Strange Love

Alicia's head was pounding in rhythm to the repeated knocking on her door. Alicia took a pillow near her and placed it over her head expecting the noise will stop but it didn't. She decided to pretend the knocking didn't bother her and prayed Anna would give up and walk away. But the knocking persisted growing louder and more insistent with each passing moment. Alicia tossed and turned then added another pillow to cover her head while hiding under the covers. Anna isn't one to give up so easily, at least not today of all days. She stood akimbo stroking her chin while staring at the door, she needed to find her way into her sister's room since her stubborn sister was refusing to answer. She recalled watching movies about unlocking people's doors without a key. It's time for her to put it to a test. She ran to her room to get a hairpin, she came back to stand in front of Alicia's door. "For your sake sis let's hope this works." Anna went on her knees and carefully slide the hairpin through the keyhole. After jiggling and muttering prayers for over five minutes she was finally able to pick the lock. "Yes, it worked." She screamed jumping up excitedly. Alicia heard her door creak open then there were footsteps approaching her bed. She locked her eyelids tight hiding her face under her pillows and blanket. "Alicia, Alicia, wake up." "Go away Anna," Alicia managed to groan. Anna knew if she did not persist Alicia wouldn't budge. She picked up one of the pillows Alicia was cuddling with her face and hit her with it. Alicia hid her entire body inside her blanket and ignored the pillow fight Anna was trying to start. "Wake up," Anna panted softly. "Mm-mm," Alicia mumbled. Anna climbed the bed and sat on Alicia then said. "Alicia, you are going to be late for your flight." "My flight?"Alicia jerked to her seat making Anna tumble onto the ground and causing a loud thud sound. "What time is it?" She screamed at her sister who was struggling to get on her feet. "Ouch... My back." Anna grunted. "I think it's past 8," she added holding her waist. "Oh my God, I'm running late."Alicia shrieked running up and down her room and picking up stuff. “Alicia, Alicia," Her crazy sister refuse to hear her so she picked up a pillow and threw it at her. A pillow hitting her head made her scowl at her sister. Anna didn't care at least it got her attention. "I'll help clean your room, I already cleaned the house for you." “Oh Anna, what will I do without you? You're the best sister anyone could ever wish for." Anna shrugged her shoulders. "Don't get all emotional on me, go in there and take a shower before uncle Philip gets impatient." "Uncle Philip is here?" Alicia gasped. "Thank you so much for everything." She hugged and pecked her sister. "Go already." She giggled. Alicia ran to the bathroom hugging her towel. Anna shook her head wearing a smile. Alicia seemed rather excited this morning compared to when she went to bed last night. She was sad and despondent about leaving. Even their mother's soothing words couldn't lift her spirit. "Mmh," she placed her hand on her jaw thoughtful. "I wonder what got into her." "Oh well, this room isn't going clean itself." Anna started cleaning up the room humming a soft tone. She is more excited than anyone to know her sister will be living in the States. She imagined it would be cool to brag to her friends that her elder sister lives abroad. But now she's cleaning her sister’s room, she couldn’t help but think about how empty it’s going to be after today. She thought about days when her sister would manage to take care of the household chores but when it was time to clean her room she suddenly became too tired. So she makes her do it as a favor. Anna had to hum the song she and her sister learned to sing together hoping it would make the heavy heartache go away. But it didn't really help. She sat on the bed after making it, staring at the small picture frame on the nightstand, it's a selfie of her and Alicia both smiling ever so brightly. It made her chuckle, but then a tear crawled down her cheek which was wiped immediately. Alicia was already having a tough time leaving, her crying was only going to make things a lot worse for her. So she stood up, braced herself then continued cleaning up the room. The living room was now crowded with Alicia's friends who came to say goodbye. They are five of them including her boyfriend Marco. Marco was sweating bullets waiting impatiently for his beloved Alicia to come out of her bedroom. Letting her go is harder than he thought, at first he thought they can make it work. They love each other a lot so they can deal with long distances. Today he felt different. He won't be seeing her around for a long time. He would not be able to hold her hands. Kiss her lips. Take her on dates. He doesn't know if he can do it, and he doesn't want to end the relationship either. He was at war inside. But to the people around they saw he was heartbroken that his girlfriend was traveling, they had no clue it was so much worse than that. Ola, Ama, and Ada left the living room to help their best friend get dressed up for the States. Alicia didn't want them to be up in her bedroom with her. It will make it harder for her to go. But they went anyway, they don't know when they'll ever get the chance to do something like this again. She was still wet with her big brown towel wrapped around her chest when her three best friends barged into her room enthusiastically. It startled her so much that she nearly dropped her towel but was able to hold onto it laughing hysterically. They screamed in excitement and ran to hug her wet body. "You guys," she said with cloudy eyes. “You shouldn't have...” "Alicia don't," Ola pointed at her smiling. She's the toughest one among them. Alicia immediately swallowed the urge the tear up seeing the frightening eyes of her friend Olamide. Her friends had brave faces on even Ama who is the most sensitive. They haven't come to hold her back. Rather they came to encourage her to take this big step for all of them. Ada walked over to the bed, staring at the clothes her friend would be wearing to the states. A pair of grey jeans, ashes color shirt and a blue jean jacket. Alicia is not the best when it comes to style, but her friends love how her crazy combination still looks good on her. Beside her bed was a pair of lavender flats. The same one they got her on her eighteenth birthday. Ama promised herself not to cry but seeing those shoes made her wet her cheek for a bit. It would be hard to get used to not having Alicia around. "You wearing the shoes," Ada pointed at the flats. Alicia chuckled, then shrugged her shoulders. "Of course, it's my favorite." "It's ugly." Ola smiled. The four of them laughed tearfully. "I'm gonna miss you guys so much." Alicia spread her arms to hug her friends. But her towel fell instead. They all started laughing at her as she picked up her towel and wrapped it around her chest again. "I don't mean to rain on your parade but you're running out of time." Anna who had been feeling invisible finally spoke. It appears the others didn't know she was there, so hearing her speak startled the three of them. They held their chest laughing nervously. “Oh hi, Anna,” Ada waved at her. “You're here,” Ama added. It's normal for Anna, She has lived under a sister's shadow her whole life. No one ever notices her when her sister is around. Even hanging out with her sister's friends in her sister's presence is like being a fly on a wall. She gets so bored she begins to wonder why she was invited. But when Alicia isn't there, the trio plays with her a lot. They tell her girl stuff and laugh with her about dumb boys. She had gotten so used to it that she doesn't say much unless she's spoken to. If not that time was running fast and Alicia wouldn't have noticed because of her friends present she wouldn't have said anything. Alicia looked at her sister with thankful eyes before going over to her wardrobe and taking out her old body lotion. She had already packed the new one in her luggage. Her friends watched her lotion her body as fast as her hands could carry her. She then wore the clothes she arranged on the bed. “You're seriously going to wear these ugs to America." Ola picked up the flats. "You guys got me those." Alicia pouted. The girls giggled. "It's still ugly." Ola c****d her brow at Alicia. The other two girls burst out laughing. "It was last minute Ola plus the shoes are not that bad." Ama took the flats from Ola and handed them to Alicia. "She makes them look good." Ada joined. Alicia's cheeks rose with excitement. She can't believe she won't be seeing these three crazy girls again who decided to buy her a pair of ugly shoes for her birthday. It's not like they planned it like that. They spent so much time planning a surprise party for her eighteenth birthday which was also a farewell party for her going to the State that they forgot to buy her an actual present. Ada and Ama had to rush to the nearest market to find her a present. It's a Sunday not many shops are open so they bought the only good thing they could get their hands on that day. "I don't care if they are the ugliest shoes, I still love them and I'm going to wear them today." Alicia has always been one who appreciates even the smallest things. Her friends love that about her. Ola just smiled at her with glitter in her eyes. "You rock them regardless." "Thanks." Alicia mouthed to Ola. Olamide is her first female friend but since they had so little in common it took them time to get along and become close. Though Ada and her act like besties, she sees Ola as her female best friend. She is the one person who is never afraid to tell her the truth. She is never afraid to tell anyone the truth. Whether you want to hear it or not. Above all, she is the nicest. She is very considerate of others and tries to treat people as she wants to be treated which is odd for her personality.