Opening her mouth, Aless didn’t even have a chance to say anything else before her father hung up. Collapsing into a kitchen chair, Aless stared silently at her phone for a long time. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she stared at her phone, willing her dad to call her back, to change his mind, to wish her a happy birthday.  That single tear seemed to break a flood gate behind Aless’s eyes and soon she wept uncontrollably.  Even with the tears blurring her vision, Aless could not look away from her phone.  The screen went black and she could see her own reflection, crying with blazing Sǐwáng Moon eyes.  How was it that her father was the only man who could make her cry?

“Ale, I thought we talked about you leaving your door,” a voice called from the front of the house.  “Come on, girl.  You know it is unsafe.”

Bal strutted into the kitchen, smiling broadly.  In his hands was a small package addressed to Aless. He was thrilled to have an excuse to see his friend on her birthday. 

“Any crazy person could…”

His voice trailed off as Aless looked up from her phone.  Blushing, she quickly turned her face from him as she wiped her cheeks clean.  Coughing, she stood up quickly and grabbed a tissue for her nose.

“I didn’t realize that I had left it open,” she said with forced cheer. “I guess I ditzed out.”

“Ale, what is wrong?” Bal asked concerned.

“Nothing, nothing.  What brings you here this late?”

Turning to him, Aless smiled broadly.  Her cheeks were inflamed from her tears and her eyes shone desperately bright.  In her dress, Aless looked nothing short than a tragic movie star, breathing take and heart-wrenching.

“I just got this package in and, since I saw it was for you, I figured I would drop it off now,” Bal said slowly.

“Oh, thanks.  That’s so sweet of you.”

Approaching him, Aless took the signing board from his hand and angrily signed it before handing it back to him.  With trepidation, Bal handed the gift to Aless, who still wore her painfully fake smile.  Taking it, Aless grabbed a knife and slit the package open.  Inside was an expensive necklace that alternated between blue diamonds and black pearls.

“Beautiful and expensive,” Alessandra laughed.

Without warning, Aless threw the gift across the room against the far wall. Taking a step back, Bal stared stupefied at Aless.  Her smile was painful as she forced herself to keep smiling broadly.  How stupid had she been to think her dad would actually spend her birthday with her?  How stupid was she to have told Danny to go away for the whole weekend?  How little did her dad think of her that an expensive gift would make up for him breaking yet another promise?

“Ale, what’s wrong?” Bal asked quietly.

“Nothing.  Everything is great,” she lied.

Raising an eyebrow at her, Bal looked from her to the necklace on the far side of the room.

“I may not be the best at reading women, but usually when a girl chucks something across the room into a wall as hard as she can that means something is wrong.”

“Yeah, well, aren’t you just so observant!”

There was an awkward silence. Standing emotionless and unmoving, Bal held Aless’s gaze.  Lips quivering, Aless tried to hold his gaze stubbornly but failed.  Averting her eyes, Aless knew he was just trying to be nice.

“I’m sorry.  It’s just I had plans tonight and my date bailed.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.  Your boyfriend?”

“My dad.”

“Your dad?”

“Yeah.  But he had another business thing. He always has some business thing.”

“Isn’t it your birthday?”

“Yeah.  No big deal.  He hasn’t been around for my last seven birthdays.  Why would this be any different?  It was my fault for thinking differently.  And my fault for telling my boyfriend to go on the trip with his friends instead of being here with me. So once again, I’m a complete loser, celebrating my birthday alone.”

Shuddering in suppressed tears, Aless turned her back on Bal.  In two quick strides, Bal stood next to Aless, placing his hands on her shoulders.  Turning her to face him, Bal’s face was serious as he spoke.

“You aren’t a loser!  I mean your dad sounds like a jerk and your boyfriend is stupid.”

“Hey! They are my father and boyfriend.  Only I can say that!”

With a hard shove, Aless glared at Bal, ready to pick a fight. Holding up his hands in surrender, Bal laughed gently.

“You’re right.  I’m sorry.  I just know how you feel.  My parents were never there for my birthdays. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t thinking of you.”

“That’s what that stupid necklace is. An expensive gift to make up for missing one of my most important birthdays. He thinks that material things will make up for his absence.  That’s why I have a car and the newest phone and all this other useless crap. My dad would rather throw money at me than spend time with me.”

“Sometimes people just don’t know how to make things up to others.  Buying stuff is the easiest and least painful way.”

“I guess you’re right. All I wanted was to spend a quiet evening at home with him.  But no, he insisted on an expensive dinner out, so I spent two weeks finding this dress, and then I spent all day today getting ready.  My hair, nails, everything!”

Waving her hand, Aless gestured to her appearance.  Bal’s eyes roved up and down her body.

“You look beautiful beyond words, Ale.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“No, I’m not.  You look like an elegant young lady.  Your father is a fool for missing it.”

Unable to stop herself, Aless threw herself onto Bal.  Holding her, Bal let her cry into his shirt. After a while, he pushed her back and sighed.

“I am sorry, Ale, but I have to go. I have two more last-minute deliveries then I have to return the truck.”

“Oh, yeah. I understand.”

Giving her a tight hug, Bal released Alessandra then headed towards the front door.  His face was tight in thought. 

“Wait!” Aless called.

Stopping at the front door, Bal turned to see Aless following close behind.

“When you’re done with work, would you like to come back and hang out?  I can cook us something and we could just hang out…”

Studying her feet, Aless felt silly and desperate.  Bal said nothing.

 “Forget it.  You probably have other plans. It was a stupid idea.”

Lifting her chin with his fingertips, Bal smiled at Aless.

“I think it’s a great idea, but it’s your birthday, so I will cook dinner.  I’ll be back in two hours.  I know that’s late, but is that still okay?”

Heart racing, Aless nodded.

“That’s no problem.  I will see you then.  Just send me a dm when you are on your way.”

With a nod, Bal left. Watching him leave, Alessandra locked the front door.  Seeing herself in the hall mirror, Aless sighed heavily.  She did look great.  Yet Aless felt as if she was looking at someone else.  She almost didn’t recognize herself in the refined young lady in the mirror. 

“No point in staying dolled up,” she said to herself.

Double-checking that the door was locked, Aless made her way upstairs to shower for the second time that night.