Keziah's Will Chapter 5

Amani and I arrived at our hostel to prepare for Sean's party. "Woah Kez! I still can't believe we are going to Sean's party!" Amani pumped her fist in the air and swung her hips as she danced a new move I hadn't seen her perform before.

I forced a smile on my face and tried to bask in Amani's excitement, but I had been to several parties in the past, and this one wouldn't make a difference.

I scanned the items in my wardrobe and brought out a sequin bodycon dress that I thought would fit Amani nicely. I handed it to her, but she shook her head, "Don't worry, Kez. I bought a new dress recently, and I want to wear it to the party,"

Amani rummaged through her bag and threw her stuff all over my room. I inhaled deeply before fixing the mess and restoring the items to their rightful order.

"When I started working out, I had my eye on this dress, and I finally have it," Amani brought out a stunning red off-shoulder dress that matched her skin undertone.

"Wow, Amani! That dress looks so expensive. How did you get the money to buy it?"

Amani shrugged her shoulders and murmured so slowly that I had to lean in to comprehend her sentences, "Work, I guess"

I raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "What kind of work is that? Did you spend your whole salary on it?"

"Geez, Keziah! It's just work. We can talk about it when we come back from the party," Amani clicked her teeth in disapproval of my questions.

I rolled my eyes, but I decided not to ask further questions. So many things have changed about Amani since I last saw her.

I decided to wear the dress I had initially offered to Amani, and It fits snugly on my body compared to the last time I wore it, but I couldn't care less about repeating my clothes.

Amani and I applied our makeup in silence and sprayed a cherry and oud-scented fragrance that she had whipped out from her bag.

"Kez! Let's call an Uber. I don't want to take the bus today," Amani said, pulling out her phone and booking a ride.

"Amani, I can still afford an Uber ride for us. I am not that broke," I whined, even though I couldn't afford the ride. I was so broke that I didn't want to look at my bank account so I wouldn't have a heart attack when I glimpsed my debt.

The Uber arrived in front of my hostel, and we entered the car. We greeted the driver, but he ignored us. He glanced at our dressing and scrunched his nose in disgust while throwing us dirty looks. Soon, he brought out his phone, dialled a number, and started screaming on the phone.

Oh! Someone's begging for a one-star so bad.

Amani and I exchanged looks, but we didn't say anything. Soon, we got to the gated estate where Sean lived and scanned our invite using the barcode we copied from Evan's phone.

The security men ushered us to a huge baroque mansion supported by towering columns. Manicured grass graced the mansion's entryway and wrapped around a glistening water fountain that shot jets of water sporadically.

Amani and I exclaimed as we walked into the interior, whose walls were covered with classical paintings and a crystal chandelier that brightened the room.

"Wow Kez! This party exudes class!" Amani whispered into my ears as we walked arm-in-arm around the room. The loud music that blared from the speakers contrasted with the room's opulence.

Amani grabbed some gruyere and crab palmiers from the gold-crusted tray that a waiter used to hold finger foods and threw them into her mouth.

"Amani, just pick one and chew slowly at a time," I nudged Amani's elbow as she stuffed her face with some turkey bolognese polenta nests, leaving crumbs around her mouth.

I grabbed a napkin from a nearby table and wiped her face.

"I can't, Kez. They taste so delicious," Amani tapped the waiter's shoulders and gave her a thumbs up, "You are doing an excellent job,"

The waiter smiled sheepishly and beckoned Amani to take more food from the tray. I gave Amani a stern look and dragged her around the room.

"What are you doing? We are supposed to find Sean, not frolicking around the party," I hissed loudly, although the hip-hop music playing on the speakers drowned the sound.

"I'm sorry, Kez. I just got carried away with the glamour," Amani said while eating some of the honey mint lamb skewers she had secretly tucked into her purse.

I sighed and shook my head.

"Ooh! Is that Amani I see over there? Girl! you look so good!" A group of girls wearing grunge makeup and funky heels approached Amani and me. They hugged Amani, and one of them jabbed me to a corner.

Amani smiled widely at them and performed a handshake with them. I crossed my arms and frowned at Amani, but she ignored me and focused her attention on the girls.

"Girl, you look prettier than last time. Oh my gosh! We have to show you around Sean's party. There is so much to see," The girls intertwined their arms with Amani and dragged her away from me.

"Amani, wait! What about our plan?" I shouted at them. The girls scowled at me and continued dragging Amani away from me.

"Don't worry, Kez. You have always been good at small talk. I am sure you would do just fine," Amani said, blowing kisses into the air. Who has my best friend turned into? We always did everything together and stuck with each other. Now, she was leaving me for her snooty friends?

I beckoned to a waiter, and they came over with the food and drinks tray. I chewed a marinated olive and cheese ring into my mouth and downed a glass of wine from the tray.

I scanned the room for Sean, but I didn't see him. The crowd at the party had begun to thicken, and the room was filled with more people.

I made for the staircase and hoped Sean would be in one of the rooms. Someone dragged me by my shoulders and squealed happily. I hissed loudly at the culprit and quickly fixed my face when I saw them.

"Wow! Eliana! You are here." I forced a smile at my coworker as she danced offbeat to the tune of the music.

"Of course, Keziah! Keziah! It's my day off. What are you doing here? Sebi, you told our boss that you are sick, but you are here enjoying yourself," Eliana grinned widely and shone her teeth.

"No, It's my day off too. What are you doing here?" I lied and returned her smile

"My man invited me to the party," Eliana had a big mouth. I just hoped she wouldn't run her mouth to our boss. Wait, knowing what I know about Eliana, it was likely she would. Gosh, I literally avoided this girl all the time at work.

"Eliana, I make awesome cookies. I will be more than happy to bake some for you. I just admire your.." I stumbled for words to compliment her. "I mean, I admire your... drive and your work ethic. Even though we are the same age, I aspire to be you when I grow up."

I cringed at the last statement; that was too much.

"Oh, really?" I rolled my eyes inwardly at her annoying catchphrase, which she used in a high-pitched valley girl tone to sound cool to the 'cool kids' who came to buy snacks at my workplace.

Eliana gawked at me and started walking away from me, "I am allergic to cookies."

I pulled her back before she could run away, "Wait, you don't know the type of cookies I am planning to make. I will make any kind you like."

"I don't eat poor quality meals. All my dishes must come from 5-star hotels, or I could have asthma." I just stared at her as she spoke.

Should I start from the fact that consuming homemade cookies does not trigger Asthma? Or do they?

I was also reminiscing about how she was usually the one who always packed most of the leftovers from work and she usually held out her eye for the best ones. Hmmn, I should hold my tongue. I need her help.

"Hehe. Of course, you don't." I could not afford to get fired at work. People who wanted an internship at my dream university needed a clean slate—no record of getting fired—and this bish wasn't helping my situation.

"Plus, I don't care about you, Keziah. You don't control my mouth, just like I didn't control yours when you insulted me by calling me that word that year when you used to be rich and pompous. What was it again? Oh yeah, big mouth." Eliana made a big pout as she talked.

"Eliana, please-"

She walked away from me. I grabbed what was remaining of my pride and started to slowly give up... again. She turned towards me again.

A playful smile teased Elaina's lips, and she smirked at me, "Well, you know how nice I can be. I mean, I care about the environment and the people in it. So there's this small item that can amend our relationship. It's nothing elaborate, but the Gucci bag you own can atone for all this trouble. I believe you wore it to the school party last year."

"Which Gucci bag?"

"Oh, baby girl, don't play dumb. It doesn't fit you at all."