KELENNA

Better Career

Today is Aunt Victoria's birthday???! And that husband's of hers did what he did yesterday??? Goodness!

You know what? Darn it!

I removed the tape hanging loosely around my neck, and joined Gozie in his loudness.

"I thought you were just gonna keep standing there like pole man?"

"I... you know what? What show is complete without an audience?" I smirked "I'll just sit back and fill the background space." I sipped my drink, the guy was still even dancing while speaking to me.

"C'mon, pick a better career will you?"

"Nah I'm cool being a spectator, we can't have two stars now, no?"

"You get to be your own star buddy." Gozie rolled his eyes.

"I will shine from the couch then."

He arched a brow at me, gulped the last drink from his cup and handed it to me.

"And I'm not your buddy."

He nodded and took mine which was still halfway filled. I've only taken one sip from my drink.

"Yeah I know, I'm not your buddy." He clanked it with the empty one he handed to me and side hugged me. "And it wasn't nice meeting you actually."

"I'm still not gonna go dance with you."

"At least don't be a f*****g boring spectator then."

"Aren't I a star again? Stars ain't boring."

He just gave me the middle finger and left with a smile.

I withdrew and relaxed myself on the couch, crossed legs, after refilling my glass from the wine bottle.

I pulled a stool close to me and sat the glass on it, then went on the enjoy the mini club show Gozie had turned Senator Suites into.

At a point I just yelled "Happiest Birthday Aunt Victoria!! You're that girl they wanna be!!" Along with the Ayra Starr's song that was currently playing.

The music stopped and she slumped on a single couch, finally tired of dancing. I did a standing ovation accompanied with an applause.

"Well done!"

Gozie clapped even louder "YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

Then came to sit beside me, taking slow breathes to calm himself.

"Woow, what was that??" Aunt exclaimed.

"That was astounding!" I gave her a thumbs up.

"Nope, that wasn't only astounding. That was the queen owning herself once more!!"

I just stared at him, seriously, who is this guy even??

Picking up his phone from the tripod, he stopped the video and came closer to me.

"Andrew is gonna have it bad tonight..." He whispered and played the video "This is fire..." He snickered.

Okay...do I pretend I know who Andrew is?

"Kelenna what did he just say to you?"

That sharp eyed big sister suspicion and accusing gaze... Haaa! We aren't planning murder please.

I faced Gozie with the aren't you going to tell what you just said to me? Look

His lips moved quietly... "Don't, you, dare..."

"Kelenna...?"

Gosh, why did I come here today again? I should have just stayed home and faff about with Jideka... I wonder if he's really home sef.

"What. Did. Gozie. Say. Kelenna?"

Gozie folded his arms and stared straight at me. I turned my face away.

"He said some Jake dude will have it really bad tomorrow." Well...that works...right?

"What?"

I feel like it's not even what he said that may be the problem, but the subject 'Andrew' may be the issue.

Gozie cackled hushly.

"Sis, don't give me that look now please."

"Why not? Who is Jake? Are you planning fight someone?"

"No, of course not! That would totally uproot my steeze."

"Then why will the Jake have anything bad?"

"He...has been harassing this particular girl and she finally got his dirty little secrets out so he could leave her. He's currently on a long flight now and may not reach wherever his destination is until tomorrow. When he's back online by tomorrow, he's gonna be needing a team of doctors to revive him."

Eehh? What?? It was hard keeping a straight face. So hard, but I had to hold it in! What in the world?? Did he just cook this s**t up?! Hahaha!!!

"You both..." She pointed her finger at us "Are going to have to bring Jake to me before I believe this."

"How are we supposed to drag a guy to you?"

"How is that story supposed to be possible then Gozie?" She shook her head, stood up and grabbed her bag. "I don't have time for this."

She went into the other shop. Gozie faced me.

"Kelenna...that's your name?"

"Yes...I guess it..is?"

"You're unsure about your own name?"

"No...but, yeah...I mean what mistake could there...possibly be about the name...?"

"Ahh...I see, what are the odds that...you...may have been switched at birth...?"

"Birth...? Nah, we can't be sure with that, because that would mean I didn't even get a chance to get named."

"Right! Let's say...your naming ceremony then? Your parents probably forgot your real name or you were switched there."

"I wonder what they would have been talking about that made them forget something like that?"

"Well, maybe... something like this conversation we're having right now?"

"That explains it. You know, pretty obnoxious concerns like ours now? Yeah."

"So what are we ACTUALLY talking about here?"

"Heh. I don't know, you ask yourself?"

"Will I see you around Kel?"

Kel? I huffed. Another Jideka here, sigh.

"Definitely."

The entrance door slid open and we both turned towards it.

A tall dark man stood there, carrying some stuffs and glaring at us... no, he was subtly glaring at Gozie.

Almost then, Aunt Victoria's voice came through from the other store.

"Gozie, is Feso still downstairs?"

"I...don't...think...so..." Gozie stammered with a tentative giggle.

The man at the door sighed "You want me to come over there and knock your head before you help me out?"

"Hehe, no you don't have to."

He got up from the couch and walked to the door. I stood up as well to help out because he had said they were still some downstairs.

"What took you so long to come back and get these? I've been waiting for a while in the car, and I've even concluded a zoom meeting before coming up here."

"Umm...Sis had a very important thing to do, she needed my assistance briefly so I stayed back...We're taking these into the other shop."

"Victoria is that true?"

We dropped the bags.

"Yes it is. You're still here Feso?"

"Was I supposed to leave with your..." He glanced at the bags and cartoons of things that I don't even know "...gifting goodies?"

Gifting...goodies? Funny.

"Let's go get the remaining ones downstairs Gozie, you want to stay here until your lie is caught?" I pulled Gozie who was leaning on the wall and biting his lips to stop himself from laughing, outside.

But not without hearing the man ask:

"Who is he?"

"He...? Oh! Kelenna? Ahh, he is a very sweet..." Her voice trailed off as we got farther.

Sweet? Sweet ke?? Why would the word 'sweet' be used to describe me??

"Kel you're a lollipop?"

I rolled my eyes "Sometimes just shut up man."

"I wish I could, sweet is a notable choice of word though."

"Wait, are you trying to say that I'm a bitter person then?"

"Insufficient knowledge to decide."

"You're—"

"Annoying? Weird? Which one?"

"Hmm, I was going to say crazy."

"Huh? not something nice?"

"Did you suggest something nice?"

"What happened to the benefit of doubt?"

"It's dead, got buried last month."

"You're something else."

"You too."