MISTLETOE

Ewatomi groaned as she angrily swiped at her yelling alarm clock. She'd forgotten to turn it off for the weekend. Again.

"Damn it, it is Saturday." She grumbled to no one in particular.

"Wake up, honey." Her mother knocked lightly on her door.

"Hmmm, no." She groaned out.

"Honey, you will miss your party if you don't get up now." Her mother chuckled.

Party? Her drowsy brain tried to analyze the situation and she sat up in bed with a jolt when she made the realization.

Today is my birthday, she gasped. She dashed out of the bedroom and raced to the kitchen where her mother was busy preparing breakfast.

"Happy birthday, honey." Her mother smiled at her, opening her arms to give an embrace.

She stepped into her mother's arms and returned the gesture. "Thanks, mum." She moved back and popped a fried fish into her mouth.

Scowling, her mother rebuked her. " Ewa, you haven't brushed your teeth."

Giving her mother one of her soul-winning grins, she defended her action. "Relax, mum. It's just a bite and moreover, it is my day."

Her mother smiled, unable to resist the effect of the grin like most people couldn't. All except Tunmise. Ewatomi sighed and rebuked herself later. It was her birthday and she had no reason to be sad.

"Speaking of your birthday, you have to hurry up because your guests are going to be here anytime soon."

"Mum, you didn't tell me you had a party planned and you already invited guests."

Her mother snorted. "If I had told you, you would have found a reason to not be available. Either you go to the library or go mountaineering and I couldn't let your sweet sixteen birthday go just like that. But don't worry, it is a small party."

Ewa scoffed at her mother's sentimentality. "Who did you invite?"

"Sade, Bisi, Hellen, Tunmise and Chidi."

"Wait, what?" Ewa exclaimed in horror. "You invited Tunmise?"

"Of course, I did. He is my friend's son and I can't have a party for you without extending an invitation to him. And moreover, you both attend the same school."

Ewatomi sighed. Of course, she did.

Her mother frowned at the change in her countenance and peered at her face. "Honey, what is the problem? Are you two not friends?"

Ewa smiled brightly for her mother's sake. "No problem, mum. They are all my friends and thank you for keeping the list short."

Her mother released a sigh of relief and smiled. "I know my daughter. Now, go get dressed up, baby girl. Your birthday clothes were snuck into your closet this morning."

Ewa chuckled. She knew her mother was loving every moment of her birthday even more than she was.

Of all, Tunmise? Well, she should have expected it. Her mother was right. Tunmise was her friend but that was the problem. She needed him not to be 'her friend'.

An hour later, Ewatomi admired her figure in the long dressing mirror in her bedroom. The black jeans clung tightly to her hips and the bright pink beaded blouse did wonders to her skin complexion. She styled her braids and dabbed a little makeup on her face.

She smiled at her reflection. Now, she was ready to meet her guests.

Uh-oh, she was not ready to meet her guests. She corrected minutes later as she stepped out of her bedroom and set her eyes on Tunmise.

She looked around for her other friends but nobody else was around yet. She should have known. Tunmise was a stickler for punctuality.

She breathed in slowly and exhaled. She could do this.

"Hey," she smiled as she moved closer.

"Hi, happy birthday." He smiled back, handing her a small package. "You look lovely. As usual." He chuckled.

Her heart thumped madly but she managed to get her voice under control. "Um, thanks." As usual? He took notice of her?

Tunmise had been her childhood friend and somehow, she had developed a crush on him which only Hellen, her best friend knew about. Due to his involvement in the school athletic team when they got into their senior year, they'd drifted apart but her affection for him had never waned.

He was too busy for her and she was left ogling him from afar, sighing at what had once been and wondering if he even still knew she existed.

The rest of the party breezed in all together, shouting and laughing, all making a grab for the birthday girl.

"Birthday babe!" Chidi chortled, handing her a present.

Her friends all handed her presents and she beamed with joy as she received them all.

Her mother came into the living room, with trays of assorted dishes, snacks, drinks and all forms of treats. Ewa glared at her mother in wonder as she set the treats down.

When had she prepared all the stuffs she was bringing in?

"I will leave you teenagers to the fun." She chuckled as she straightened up. "Enjoy your party, honey." She winked and left.

Ewa felt gratitude and love well in her heart as she watched her mother. Every year, she celebrated her birthday with her parents either on restaurant dates or picnic trips and she hadn't been expecting one this year because her father had to travel for work.

She should have known her mother would still find a way to make her day a blast.

"Wow, stuffing your face is allowed." Sade laughed, already picking out a plate to serve herself.

"Let's play a game." Bisi suggested, clapping excitedly to herself.

Tunmise snorted. "We're too old for childish games."

Bisi bristled with suppressed annoyance. "Who said anything about childish games?"

"Calm down, guys." Chidi said, always the peacemaker. "We can play the truth or dare game."

"No!" Both Tunmise and Ewatomi yelled at the same time and looked at each other.

Ewatomi peered studiously at Tunmise. He looked slightly embarrassed. She knew why she yelled against the game but what could Tunmise be afraid of?

She shrugged it off. Everybody had a right to their secret.

Three hours later, Ewatomi bade her friends goodbye and thanked them for making her day a memorable one.

She frowned at Tunmise when she noticed he wasn't making any move to go.

"Are you not going home?"

"Not yet," he smiled. "My mum went out after dropping me and wouldn't be back anytime soon."

Ewatomi groaned inwardly to herself.

He continued, oblivious to her inner struggles. "We can chat and have fun, just like old times." Funny, he looked kind of hopeful.

"I doubt we can have just like old times moments again."

He moved closer and punched her playfully on the arm. "Don't be like that, Tomi."

Tomi? That was the name he preferred to call her when they were still close. Maybe they could have just like old times again. And more than friendship, she hoped.