Not so unusual

Surveying the table, Resa looks at me with an piercing stare.

”Are you sure about this? I really think it would be better if you went out for this,” she argued once again. “And you know my little house can’t have many people in it, Alex.” Resa huffed.

I snorted. “How can five people, you and me included, count as ’many people’? Look at the - they’ve got six children in the house and their two grandparents, and their home is only a little larger! Plus, it’s the middle of winter, Resa...” I countered.

Now it was her turn to laugh. “A little?” She laughed, turning the tension in the room into an cheerful atmosphere. “Their house is at least twice as large as mine! It’s barely chilly today, anyways!”

I had to admit she was right, in a way. I turned and called to Resa, ’I’m going to change!’ and thudded upstairs. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her shake her head. Our house isn’t that small anyways, but it will get crowded if more than nine people come, I thought to myself. Jess was coming in a few minutes anyways, so I better hurry. My phone buzzed. It was a text from Alice.

Alice: U there, Alex?

I scrambled to reply.

Alex: Yes, i’m here. u people here yet?

Alice: We’re in some traffic, it might take us about more 1 hour to arrive, though. Sorry for the delay

Alex: That’s fine

Alex: Wait i thought you were driving!

Alice: Olive’s driving today

Alice: Bye, see you later

Alex: Bye

1 extra hour. Whoo. I flopped on the mattress in the corner of my room and scrolled through my messages. Buzz. I clicked on Kyle’s DM.

Kyle: how r u doing little bro

Kyle with his grammar. I took my time to reply.

Kyle: bro how r u today

Kyle: srsly bro answer me

Kyle: Al

Alex: STOP CALLING ME AL

Alex: my name is Alex

Alex: And you know you’re only a minute 53 seconds older than me

Kyle: yeah yeah

Kyle: I’m still older than you

Alex: Bye

Another message.

Aaron: hey alex

Alex: hey

Alex: bye

Aaron: uhh bye

I clicked off my phone and was about to throw it across the room, where I knew it would land in a pile of pillows. It’s not because I have eyes in the back of my head. But then I remembered my room was neat now, not messy. So it would break. I settled for putting it on my bedside drawer. I scrunched up my pillows and fell asleep.

In my dreams, I was 14 again, hearing words around me, words that I once said. Words that I thought I would never hear again. How I came to love her. I awoke to myself spilling my cup of water on my foot, in time to find something to wear.

I scoured my closet for something to wear. How hard is it to find a matching pair of clothes? I ground my teeth in frustration. I dashed to my brother’s room, ‘borrowing’ a navy blue t-shirt and combining it with my black jeans. It was decent, though nothing compared to the ’cool’ teens who used to be in my class. They always looked their best, no matter what. Hey, if you have any special tips on how to dress nice, I’ll take them today, I thought to myself. But no tuxedos. I clomped down the spiralled stairs again and helped Resa put the dishes out. I could tell Resa was pleased, thought I think she really overdid it in the roasted duck and steak.

Just then, the sound of wind chimes rang, sweet and delicate. I rolled my eyes. Resa insisted on it when we came. Opening the door, a sleek convertible was parked in the driveway, and Olive, Alice, Maxell, and Aubrey waited patiently outside the front door.

Aubrey stepped right in and smoothed out my hair.

“Your hair is so messy!” She exclaimed, smoothing my hair. I couldn’t answer, she just looked so beautiful. She was wearing a long dress the colours so beautifully mixed it looked like pure sunset extract, and her shoes looked like they were made from pure silver, but that wasn’t what made me stop. Her auburn hair hung down to her waist, and her beautiful green eyes shone like emeralds against her light, light tan skin. She grinned. “Like my dress?” She asked, doing a mocking curtsey.

I smiled back in reply. “Not as much as you,” I said to her. By then, her family had stepped inside, Olive, Alice, Maxell, Evangeline, and her parents, Jessica and James. There was now a sleek black motorbike beside the black convertible.

Evangeline noticed me looking and curtly told me ‘that’s mine.’

I’d rarely ever seen Evangeline, because she was older than the rest and preferred to go out on her own with her boyfriend most of the time. I shut the door and led them to the dining room, where the aroma of roasted duck, steak, salad, chips, fries, spaghetti, soup, fresh made bread and biscuits invited them to sit down at the circular table and have some food. Aubrey and Resa sat down next to me, with Olive, Evangeline, Alice, and Maxell sitting next to Aubrey. Aubrey’s parents sat next to Resa. I then noticed everybody else’s attire and immediately felt glad that I borrowed my brother’s navy shirt to wear. Evangeline was wearing a sleek midnight blue knee-length gown that might have been silk with black leggings. I wondered how she could have ridden a motorcycle in a dress. Alice wore a crimson red party dress, Olive wore, well, an olive green dress that was slightly longer than Alice’s and black leggings whereas Alice wore skin-coloured tights, and Maxell was wearing a navy t-shirt with black jeans. Aubrey’s parents wore grey tops and black pants, which was classy but not overdone, to quote the girls in my old 10th grade class.

The candles flickered, and I found myself being lowered into the trance of them. I found myself talking with Aubrey, happily enjoying the time as it passed. I savoured each passing minute more than the delicious meal, I have to admit. Noticing only a few snippets of conversation besides Aubrey’s and mine, like Resa saying ‘Oh, you don’t need to call me Mrs. Janeamet or Alex’s mother, call me Teresa or Resa’ or Maxell talking about chocolate. I brought out the cake at the end. Resa offered the chocolate and coffee cake to Aubrey first, then Olive, Evangeline, Alice, James, then Jessica. Everyone was in no hurry to depart, staying in our cozy home with the fire crackling away in winter. I offered my hand to Aubrey.

“Come, I want to show you something,” I whispered into her ear. She took my hand and I led her up the spiral staircase into my room. She looked around and said nothing, but I could tell she was curious. ”Close your eyes,” I commanded her. She closed her eyes. There were butterflies in my stomach now, and I steeled myself to do this. I’m not going to give up this chance! he told himself. Now or never. I stood in front of her.

“Open your eyes,“ I say softly. Her eyes open and she blinks, and mustering confidence, I ask her.

Time seems to go in slow motion as I say the words that I yearned to say since I met her, as we became more familiar in school, but never really connecting. She has to have suspected something about my love for her, and I really hope she feels the same.

“Aubrey Vanessa Avielwo, will you be my girlfriend?”

I start feeling uneasy, wondering if I’m worth it...

There’s silence broken only by the answer that she gives, the only answer I’ve ever wanted...

19 YEARS LATER

Looking at the photo on the mantelpiece in the same house I lived in, I still remember that day when I was 19, Aubrey gave me one of the best things I have in life. Her statement that changed my life comes back to me every time I look at this picture, my true love screaming ‘Yes! I love you!’, hugging as we cried for happiness. My attention turns to the last photo in the middle, a framed photo of one of the other best days in my life, Aubrey in a silk white dress, holding a bunch of flowers, and me in a black suit and pants, 5 years ago.

At 33 years old, we got married.