The day had finally come. A beautiful Saturday, where everything was almost perfect.

James had already gotten ready, allowing the peace of bright sunshine to caress him. Looking all dashing in his flowery vintage shirt and baggy shorts. He had already explained to his mom where he was going, and what was going to go down there. Amaka's house wasn't far from his, as they both lived in the same estate. He said his goodbyes, after having to withstand his mother's constant warning against coming back home late.

He stepped out of his house, and took a moment to revel in the brightness of the day. The air was heavily doused with fresh smells of mother nature, with a touch of absolute serenity. With no time left to waste, he got going. The houses by the sides of the minor roads were sparsely dotted. With pieces of land in between them. Lands that trees and bushes had started calling home. He didn't have to walk for long, when he saw a commercial bike approach him. He stopped the biker, and asked him to take him to his destination.

The experience was quite thrilling, as he barely took commercial bikes. But the experience was cut short as he had now been dropped at Amaka's doorstep. The environment wasn't too different from his. Quiet, reserved, and sparsely filled with big houses.

Amaka's house was a very big duplex, doused in all white paint. He could faintly hear the sound of loud music inside as he stood still at their front porch. He took deep breaths, as he thought things over. He still didn't say a thing to Ayo about what he was about to do. But he felt that it was no big deal, so he waived it off. Then he calmed his nerves, and pulled out his phone.

He was about to hit the dialer on his phone, to call Feyi when someone opened up before him.

"I've been expecting you," Feyi said, with a surprisingly big smile. Her dark skin tone made her pink bikini pop gloriously.

"Uh, I was just about to..." James started.

"Yeah, of course." She cut him off. "Here, take this." She passed him a small balm, after looking behind her.

"What's this?" James looked down at the yellow-like gel in his hand. It looked quite edible, and it gave off a banana smell.

"It's to help with your voice. Now come in, the party's started already." She gestured inwards, and made way for him.

Without haste, James dropped the gel into his mouth and chewed it. Whatever that was, it tasted nice, and it better do the job. He stepped into the house, and Feyi shut the door behind him.

Their living room was partly filled up, with familiar faces, and some people he didn't know. They were all in bikinis and swimsuits, as they walked around the house with plastic cups in their hands. The pool wasn't quite far, and James casually went there. Hoping that that was where Amaka would be too.

The view there was glorious. The pool was very big, just like his, but structured differently. People were jumping in and sliding out of the pool, with ecstatic look on their faces. The DJ was on a higher deck by the poolside, and he was bopping his head to the catchy tunes that dropped. James smiled. He was glad that he got invited. How he wished Ayo was there to see.

And still he kept looking, trying to find Amaka. His head was swaying from left to right so he could get a better view at the small gathering across the pool. Soon enough the gathering dissolved, after a huge roar of the words, "happy birthday". James beamed, and at the centre of the gathering ahead, emerged Amaka.

She was in a yellow floaty dress, and her sunglasses looked stunning on her glowing face. She also had a sun hat on her head, as she strode all the way to a nearby tumbona. There was one guy up close with her though, but James paid him no mind. He only nodded confidently to himself as he built up more courage within him.

"James?" A voice called from behind.

James turned around, and immediately met Ayo's gaze. Ayo was in a black shorts with a matching tank top, and green flip flops. The confusion, and awkwardness was written all over his face.

"What are you doing here?" His mouth twitched.

"I was invited." James answered boldly. "What are you doing here?"

"I... was invited too."

"You... didn't tell me about this." James could still see Amaka through his peripheral vision, as he tried to distract himself.

"Apparently, you didn't either." Ayo's tone slightly risen.

"Oh, so that's how we wanna play it, huh?"

"What? You can pin all the blame on me?" Ayo justified.

James only shook his head, and walked out on him in annoyance.

Ayo could only look, as he watched James make his way around the sea of people. He probably invited himself. I mean, Amaka wouldn't like him anyways. He should just give up on whatever he's here to do. Ayo thought to himself.

It appeared that Feyi also invited Ayo. And with the way Ayo kept looking at the pool, and Amaka afar, it seemed like he was about to take a dive.

It's just a butterfly. You've seen people do it on YouTube. So can you. He thought, and took deep breaths. The loud music was still playing, but if Ayo shouted loud enough, people would still hear him, and that was what he was about to do when something interrupted the music already.

"Alright everyone, listen up." James spoke loudly to the microphone. He was right beside the DJ, on his deck, and was staring back at the multitude of eyes that were now on him.

What's he doing? Ayo wondered.

"Amaka, I know your favourite song, and I'm going to sing it to you now." James directed his speech at Amaka, who judging by the expression on her face, was confused. "I hope you like it."

"What the? This dude's a terrible singer." Ayo muttered, and by now it was too late to do anything, as people were already waiting for him to sing.