Hangover

Chantel slowly opened her eyes and shut them close again. The blinding lights from the sun which was radiating into her room was making it hard for her to open her eyes. She tried opening her eyes again, and this time, she was able to adjust to the light. Suddenly, she felt a strong headache which made her groan in pain. 

"Ugh, my head hurts. How did I even get into my room? And why does my head hurt like I was hit by a trailer?" she held her head, and slowly got down from her bed. 

She walked into the bathroom and washed her face. Then she walked downstairs while she felt the sharp pain in her head. When she got downstairs, Cynthia, Adiepena and her mother were already at the dinning table eating their breakfast. 

"Hey girl, care to join us?" Adiepena asked, excitement evident in her voice. 

"Ugh. Can you please bring your voice down? I have a bad headache. Does anyone happen to have a painkiller? My head hurts like crazy," Chantel complained. 

"More like you have a hangover. That's what you get for drinking like that last night. What were you thinking, getting drunk like that?" Adiepena chastised her. 

"Well darling. Why don't you join us? I made breakfast," Mrs Asare said. 

Chantel nodded her head and sat by her mother. She hanged her head low as her hands supported her head at sides. Her headache was getting worse making her wish she should not have drunk so much at the night club. Her mother served her breakfast but she could not even bring herself up to eat it. 

"What really happened yesterday? How did we get home?" Chantel asked, with a pained expression on her face. 

"Well as I said, you got drunk, made a fool of yourself on the dance floor and almost got sexually harassed by a stranger. Thank God Kevin was there to help me carry you home. I wonder what I would have done with you two," Adiepena explained. 

"Kevin? Kevin helped you with me?" Chantel asked in confusion. 

Adiepena looked quite amused by her confusion. "What do you really remember from last night?"

"Well, I remember going to the night club with you girls and then we run into Kevin. That's that. I don't really remember anything else that happened."

"Wow, then you must have been out cold. I guess I am much better than you when it comes to drinking," Cynthia mocked her. 

"Shut up, Cynthia. You were even worse. You actually passed out from drinking so much. I mean, what happened to you two? Where did you even learn how to drink like that?"

"From Canada. But it was not all the time. I normally drank on special occasions," Chantel tried to defend herself. 

"Dear, I was really surprised and disappointed when Kevin brought you in here, laughing your head off over nothing. You kept mumbling a lot of nonsense. I can't believe Canada changed you this much," her mother said. 

"Mother I am still the girl you know. I know I got drunk, really drunk and I am really sorry. But you guys should stop treating me like the worse sinner on earth. I feel terrible already," Chantel replied. 

"Well, good for you."

"Anyway, you guys just said Kevin brought me to my room. You mean Kevin was inside this house? At my house?"

"Yes. He came here because I asked him to help me with you two. And he did exactly that. Now, let it rest," Adiepena countered. 

"How could you have let him inside my house? You know how I feel about him. I hate the guy. And I don't want him anywhere near me or my house. Why would you let him in here without my permission?" Chantel was getting seriously angry now. 

"Were you even listening to what I was saying? You could not even stand on your own. And I could not carry both of you. Instead of you sitting down there, getting all flustered up about your ex, bringing you home, why don't you see yourself in a mirror? Stop acting like a child and grow up. This is Ghana, not Canada. And when someone does something nice for you, you say thank you instead of being angry. It does not suit you," Adiepena angrily said and walked out. 

"That escalated really fast," Cynthia said in a mocking tone. 

"Shut up, Cynthia. I don't need this right now. And ugh, my head hurts so much. Doesn't anyone have a painkiller?"

Cynthia just laughed and continued eating. Mrs Asare glared at her daughter, who could feel her mother's gaze on her. She did not want to look back to her mother's direction because she knew she had a disapproving look on her face. But, it still hurt her that Adiepena allowed Kevin of all people to carry her and bring her home. 

"You know you are wrong. But, instead of going to apologise, you would rather sit around like a lost puppy. Can't you see that Adiepena was just watching out for you? Now tell me this. Why are you really angry? Is it because Kevin brought you home or it's because you still feel something for him?" her mother said calmly. 

"I don't feel anything for Kevin. That man can die for all I care. It makes me angry that he now knows where I live. I don't want to wake up one morning and meet him in front of my door."

"So, you would rather let Adiepena take the blame for your anger? Listen Chantel, it takes one lifetime to make good friends so learn to handle them with care. Because if you lose such friendship, that would be the end of you." her mother said and left the table. 

Chantel suddenly felt bad for what she did. She understood Adiepena was only trying to help her. And she knew she would have done the same thing if Adiepena was to be in her shoes. 

"Do you think I overreacted?" she asked Cynthia, who seemed to have been quite all of a sudden. 

Cynthia turned her attention to her and put her spoon down. 

"Listen, Chantel. Adiepena is a very sensitive person. She easily gets hurt so I am sure what you said hit her hard. She did her  best to bring us home safe and sound. The best way she could do that was to turn to the only person she trusted at that time. And that was Kevin. We all know what Kevin did to you 15 years ago. You dwelled so much on Kevin being here instead of seeing the help our friend gave us. I think that's why she is hurt. Maybe you should go talk to her."

Chantel sighed deeply. Cynthia is right. Adiepena really did help them and she just made her feel bad. She needed to apologise to her before she loses Adiepena's friendship like her mother had just said. She shook her head and walked outside.