7:00pm, Friday of the same week.
UPenn.
Mandy had invited the other guys who were in her clique. The party was to start in thirty minutes' time. Mandy had rented the entire second floor of one of the restaurants in the college and used it as the venue for the party she organised for Ifes and her squad of friends.
"Here. We. Are!" Mandy said with a musical flourish. "Hope you like my little surprise?" Mandy asked, wriggling her eyebrows as she untied the white handkerchief she used in blindfolding Ifesinachi's eyes.
Ifes fluttered her eyes, clearing the sparks of light that stunned her when the blindfold was removed.
The medium-sized hall was painted a shade of lemon green that almost looked yellow.
The curtains and drapes were hung in perfect harmony, showing their elegance, sparkling in the light glowing from the pristine chandeliers.
Flowers and curly ribbons were used to decorate the hall. Disco lights danced around in small dots of kaleidoscopic colors.
On the left side were round tables with drinks and other refreshments arranged on them.
On the right were tables for two, where each person could eat with their partners.
The dancing stage, where mini-speakers and other wired equipment were fixed, was very inviting for groove-lovers.
In the middle, there stretched out a lush, red carpet from the beginning to the end of the hall.
Ifes were awed. These looked so exquisite and expensive.
"Oh, wow! This is more than a surprise! This is epic!" Ifes exclaimed, eyes wide as she gaped the medium-sized hall.
"You like it?" Mandy asked with a sense of pride.
"What are you saying? I love it!" Ifes took Mandy's hands in hers and held it warmly. Her eyes were glassy, brimming with unshed tears of gratitude. "Thank you so much Mandy. I don't know how to appreciate this!"
"Shush! I should be the one appreciating you and not the other way around, you hear?"
"But for what?"
"You told me about Jesus. You gave me the greatest gift. I never dreamt of having such a blessing in my whole life."
"No way, Mandy, no way! I refused to take any glory or credit that belongs to God. Jesus gave you the gift of salvation. God is the legend here and not I."
"But he used you. What if I hadn't known you? What if you had not told me about him?"
"I was privileged to be the vessel he used to reach out his undying love towards you. I mean, he could have done it through anyone. Trust me Mandy, he would have."
"Yes, that's true. You know, I remember the first day I met you. I thought I was just having a regular roommate. I never knew God was bringing someone from the other side of my world just to show me how much he would go for me to know the extent of his love."
Mandy paused, looked straight in Ifes' eyes and said with sincerity, "Ifes, I want you to know that you are the sister I never had, and I love you!"
"I love you, too, Mandy!" Ifes replied, smiling.
"I must confess, your dress looks perfect on you."
Mandy and Ifes both wore a pink dinner gown and matching white hair scrunchie.
Pink and white had always been Ifesinachi's favorite colour. Knowing how special that day was for her, Mandy had suggested they dressed in that twin outfit. They also wore dangling earrings and bracelets that matched the colour of their high-heeled shoes.
"Oh, really?" Mandy beamed. "You think he would like it?"
Perplexed at that question, Ifes asked, eyebrows furrowed, "Who exactly are you talking about?"
"No, No! No one in particular, I'm just asking if my friends would like it!" Mandy stammered.
From the way she stammered, Ifes knew she was lying, and she was getting suspicious. Who was the 'he' she was talking about? Was it Ryan? Or Hunter? It couldn't be Bradley because she had never noticed any current between them.
"Is that so?" Ifes gave Mandy a suspicious look.
Mandy laughed sheepishly, blushing as she did. "Sure, umm... Why not, let me go and see if the guys are downstairs. They should be on their way now," she said, gesticulating erratically.
Mandy wanted to scurry away but halted when the door opened.
"No, I didn't!"
"Yes, you did!"
"I know I didn't!"
"Yes, you did!"
"I said no, I didn't!"
"Of course you know you did!"
Mandy stared, in trance-like mode, at the two figures who were arguing as they waltzed in. Avery and Ayo didn't even notice Mandy and Ifes as they were so engrossed in their raillery.
"Hahaha! I know you would eventually agree that you did," Avery said with a triumphant expression.
"It's not like I agreed with you. I just had to let the matter go," Ayo said jokingly, and their banter ensued again, this time with a higher tempo.
"Can you imagine?" Ifes cringed internally. She wanted to scream out loud if that was what it would take for these guys to notice Mandy's and her presence.
The reaction Mandy was displaying kept her at bay. Why was she gazing at them wide-eyed and mouth agape?
Seeing Mandy like that, Ifes wished it was a beach party so she could scoop sand and pour it into her mouth.
Like the switching on of the proverbial light bulb, a brilliant idea dropped into Ifes' head.
She carefully unzipped her handbag, smirking in mischief, she brought out her pen. Aiming, she threw it straight into Mandy's mouth. Mandy let out an ear-piercing sound that finally made Avery and Ayo notice their presence.
Avery and Ayo burst out laughing at Mandy when they got the knowledge of what happened.
"You jerk!" Mandy glared at her friend. "I am going to get back at you for doing this to me!" she said, spluttering as she pulled out the saliva-coated pen from her mouth.
Ifes ignored her, joining the duo to laugh out her guts, tears peeking out of the sides of her eyes.
After she recovered from her laughing frolic, she moved close and hunkered down beside her whispering to her ears, "Do you want me to tell them you were staring at them a while back, eyes and mouth agape?"
Mandy didn't say a word as her face became as white as a sheet. Mission accomplished, Ifes stood, smiled sardonically, and walked away.
The door flew open. Ian and Anne-Marie walked in side by side. Behind them, Skylar, Megan and Chini walked in. Ryan entered last of all.
Anne-Marie called out to Ian, "Oh! Ian, please come over here. Come take a look at this design. Isn't it beautiful? What do you think? I'm thinking of using it for my next birthday. Oh! This is lovely."
The door flung open again and closed with a thud as Hunter walked in behind Bradley. Everyone jumped, frightened at Hunter's display.
"Hey! Fear not. It's your boy, Hunter. Who missed me here?"
"Sometimes you act like a fool. I can't help but wonder if you are truly my brother!" Bradley playfully gave Hunter a punch in his stomach. Hunter winced as everyone laughed.
At exactly 7:30pm, Mandy climbed into the center stage. Her pink gown glimmered underneath the rays of the chandelier light. "Okay guys, it's time, so will we begin the party now?"
Hunter smirked as others replied cheerfully. "I know I am here for a boring party," he mumbled, but it was loud enough that Ifes could hear it.
"It looks like you are a fool indeed."
Perplexed, Hunter whirled around to see Ifes walking away to Ryan's table.
As the party went on, Ifes confirmed her suspicions about Mandy. She couldn't help but notice the way her roommate gazed at one of the guys. For how long had this been going on in Mandy's head? And she didn't say anything about it? Was Mandy afraid of her reaction when she found out or what?
It was quite obvious. Mandy's gaze followed him around once in a while. She never failed to take advantage of any opportunity she had to talk and laugh with him.
The party ended. Everyone was exhausted to their bones and more than eager to go home. They all thanked Mandy for the exciting bash, said their goodbyes, and returned to their various dorm rooms.