The Night Before - At the Disco
The bass thumped through the floor like a second heartbeat. Colored lights sliced through the darkness, painting the dancers in flashes of electric blue, neon pink, and strobe white. The air was thick with perfume, sweat, and the sweet smell of overpriced cocktails.
Chima cupped her hands around Wony's ear, her voice barely cutting through the noise. "I TOLD YOU I HAD TO WAKE UP EARLY TOMORROW!"
Wony swayed slightly, her usually perfect posture compromised by the three shots she'd downed in the last hour. She shouted back, her elegant features twisted in frustration, "BUT YOU'RE THE ONE WHO INSISTED ON TAKING THE FIRST SHOT! ELEGANCE IS A CHOICE, CHIMA! NOT AN OBLIGATION!"
On a nearby chair, Alice was living her best life. Her arms flailed wildly as she danced like nobody was watching. Which was fortunate, because everyone was definitely watching. "WOOHOO! LOOK AT ME! I'M THE QUEEN OF DISCO!" she screamed, nearly losing her balance.
Naila sat on the couch, her eyelids drooping dangerously low. She bobbed her head lazily to the rhythm, looking like she might fall asleep mid-nod. "I can... sleep... while sitting... right?" she mumbled to no one in particular.
Chima watched her friends with a mixture of exasperation and reluctant affection. Fatimah was going to kill them. She just knew it.
***
Fatimah's Apartment - At 8:00 AM
The silence in Fatimah's apartment was deafening. It was the kind of silence that made you feel like the whole world was holding its breath or maybe that was just the hangover.
The living room looked like a war zone, if war zones involved glitter, empty cups, and a suspicious stain on the beige carpet.
Chima lay sprawled face-down on the couch, still wearing her disco outfit from the night before. Her mouth hung open, and a thin line of drool traced a path from her lips to the cushion. She'd kicked off one heel in her sleep; it lay upside down near the coffee table like a fallen soldier.
Wony had somehow managed to fall asleep in a semi-elegant pose, curled on her side with one hand tucked gracefully under her cheek. It would have been beautiful if not for the black streaks of smeared eyeliner running down her cheeks like reverse teardrops. Her usual porcelain complexion looked more like day-old oatmeal.
Alice was sprawled on the floor, hugging a throw pillow like it was her long-lost lover. A contented smile played on her lips, probably dreaming about the dance floor she'd terrorized just hours ago.
Naila was the most pathetic of them all. She'd curled into a tight ball on the edge of the couch, her face pale and pinched, her body clearly rebelling against whatever concoctions she'd consumed. Even in sleep, she looked miserable.
BRRRRING! BRRRRING!
The sudden blast of Fatimah's video call shattered the fragile peace of the morning.
Chima groaned, her head pounding in protest. "Oh... my head... the sound..." she moaned, pressing her palms against her temples.
Wony's eyes fluttered open slowly. She blinked once, twice, and then her gaze fell on her own reflection in the window. Her scream was high-pitched enough to shatter glass. "OH MY GOD! WHAT IS THAT?! MY FACE?! IT'S MORE TERRIFYING THAN A CAVE SPIDER!"
Alice shot up like a rocket, immediately regretting it as she clutched her lower back. "Oww... my body... like I've been through a meat grinder..."
Naila let out a weak whimper. "I feel... sick..."
With trembling hands, Chima accepted the video call. Fatimah's face appeared on the screen, fresh-faced and radiant. Her hair was perfectly styled, her makeup immaculate. She was already dressed for the day, looking like she'd been awake for hours. The contrast was almost cruel.
Fatimah's smile was sweet, almost too sweet. "Good morning, my little party animals. Did you sleep well?"
Chima croaked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Fat... don't speak so loudly..."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Fatimah's voice grew deliberately louder. "HOW WAS YOUR NIGHT? THE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ARE VERY LIVELY!"
Wony let out a strangled sound and buried her face in a pillow.
Alice, despite everything, tried to summon her signature enthusiasm. "That... that party was—"
"Quiet, Alice," Fatimah cut her off, still smiling that terrifyingly pleasant smile. "I have good news. I just arrived at the airport. My flight landed early."
The color drained from their faces, though with their hangovers, it was hard to tell if they'd had any color to begin with. They'd completely forgotten. Fatimah had been out of town. She was coming back today.
Naila's voice was faint. "You're... coming home...early."
"Yes!" Fatimah beamed. "And since you all looked so ENERGETIC last night, I thought you might have some extra energy to spare. So, as a welcome home gift to me..." Her smile widened impossibly. "You have exactly two hours to make my apartment sparkle. And I mean SPARKLE."
Chima looked like she was about to cry. "Fat... please... I feel like I'm dying..."
Wony rose unsteadily, trying to salvage some dignity. "Fatimah, this isn't elegant. We're in no condition to—"
Fatimah's cheerful demeanor flickered. "I can see a drink stain on my carpet from here. And who slept in their shoes? Alice, that was definitely you. Two hours. If it's not spotless..." Her smile vanished completely. "None of you are going home. I'll lock the door."
CLICK. The call ended.
Silence. The kind of silence that precedes a tornado.
Then chaos erupted.
Chima staggered to her feet, her head throbbing. "CRAP! MOVE! GET THE STAIN REMOVER! I'LL TAKE THE BROOM!"
Wony practically flew to the bathroom, already whining. "FACE CLEANSER! I MUST SAVE MY FACE AND THE CARPET!"
Alice tried to run and immediately wobbled. "OW, MY BACK! OKAY, I'LL HANDLE THE DUSTING AND ORGANIZING!"
Naila remained sprawled on the couch, her voice barely a whisper. "I'll... make coffee... for everyone..."
Chima pointed a broom at her like an accusing finger. "NO! DRINK WATER AND SIT STILL! IF YOU THROW UP, I HAVE TO CLEAN THAT TOO!"
They scattered like ants whose nest had been kicked over. Wony scrubbed the carpet with frantic precision, her face a mask of pure suffering. Alice put things away, pausing every few minutes to groan and rub her back. Chima swept and mopped like she was fighting for her life, her movements rough and aggressive, as if she were battling an invisible enemy.
Two hours later, Fatimah unlocked her apartment door.
The place gleamed. The carpet was spotless. Everything was in its proper place. It smelled like lemon cleaner and fresh linen.
And in the middle of the living room floor lay four bodies, sprawled across the clean floor like soldiers who'd just survived a brutal battle. They were breathing heavily, too exhausted to move.
Fatimah stepped inside, surveying the scene with obvious satisfaction. She pocketed her keys and smiled down at her fallen friends. "See? You can be diligent when forced. Welcome home, my little cleaners."
In unison, the four of them groaned.
Chima lifted her head just enough to glare. "I hate you."
Wony didn't even open her eyes. "So... so un-elegant..."
Alice managed a weak thumbs-up. "Worth it... for the party..."
Naila lay completely still. "I think... I'm going to die..."
Fatimah laughed, a genuine, warm sound that filled the apartment. "You're not going to die. You're just going to learn a lesson about moderation." She walked to the kitchen, returning with a tray of hangover remedies: smoothies, painkillers, and tall glasses of cold water. "Now, drink up. And tell me everything about the party. I want details."
The four of them exchanged glances. Despite everything; the hangovers, the cleaning, and the exhaustion. There was a glimmer of amusement in their eyes.
Chima finally cracked a small smile. "You're the worst leader ever, Fatimah."
"And you're the best followers I could ask for," Fatimah replied, handing her a smoothie. "Now drink before your head explodes."
As they slowly recovered, the morning sun streaming through the windows, the five girls sat together in the clean apartment. Laughter and complaints mixed together in equal measure. Outside, the city hummed with the promise of a new day.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UHWmagbsz
and then Add to home screen.