After It Happened

Chapter 15: 14

16th March, 2018

Dear Danielle,

Please remind me to never agree to do anything without thinking again. Adult parties suck big time. I

met Camille's step mom, aka Kelechi's mom, aka Cassiopeia today. I should have figured out that

Camille's dad married Kelechi's mom when Camille mentioned that name. It isn't a name you hear

everyday.

When I'd gotten the wonderful revelation of my mistake earlier this evening, I had to sit and consider

the options I had. Either I faced Camille's wrath and ceased being her friend by not coming or faced her

wrath when she realized I've been lying to her concerning Kelechi. Well, I didn't actually lie, if you ask

me. She never asked if I knew him after all. In the end my love for parties, dressing up and my life won.

I decided to give a good impression with my clothing considering I was meeting adults. Putting on little

makeup, I put my phone in my purse and left the room. I walked to my aunt's room to inform her that I

was leaving. Although I've snuck out of the house most times, I felt the need to do so today. After a lot

of scrutinizing by her and a lot of convincing on my part, I left the house. I took a cab to my friend's

house which was a little bit far.

My plan for the night was to avoid meeting the parents especially Kelechi's mom. I wasn't in the mood

for drama. Camille looked exceptionally pretty. Like she wasn't pretty enough already. The celebrant

looked, simply put, stunning and, dare I say, otherworldly. Camille had somehow convinced me to get a

tour of the huge house. I paid no attention to the noisy guests and was really grateful for the ladies who

kept Cassiopeia busy.

After begging Camille to let me answer the food which was calling my name, she dropped her

suggestion about me meeting her stepmom. I was still thinking about the food I would start with- the

small chops, samosas, sauced chicken or jollof rice, when Kelechi appears in all his confident glory. I

was stunned to silence for a moment subtly appreciating his look. My friend has always been fine and

time made him finer.

He, on the other hand, was openly gaping at me. Camille noticing this draws him out of his trance while

hiding her amusement. When he proceeded to stutter his welcome, we couldn't hold in our light laughs.

He walked out slightly embarrassed. I'm a pretty girl after all.

After eating spring rolls and samosas, Camille brought up the issue of meeting her stepmom again this

time with more resolution. All my excuses fell on deaf ears as she resorted to pulling me towards the

last person I wanted to meet. I fought as hard as I could my heart beating loudly in my chest, but

Camille was stronger. I was more scared of meeting another piece of my past than Camille knowing the

truth. I would face Camille's wrath and she would forgive me. However, meeting Cassiopeia may entail

a confrontation and facing the past I don't want to recall.

I flinched when I feel hot air on my neck.

"Trouble in paradise?" he said with a smug look making me scowl at him. He obviously knew my plight

and was being a jerk about it.

He quickly walked away like nothing happened. When the lady herself started to walk towards Camille

and I my heart did wonderful leaps and I all but fainted at the spot. Camille eagerly introduced me and

I'm sure I'd died and resurrected when she said, "Yes, I know her."

When she went ahead to say, "I've heard a lot about you", I said a silent thanks to God.

The worst finally over, I went straight to my food which I deserved after wasting so much energy on

panicking. Almost immediately Kelechi walks up to the food table with a huge smirk on his face. I glare

at him but he doesn't notice.

"Hey" I look up surprised to see him directly in front of me. We talked a little before he left for what I'm

guessing is his room with a plate of samosas. As I piled the rice and chicken bits on my plates, I

realized that I missed the light and friendly conversations we had before everything.

"You owe me, Denise." was what he said. I didn't exactly have the obligation to do anything he asked.

He could tell Camille the truth and save me the trouble anyway. I agreed because that statement

sounded like a challenge. I'm so into any challenge that involves Kelechi. Although something is telling

me I'm not ready for what my involvement with him will bring. Well, time will tell.