When we got to my place after dropping Kelechi off at my parents', two of my secondary school girlfriends were on the porch. Benita and Funmilayo.
"OMG! Benita, Funmilayo, hafar? Long time o!" Exclaimed Chi, rushing up the porch stairs with an exuberant squeal.
The last time we saw them was two years ago during a classmate's wedding. In school back then, it was Chichi, Benita, Funmilayo and I.
Bennie and Funmi as they were fondly called, where best friends until we became a quad when Chichi and I met them at Redeem camp when we were in Jss2.
"No be small." said Bennie, closing the gap between her and Chi. She had always been the outspoken one among the quad. She and Chichi were extroverts, while I and Funmi were the exact opposite. I and Funmi quickly joined in the group hug, we were a sight to see, with the huge nostalgic smiles on our faces.
"Omo Funmi," I started breaking out of the hug, "this one you wear wig, you cut your hair?"
"Yes oh." She said taking off the wig so I could see her well. It suited her. After that revelation, we all bounded into my house were we went into the gist very well, now that the quad was complete.
After talking for a while( which turned out to be two hours, girl gist is sweet!), I got a phone call from a close classmate of mine and she told me that almost half the guest were at the venue. Luckily, there were people taking care of it.
"Okay girls," I said to my girlfriends, waving my hands dramatically, "let's get this party started!!"
And with a cheer we all got up and went into my room. Bennie and Funmi had brought their party dresses with them. The purple dress I chose was a body con with off shoulders, a little above knee length. A perfect combination; a little revealing, but modest all the same. I wore it with silver leaf shaped dangling earrings. Chichi lent me a necklace and a wedge both silver too, as stilettos we're not my thing.
When I was done, Chichi hugged me and said that I looked beautiful. She never failed to say it.
~~~~~~
When we came in through the doors of the hall, at five pm, the crowd gave me cheers and sang the 'Happy Birthday' song for me. I felt like a kid at her five years old birthday party.
Looking around, I saw my parents on the podium mounted close to the DJ's island. My dad was clad in a beige suit and a fitting Stevenson and my mum in a purple dinner gown (we've always had the same mind). They were looking at me with love in their eyes.
"I want to say a big 'happy birthday' to my sweet girl." said my Mum.
"My one and only daughter, my first born, happy birthday and many more years to come." My Dad continued, raising his Guinness in salute to me.
I was so overwhelmed that I mounted the podium and gave them each a big fat kiss on the cheek. With that, I took the mic and said:
"Thanks Mom and Dad and my little bro Kelechi. Love you till eternity. And also thanks to everyone of you for coming. Now.. let's get this party started!!" While I gave my little speech on the stage my eyes caught Chi's and told her everything I didn't say. She looked beautiful in the shimmering red dress that she wore.
When I dismounted, my parents told me that they were going out for dinner and I should I keep an eye on Kelechi (Great! Responsibility on my birthday).
The DJ went totally wild with the music playing the latest dope Nigerian songs from Joeboy, Rema, Fireboy and Niara Marley, and some songs by my best foreign musicians like Post Malone and Sia.
I was dancing and feeling the party, feeling the groove with the quad when suddenly, Samuel showed up. Chichi didn't see him. He smiled as he saw her dancing. He came up behind her and slid his hand on her waist and whispered something in her ear.
Chichi started swaying slowly and smiled a smile I had never seen before. It was peaceful, serene, calm so unlike her. So this is what love could do. She turned around and he kissed her. I smiled. I was happy for her.
"Abeg stop to dey do your lovey lovey." Bennie snapped even though her eyes were shinning with approval. "What are you doing here Samuel? I thought you were in the States?" She asked, eyeing Samuel quizically.
"Yes I was, but I just came back today. I wanted to surprise Chichi so I came by. Does that answer your question Madam Benita?" Samuel, fired back instantly, as amusement shone in his eyes. He had always had a very keen sense of humor. While we all chuckled at Bennie's gaping mouth, he turned his attention back to Chioma and holding her, they waltzed to the next song, a slow tune meant for partners.
Chichi, Bennie and Funmi were tied up leaving me alone. I went to check on Kelechi, who was doing fine toasting a very hot girl. With nothing left to do, I started swaying slowly from side to side, feeling the music, when suddenly, I felt two strong hands on my waist. I turned with pure hot rage only to see Rex!
I swear my feeble, betraying heart skipped a massive beat when I took in his appearance. He still had his pure black hair, brown eyes, white teeth and a perfectly chiseled jaw, but he definitely looked older and stronger. Where had he been all these years? When finally he shows up, he has the liver to hold me by my waist? I was about to state this when he put a finger to my lips and put his mouth to my ear saying;
"Wait until the music is done." It was just six words, but it gave me, sent through me a tingling I hadn't felt in a long time. With that, he pulled me closer, one hand on the small of my waist and the other holding mine and then we started to waltz.
This was a night I would remember for the rest of my years. It was like I was in a dream, the music and everything else faded away and it was just us. Our steps mixed and intertwined, I felt light like... The feeling was sweet and euphoric and then the music stopped. I then pulled away from him, almost reluctantly.
"Well you have some mind showing up like this, after all these years, coming to hold me like you own me! Hmph!" I spat out, feigning annoyance, when all I really felt was curiosity. To this, Rex just put my hand to his lips and pulled me close again saying,
"Don't tell me you didn't miss me, I know I did, and am glad to see that the fire in you hasn't been put out." He was smiling his stupid lopsided smile, which I still couldn't help falling for, not that I let him know that.
"Rex, it's not funny really. Where have you been all these years? I tried contacting you, but it's like you just cut off all your connections in high school. Including me. I never knew I was irrelevant." I said hurtfully, trying to guilt-trip him into telling me the truth.
Rex was about to say something when I heard a blood curdling scream from the patio area.
Immediately and reflexively, I let go of Rex and rushed out of the hall, fearing what I didn't know, there was a feeling of dread that something was wrong, something horrible. As I rushed to the patio section of the hotel, the lady who had screamed ran into me hysterically mouthing the word 'No'. I recognized her. She had been a classmate of mine.
"I'm sorry." she said, "I'm so so sorry." Tears flowed down her eyes in a careless torrent.
My hands shook as I opened the door. I prayed to God that it wasn't I thought, wasn't what I felt, that laid behind them. Nothing could and nothing had prepared me for what I saw behind the doors.
It was Chichi. She was lying in a pool of her own blood.
Dead.
~~~~~~