"Happy birthday to a friend, sister, coursemate and roommate! No words can express how happy I feel about one person who has touched my life positively. "
Ifes smiled after reading the short note on the green wall opposite her bed. Her eyes darted around the room as she saw the same note passed around each corner of her wall. Mandy had obviously done that overnight, making sure it—her token of love—filled almost every inch of the room too.
Ifes wanted to get up and look for Mandy. She stopped herself when she remembered that she hadn't prayed. Mandy was definitely going to ask her about it. These days, she wondered who had become more prayerful.
Ifes thought of her friend's prayer life and couldn't help the smile that crawled across her face. Prayer had become like air; Mandy couldn't do without it. It was one of the things she lived for.
"Thank you, Jesus!" she said as she ambled to the front of her standing mirror. Looking at her reflection, she couldn't help but wonder in adoration. She was finally eighteen. If she were in her country, she would now be classified as an adult. She would have the right to make her choices, live on her own if she wanted to, and gain her right to franchise, amidst other things.
Looking back to her childhood, she knew it hadn't been easy but yet, she still had every reason to thank God for a successful eighteen-years journey.
Moving away from the standing mirror, her eyes glanced on one of the notes Mandy had pasted. She moved closer and read it as she was seeing it for the first time.
Where was Mandy? She didn't hear any sounds of music from Mandy's room so she wondered if Mandy had gone out that morning. It was Saturday and lectures weren't being held. It was also unusual for her to go out in the early hours of the day.
Turning away from the birthday note, she headed straight to her bedside, knelt down, and had her morning devotion. After prayers, she heard a sound from the kitchen—the sound of the opening and thud of a door—then she saw Mandy walking in with a tray in hand.
"Uh-oh, I thought I might serve you breakfast in bed, but you are already awake." Mandy pouted.
"Better luck with it next year."
"Yeah, sure!"
Ifes' gaze moved to the tray Mandy was holding which contained a mug of hot chocolate and grilled cheese sandwich. Her stomach growled loudly.
Mandy smiled. "You better come feed that hungry lion in your stomach."
Being a party person herself, Mandy made arrangements for a birthday party despite Ifes' objections. "We'll just organise something small at the dorm suite."
Ifes received a call from her mother and siblings but they didn't say much. She wondered maybe it was because she had been away for three years, so she didn't get offended that they did not sound as enthusiastic as they usually did.
Mandy finished decorating the suite, and asked Ifes, as the lady of the day, to come inspect it. "So, what thinkest thou? Est la belle?" Mandy said with a grande flourish and a pitiful attempt at french.
"As beautiful as always." Ifes smiled. "Sometimes I wonder why you choose Peace and Conflict Resolution as your discipline, instead of something like design or decorating!"
At 6:00pm on the same day, it was almost party time.
"We better start getting dressed before the rest of the guys start coming, I don't want the celebrant looking weird at her own party." Mandy whirled Ifes around and pushed her towards her room and helped her to check out her closet. She selected a beautiful purple gown, a silver-colored high heel, a matching set of hair bands, earrings and bangles.
"I think this will be perfect on you." Mandy said as she tossed the outfit to her roommate. "Go ahead and put it on."
When both ladies finished dressing up, they emerged stunning.
"You're really looking good, you know!" Mandy said.
"Thanks, same here."
Thirty minutes later, their friends began to arrive in their dorm room for the night celebration.
Chini ambled in, dressed as glamorous as always. When her eyes met her friend's, she walked towards her and embraced her. "Happy birthday to you!" Taking an approving look at her friend all over, she beamed. "I wish Kachi was here." Chini said, aware of her friend's crush on her brother. "He would have liked what he would see."
Ifes slapped her hand away. "You started your unwanted jokes again."
"Yes, I'm serious! Well, I must take your picture; my brother needs to see this."
With a grin, Ifes rolled her eyes. "You better stop teasing me, Chini. You won't get anywhere with it."
Chini leaned forward and whispered to her ears. "I have not seen you with any man lately, or you want to tell me you still have a crush on my brother? If so, I think today will be perfect to let him in on that because I'm sending him your pictures right away."
Ifes groaned. "Just leave me alone! What I felt for your brother was a child's play."
"But you are all grown up now, and I believe you have grown with the feelings as well."
Ifes blushed. "I don't know about that, but I don't think so either."
"Yeah, you'll be sure very soon. Wait till I send your pictures to Kachi. I don't think he's got a girlfriend, so I think it will be just cool matchmaking you two. At least, you're eighteen now.".
Ifes smirked. "I know how serious your brother has always been. Always smart and focused. He won't take you seriously."
"And that's why you have always loved him, isn't it? He's still handsome and smart."
Chini yanked out her phone and started taking pictures, asking her friend to pose in different styles.
"Wow! This is beautiful!" Click!
"This is great!" Click!
"I think he would love this one the most!" Click!
"He needs to see this one... You are looking lovely... I love the way you smiled!" Click!
"Oh! I can't believe this. Muah!" Click.
"That's enough for today, Chini," Ifes said, waving her hand.
As Chini was just about sending the pictures to her brother, her phone vibrated, letting her know that a caller was requesting to speak to her.
Ifes saw a hint of discomfort crawling across her friend's face and decided to talk to her after the call.
"I have always noticed this uncomfortable movement each time you answer Jidenna's calls. Do you mind talking about it? The last time I checked, you told me he was asking you out."
"Yes! He still does. But you know, some people ain't just lucky to get what they want."
"But why did you say so, Chini? Jidenna is a cool man, a Christian and also focused like your brother. At least, I've heard that from you several times."
"Yes, I said so, but I don't really like him that much. He's a great man, I mean, a really cool guy that most ladies would want to have. Everything is not just making sense to me. Sometimes, I want to talk about it with you, but it makes me feel ashamed."
"And when did we start keeping secrets from each other? Have you forgotten so soon, how we shared our problems and prayed about it together?"
"No, and I'm sorry about it."
"So, what is the matter now?"
"Can't say!"
"Does it have anything to do with his twin brother?"
"No, this has nothing to do with Kasie or any other dude out there. It's just about me and Jidenna."
"Mmm!" Ifes exclaimed. "This is really a tough one for you."
"Yeah, it is."
As Ifes listened to her friend, she remembered her scenario with Mandy and Ayo. The difference was that Chini wasn't entangled in a love triangle.
She reached out and touched her friend affectionately. "Yeah, but in all these: have you asked the Holy Spirit for His all leading? Ayo spoke to me the other day and I learnt a lot from him which was about involving the Holy Spirit in even our relationships."
"No, I haven't really thought about it." Chini looked away from her hands to her friend. "But I think I'll give it a try."
"Yes, please do, and the Holy Spirit will direct you. Perhaps Jidenna could be perfect for you. And if it's someone out there, I believe he will show you a way around it."
Chini smiled as relief flooded her heart. "Thank you so much, Ifes. Did you know he is asking for a lifetime commitment? So, I'll just take your advice and pray about it."
Ifes wasn't surprised that her friend was getting a proposal, she was two years older than her. A twenty-year-old lady should expect things like that, right?
"I have really missed our days in secondary school. We don't even speak that much again because of our school activities," Chini said.
"Yeah, I know, right? But out of sight is not out of mind."
"Yes, and I think it was a blessing that we were both accepted into the same college."
"I can't agree more, and I'm happy about that."
"I'm also happy about that too; and don't worry, I believe we will always be here for each other."
Hunter opened and slammed the door with a thud, notifying everyone of his presence. "what's up, cowboys and cowgirls!"
Everyone's gaze turned on him.
"Hey, Ifes, ya looking sweet!"
"Thank you." she replied dryly, feeling embarrassed with the way he played with her. She looked for a fast means to get away from the jerk.
Ayo came to her rescue as he walked in, greeted her with a one-sided hug, and engaged her in a conversation.
As the party started, Ayo could not keep his eyes off Mandy. To him, she was the fairest of them all. Did anyone see what he was seeing? Or was his love for her making her seem a hundred times more beautiful than before?
She overwhelmed him. The way she moved, her warm smile, when she laughed; it was the most beautiful melody he ever heard.
Ayo shoved his hands into his side pockets. It was all he could do to restrain himself from holding Mandy and pouring out his emotions.
Two spots of pink appeared on Mandy's cheeks when she noticed Ayo looking at her. She loved him too, he was also looking great.
As the party went on, someone's knuckles bangged on the door. Seeing everyone invited was present, they wondered who it was.
"I'll get the door," Mandy said.
"No, don't worry, I'll take care of it," Ayo replied and got to the door before Mandy. He opened it and saw a man in his mid-thirties standing with a parcel in his hands.
"Good day, I am here to deliver a gift item to a student named Ifesinachi Uzondu. It's her birthday gift."
"Oh, alright!" Ayo stepped inside and called Ifes. Ifes moved to the door, collected the package and signed before the carrier exited their doorstep. She carried the small box and tossed it on the centre table.
"What's that?" Mandy asked.
Ifes shook her head. "Don't know. A courier brought this, and he said it's a birthday gift from a loved one."
Curious, Ifes couldn't wait until the end of the party to open the beautifully wrapped box. She opened it and saw one large envelope and a smaller one at the corner. She took out the small envelope and saw a handwriting she recognised very well.
"A letter to my daughter."
Feeling excited, she tore open the envelope and started reading her father's letter.
Hello my dear, I'm so glad to witness this day of my life. It's a pleasure to see you turn eighteen, though I am not there to celebrate with you.
You don't know how happy and proud I am of you. Each time I think of you or your siblings, I become elated and I can't help the joy that flows from my heart. I give God thanks for bringing you and your siblings into my life. You made me a proud father, even when I could not live up to the expectations of taking you to college.
At this point, Ifes almost cried. To Ifes, her father lived more than his expectations.
I am currently in the UK. I finally travelled for my internship. It will last for eighteen months.
I couldn't make it to the US because of my busy schedule, so I decided to send you a little gift. My dear, you are now eighteen. In Nigeria, when people turn eighteen, they become eligible to get their driver's licence and drive their car. I have asked the delivery man to deliver the car to you at your doorstep. You can ask your friends to help go through the documents inside the big envelope to confirm if they are intact.
Ifesinachi's mouth and eyes widened in astonishment.
I hope you'll soon learn how to drive so you can earn your driver's licence. I trust you, my dear. You are smart.
I know your mum and siblings already called you to give their birthday wishes, but I specifically asked them not to say much because they might spill the beans. I wanted to give you the news myself.
Ifes wondered what news.
Before making my trip to the UK, I was transferred to the national headquarter in Port Harcourt, This meant that I had to relocate. With delight, let me announce to you that your mum and siblings are currently in our new home in Port Harcourt.
Ifes screamed excitedly at the top of her voice. She didn't know how to contain the glee that welled up in her heart! A new car as her birthday present, eighteen months of internship in the UK, and finally, a new location in a bigger city. All this in one day!
There are other gift items inside the box I sent you that I don't want to mention. Please take a look at it, and I hope you will like it.
With love, your father, Ifeanyi Uzondu.
She read the letter for the second time out loud in the hearing of her curious friends. They all scurried downstairs to the dorm parking lot and spotted a brand new car which had the same matching description to what was written in the letter.
Oh, wow! This was great! They all congratulated her. Having learnt how to drive and given his driver's licence, Ayo was asked to help Ifes with her driving classes.