"Behind the smile"
1344 Words
Mirabel stared at Benita, waiting for an explanation.
“Michael.”
The name hung between them.
Benita's eyes quickly moved away.
“What about Michael?” she asked, pretending to be confused.
“You know what I'm talking about.”
“No, I don't.”
“Benita, I literally saw his name on your phone.”
Benita sighed and dropped herself onto the bed.
“It's not a big deal.”
“Then why are you acting like it is?”
“I just don't feel like talking about it right now.”
Mirabel folded her arms.
“But you were the one giving me relationship advice five minutes ago.”
“And?”
“And now you're suddenly keeping secrets?”
Benita grabbed a pillow and hugged it against her chest.
“Mirabel, please. Can we talk about something else?”
Mirabel stared at her for a few seconds.
“Fine.”
Benita immediately smiled.
“Thank you!”
“But I'm coming back to this.”
“Ah-ah! See this girl.”
Benita reached for her phone.
“Come. Let's watch a movie.”
“A movie?”
“Yes. There's one I've been wanting to watch.”
“What movie?”
Benita showed her the screen.
It was a romantic drama.
Mirabel raised an eyebrow.
“You and romance.”
“Don't start.”
They settled against the pillows, sharing Benita's phone between them.
The movie started with two teenagers who met unexpectedly and slowly became close friends. Before long, the friendship began turning into something more complicated.
Mirabel smiled at one of the scenes.
“Aww.”
Benita looked at her.
“You're smiling.”
“Because it's cute!”
“You're already imagining you and Michael.”
Mirabel grabbed the pillow beside her and threw it at her.
“Shut up!”
Benita laughed.
“I'm only saying.”
“Focus on the movie.”
They continued watching.
Every few minutes, Benita made dramatic comments about the characters.
“This boy is too fine. If I were her, I would have confessed since.”
Mirabel laughed.
“You're so unserious.”
“I'm being realistic.”
“Realistic how?”
“Imagine liking somebody and keeping quiet for two years. What kind of suffering is that?”
Mirabel shook her head.
“You make everything about relationships.”
“Because relationships are interesting!”
“Not all relationships.”
“Okay, Mrs. Wise Woman.”
They both laughed.
For a while, the awkward conversation about Michael disappeared.
After the movie ended, Benita immediately switched to social media.
“Have you seen this challenge?”
“What challenge?”
Benita showed her a video.
Mirabel burst out laughing.
“People have too much free time!”
“Honestly!”
They spent the next few minutes scrolling through funny videos, celebrity gossip, trending sounds, school memes and ridiculous comments.
“Look at this comment!” Benita shouted.
Mirabel leaned closer.
They both started laughing.
“People online are crazy.”
“Very crazy.”
Then Mirabel's phone buzzed.
She glanced at the notification.
Her smile appeared immediately.
Benita noticed.
“Michael?”
Mirabel locked her phone.
“No.”
“Liar!”
“It's not him.”
“Then why are you smiling like that?”
“I'm not smiling.”
Benita laughed.
“Your face has already betrayed you.”
Before Mirabel could respond, they heard the sound of the front door opening downstairs.
“My mum!”
Mirabel jumped up.
A few seconds later, Mrs. Smith appeared at the bedroom door carrying her handbag.
“Ah! My two girls.”
“Welcome, Mum!” Mirabel said.
“Good evening, ma,” Benita greeted politely.
“Good evening, my dear. Have you two been behaving yourselves?”
Benita nodded seriously.
“Very well, ma.”
Mirabel burst out laughing.
“Mum, don't believe her.”
Mrs. Smith laughed.
“Why? What did she do?”
“Nothing.”
“Exactly,” Benita said quickly.
Mrs. Smith shook her head.
“Both of you, come downstairs. I'm hungry.”
“What are we eating?” Benita asked.
“Pounded yam and egusi soup.”
Benita's eyes widened.
“Ma, I love you.”
Mrs. Smith laughed.
“See food has already made you love me.”
“I've loved you since, ma. The food just reminded me.”
Mirabel laughed.
“You're shameless.”
“I'm honest.”
The three of them went into the kitchen.
Mrs. Smith brought out the ingredients while Mirabel helped arrange the things they needed.
Benita stood beside them, claiming she was the “supervisor.”
“Supervisor that is not touching anything,” Mirabel teased.
“Leadership is not about doing all the work.”
Mrs. Smith looked at her.
“Hmm. So you are a politician?”
The girls burst into laughter.
“Ma!”
“What? She said leadership.”
Benita laughed.
“Mrs. Smith, I like you.”
“You better like me. You're eating my food tonight.”
“Definitely, ma.”
Soon the kitchen filled with the smell of egusi soup.
Mirabel helped with the cooking while Benita occasionally sneaked little tastes.
“Benita!”
“What?”
“You've tasted that soup four times.”
“Quality control.”
Mrs. Smith laughed.
“Let her taste it. At least she won't complain when we eat.”
“I'll never complain, ma.”
“Good.”
As they cooked, the conversation moved from school to funny stories about their classmates.
Benita told Mrs. Smith about a boy in their class who had once confidently answered a question completely wrong.
Mrs. Smith laughed so hard she had to hold the kitchen counter.
“Children of nowadays!”
“Ma, you should have seen his face!”
Mirabel wiped tears from her eyes.
“You're exaggerating.”
“I'm not!”
“You always exaggerate.”
Mrs. Smith smiled.
“I can see the two of you will give me plenty of headaches when school resumes.”
“Not me, ma,” Mirabel said innocently.
Benita pointed at her.
“She is the dangerous one.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
Mrs. Smith laughed.
“Both of you are trouble.”
Eventually, dinner was ready.
They sat together at the dining table, and Benita stared happily at the pounded yam and egusi soup in front of her.
“Thank you, ma.”
“You're welcome, my dear.”
The meal was filled with laughter and conversation.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
No secrets.
No awkward questions.
No Michael.
Just three people enjoying a peaceful evening.
But Mirabel couldn't completely forget what she'd seen on Benita's phone.
After dinner, Benita helped clear the table.
When it was time to leave, Mirabel walked her to the door.
“Thanks for coming.”
“Of course.”
“And next time, you're explaining that Michael situation.”
Benita smiled.
“Maybe.”
“Benita!”
She laughed.
“Goodnight, girl.”
“Goodnight.”
Benita started walking down the street.
Mirabel watched her for a moment before turning back toward the house.
Then Benita's phone buzzed.
She stopped.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
For a few seconds, she simply stared at the message.
Then she typed a quick reply.
“She doesn't know anything yet.”
She locked her phone and continued walking.
Back inside, Mirabel was already lying on her bed when her own phone buzzed.
She picked it up casually.
Then froze.
It was a message from Michael.
“Can we talk? There's something I've been meaning to tell you before your birthday.”
Mirabel's heart began racing.
She read the message again.
Then another message appeared.
“And please… don't tell Benita.”
Mirabel slowly sat up.
Her smile disappeared.
Why didn't Michael want Benita to know?
And what exactly was he planning to tell her?
For the first time, Mirabel wondered if the secret she'd discovered that evening was much bigger than she had imagined.
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