The Reunion - Episode 4

 

Mariah had been staring at this handsome figure for what seemed like forever, he had changed, the years past made him taller and even more handsome, but those eyes …there was something about his eyes that ten years couldn’t change .
“Mariah.”   he whispered, and it took just his voice for a stream of memories to come flowing down, the last time she had truly seen him was a week after graduation, she was with her lifelong best friend, Chinelo, who passed away three years into university …she always assumed that the saddest day of her life was a week after graduation, when she and Chinelo were taking a walk in their neighbourhood, Mariah then laid eyes on Michael for the first time since graduation, and that was her chance …even chinelo said it .she could hear Chinelo’s voice as clear as day at that moment . “Tell him, this is your chance, just walk up to him and tell him.” Mariah finally summed up what was known as shy courage, she called out his name quietly, and then it hit her . The sight of Michael and a girl she knew nothing of, he placed a gentle kiss on the lip of the strange girl and she felt it; the saddest day of her life, well! It was the saddest day of her life, till Chinelo’s tragic death
“Mariah.” this time he called out loudly.
“Hey guys.” she said awkwardly, looking between Michael and Stevie …she didn’t need Michael to know how excited she was to see him, and her excitement was more than she could contain. There was an awkward silence as Mariah and Michael stared at each other again, the stare down was cut short when Lisa maneuvered her petite body between Mariah and Michael.
“Hi Michael.” Lisa said with so much excitement and no care in the world.
“How do you know my name?” Michael asked, Mariah mentally rolled her eyes at Lisa’s inability to control her mouth ,she also noticed that there was a little foreign accent accompanied with Michael’s deep voice, and she had no doubt that he had made something of himself.
“Uhmmm! Mariah just called your name like a second ago.” Lisa lied in a duh tone.
“No, she didn’t.” Stevie replied with a scoff   “Marie.” Stevie called out excitedly, they weren’t exactly close in school, but they had their moments

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-reunion

. There was one valentine in school, they had an angel and mortal name pick, where you pick a folded name in a hat and then you get a gift for whoever you picked, Stevie picked her name, and gave her a fancy wristwatch that she used throughout her school years . 
Stevie hugged the life out of her as Lisa and Michael made small talk.
“How have you been Marie? The last time I saw you was….” He started as he paused to think.
“Last year, at your house party.” Mariah reminded him, they weren’t close but somehow they managed to have a light bond between Stevie’s fame and her nonexistent life.
“Ooh yes, I didn’t think you would even come, and I was too busy to talk to you, that was f**ked up.” Stevie whined.
“I was the one that dragged her for the party, even this one.” Lisa gave her two cents loudly.
“We owe you big for dragging her cute ass down here then.” Michael said quiet charmingly, and there was something in the message Lisa was trying to pass with her eyes that said ‘he is flirting with you’ Mariah ignored Lisa’s eyes and went on to hug Michael, the hug took Michael by surprise, but then he hugged her back tightly, she missed him, their friendship and everything about him and at that moment she hated herself for losing touch with the first boy she ever loved .
“I can’t believe this is you.” she whispered as she stared as his dark chocolate glowing skin and the muscles almost popping out of his shirt.
“well, it is …I missed you bubs.” he replied, she blushed at the fact that he remembered the name he used to call her, he started calling her bubs after he found out her secret love for bubbles in power puff girls.
“I missed you too Mickey.” she replied as she realized that she wasn’t so good in the pet name department.
“By the way guys I’m Lisa …I’m sure you’ve all been dying to know my name, since this one.” she stopped to point a finger at Mariah “didn’t introduce me.” She continued, and Mariah gave an apologetic look 
“It’s nice to meet you, Lisa.”
“I think we met last year, Lisa.”  Michael and Stevie replied respectively.
“yeah, we did Stevie .” she smiled, just then, other people started interrupting their small group will small talk, nonstop…it was an endless cycle .A guy then walked up to them, Mariah recognized him as Joshua, but the dude didn’t return the favour.
“Guy, this reunion dey burst brain.” He yelled lousily at Stevie.
“I wanted nothing but the best.” Stevie replied proudly, Joshua then went on to giving Michael one of those boy handshakes.
“Michael, long time …after you got that nestle Milo basketball scholarship, you just went to Yankee and forgot about us.”  Joshua said with a wide smile, Michael was uncomfortable with Joshua’s statement and Mariah could tell from the little laugh that he let out.
“It’s not like that, I couldn’t communicate with most of you.” he replied as he stared at Mariah, as though ‘some people’ meant her.
“How long have you been back here?” Joshua asked referring to Nigeria.
“Almost a year.” he replied and Mariah wondered if he tried to find her, she imagined that he did.
“So you played one season of college basketball for the school you got a scholarship to? And I heard you got drafted in the 2013 NBA draft?” Mariah and Lisa were lost in the basketball talk and continued with their eye communication, while Stevie kept talking to an endless stream of people, he then excused himself, to get ready to address the growing crowd.
“Yes, something like that.” Michael replied, and even a blind person could sense that he hated the conversation.
“Hey, Joshua.” Mariah started in an attempt to save Michael 
“Do I know you?” Joshua replied, Mariah was about to remind him about the fact that they had government class together one year, but he shushed her as he pushed her aside and moved closer to Lisa.
“I remember you, you were not as pretty as you are now,” he said to Lisa in a half assed attempt to flirt.
“I wasn’t even in scarlet high.” Lisa replied rudely, she hated his guts already.
“You sure about that baby?” Joshua asked, and all he got was disgusted looks from all three of them, his perverseness was cut short by a jeering crowd as Stevie addressed the class.
“SHS! Set 08.” he yelled excitedly into the microphone and he got exactly what he gave.“ so, some of you remember me as Steven Kingsley, that short lanky kid way back in J1 …now y’all know me as Stevie king .” he got loud cheers at the mention of his own name and at that point, they could all see the camera’s . “Thanks fam.” He said as he continued his speech “I’m so glad y’all could make it, it’s been ten years …damn! That’s a long time, una done old finish sha.” He said in an attempt to crack a joke and he got laughs. “Where is Becky? You guys remember Becky? Tall, fine Becky that ss3 boys used to die for that year? Well! She’s pregnant and due this month so she couldn’t make it, she sends her best wishes to all of you. So much has changed, it was a tough job trying to locate some of you and I’m afraid that we couldn’t reach some people, which is why we need to understand the concept of keeping in contact, I mean …six years of knowing each other, is a bond that shouldn’t be messed with …so I appreciate you guys for coming and I assure you that this reunion getaway would be the most fun experience in your stressful adult lives, bless up guys and have fun!!”  Stevie gave a little bow to the cheering crowd as he finished his speech.
“We need to catch up.” Michael whispered to Mariah, she turned to tell Lisa but Lisa beat her to it and excused herself politely, Michael led her to the bar, and at that moment …she knew that it was the beginning of something new.

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