ONCE

At seven o’clock, Amanda is already dressed up for school. Did I say school? – I meant school mate’s birthday party.

It seemed kind of surprising to everyone, Amanda barely watches television programs with everyone but was still staring at the mirror smiling, dressing her hair back and forth still uncomfortable, she lets her free.

Mom stood speechless watching, a companied by Brother Paul, I and Gloria our housemaid. Her smiles at no one exactly were worth the family checking up on her if she’s okay or if she needs the help of the mental asylum. After a while, she started murmuring to the tin air as if answering questions. She shakes her head moving her blonde hair back and forth trying to behave shabbily.

After some time, she laughed out and her cheeks flush red maybe because of her complexion or maybe she was blushing at tin air too.

Mom couldn’t take it anymore the whole thing looked crazy to her, she felt like slapping her but rather she called on her rashly.

“Amanda, are you okay?” She asked looking at Amanda’s body response; she seemed to be absent-minded the whole time.

“Mum,” she responded looking at me and Brother Paul. The way we stood stationary explains that we were there for a long time staring at her mode display.” I was practicing,” she added scratching her hair and putting her face down.

The surprise on everyone’s face was kind of scary.

I thought you were going to a birthday party?” mum asked.

“Yes mom,” she responded

“What then are you practicing for?” mom asked curiously.

Immediately, her brain ran as far as it could to solve for a response that wouldn’t warrant any further questions.

“You see, I am the assistant senior prefect, the head girl of the college and you know that,” she breaks and swallows. “I have to give a speech,” she added running out with her bag.

Though she didn’t tell me as always where she was going, I knew whose birthday would drive her crazy, ‘Mac-Dicky’s.’

Mac-Dicky is the most handsome guy in school, as they say forgetting that I exist. He is the only crush my sister ever had since from js1 (first grade).

I don’t know if it was because of his cuteness or his brain.

Mac-Dicky although being handsome, had time for his books and has never failed a test.

While he is not the only boy with good grades in my school but his class Ss3.

The other boys in his class were into girls calling themselves playboys.

I wonder what gave them that mindset!

Mac-Dicky isn’t much of a freak he just lives his life and was very much close to my sister but unfortunately, he never asked her out but would come to gist with her.

One crazy thing that made me burst into laughter was when he started dating my sister’s best friend ‘Grace’

Who from the start knew about my sister’s crush on him or should I say love for Dicky because it lasted too long.

“Can they still be friends?”

If I am to be asked, I’ll say I don’t know because they still talk and walk together. The only difference is that my sister doesn’t smile and laugh with her often as her gist with my sister is mostly about Mac.

“Wait a minute,” mom halted her movement, walking towards her and standing right in front of her.

“Where’s your gift for the celebrant?” Mom asked shaking her head slightly and standing akimbo.

“Does she need a gift?” Big brother asked.

For a moment, everyone stood quietly staring at him.

“What does he mean by that?”

Amanda had never felt any heartbeat like the one she just had. It was louder than the church drums.

She inhaled deeply and exhaled after seconds.

“What do you mean Brother Paul?” She asked furiously and everyone nodded except me.

“I know how silly brother Paul can be so why should I be curious?”

“He is your boyfriend after all,” Brother Paul said looking at Amanda’s reactions; she was confused about what to say with the steady stare my mum gave to her.

What!” she responded, her heart beating consistently and she felt as her stomach grumbled.

After some time, Brother Paul started laughing as mum joined him.

Believe me, this was confusing to Amanda. She didn’t know if to join them in laughing but coming to think about it, what should she be laughing about?

“I was joking sister,” he said looking at Amanda who didn’t smile at all.

“What’s the problem?” he asked.

“It wasn’t funny bro,” she responded angrily rolling her eyes at him. Her facial expressions showed great annoyance she could even strangle him if she had hands strong enough to squeeze the harden throat.

For sometimes, no one said a word but stared at them looking at each other as Salman and Commando.

It’s was a lame idea to expect any physical combat between the two of them because Mum and Dad warn us from fighting each other or engaging especially if it's your older ones.

“Why rushing so much, you aren’t the celebrant?

Wait for your brother Kenz to go with you except there’s something you’re hiding from us,” mum said giving her that popular akimbo stances mode.

You may be wondering who Kenz is, well it is my respectable self.

Amanda stood mute as Paul coughed trying to annoy her.

“No mum, he is just my classmate, and he is my best friend’s boyfriend,” she responded.

“Your right mum why should I rush when he doesn’t even care?” she added carelessly.

We all turned to look at each other and Amanda, lost in thought.

I coughed bringing her back from her trauma adding a question to it.

“And what if it’s true; what if it is true that you like him and he likes you too?” I said and everyone except her started laughing.

She stood speechless looking at Mom remembering what she said but numb about who Mac was. Mom paid no attention to her rather than laughing along to my lame joke.

“Amanda, you’ll leave by nine with Kenz, and for now, let’s have dinner,” she said making her way to the kitchen together with Gloria leaving the three of us standing.

Amanda slaps Brother Paul on the chest immediately mom disappeared from our site.

“What was that?” She asked angrily.

“What?” Paul repeated

“Listen that was my objective about you dear, you so much like this guy, I knew this from when you were in Jss3 – isn’t it even obvious?” Brother Paul added.