(USA)
We already became friends at that moment in the poolside, chatting and cracking up jokes as Amy tends to lighten up my mood from her funny gestures. Just then, water splashed at me as I was the one closer to the pool.
I gasped at my wet dress, looking directly to the pool, my gaze met with the guy with a brown eyeball, clouded with a black round colour. He stared at me apologetically and in a way I can't really explain. He came out of the pool, but never took his eyes off me as he was lost in thought.
"Hey man, you got to apologize for splashing the damn water, not just staring?" Amy scowled at him.
"No no, it is fine." I mumbled to her.
"No, it is not fine. I should have been careful, really sorry about that, but can I know you girls the more, you all look so stunning," he shrieked. Just in his white pants, and broad chest. "I am Arnold and you...." Expecting a reply -
"Oh well, I am Amy. You are not bad too, you have got six packs as it is, and..." She said seductively, while Lilian cut in; "crazy girl."
I chortled at their funny banters, that was when I realized they are the only one that could make me a happy person again.
Arnold stood there, stole his gaze at me. That only made me dislike him that moment. I hate guys that flirt, but I ignored him, towing my hair behind my ear, smiling at the ladies gist.
"Wow, I love your smile, can I-?"
"Arnold! I've been waiting for hours and you kept me waiting to talk to some random girls, is that nice?" A young lady recognised by her voice, cut in short, rudely.
"And what does that suppose to mean?" Amy tried to defend when Ciara stopped her from talking. Arnold apologized and left us there.
I never knew Arnold had been stalking me for days. I was on my way to get something, strolling through the quiet road occupied with dried grass, when I heard the familiar voice behind me. "Hey pretty, hi."
I halted, and turned back, keeping my hands in my jacket, just to see the flirt. "What, you!.. at the poolside if I'm not wrong?"
"Yes, you are not wrong," His cute smile only made me annoyed the more. "I just wanna have few moment with you, can I know your name at least?" He stretched his hand forward for a reply.
"Have you been stalking me? How.. Did you.. " I am puzzled.
He gestured with his hand, "calm down please, calm down. I wasn't stalking you intentionally, just wanna get to know you better."
"So, you have been stalking me, and why is that?.. Hold on! Was that not your girlfriend the other day, so why are you flirting around with other girls. What are you guys' problem?" I scare quote 'what are you guys problem' with my fingers, but instead, he cackled.
"You find it funny?" I folded my arm to my chest.
"I am sorry," he burst out again which makes it look more irritated. He managed to stop after the long lasting frustrated laugh. "She wasn't my girlfriend, she is my sister, blood sister."
I was at the dressing table after taking my shower. Still in my bathrobe when I was cleaning my face with cotton wool soaked in my face cleanser when I brooded over the letter written by dad. I reached for it in the chest drawer at the bedside where I had left it. I read this whenever I missed dad. I had gone through this particular letter countless times, and yet, never got tired of reading it. It made me feel loved and emotional. I usually ruminated on it for several minutes.
Sighed as I plumped down at the edge of the bed, removed the letter from the fancy envelope, and began to read for the umpteenth time;
LETTER FROM YOUR LOVE; TO YOU – MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.
Hi sweetie,
I hope you are good. I know how sad you would be after reading this letter I'm writing to you now, but remember dad loves you now and always and he wants you to be good.
I have never wished to leave you all alone in this cruel life. Yes, life is cruel, but never try to be cruel, the one who understands life would know how to live in this life. Life will throw you plenty of curve balls to knock you off track, but try not to be swayed. You can get derailed unexpectedly from your plans, but never give up my dear, keep trying, keep moving on, let your eyes shed mostly tears of joy. Build a castle for happiness in your heart, and do not chase it out, not for anything.
You are a strong girl, love, don't allow pain, make you miserable, fight every weakness in your way, even if it's your last ounce of strength. Love should make you stronger, don't be weakened by it. Falling or failing is inevitable. Stand on your feet again and be stronger if you do. The more you believe, the more you achieve, the more challenges you face, the stronger you will be, but never give up! The way I have worked so hard to save that much money for you, that is the way I want you to save more than for your future, to your children also, work hard for them, don't be like dad who gave birth to just you, smiles...
I need you to get married to a good man who will love you as much as you do. I might be there on your wedding day to walk you up to the aisle, but if I happen to be absent, never hesitate to go with someone else. Be happy in life dear, get married, have children, work hard, be successful, be consistent, be an independent person, and be proud of yourself because dad will forever be proud of you, dad misses you and I love you.
Your love. ❤"
"Oh dad! I miss you too, and I love you. Why did you leave me all alone in this cruel life, this is so much of a burden for me. I can't carry it all alone. Come back to me dad, and solve this whole issue for your daughter. I need you. Did you have to leave dad? Did you have to?" Emotions welled up in me, and rushed to my hands. The rush of emotions crumpled up the letter in my hand. I felt the surge of heaviness in my throat, down to my chest. I was crying out loud, and felt like screaming at the top of my voice. Then i heard footsteps up the hallway, right to my door.
"Eeh, what – what is wrong Monica?" I felt a warm touch on my shoulder, through my back. Ciara showed up to my face, and sat down on the bed. I couldn't help noticing her mini, V. necked nightgown, with her nipples peeking through the duchess gown. "What is this with you?" She released the squeezed letter from my trembling hand, and mumbled to herself, "letter from your love here to you my beautiful daughter?" She gazed at me with remorse. "You are missing him right?" I yelped, and nodded to her.
She heaved a sigh of sympathy."Come here love," she drew me closer to her, and hugged me in comfort. "I never see you in so much tears. You always try your best to be happy in our presence, but you are actually going through a lot. That makes you stronger, and I think that makes me lucky to have you as a friend," she caressed my hair and pecked me on the forehead. "Stay happy Monica. For me. For us. For your dad, most especially, for yourself, love."
Fresh tears formed in my eyes, and dropped down in huge drops, couldn't stop them. "Ciara, I am lucky to have you girls as friends as well. Thanks for understanding me always, thanks for standing by me. Even though I never tell you guys my pain, you still chose to stand by me. I will never stop loving you all." She disengaged our embrace after several minutes.
"OK, so, it is fine now. Come on, wipe your tears. I am sleeping here tonight." She said, matter-of-fact .
"What! Why? I am okay. I mean – You don't –"
"This is my decision, so don't argue with me. Even if you do, ain't going back on my words. Come on, let's get some sleep already, it is a big day tomorrow."
A large grin got plastered on my lips. "Alright love." I succumbed.
.
(USA)We were all in my apartment at the dining close to the window. Cool breeze rushed in, and blew at our faces and hair. A long sofa below the window. We were all chatting, and giggling, when my phone rang out getting everyone's attention. I knew at once it was the same caller that had been calling since dawn broke. So, I ignored it."That is your phone there Monica." Lilian brought to my notice –who was opposite my seat, next to Olivia."Yes, I know." I fixed my eyes on the glass cup in front of me still."So why aren't you taking it? Who is the caller
Hold on girls!" Olivia took a step backwards and strained her ears to listen again to whatever sound she might have heard initially. "Can't y'all hear the sound of water drizzling?" Olivia demonstrated the sound with her mouth and fingers."Oh my God! Bathroom?" I traced the direction the sound was coming from and landed at the entrance of the bathroom. The other ladies followed closely and peeped through the keyhole, near the doorknob. There, Monica sat under the shower, in her pajamas. She folded her two legs, and cupped her face on her thighs, supporting her head with her arms. Water dripped down her hair, which looked fuller than we last saw it.The girls made their way into the bathroom hurriedly,
(USA)"Hey love! How's your sister? I haven't been seeing her around lately." I hollered at him.I was lying on the soft white, 3-seater - couch in the living room, and with my knees joined together like a yogi, busy chatting away my time on my phone."Loveth has become a very busy make-up-artist, always moving on and on to parties, occasions and stuff." Arnold headed towards me from the kitchen, with a white flat dish in his hand which contains different kinds of diced fruits."Oh wow, that is cool," he placed the dish on the edge of the small table at the corner of the c
NIGERIA..I laid on my left, in the bed in my room, going through a heart -wrenching novel titled 'My scars'. Just then, I heard a sound."What, Monica!" I turned to the direction the voice came from. It was Amy, clad in a sexy short red gown. I looked at her curiously as she exclaimed expecting her to say something and she did."You haven't dressed up just yet? Don't you notice I'm all dressed up, but you are here reading some sort of novel." She pronounced 'novel' like something disgusting, and shook her fingers – sign of displeasure."Oh! my
(USA)I was together with Arnold in his room, on his bed one afternoon. I rested my arm on his shoulder, and held onto them for support, while he was busy chatting on his phone."Arnold?" I called out to him."Hmm!" He responded, but didn't turn to face me."I wanna speak to you, it is very important.""Okay, I'm all ears.""I said i
"Yes, and don't even give me that innocent look, because it's of no use anymore," Lilian moved closer to Olivia and uttered softly. "It is not your fault actually. I'm sure Olivia pushed you to do it," her voice came out loud again. "Why don't you wanna see a friend being happy Olivia? 'Cause I don't even understand you any longer.""What are you saying? Why on earth should we want her to remain this way. Can I even–" Olivia caught her breath, while Lilian wrapped her arms around her rib cage, then rolled her eyes at her."Are you trying to say–we made her like this? I called Arnold? While I don't even have his contact. By the way, why are you always blaming Olivia for everything, all she had wanted until today is her happiness, she only
I stopped walking and turned back my gaze. They stared at each other until Amy came to a conclusion to get the door opened. "Who is there?" She asked, holding the door handle."It is me." A familiar voice came through the door.That is mum.Amy opened up the door, and smiled widely at her. "Oh my! Welcome ma. Pls, come in.""How are you all doing? You all look so stunning." A dark-skin, average, slim woman walked into the house, putting on
Chapter twelve."Years ago while I was in year 3, I– I was forced to party out with my friends on my birthday. Yes, I was happy, I couldn't resist because it was my birthday, and I want the people around me to be happy because of me. This is where this got me, I care about people's happiness without thinking about what I really want. I never like the decision of going clubbing, but I go anyway," I lowered on the ground, and tugged my hair as tears kept flowing down. "I resisted at first, but I was confused by them. My desire was to make them happy, right. They were, I fulfilled their dreams. Their mood lightened up that night. Just this night then never will I go again, I told them that, then they agreed immediately. Of course, that was my first and last night I went clubbing. Neither will I be forced to drink, Nor will I be forced to dance. They had no problem with all my conditions, all they cared about was for me to go with them," I smiled to myself and gasped out. "