But before they could fully recover, Ifeoma spotted another ride. "Come on! Let's try that one!" she cried, grabbing Olaedo's hand and dragging her forward.
"Are you sure you're not dizzy yet?" Nnenna called after her, laughing as she followed.
After several more rides, the group finally took a break at the food stalls. The air was rich with the aroma of caramel popcorn, fried snacks, and sugary treats. Nnenna took charge of ordering, returning with her arms full of bags of chips, cones of cotton candy, ice cream, and more.
Since she had overheard that the Arinze sisters had never been to an amusement park, she wanted to make sure they experienced everything. "Here you go," she said, handing everyone their share.
Ifeoma tore into her cotton candy immediately, relishing on the sweetness, while Adanna was far more skeptical. She held up the fluffy pink treat, frowning. "Are you sure this is edible?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.
Olaedo chuckled, already nibbling on hers. "If it's not edible, why are we eating it? Do you think we have a death wish?"
Reassured, or perhaps out of curiosity, Adanna bit into the cotton candy. Her eyes widened as the sugary sweetness melted on her tongue. "This is… amazing!" she exclaimed, her expression lighting up like a child's.
In mere seconds, she finished hers and looked longingly at the rest. Nnenna, noticing her silent request, chuckled and handed hers over. "You can have mine, Ada. I've had it before."
"Thanks, big sister!" Adanna said, her grin wide as she accepted the treat.
The group sat together, enjoying their snacks and recounting the highlights of the day. Laughter bubbled up easily among them, the warmth of their camaraderie filling the air as much as the lively sounds of the park itself.
Across from where the girls sat was a brightly lit photo booth. A group of young, good looking men leaned casually against its frame, their attention fixed on the girls.
"Guys, we really hit the jackpot this time," said one of them, Chidindu, with a sly grin. "I was starting to think my idea of picking up girls at an amusement park was stupid, but I stand corrected."
The others laughed and nodded in agreement. One of them clapped Chidindu on the shoulder, his grin wide. "Good job, man! This was genius."
Emboldened, the group followed Chidindu to where the girls were seated, enjoying their snacks. Chidindu, as the self proclaimed leader, took the lead.
"Ladies," he began smoothly, flashing what he thought was a charming smile. "It looks like you're here alone. Beautiful girls like you shouldn't be wandering around without company. How about we join you? Maybe after, we can take some pictures together?"
The girls froze mid bite, their gazes snapping to the group of intruders. 'Who raised these ones?' they thought collectively.
Ifeoma, who had never experienced such blatant flirting before because her male classmates were too terrified to even try, turned to her sister in confusion. "Big Sister, what are they talking about? We've been fine on our own, and we don't need anyone's help to take pictures."
Adanna, who was too busy sampling snacks to acknowledge the men initially, sighed and reluctantly put down her cotton candy when Ifeoma addressed her.
She looked over the group with a mix of irritation and disinterest. "They're trying to flirt with us with such old fashioned methods," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Just ignore them. They'll leave eventually."
The men, overhearing this, exchanged looks of disbelief.
Old fashioned? they thought, baffled. 'Since when did our method stop working?'
Not ready to give up, one of the men stepped forward. "You don't have to be wary of us," he said, his tone deliberately reassuring. "We're just offering our assistance."
Their persistence was growing tiresome. Olaedo, who had been quietly observing, finally decided to step in. Her calm demeanor remained intact as she addressed them directly.
"Gentlemen," she began, her voice even but firm. "Thank you for the offer. But if we needed bodyguards or companions to take pictures, it certainly wouldn't be you." She allowed a sly smile to cross her face, her words laced with confidence. "The four of us can play those roles perfectly fine."
The men were momentarily stunned into silence. Then, with a sharp tone and an intensity that could only come from someone used to commanding respect, she added, "Now... scram."
Her CEO aura seemed to burst forth, overwhelming the men with its sheer force. Without another word, they retreated, disorganized and defeated.
Ifeoma stared after them, wide eyed. "Oh my gosh! Sister in law, that was so amazing!" she blurted out, her tone genuine. "So that's how you handle situations like this?"
Olaedo smiled, inwardly surprised by Ifeoma's first genuine acknowledgment of her. "Yes, that's how it's done. But you must approach it with grace, calmness, confidence, and boldness. If you don't, they won't respect your command."
Adanna nodded approvingly, her smile soft but proud. Olaedo was right to bring Ifeoma along.
Nnenna, watching the interaction, felt a small spark of relief. She didn't know the full extent of Ifeoma's grudge against Olaedo but had sensed the tension earlier. Now, the air seemed lighter, and she was glad. 'Maybe Olaedo won't have such a hard time in her new home after all.'
Her thoughts wandered briefly. 'Speaking of her new home, I still haven't asked her how this marriage came about specifically...'
The moment passed as the girls finished their snacks and turned their attention to the nearby photo booth.
"Let's take some memory photos!" Nnenna suggested enthusiastically.
The cramped booth barely fit all four of them, but they managed to squeeze in. Nnenna made goofy faces in each frame, and after a moment's hesitation, Ifeoma joined in, mimicking her poses.
Olaedo, ever poised, smiled brilliantly, her grin showing all thirty two teeth. Adanna, true to her reserved nature, stuck to her usual subtle smile. While she didn't show her teeth, her bright eyes spoke volumes about her mood.