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.

Amanda knew it was the truth but couldn't just accept it because she knew Paul would make fun of her sooner or later. This has been the cause of most of his breakups and might still be the cause of another.

"How sure are you or are you just talking? You were in Ss3 when I was in Jss3 after a few months you left for the university and now you're telling me how much I love someone," Amanda responded turning to me.

"You, are you trying to make a fool of me?" She asked

"No, I ............." She cuts in not allowing me to say anything.

"Don't worry, try saying a word about me next time, I say everything I know about you to mom," she added not allowing me to explain myself.

No need to ask what that Jss3 means, it means junior secondary School while SS means senior secondary.

"What can come out from this argument, is it a plate of porridge yam?"

I left them staring at each other, making my way to the dining.

Surprisingly when I got there, the table was already set up and everyone was already seated except for me.

"When did they get past me?" I asked myself as they all laugh because of the surprise on my face.

*******************************************************

Everyone got seated properly as mom blessed the meal and we started eating it.

"Be careful Amanda so you wouldn't ruin your makeup," Paul said making fun of Amanda as Amanda said nothing, ignoring him completely.

"If only he sees how you eat dirtying the side of your mouth, he would never want to crush on you," he added trying his best to annoy Amanda and yes, he just did.

"This is the same reason you keep losing a relationship, bad mouth and talking too much," she said as everyone laughed.

This argument wasn't really funny right now, it sounded stupid.

"Gloria, you've never told us anything about you but keep hearing things about us and even laugh too meaning that we could also know about you," I said as everyone nodded.

"What do you all want to hear about me?" She asked.

"Your relationship, if only you have a past," Paul said.

"You're very annoying, why do you think your relationship with Cynthia would last?" Amanda said as Paul kept mute.

"I like to hear about him Gloria," I said compelling her to talk.

"Okay then but I have only one experience of relationship in my life and that was last year when I was in my Ss3.

I was coming back from school and you know that's when I came to hear newly. I felt everyone maltreated me especially the big mouth Paul.

I would always cry every day wishing we were never poor and I would never have been given out as a housemaid.

But on that particular day, it was mum that annoyed me by calling me useless. This word made me very angry that I could even strangle anyone that got into my way.

"Hey princess," a guy in a hot Bugatti slows down and wins down his side mirror to talk to me.

When I came newly, I knew nothing about fashion so I couldn't even know what model he was driving.

I thought it was Beetle car in its latest version.

I kept walking not saying a word to him as he drives slowly after me.

Let me just give you a lift he said as I hopped in without saying a word.

"What is your name?" he asked

"Is that why you picked me up, I thought this was just generosity and you were a gentleman man?" I responded.

The guy looked at me. I can't tell what ran through his mind but whatever it was I know he felt I was from an extremely rich family first for looking at his smooth ride as shit unaware I had no idea of highly developed cars apart from the land cruiser Prado driven by Dad.

What's your dad's name? He asked increasing his speed but unfortunately, it was your house so I told him I was going down here. He didn't say anything but smiled. I banged the door moving into the compound and closing the gate.

I thought I would never see him again but he kept on appearing.

Two weeks after this, I came out of the compound waiting for Amara our neighbor so we could walk to school together.

At the cost of waiting, I could spot his car approaching but I couldn't remember where exactly I saw the new Beetle that was approaching.

He drove closer and stops.

"Hey," he said waving his hands at me. At that intense, I could recognize who exactly that was.

"It's you again," I responded smiling.

"Yes! Thank God you remember me," he responded looking at his wristwatch

"Aren't you too early it's just 6:15 what's the rush?" he asked.

"That is because I wait for a friend who never arrives early," I responded.

He steps down from his car standing by the side mirror leaning on his wheels which was directly opposite me.

To be truthful, I had never seen a structure like his.

Muscular, big broad chest and a flat stomach but his adorable face and green eyes didn't look it.

"Is this what I sat within the vehicle?" I asked myself gazing at him.

"Our first meeting didn't go well," he said stretching out his hands for a shake.

"I'm Mac David" he added.

I had no reason to say no to giving him a shake. Even if I did, his cute face was making me smile unnecessarily wouldn't allow me to say no.

"My name is Gloria" I responded giving him a handshake.

His hands were as soft as that of a year-old baby and his cold palm cooling mine. Despite his muscular structure, I felt Mac David couldn't even kill an ant.

I didn't feel like leaving his cooled and soft hand neither did he pool his hand but kept our hands down and still holding unto it slightly.

Mr. Oluwaju, our other neighbor walked past staring at me steadily. When he finally got to the gate, he stops and sighed looking at me. To fulfill all righteousness, I let go of his hands to avoid him coming to instruct me.

"Sorry!" He apologized looking into my eyes thinking I was angry he still held my hands for a long time.

"What? Why do you stare at me in such a manner" I asked being angry at Oluwaju's looks earlier" she said as I cut in.

"Oluwaju would never change, he is always overreacting."

"Would you allow Gloria to complete her story?" Mum said to me. Being that she had enjoyed her story.

"Wait, Wait! Are you telling me that all these happened last year?" Paul asked laughing.

"Yes! That what she said and it's none of your business" Mum responded giving her a sign to continue talking knowing very well Paul was ready to make fun of Gloria.

"Let me cut the long story short," she said continuing from where she stopped. "Amara didn't come out even around seven so he offered to give me a ride.

I entered without any hesitation and the front seat this time.

"Garrison's College right?" he asked looking at me as I nodded.

This time, Mac David didn't drive very fast like the first time. From looking at him, you could tell he wanted to say something but didn't know exactly what to say.

"What do you do for a living?" I asked, not because I was overly concerned but just wanted him to feel free and I don't enjoy boring companies.

"I'm not working, I am a university student, level 100," he responded looking at me, am sure he was happy I spoke to him because of the way he smiled exposing his tooth opening which suits him.

"I see, what were you doing in my neighborhood?" I asked looking at him.

"I leave close, even Mr.Oluwaju your neighbor is our family friend," he responded with a smile.

"Oops, that's surprising," gasped out as he laughed.

"Wow! I didn't know you leave close and know Mr. Oluwaju too. But what brought you towards my gate?" I asked.

He gave me that wired smile before saying a word

"I came looking for you," he responded as my eye widened and my cheeks flushed red but I controlled myself from letting him see.

"Gloria, you finally have another crush," I said in my mind.

"Why?" I asked to confirm if I had a crush outside the school.

"That's because I like you Grace and would like to know you more," he responded looking me in the eye.

I wasn't expecting him to be too straightforward, I thought of hearing him stammer a bit but his response gave me excess joy but I refused to show it knowing his full concentration was on me.

"I'm sorry if you're offended but I was only being truthful," he explained waiting for my response but still got nothing, not even a smile.

I knew the Mac wasn't lying, he was very true, I could see it in his eye but I had my reasons for going mute that instant," She said breaking a bit to swallow as Amanda cut in.

"How sure are you he was sincerer?" Amanda asked. I only, knew Amanda was most interested in her story since she had problems in her relationship life.

"One hundred percent" Gloria replies looking straight into Amanda's eye.

"Can I continue?" she asked but got no response. All our attention was on Paul who was laughing loudly on a phone call.

"I love you," he said waiting for a response, and his eyes always going to and fro met with Mom's; Paul smiles.

"Sorry mom," he said walking back to the table giving us a reason to chuckle.

"Gloria please can you continue, am starting to get eager of why you two never dated," I said.

"Who said we didn't date?" She said giving us a reason to be surprised.

"I knew for sure that love doesn't work that way so for sure was an obsession," she continues.

"This didn't bother me but the fact that he might not feel the same way if he knew the truth about me.

His attention was on me and he wanted to have a response but once again I reached my destination so he stopped.

I push the door trying to open it but the door didn't.

"Oh my God!" I exclaimed aloud.

"Am I locked in a Beetle?" I said in my mind.

"What happened?" he asked as if he didn't see me trying to open the car.

"Your door, it's stalked and I can't get out" I responded.

He steps down from the car turning over and opening the car for me, I gasp out afraid of what other students would say seeing me step down from a guy's car......." Gloria stoops when she heard Paul giggle.

"What is your problem, Paul? If you are not interested in hearing my story, stop spoiling it, "Gloria said.

"What? I was only enjoying the story, same as everyone in here." "Wait! So why did you enter his car if you knew you will not be able to step down," Paul added.

"Paul, you're such a trouble maker," mom said as Amanda waved, "A fun spoiler too!" She added looking angrily at Paul as the three girls laughed at Paul's sudden muting.

"I step down of the car slowly and quietly, to avoid anyone looking at me but the music he had on in the car wouldn't allow me to." She continues.

"I suddenly heard screams and I knew that was for me. My heart skips at their scream. I could identify those voices even without turning, the same Amara I was waiting for and her crazy friends Sophia and Agnes.

Their scream made me linger inside the vehicle feeling shy of coming out so many people wouldn't see my face.

Mac made it worst by stepping down and opening the door for me.

My eyes widened as everyone's direction was towards the car to see who was coming out.

I couldn't stay any longer so I stepped down as the three girls came towards the car.

I shivered a little staring at his eyes.

"You haven't still said anything to me," he said moving closer to me and holding my hands, my fingers in between his.

"Ehe ehmm" Amara coughs trying to get his attention.

Once again, I shook his hands off. He turns to attend to Amara and the other two.

At seeing his face, they all smiled at him. Sophia walked closer.

"Wouldn't you introduce him to us?" Sophia said.

"Sorry," I said," These are my friends Amara, Sophia, and Agnes." I said turning to them, "his name is Mac." I said.

Okay, they said waving at him except for Sophia who went close hugging him.

I wasn't jealous but angry at her reaction but they mistook it for jealousy.

I walked into the school gate as he said allowed," bye babe, I'll come to pick you up. I looked at him with a frown on my face. I couldn't tell if I was angry at him or jealous he had hugged Sophia.