~Alya
Ifeanyi kissed me, I met Genevieve... These thoughts kept swirling in my mind as I rewatched the video of Alesscia's break up with Devan.
It didn't give me as much satisfaction as I had imagined it giving me earlier. Partly because of how stressed out I was at the moment.
Who knew life could be this stressful?
I still couldn't put my hands on why Genevieve was so quiet. I was grateful for that though since I had no words either.
But then, what next? I ran my hands through my hair once more in confusion. Just then, my phone rang.
It was from Chinano. Wow! It had been a long time since we were last in contact. I picked the call and got in a better mood after getting the good news that she was visiting.
****
"Hey girl!" She screamed on sighting me. For someone who I hadn't seen in a while, she really hadn't changed much. She pulled me into a hug once she got to me.
"Aren't you supposed to be in school?" She asked curiously.
"Yeah", I said. Lord knows that I was slowly becoming a truant.
"Why aren't you there then?" She asked.
"I don't feel like it. Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"No. We are on break", she said.
"Are you staying at my house or...?"
"I am supposed to stay at my aunt's but I don't actually like her or the idea of staying with her but I don't have a choice. So I'm staying there. I'll visit daily. I promise", she said.
"Okay. But you are following me home now".
"Sure", she said pulling her luggage.
"Won't your aunt come looking for you?"
"No. I was supposed to get an airport taxi"
"Wow". That sounded kinda harsh. Who would leave their niece to come back from the airport herself. I waved it off as we entered the car.
~Kylie
I was sitting on the couch watching The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Since I arrived in Nigeria I have been watching a lot of horror movies.
I blame it on Alya's love for them. It probably rubbed off on me. And this wasn't even half as scary as I expected. Reminded me of Anthrum.
There was so much fuss about the shit. A whole documentary about how anyone who watches it would die and the rest of the trash.
Hey look, I am still alive! I at least expected the shit to be scary enough after that miserable documentary but of course the opposite was the case.
Turned out the shit wasn't even worth dying for.
Just then, Alya walked in with a chubby light brown skinned girl. I ignored them as usual until the brown girl popped up in my face.
"Hi, I am Chinano", she said with a cheesy smile. I couldn't even manage to get myself to smile back.
"Oh! I didn't ask and I don't care. Now if you would excuse me, I was doing something of much more worth", I said not caring about how her expression changed from the usual cheerful one to a really hurt look.
I redirected my gaze to the television.
"Oh. I am so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I should have known better. I am so sorry", she said on the verge of tears.
I stared at her in surprise before I glanced at Alya who was boring holes into me with her eyes.
"Why are you saying sorry?"
"It's my fault that you were offended. I am sorry for that"
I stared once more still surprised. I glanced between Alya and this girl.
"You're Alya's friend right?"
"Yes", she simply responded. Now I was at sea. How could someone as sadistic as Alya have a friend as nice as Chineno. That was what she introduced herself as?
"Okay Chi ne ano. Am the one who should apologise. I was just being stupid", I said.
"You don't need to apologise. And it's Chinano", she said giggling and I managed to offer her a small smile.
****
Is there anything better than just sitting down and staring into the dark night? I doubt there could be anything more relaxing.
I was enjoying the cool breeze on the sit out while being drawn into the night darkness.
"Can I come in?"
I heard a voice ask. Who was it now? I and Alya hardly ever see each other even though we stay in the same house and I bet she wouldn't just come to my room in the middle of the night.
"Switch on the lights", I said. The lights soon came on revealing Chineno. Does she like live here now?
"What is it?" I asked not even trying to make subtle my annoyance.
"I just wanted to talk. Is that okay with you? If it isn't then I can leave", she said mildly.
"Talk about what? Isn't Alya your friend? Why don't you talk to her?"
"Well... It's about her birthday. I wanted to throw her a surprise party that's why I wanted to talk"
"Okay, you want to throw her a surprise party. How am I supposed to be concerned?" I asked.
"You're her sister..."
"I know", I snapped interrupting her.
"What I mean is, you could be of great help. Please can you help me?" She pleaded pouting.
"Okay", I said with a sigh.
"Thank you"
"Before that, can I ask why you are still here. It's past ten pm"
"My aunt wasn't around when I got to hers. I tried calling her but she wasn't answering the call. I waited for three hours and I still didn't see any sign of her"
"How about your parents? Don't they live here?" I asked in curiosity.
"They are dead. And I go to a boarding school in Abuja."
"Oh", was all I could say. "So what usually happens on Alya's birthday parties?"
"She doesn't celebrate. That's why I want to throw her one"
"Okay..." I said letting the information sink in. I should have expected that she wouldn't celebrate her birthday considering all the negativity she had.
"So we need decorations, not much though. Cake, drinks, food, music, what else?" I said listing the things I guessed that should be used in a birthday party.
"And guests. I know a couple of her friends or rather classmates she doesn't necessarily hate. I'll invite them. I guess that's all", she said. "I think we should play her favorite songs", she suggested.
"Which are?"
"She loves anything Juice wrld or XXXtentacion"
"What do you think this is, a funeral? Aren't those miserable rappers who died of depression?"
"They didn't die of depression..."
"They were both depressed right?"
"Yeah but..."
"And they are dead?"
"Yes..."
"Case settled. They died of depression. And there's no way we are playing any of their songs at her birthday. When is her birthday anyway?"
"Next tommorow"
"Okay. I think you should sleep now. I'll do the same. Good night"
"Night".