Unusual Christmas

The first activity which took place in the party was a series of Christmas carols with the 12 Days of Christmas being the finale.

It was performed by the JSS 1 class so, no doubt, there were times they went off key.

Other classes performed various dances, plays and some, sing-alongs. And soon it was time for the gift giving. For the first time it made me feel sick.

Students moved around the place, handing out gifts and getting back.

I knew I wouldn't get anything good from Kosi for Christmas but I decided to play along anyway.

I moved around the place, looking for Daniel and finally found him sitting alone in the corner.

"Uum, Merry Christmas. Here's your gift" I said handing him a wrist watch my mum bought for me to give whoever I was to give gift.

"Thanks. Trust me, I'll cherish this forever" He smiled.

I rolled my eyes and hissed, "Abeg shut up. It's not like I chose to give you this".

For a second he looked genuiely hurt and I almost wanted to apologize. I decided to leave there quickly instead but someone dragged me from behind.

"Daniel, what's your problem. Don't ruin Christmas for me!" I said angrily.

"Do me a favor and hang out with me for Christmas" He said, tightening his hold around me.

"Noooo! See Kosi there. Please leave me alone" I said.

"I'm lonely, I thought you use to love hanging out with me" He smiled sadly.

"That was when you were more sane and not...falling harder, I guess. Where's Omega?" I asked, trying to change the topic and loosen from his grip.

"He went to hang with his secret Santa" He explained.

"Oh! I have to go too. My secret santa's waiting for me" I couldn't believe I actually said that, but the last thing I needed right then was for Kosi to find me "hanging out" with Daniel.

"Can't I be your secret Santa?" He asked.

"I believe it's too late to ask that question" I said. Once again, I tried to get out of his hold.

I did that for about a minute when finally I saw Kemi at a corner moving to another direction.

"Kemi!" I yelled.

"Shh, he won't hear you so don't bother" He said.

"Kemi!!!" I yelled again but he didn't seem to hear. Probably because of the music.

"KEMI!!!" I yelled. This time he turned around and tried to trace the direction at which he heard his name.

I'm already tired of shouting.

"Am I that irritating or annoying that you don't want to stay with me?" Daniel asked.

"Thank God you said it yourself" I said, and for the last time, I shouted out Kemi's name "KEMI!!!!".

This time he looked at my direction and ran towards me.

"What happened?" He asked, looking at Daniel he smiled and waved "Guy, how far".

I mentally did a face palm.

I stretched my hands out at him "I'm stuck! This guy won't leave me alone".

"Daniel what's your problem sef. How do you expect a girl to like you like this" He said and grabbed my hand trying to pull me out. I noticed Daniel held me tighter.

"Guy, don't let me injure you oo. Leave Tega na!" Kemi said.

"No!" Daniel shouted.

Using his shoe, Kemi hit him somewhere but I couldn't tell where exactly because I faced Kemi and away from Daniel. Though, it seemed to have done the trick.

"Leave Tega alone" Kemi said one last time and dragged me away from Daniel who still groaned in pain.

"Kemi what did you do?" I asked.

"Boy stuff" He chuckled but I didn't seem to get what he meant.

"Thanks anyway. I'm actually beginning to wonder if that guy is okay, mentally" I said.

"I don't think so either, so just be careful" He warned. We got to where the others sat and joined them.

"Where were you since?" KC asked me.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you later" I said

"Tega dear" Oh no! " I actually got you a gift. What a surprise" Kosi smiled. She handed me a gift box and I took it in skeptically.

"Thanks. I'll open it when I get home" She smiled and walked away.

"Where's Zane?" I asked and Zane appeared out of nowhere, right in front of me.

"Merry Christmas" He said handing me a gift covered in wrapping paper. I looked at him confused.

"I'm your Secret Santa. Surprise!" He smiled.

I looked at Kemi who also looked confused.

"Kosi's my secret Santa" I said.

"No she isn't. I was in the principal's office when we were told who we would be secret Santas too. Kosi was to give Snr. Mmesoma" He explained.

"Then why would she want to give me a gift?" I asked, still confused.

"I have no idea" He said, "Are you going to open this when you get home or now?".

"At home" I replied and he muttered and okay.

"Merry Christmas from your secret Santa!" Kemi smiled, holding up a small box.

Now, I got even more confused.

"Another mistake?" I asked.

He chuckled, "Just kidding. Decided to give you a gift for Christmas".

"Aww, thanks but I don't have anything to give you" I said.

"No worries" He said.

I searched my hand bag and found a hundred naira note inside.

"Take this, please" I smiled.

"Thanks, now I have extra money to buy recharge card" He smiled.

"Kemi!" Williams called. All heads turned to her direction.

"Cover for me while I escape. If you don't see me in the next one hour, know that I went home" He said and tip toed away.

"There you are" Williams smiled, relieved.

She walked towards Kemi and handed him his gift when suddenly, RoseMary aporoached Kemi, "Thanks a lot for the heart necklace" She gushed.

I looked at Williams who looked really jealous and she didn't try to hide it, "Here Kemi. Open it" She smiled.

Kemi took the present from her and opened it like a little child.

"Oh wow" was all he said. Williams got him an earpiece. And exact replica of hers.

"Now we have the same earpiece" She gushed.

"That gift was so lame" Rosemary said.

"At least it was better than the melted ice cream you gave Ezekiel" She scoffed.

"Well, he loved it. I've got more sense than you because, unlike you, I actually asked that person I was giving gift what he wanted for Christmas" Rosemary retorted.

"See who's having sense. Someone that wanted Kemi to leave Tega alone so that you can have him for yourself but couldn't on your own so you came to meet Kosi, Bella, Amanda and I" She continued "If not for us no one would have believed that edited kissing video".

Everyone around them had heard what she had said because they had already gained the attention of a large crowd.

Gasps were heard from different angles and soon a teacher came to find out what the comossion was about.

He pardoned Williams just because it was a Christmas party. He was so unfair.

Kosi walked towards Williams angrily and said some words to her I couldn't hear say as she glared angrily at Williams.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The party finally came to end with a dance performed by the SS 1 class being the final activity.

I walked into the house feeling drenched and exhausted. I couldn't wait to get up to my room and open my presents.

I paused for some seconds when I found Aunty Enita in my living room talking to my parents.

What the heck was she doing in my house and how dare she?!

I greeted my parents and walked away pretending as if she wasn't there.

"Ah! Tega you didn't see me?!" She asked.

I turned back angrily, "Do I know you?".

"Of course you do Tega, she's your Aunty Enita. Behave yourself" My dad scolded.

"Really? I thought she was the murderer who killed Enohor and is also a thief!" I scoffed.

"Tega, it was a mistake. Don't talk to me like this, I'm still your Aunty" She said, giving me a stern look.

"Aunty? The last time i checked I don't have any Aunties named Enita so I have no idea who you are, so if you would excuse me, I have to celebrate Christmas upstairs, in my room" I said and walked away.

My mum being there the whole time didn't say a word but rather kept a smirk on her face.

I changed out of my party wear and into a casual.

I bought out Kemi's gift and opened it first. It was a book titled The Diamond Girls by Jaqueline Wilson.

I flipped through the pages and found a written note at the book.

I bought this on my way to the party. You're lucky I had money with me😜.

Kemi

I unwrapped the second gift which was from Zane.

"Oh My Gosh, this is so cute" I gushed.

I stared at the silver heart shaped locket he had gotten me. There was also a note attached.

Heard your locket got destroyed so I bought you a new, real one. Hope you like it.

Zane

And I finally, hesitantly, unwrapped Kosi's gift. At first I couldn't make out what it was until after a close observation.

"Eww!" I yelled tossing the thing on the floor, "I can't believe she gave me a dead frog".

I picked up the note in the box.

You've been warned.

Kosi.

I rolled my eyes and threw the dead frog, note and the box in a trash bin.

I went downstairs and found Aunty Enita in the kitchen with Sister Kemo.

"Sister Kemo what are you doing with her?" I asked.

"Giving her a piece of my mind of course" She said, looking at Aunt Enita scornfully.

"Tega and Kemo, why are you acting like this. I didn't kill Enohor on purpose" Enita said.

"You still killed her. How do you expect us not to act like this. It's not like she can magically come back to life" I yelled.

"Tega–"

"I'm not sure I'll even recognize her if she comes back in her second life!"

"Tega–"

"Or what if this is her second life and you killed her. No one has a third life!"

"Tega–"

"So this is it, I'm never going to see Enough again!"

"Tega–"

"Why are you even here? Now that I'm moving on with my life you decide to come out of know where and –"

"Tega!!" She called.

"What?!" I answered harshly.

"Your sister..Enohor. . .She's still alive"