"Hello?" Ellen answered the call with a groggy voice and sleepiness, not reading the contact's name. đ¶"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday baby girrl, happy birthday to you. Hip hip hip!"đ¶ "Hurray!" Ellen responded as she was fully awake now. The time read 12am, and she recognized the voice singing, making the sleep go away, as she removed the phone to check the caller's ID, and saw Henry on it. Words couldn't explain what the butterflies were doing in her stomach while he sang, especially when he called her baby girl. She was gleeful beyond words. "I didn't know you sing. Thanks a lot Henry, I really appreciate it." The excitement in her voice betrayed her while she spoke, making Henry laugh. "I'm an enigma sweetie. I have a lot of hidden talents. It's my pleasure and my honor to be the first to wish my baby girl a happy birthday. I have a surprise for you later today. Steph will come pick you up at noon okay." Henry said with mystery. "What kind of surprise?" She asked curiously. "It wouldn't be a surprise anymore if I told you, would it?" Henry replied sarcastically. "Okay, fine. But you can come pick me up yourself. My parents won't be around today. I thought I was going to have a sweet fifteen party, but they have to travel to the East today. Anyway, it's cool, I've never really had a party anyway." Ellen said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "Don't worry baby, I'll be your party for today. Now go back to sleep okay, let's talk later. Happy birthday once again, and good night." Henry comforted and hanged up after she replied, "thank you and good night too." Ellen couldn't sleep again being excited from the call. She felt things whenever he called her baby. Although she hadn't given him an answer, Henry still called her baby girl after his confession. She didn't protest because she liked it.
***
"Awn that is so sweet. Henry is such a flirt." Kelly teased. "Oh, he just wished me Happy birthday, what is flirty about that?" Ellen defended. "Ouuuouu." They teased. Kelly, Abby, and Steph were all grouped on Ellen's bed, as she told them about the surprise call Henry gave her, blushing profusely. "Where is he taking me Steph? I know you know." Ellen inquired, all eyes falling on Stephanie. Her friends had come to spend the day with her since she was alone. Chris couldn't be there because of work but he had called her already to wish her. Ellen was yet to receive a gift though, not even from her parents who seemed busy with God knows what. "Um I do know, but I can't. it's a surprise, sorry." Steph said. "Can I ask you a question?" Abby asked Steph. "Yeah, sure." Steph urged her on. "How come you are not angry or jealous that Henry is with Elle? Isn't your first love supposed to be unforgettable or something? And do you think Henry is serious about Ellen?" Abby queried. "Um, Kobby will always be my first love, but I'm over him, trust me. It took lots of hard work, and I don't want to put myself in that situation again. I'm not saying don't trust him, he is sincere about you Ellen, Clara assured me when I asked. Anyway, I'll kill him if he hurts you. He's doing things he's done for few people, and though boys can do anything to get what they want, you should give him the benefit of the doubt. What's the life of a teenager without a little heartbreak, right? Hahaha." Steph replied. "So, you're saying he's legit?" Ellen asked with a flicker of hope. "Maybe. You can never trust a boy fully, much less Kobby. I mean he says he means it and all that, but he was about me too, and he still hurt me. Just be careful around him. That guy's got the brain of an elephant, and the cunningness of a fox. I wouldn't give in too easily. You could end up being played by the star player." Steph counselled. "Are you sure you are not jealous or something? Wouldn't you want Henry back?" Kelly asked with suspicion. "What! If I want him back, I can get him. You have no idea the kind of chemical bond is between us. No one travels through him than I do, not even Clara. What part of being his first love don't you get? In fact, he broke up with me because he loved me too much, and couldn't bear the distance between us. I don't want him back, he's a great guy that fits into most girls' fantasies, but I'm way over him." Steph scoffed at Kelly's ridiculous accusation. "Kell, just because she's advising Elle about Henry, doesn't mean she wants him back. I think that would have happened long ago. Besides, she's right, she is closest to Henry than Clara. Ever since we met her, she's been the middleman between Elle and Henry. Henry tells her things, clearly. Elle, I think she's right. We all know what Henry is capable of. Don't let your guard down okay." Abby defended and added her own advice. "Will you two relax! Henry might have a bad boy reputation, but you said it yourself, he's every girl's dream guy and he chose Elle. You guys shouldn't ruin her mood about his surprise; it's her birthday for crying out loud. Elle, you go and have fun. You better come back as his girlfriend else; I'll take him." Kelly scolded and joked. "Well maybe you're the jealous one Kell." Ellen finally spoke and they laughed. Stephanies words were on her mind as Henry drove to a part of Accra that looked like the road to the airport. She was wearing the bodycon dress she bought from the mall, after much persuasion from her friends. Henry was speechless when he saw her in makeup and a wig from Steph. The girls were shocked to see Steph pull out a wig and a makeup kit, when it was time to dress up the birthday girl. "What? Don't we want to make an impression on Prince charming?" Steph had asked when she saw the look on their faces. "We do, but isn't this too much? Henry has seen her before, you know?" Abby protested first. "Oh, Abby, he has seen her but not in this. Besides, Elle's dress will go better with some makeover. Elle, sit here. Steph, let's get to work." Kelly defended, forgetting her suspicion of Steph because she came prepared to help Ellen score Henry. "Uh, I'm not sure about this. I look like a university student. Will he even recognize me?" Ellen spoke after the makeover. "Well, only one way to find out. I'm sure he'll be here any moment from now. Besides, if you were abroad, you'd be looking like this, trust me." Steph encouraged. "Oh, we do. You don't look fifteen at all." Ellen replied and they laughed. Ellen was right because Henry didn't recognize her immediately, till she spoke. "Hey ladies, who's your new friend, and where is the birthday girl?" He asked. Henry was the only one to come there and not be fazed by the mansion and its design, because he lived in one like that. "Uh, it's me, the birthday girl." Ellen replied coyly, and while the girls laughed, he stood there wide mouthed. "You did not see that coming, did you?" Kelly teased as usual, and Henry shook his head, still staring at the stunningly beautiful girl before him. He always knew Ellen was beautiful, but with the makeup and wig, she was gorgeous. This was the first time he saw her in such a dress, bringing out her fine assets. "Wow." That was all he was able to say. "I take it that you are impressed with my handy work huh, Kobby?" Steph asked with a smile. "Wow." Again, that was all he could say. Ellen was bubbling inside with joy, but outside with shyness. Henry's eyes were all over her and she felt he could see deep into her. "Are you going to say anything other than wow?" Abby asked with a smile, breaking him out of his stupor. "I feel no word among the adjectives can describe you right now Eleanora. You lookâŠoh, my God." Henry said and the girls went, "Awn." "Don't you think it's too much? I mean I feel I'm overdressed for wherever you're taking me, and it's not evening yet." Ellen complained. "No, don't worry. You're rightly dressed. You'll see." Henry replied, taking her hand. "You know, you still got style Naa. I'm impressed. You sure do know how to get things done." Henry complimented, giving Steph a hug. "Um, we helped too you know." Kelly announced, and Henry gave them a hug as well. "Thank you, guys, we'll be taking our leave now. Don't want to return you at midnight, ha-ha." Henry said and they laughed, taking her to the car. They bid farewell with a honk as they drove off. "Okay, she's not here. Where are they going to, Steph?" Kelly asked out of curiosity. "You know, my lovelies. Now come on, we've got to go as well. We have to get there fast." Steph replied, taking the lead to her car, and the girls followed, giggling.