The Life of Eniola (rewriting story)

Chapter 23

So far, all we've done today is eat breakfast, listen to music, dance, and play games with my aunts. It was now evening, and we were all relaxing in the living room, watching a show and playing Ludo with Alessia.

Aunty makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to dine out rather than dining at home. We all agreed that we should get ready in two hours. I shower and open my closet, thinking for a moment about what I want to wear. I am dressed in a purple satin blouse, blue straight leg jeans, and an oversized alpaca blend coat in case it gets chilly outside. I stored my belongings in a white leather shoulder bag, including my phone, car keys, wallet, and lip gloss.

I examine myself in the mirror.

I really do look good. I'm thinking to myself.

I walk out of my room and over to Alessia's room, knocking on her door.

"Who is it?"

"This is Mummy."

"Please come in."

"I'm not sure what to wear, Mum." She whimpers, clearly frustrated.

"Maybe you can wear black because it's your favourite colour?" I propose.

"Thank you, mom. That's a good idea."

"You are very welcome, darling." I exit her room and close the door behind me.

Except for Aunty Olufunke, everyone is now prepared.

"Are you all right, honey?" My uncle yells from the bottom of the stairs.

She emerges from the guestroom, dressed in a black embroidered mesh yoke tie-neck jumpsuit.

"Which one should I wear?" On the one hand, she wears a matinée necklace and on the other, a Riviere necklace.

"Funke, if you please. Choose one!" Aaliyah, my aunt, says.

"Aaliyah, Silenzio. You think you're the only one who understands Italian, don't you?" She quips jokingly.

They both laughed as they looked at each other.

"Mommy, I'm starving ooo."

"It's okay, eh, we'll be there soon." Alessia is reassured by me.

"You see, she, too, is hungry." Aunt Aaliyah expresses herself.

"Give me five minutes, Abeg." Aaliyah, your aunt. We both laughed.

"Subito!" Aunt Aliyah proclaims.

She emerges from the stairwell a few minutes later, wearing leather boots and a green clutch bag, and it appears that she chose the Riviere necklace. I get in my car and head to the restaurant that my Aunt selected.

I enter the restaurant and I instantly know where I am.

As the place buzzed with a pleasant air, a plethora of echoes filled the space. Minutes later, it began to quickly fill up, and the ecstatic crowd began conversing at the same time. Then we began to order food, anticipating its arrival with an eager gaze. The well-dressed server delivered the meal, and a cacophony of aroma filled the room and begin to eat the food.

"Are you all enjoying the food?" Behind me, I hear a familiar voice. When I turn around, I see Sebastián.

"Hello there, Elena!"

I get up and hug him, and he hugs me back. He pauses for a moment to look me in the eyes.

"Oh, you're dressed in my favourite colour!" Shyly, I nod.

"I am, indeed. Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yeah, I really like it!" He looks at me again.

"Stop staring at me in that way!" I laughed, averting my gaze from his.

"I'm sorry, I just can't take my eyes off you; I can't get over your beauty." Someone calls his name just as I was about to respond.

"Chef! We need assistance over here."

"Alright!"

He kisses me on the cheek and then walks away.

When I sit back down, I notice that everyone is staring at me.

"What? Did I do something wrong?" I take a bite of bread and a bite of pisto.

"Elena Marino - Afolabi Alfonsi. Who was he?"

"He's my, uh, friend."

My Aunty can be quite intimidating, especially when she says your full name.

"Really? But-"

"You have started again, abi? Let her be, my dear, and let us enjoy the food." So says my uncle.

My aunt is staring at me as we eat the food. I point to her food to get her to eat, and she rolls her eyes before continuing to eat and talking to my uncle. We leave the restaurant after we appear to be full from the meal. I get into the car, but someone calls out my name. I turn to see who is calling me.

It's Sebastián approaching me.

"Did you enjoy the meal?"

"I did, indeed. I particularly enjoyed the gambas al ajillo. Did I say it correctly?"

"Kind of," I laughed in return

He takes my hands in his, gently caressing them, and I look at him.

"So, when can we meet up again? I missed our time together."

"How about tomorrow?"

"I'll just change my clothes before leaving the building."

"Are you certain? We can do it on a day when you are not scheduled to work."

"Yeah, that's fine with me.

"Bueno. "That sounds like a plan." He states.

"Goodbye, Sebastián!" I was about to open the door when he stopped me.

"Are you going to leave without kissing me goodbye?" I burst out laughing.

I kiss him on the lips, but it only lasts a second.

He sulks.

"Come on, Elena!"

"I'll make sure to get you back for this!"

I get into the car and burst out laughing.

"Lovey-dovey." My aunt mutters, loud enough for me to hear.

I sigh and roll my eyes.

"You say you're friends with him, Elena, but you kissed him." Aaliyah, my aunt, says.

"Abi ooo," says my uncle.

"Does that mean I'm allowed to kiss my friend?" Alessia inquires, innocently.

"No!" We all say it at the same time.