Chapter Twenty six

KELECHI'S POV

   For the first time in a long while, I was dressed before everyone. I was prepared for Christmas Eve. I had dressed up in a body con dress that had a little slit at the back. It was long sleeved with turtle neck, so no one could call it indecent. This was church I was going to. The last thing I needed was elderly women body shaming me in the name of correction.

  "Everybody do fast o! " The pleasure I got from being the first person to get dressed, I can't describe it. "It's twenty minutes to nine o! Mass is by nine o!"

    "Accurate timekeeper." I heard Ben say beside me. When did he get here? I had been too busy checking the time, I hadn't seen him coming. 

  "I have been waiting since. This time if we get to church late, it's not my fault." With my hands on akimbo, I retorted. It really good to be the one disturbing people. That reminded of Ify. I decided to leave the living to see how dressed up our broadcaster was today. I knew she was not a night person. Instead, she was the type that got up early from bed full of energy and excitement. 

   Getting to Meso and Ify's room, I saw Ify still struggling with her shoes.

   "Ify do fast, you are wasting our time." I laughed internally. I had always wanted to be the one doing this to her. I was petty. I know.

   "Aunty kelechi..." Immediately I heard Ify call me "aunty kelechi", warning bells started to ring in my ear. It was common knowledge that your younger ones were only respectful when they want something from you. "... Please help me wear my shoe." She tried using her mercy face on me, but it didn't work. There was no way it could ever work.

  Just then, as if the universe was on Ify's side, her mom passed by yelling "kelechi help Ify with her shoes."

   And that people, was how I gave myself unnecessary stress. I should have just stayed back with Ben.

***

    I loved those kind of moments with my family. Moments when we are together in one piece. My mother's death helped me appreciate little things like this. You never knew what would happen next. 

   We were all in church. Mama had made sure most of us were sitting in the front with her. Ben and I stylishly escaped to sit at the back. Meso and Ify might still be new to Mama's tactics, but we were not.

   Where we settled down was a few rows to the last. We could still participate in the mass, but we did not want to stay in front where the priest could see us.

   "Kelechi? Is that you?" I heard someone say from our back. I looked back to see it was one of those cute guys you would always see in choir. 

   "And you are?" I looked at him confused. But Ben faced him and greeted. "Hey man!" 

   The mass started before the guy could repond to Ben's greeting or introduce himself to me.

    None of us got the chance to talk during the first half of the mass. The church wardens looked at everyone like a hawk. We had this little rule in our Parish. If the church wardens singled you out for disturbing the church, you are going to have to attend the next deliverance session. Newly born babies and toddlers were excused from this little rule. 

   Nevertheless, we had the chance to talk during second collection. People were walking to and fro to the offertory box. 

    "Kelechi, don't you remember me?" The cute guy said. I looked at Ben, expecting him to remind me since it seemed like he knew the guy.

   "It's me na. Alex. Alex Olafemi." 

   As soon as he said I recollected who he was. But the Alex I remembered was not that good looking. He was passable. But not as handsome as he was now. He was a bit muscular and so attractive. He had beards now that made him look so mature and manly. He was sexy. And I knew that he knew it too. Back when we were younger, he was such a show off. He was so full of himself then, he thought he was attractive then. Time was good to him. 

   "Alex? I didn't know it was you." We took my hand, shaking it. 

    "How could you not recognize me. Ben recognized me immediately when we met at Vanessa style. "

   "He told me about it." I looked at Ben only to see him trying his best to ignore us. 

   "He told you already? Wow, you two are still close like before. " He looked at Ben and I with a smile. "Can I have your number?" He asked sweetly. 

   "Of course." I took the phone he handed to me and typed in my digits. This got Ben's attention. 

   "What do you need her number for?" Ben asked Alex. 

    "How does it concern you. It's between Kelechi and I. " When he collected his phone from me, he smiled at me. "I will call you. We have some catching up to do, don't we?

   I laughed at that. Alex and I were far from friends when we were younger. I seriously didn't know why he acted like we were best of friends. Alex didn't get why I laughed, so he seemed pleased at himself.

   When the mass finally ended, we all screamed Merry Christmas. Ben and I turned to each other to say "Merry Christmas!" We had said it at the same time. We laughed at how predictable we were. People started calling their loved ones that weren't around to wish them merry Christmas. People who were not on a call were walking round to greet everyone merry Christmas. It was such a joyful moment. I could not help smiling every time a stranger walked up to me to say merry Christmas. Christmas always had this happy vibe in the air. 

  AUTHOR'S NOTE.

  Don't forget to check my Instagram Page (@munamary7) to see the digital illustration of Kelly and Ben. Have a wonderful weekend ahead.