from the back of his trouser and cocked it.
"Hello?" He called aloud, approaching the door.
When no one answered, he held the front door open and stuck out his head. There was nothing out of the ordinary out there. Just his brother's extravagant collection of cars and bikes.
"Hmm. That's odd." He turned to go back into the house, but the door wouldn't open.
"Okay. I know that you're in there. Open up! " He banged against the door.
He went on. "Drystan, I get it. You're trying to scare me and you did. Now, open the door."
"What's going on?" Drystan came up behind him.
V looked at him. "Drystan, aren't you supposed to be in the house?"
"In the house? I just got back from the garage. What's up?" Drystan wiped his oil slick hands on his oil stained apron.
"Wait. If you're not in the house then who is?" V asked shocked.
"Holy crud." Drystan whipped out his gun and approached the door. "Get behind me."
"There's someone in the house. I think he took the maids' hostage." Vladimir's voice came out in a whisper.
"Shh." Drystan shushed him. When he heard footsteps in the house, he kicked the door down and rushed in.
"One more step and I'll blow your brains out." Drystan pointed his gun at the stranger.
"Turn around." Vladimir too pointed his gun at this person.
The intruder put his hands in the air and begins to turn around slowly.
When he did, Vladimir was confused. This was Heath, his driver.
"Heath?" Vladimir was confused.
Immediately, Heath broke into a run and the brothers went after him.
Heath ran into a dark room and they followed him.
The door shut behind them and the lights went on.
"Happy birthday !" Everyone yelled.
Vladimir palmed his face. "Oh come on."
"Aww. He's crying."
"He actually forgot that it's his birthday."
V turned to Drystan. "I suspected something like this would happen but wasn't sure it would."
"Happy birthday, baby brother." Drystan hugged his brother and the guests applauded them.
"Thanks, man." Vladimir smiled and they both pulled away.
Vladimir scoffed when he saw a Mickey Mouse mascot walk into the room with a large Mickey Mouse birthday cake and candles that said 25.
V glared at his brother. "Thanks for letting out my secret. I really appreciate it."
"Don't be acting sarcastic." Drystan put his arms around his brother. "This is the nicest thing thing I've ever done for someone. You should consider yourself lucky."
"Indeed I am." Vladimir laughed when the Mickey Mouse began to sing the "Happy Birthday" song.
Everyone laughs and sings along. As if that wasn't enough, the Mickey Mouse asked to dance with Vladimir.
The guests clapped their hands as they glided to the floor dancing to the "Hot dog" song.
Drystan couldn't contain his laughter. He went to the bar to get himself a drink when a woman asked if the seat next to him was taken.
"It's not." He said, taking a sip. From his side eye, he could tell this woman was very beautiful but didn't remember her being among the guest list the ad invited for his brother's party.
He turned to get a better look at her face. Her face seemed familiar to him but couldn't put his finger on where he had met here.
"Mind if I get you a drink?" He asked.
"Oh no. Thanks. I shouldn't be drinking." She smiled.
Drystan looked at her petite body. "Who's the father?"
The woman smiled. "Well, I'm glad you asked. You are."
"Excuse me?" Drystan set down his glass.
The woman placed her arm atop his. "You don't remember me?"
Drystan felt his skin burn from her touch. He suddenly recalled that touch. She leaned closer and whispered behind his ears.
"You remember now?" She said, her voice whispering in a sharp blow.
Her perfumed scent filled his sense and he remembered who she was.
"Dark Rose." He whispered.
She smiled and winked at him. "Bingo."
"That's impossible. There's no way in hell you are carrying my child !" Drystan thundered, interrupting the party.
"I am pregnant for you." Rose stood to her feet, staring at him in the eyes.
"How the hell did you slip into the guest list? Huh? Want to rip me off? I already paid you for your services so beat it !" Drystan raised his voice.
"Bro, what's going on?" Vladimir asked worried.
Drystan dragged Rose by the arm and led her out of the room.
Noticing the tension in the room, the Mickey Mouse mascot Whooped. "Man, ain't this a party or what?"
The guests whooped along with him and the DJ resumed playing the songs. Vladimir was in the mood to party, but he was worried about his brother.
Drystan shoved Rose roughly to the floor when they got to his room.
"Who sent you?!" He thundered.
"No one." Rose took to her feet. "I came here of my own accord. I'm pregnant, and you're responsible, Drystan."
Drystan chuckled. "For a little woman, you sure have a lot of guts coming here to tell me that."
"Well, you're not the butt kicker around here." Rose retort boldly.
Drystan threw his head back laughing heartily. "That's actually cool, you know."
He pulled his gun from the back of his trouser and cocker. "I'm sorry but I'm but 12. I don't buy that."
"Once is all it takes." Rose ruffled though her purse and threw a white paper to the floor.
Drystan reached for the papers on the floor. It was lab test results from the university teaching hospital. Rose was 2 weeks pregnant.
"If you think I'm lying. We can both go to the hospital together." Rose said defiantly.