If only you'll give Chief Chukwudi a
chance. You would be swimming in money. He really likes you, He wants to
take good care of you." Daniella doesn't know when to stop, does she?
"I've heard you, the answer is still NO!"
The sun is shining brightly today, the trees are singing as the green leaves sway from side to side and the soft breeze blows.
It's been days of rain and everyone is glad the sun is smiling today,
it's a perfect day to be outside, such a bright day but Daniella is
determined to make it gloomy.
"It's a beautiful day, I want to go check on the new SSCE timetable. I heard it's out."
"Ok o, efiko (bookworm) you can read for the rest of us who have no interest in reading books. I'm going out tonight."
"With Toba?"
"No."
"No? That guy loves you Daniella, He is also comfortable and has a promising future."
"That one? He may be comfortable but he cannot afford all the things I
want. He doesn't have a certain future either, he's just an athlete. He
is far from the business moguls and shipping magnates I roll with. He is
a small boy jo. "
"Small boy? But you collect money and gifts
from him, if you know you aren't interested in him, why lead him on." I
asked her, perplexed.
"And when did I tell you I'm not interested
in him, He is great in bed, better than all those rich old men put
together.
Plus, He is a bonus, when I have little expenses to take care
of, he is my go to guy. Abeg, leave my spare tyre alone o."
"OK o, I have to go now, I need to get home on time so I can help aunty display her wares in the evening."
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I stayed back in Owerri in order to attend coaching classes and work on
my gaining admission into any higher institution that would have me.
I failed mathematics on my first SSCE attempt and that has delayed my
dream of being the first person to go to the university in my family.
I am determined to make my dream come true, I want to become a medical doctor and I'll have to give it all it takes.
As the first child of the family, with five younger ones, there's a
kind of expectation on me. I can't afford to disappoint my parents, my
family, my siblings.
I stay with my aunty and her family in a
mini flat apartment. She is a loving woman with a large heart. Her
husband and children too, we are one big family.
Aunty is a
primary school teacher, while her husband is a court clerk. She sells
bread in the evenings to augment her income as there are eight mouths to
be fed.
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"Daniella, I came
as soon as I got your message. Wrote my mathematics exam today and you
know how it is. It takes the whole day. What's up friend?"
I got
home around 6pm after the maths exam and one of my younger cousins,
Nneka delivered Daniella's message to me.
She had been to the house
earlier to see me, and on meeting my absence, left a message that I come
see her as soon as possible.
"We need to talk. There's no one I can confide in" Daniella whispered.
"Walk with me." I said.
We both walk towards our favourite spot without saying so.
There's a mango tree right behind the St. Augustus primary school
field, It's always been our favourite place ever since we were little
girls and pupils of the school.
The tree is as big as ever and the leaves green and fresh. I sight some ripe fruits on the tree.
"Want some mangoes?"
I ask Daniella. Mangoes are her favourite fruits and we used to take turns plucking them.
"This is no mango matter, Ify, I want to talk about something serious.
Even my mother doesn't know." She looks really troubled, and now I'm
worried.
"Oh, OK, what could be so serious that you are so worried over. You hardly get worried. "
"I don't even know how to say this, I've really messed up this time around."
"Now you're scaring me, just say it, I'm sure it's not that bad."
"Trust me, it is."
"Ok, out with it."
"I am pregnant."
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