The Perfect Gentleman ✔

B: True Love's first kiss 💏

"Sara, come let's go. I don't want to be late." Judy chided, stomping her foot impatiently as her bestfriend and neighbour, Sara Amadi, hurried up with her dressing. They were going to a party, an expensive one with the alcohol and the loud music and the toasting from rich guys. It was not the sort of thing you'd expect girls raised up by strict religious parents to attend so they were sneaking out instead.

Judy was wearing an ankle-length flowing pastel gown with matching scarf. Sara was in a knee-length black gown with long sleeves and high neck. There was also a scarf for her hair. To their parents, they were going for the church's friday night revival midnight service, so they dressed the part.

Earlier in the day, Judy had managed to convince her to come along and she had reluctantly agreed, having never been to one of those parties before. Her elder sister, Eve, told her all about her escapades but Sara had never found a reason to go. Today, however, Judy had manufactured one for her.

"You know, Martin, my boyfriend. Well, his friend is hosting this party cause he just made a lot of money recently and Martin asked me to bring you along. He wants to thank you for saving him the other time he came to visit." Judy had explained, grinning mischeviously at her.

She was skeptical. Her mother's famous words that men were cunning come up in her brain at that moment. "But it's a party, and there will be alcohol. I don't want anything bad to happen to me," she had remarked thoughtfully.

"Nothing will happen to you as far as I'm there. We have VIP passes because it's Martin's friend. Don't be a baby. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and you need to start living life already. You're nearly 30."

"I'm 21 this fool," she clarified but nodded nonetheless. Judy would be there, so what's the harm?

Later, she and Judy stayed over in her room to plan their movement. Their friends from church -Veronica and Toke, who were also their neighbours- were told to meet them there. Since it was youth revival, thousands of youths would be present. They could sneak out before the crowd increases and sneak back in before dismissal. No one would notice and no one would suspect. They hid their short Jean skirts and spaghetti strap tops together with their makeup kit in Judy's handbag. Since Sara's bag was bigger, she carried their heels instead.

Done with rubbing her lipgloss, Sara stood up from the bed and admired herself in her mirror.

"Stop with this foolishness. You'll have time for that later," Judy stated, pulling her along as they exited the room.

Eve was visiting their aunt who was sick and Tonya was helping their mother at their provision shop in the market. Things were getting pretty hard for them recently with inflation rates, unstable income and three grown up daughters, hence the need for a miracle. Which was why her mother was more than eager to let her go for the revival since she was the only one interested in church activities. On the other hand, her mother would kill her if she heard anything about this party.

Together, they left the house, walking quietly out of the compound as though the whole neighborhood would realize what they were up to if they increased the sound of their footsteps. They followed the small crowd heading towards the church street but made a quick detour on the left junction just before they reached the church ground. Judy took her to the back of a closed shop where they were fairly hidden from searching eyes. There, they quickly changed into their party clothes and stepped into the road again. Sara was confused by the change in plans but said nothing until they got to the major road that connected with the Lekki expressway and stopped.

"I thought we were supposed to leave from the church, not before."

Judy smirked. "Sorry, babygirl. I thought about it and realized it wouldn't work. The ushers will see us and then follow-up questions will appear. I cannot deal with stress this evening, abeg."