Birthdays are supposed to be fun, right? A day to celebrate life, to laugh and make memories. But stepping into our father's house for Riri's birthday, unease settled over me like a heavy fog. Maybe it was the cold, pristine atmosphere, where every inch of the place felt more like a showroom than a home. Or maybe it was him. Our father, the man who spent years being absent but now played the perfect parent for the cameras. He wasn't the one who invited me, of course. If it weren't for Riri insisting I come, I wouldn't have even set foot in this place. The living room was already buzzing when I arrived, carrying a gift I'd picked out with care. The opulence of the house was overwhelming, but Riri had worked her magic to soften it—streamers in bold colors, fairy lights that sparkled with a playful warmth, and a towering cake that was as vibrant as she was.
"Kei!" Riri's voice rang out, cutting through the hum of conversation. She darted toward me in her red dress, her blonde hair bouncing as she moved. "You came!"
"Wouldn't miss it," I said, offering her the gift. "Happy birthday, Ri." She beamed, barely glancing at the box before pulling me into the crowd.
"Come on, everyone's here!"
Familiar faces greeted me as we moved through the room. Aeri was lounging in an armchair, her glass of wine held casually in one hand, her brunette hair effortlessly falling over her shoulder. Nearby, Franz Estella Delgado—Riri's eldest sister, the one from our father's marriage to his legal wife—sat gracefully near the window, wearing a soft blue dress that mirrored her composed demeanor.Unlike Riri's fiery personality, Franz exuded calm and elegance, her every movement deliberate and poised. She'd always been the picture-perfect daughter, a role I knew our father appreciated because it fit so neatly into his spotless narrative.
But while I had my misgivings about her, Franz had never been anything but kind to me, even if her loyalty to him made me wary.
"Kei," she greeted softly, her smile genuine as her delicate features lit up. "It's good to see you here."
"Good to see you too, Franz," I replied, offering a small smile in return. She nodded, her gaze flickering briefly toward Riri, who was already flitting to the next group of guests. "Riri's so excited about tonight. She's been planning it for weeks."
"Sounds like her," I said, chuckling softly. Before I could say more, I saw him. He was standing by the bar, laughing a little too loudly with a group of guests. Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, our father looked every bit the polished politician—charming, approachable, and utterly insincere. He turned slightly, and for a second, our eyes met. The flicker of recognition in his gaze was quickly replaced by something colder, something guarded. I stiffened, looking away. He wasn't supposed to be here. Or maybe he was, basking in the glow of Riri's celebration to bolster his image as a doting father while running for senator. Riri, thankfully oblivious to the tension, dragged me deeper into the party. I smiled and laughed when needed, all the while acutely aware of his presence in the room. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was a prop in his carefully crafted narrative.
"Kei, you alright?" Riri asked, her concern breaking through my thoughts.
"Yeah," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a bit tired." Her hand squeezed mine briefly before she turned back to her friends, her laughter ringing out as she threw herself into the chaos of the night. I stayed on the sidelines, watching her glow. I refused to let him ruin this for me—or for her. No matter how hard he tried to act like the perfect father in front of his guests, I knew the truth. And I wasn't going to let his charade tarnish Riri's night. Not now. Not ever.
The party carried on around me, laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. Riri was in her element, her energy lighting up the room as she flitted from guest to guest, making sure no one felt left out. She had always been a force of nature, a whirlwind of charm and chaos that drew people in. Tonight was no different.
After a while, she hopped onto a small makeshift stage set up in the corner of the room, her red dress glittering under the soft lights. She grabbed a microphone, tapping it twice to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, listen up, people!" Riri called out, her voice cutting through the chatter. "It's time to officially kick off my birthday program!"
The crowd cheered, her infectious energy impossible to resist. I found myself smiling despite the lingering unease in my chest, though the smile didn't quite reach my eyes.
"First of all, thank you all for coming tonight," she continued, sweeping her arm dramatically over the room. "You could've been anywhere else, doing boring stuff, but instead, you're here with me, the birthday queen!"
More laughter erupted, and she struck a pose, soaking it in.
"Now, I know everyone's been having fun—and by fun, I mean eating all my food—but let's make this night even better with some games and speeches!" She pointed to Aeri, who groaned loudly.
"Aeri, you're up first!" Riri said with a wicked grin.
"Oh, come on," Aeri protested, slowly getting to her feet. "You can't put me on the spot like this."
"Yes, I can! It's my birthday, and you're one of my best friends. Now get up here and make me cry—or laugh. Either works."
Aeri sighed dramatically but made her way to the stage, wine glass still in hand. She adjusted the microphone, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd with mock severity. "Alright, fine. Let's get this over with so we can all get back to pretending to like the music Riri picked for tonight."
"Hey!" Riri called out, hands on her hips. "My playlist is perfect!"
Aeri smirked, waving her off. "Anyway, I've known Riri for a while now, and let me tell you, she's… an experience. If you've spent more than five minutes with her, you'll know she's one part chaos, one part charm, and about ten parts drama."
The crowd chuckled, and Riri rolled her eyes, though a grin tugged at her lips.
"But," Aeri continued, her tone softening slightly, "she's also one of the most genuine people I've ever met. Riri has this way of making you feel like the most important person in the room, even if you're not. She'll fight for you, cheer for you, and occasionally annoy the hell out of you—all in the name of love."
The room fell quiet for a moment, Aeri's words sinking in.
"So here's to Riri," Aeri finished, raising her glass. "The girl who keeps us all on our toes and reminds us that life is too short to take seriously. Happy birthday, Ri. You're one of a kind."
The room erupted into applause, and Riri practically tackled Aeri in a hug, squeezing her tightly. "You big softie! I knew you had it in you."
"Yeah, yeah," Aeri muttered, though her small smile gave her away.
Next, Riri turned toward Franz, who was seated quietly near the window.
"Franz Estella Delgado!" Riri called out, her tone playful but affectionate. "You're next!"
Franz hesitated for a moment, smoothing down her dress before standing up gracefully. She walked to the stage with the poise of someone who had been in the spotlight before, which, given her status as the eldest Delgado daughter, she probably had.
"Riri," Franz began, her soft voice cutting through the room like a calm wave. "You've always been the brightest light in any room. Your energy, your passion, and your unstoppable spirit are what make you who you are. It's an honor to celebrate you tonight."
Franz paused, her gaze sweeping the room before landing on Riri again. "You have this way of making people feel special, as though the world is a better place just because you're in it. Never lose that, Riri. It's your magic."
The room applauded warmly, and Riri hugged Franz tightly, her voice slightly wobbly as she whispered a thank you. It was a rare moment of sincerity that softened the edges of the night, even for me.
And then, just as I thought I could get through the evening without incident, Riri turned toward me.
"Kei! Your turn!" she announced, pointing at me with a grin.
I froze. "Me? I didn't prepare anything!"
"Doesn't matter! Just come up here and say something nice about me," she teased, though there was a glint of insistence in her eyes.
"Do it, Kei!" someone from the crowd shouted, and a wave of murmured encouragement followed.
I sighed, reluctantly making my way to the stage. The eyes of the room felt heavy on me, but none weighed more than his. Our father stood at the edge of the room, watching with his trademark polite expression—a careful mask he wore so well.
I cleared my throat, gripping the microphone. "Alright," I began, searching for the right words. "Riri, you drive me crazy sometimes—most of the time, actually—but you're also the most fearless, unstoppable person I know. You have this way of making everyone around you feel alive, even when they're too tired or stubborn to admit it."
The crowd chuckled softly, and Riri beamed at me.
"You're a force of nature, Ri," I continued, my voice softening. "And no matter what, I'm glad to call you my—" I stopped, catching myself before the truth could slip out. "—my friend."
Her grin widened, oblivious to my hesitation. "Aww, Kei!" she squealed, running up to hug me tightly. "You're the best!"
As the crowd applauded, I stepped off the stage, releasing a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
The rest of the night unfolded in a blur of games, laughter, and endless teasing. Riri's program was pure chaos—just like her—but it was also undeniably fun. Yet no matter how much I smiled or laughed, I couldn't shake the weight of unspoken truths.
Because while the world saw a perfect family, I knew better. And so did he.
The evening was winding down, but Riri's energy seemed limitless as she darted around the room, mingling with the guests. It was only now, as the party transitioned into the "networking" phase, that I truly felt like an outsider. Investors, business moguls, and other influential figures filled the space, each vying for a moment of his attention—our father, the man whose name carried weight but meant nothing to me.
He stood at the center of the room, commanding attention with the ease of someone who had mastered the art of charm. His polished demeanor was flawless, every word calculated, every gesture precise. Watching him now, I could see why so many people believed in his clean, perfect image.
And then there was me, tucked into the background, playing the part of just another guest. Not his daughter, not part of his family—just Riri's friend.
I was used to it by now, the pretending. It was easier than dealing with the fallout of the truth. But tonight, as I watched him laugh and shake hands with the room full of power players, the weight of it felt unbearable.
Riri grabbed the microphone again, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Okay, everyone! Before we call it a night, I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you for being here—and, of course, a special shoutout to my dad for letting us take over his house for this!"
The crowd clapped politely, their eyes flickering to our father as he gave a modest smile and a small wave.
"And," Riri continued, her grin widening, "since he's the man of the hour in politics right now, let's hear a few words from him!"
The room burst into applause as he made his way to the front, his every step exuding confidence.
"Thank you, Riri," he began, his voice smooth and practiced. "And thank you to all of you for being here tonight to celebrate my wonderful daughter. Riri is a shining light in my life, and I couldn't be prouder of the incredible young woman she's become."
More applause followed, and Riri beamed.
"As we all know," he continued, addressing the crowd, "this year is a significant one for me as I take on new challenges and responsibilities in the public sphere. I'm grateful for the trust and support you've all shown me, and I promise to dedicate myself fully to serving this country with integrity and transparency."
The words flowed so easily, so convincingly, that even I could almost believe them. But then, just as the applause started again, someone from the back of the room spoke up.
"Transparency, huh?" a man's voice called out, loud enough to silence the chatter. "Does that include addressing the rumors about your illegitimate child?"
The room fell deathly quiet, the tension so thick it felt suffocating.
I froze, my blood running cold as every pair of eyes turned toward the man—a middle-aged guest with a drink in hand, his expression a mix of curiosity and challenge.
Our father's smile faltered, just for a fraction of a second, before he recovered. "I appreciate your concern," he said, his tone steady but sharp, "but I assure you, those rumors are nothing more than baseless speculation. My family and I have always valued honesty, and there is nothing to hide."
The man raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Is that so? Because some people seem pretty sure about it."
My chest tightened, and I fought to keep my expression neutral. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to get out of this room and away from the suffocating weight of secrets and lies.
But then Riri stepped in, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Okay, wow, who invited the conspiracy theorist?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "This is my birthday party, not some tabloid gossip show. If you have questions about my dad, maybe save them for a press conference."
Laughter rippled through the crowd, awkward but effective in breaking the tension. The man gave a half-hearted shrug and retreated into the background, and Riri, ever the queen of deflection, seized the moment to steer the conversation back to herself.
"Anyway, where were we?" she said brightly. "Oh, right—cake!"
The crowd followed her lead, their attention shifting back to the party, but I couldn't shake the weight of what had just happened.
Our father glanced my way briefly, his eyes narrowing in a silent warning. It was a look I knew all too well—stay quiet, stay in line, don't ruin this.
I nodded subtly, my stomach churning.
The rest of the night passed in a blur. I played my part, smiling and laughing where necessary, but inside, I felt hollow. Every interaction felt like a performance, every moment a reminder that I didn't belong here—not as his daughter, not as part of this picture-perfect facade.