As she slowly opened her eyes, a smile crept onto her face - it was Saturday! She thought, The word itself feels like a warm hug, a promise of lazy mornings and afternoons spent doing absolutely nothing I don't want to do.
She stretched her arms and yawned, feeling the blissful release from the confines of school life. Her gaze wandered from the off-white walls to the light azure curtain, which was illuminated from outside, its folds softly glowing with sunlight. She could spend the morning simply staring at the ceiling, savoring freedom, rather than being trapped in a crowded classroom, longing for the bell to ring...
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and padded to the bathroom. She flipped on the light, and the sudden brightness made her squint, but she couldn't help smiling at her reflection in the mirror - a sleepy-eyed, tousled-haired version of herself.
"Good morning, Momma," she said, walking into the dining area. Her mom smiled and replied, "Good morning, Nina."
Her twin brothers, Femi and Folu, looked up from the couch where they were playing with toy cars, their faces lighting up in unison. "Good morning, sis!" they chimed in, their voices identical.
She smiled, ruffling their hair as she made her way to the table. "Momma, has Dada come out yet?" she asked.
Her mom raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eye. "Do you think everybody is as lazy as you and still sleeping in till now? He's already out, been up for hours.
Nina rolled her eyes playfully. "Momma, I'm not lazy, I'm just... conserving energy for my exams."
"Ohh, so you've been conserving this energy since forever, right?" her mom teased. "Shut up, girl, you are naturally lazy!"
She laughed, saying "Mommaaa..." as she sat down to serve herself.
"Yes, he even asked about you and your school. I told him you're starting exams on Monday," her mom said.
"Thanks, Momma," Nina replied.
"I'm going out now with the boys to get their hair cut and visit Mami. She's not been well for days. Eat fast and wash the plates," her mom said.
"Okay, Momma," Nina said with her mouth full of bread. "What are you having for lunch today?" she mumbled.
"Uh-hmm, just something quick. And don't think preparing lunch is an excuse for not reading your books," her mom replied.
Nina was in the kitchen when Femi and Folu came bounding in. "Sis, sis, bye-bye!" they chimed in unison. Nina dropped the sponge in her hand and wiped her hands on her gown, a wide grin spreading across her face. She scooped up the twins, one by one, and swung them high into the air, their giggles filling the kitchen.
"We're ready now," Momma said, juggling her handbag as she walked into the kitchen. The boys wriggled free and ran towards her.
"Alright, Momma," Nina said, "say hi to Mami for me, please. I'll come visit her too, maybe on Monday after school." Nina's face lit up with a mock-serious look. "But make sure she knows she needs to be strong before I get there - I just can't handle seeing her all weak and stuff!"
Momma let out a soft "Haha." "Don't worry, I'll tell her to bulk up before you get there," she teased.
Just then, her phone ringing interrupted her. She rummaged through her bag to answer the call.
"Hello," she said into the phone, then turned to Nina and reminded her, "Don't forget to read your books hard, okay?"
With that, she turned to walk away, the boys trailing behind her as they waved goodbye to Nina once again
"You boys, bring me something nice, you hear?" Nina called out from the kitchen as she continued washing plates.
After Nina finishes preparing lunch, she heads to her room and undresses, showers, and then washes the gown she'd removed. It takes her almost 15 mins to tame her hair, feeling like an eternity. Nina knows she's not exactly the girly type, and tasks like this can be a chore.
If she's being honest, the thought of cutting off her long, thick, tightly coiled hair doesn't faze her, in fact, she'd almost welcome the simplicity.
A sigh escaped her as she finally finished with her hair, the struggle having been as much in her mind as it was physical.
With that done, she got dressed in a comfortable outfit - a soft, pastel pink shirt with intricate embroidery around the neckline, paired with light grey joggers that have a subtle flare at the bottom. She wrapped a light grey scarf around her head, which looked perfect with her outfit.
She adjusted the scarf, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She was a typical 18-year-old girl, medium build, average height, and a medium-dark complexion that ran in her family. Her fair-skinned relatives often made her own skin tone stand out.
Her features were subtle. She had a medium-sized mouth with wide teeth and a nose that wasn't particularly pointed. Her brother Praise loved to tease her about that nose. Despite the teasing, Nina's face was a familiar one, one that resembled her father, Dada, in many ways. But her almond-shaped eyes were all hers.
As she stood there, the world around her melted away, and it was just her, alone with her thoughts. Reflections of her life, her passions, and her values began to surface.
"Family was her top priority, and she cherished the love and support they brought to her life. In her free time, she enjoyed reading and writing, finding solace in the quiet moments that allowed her to reflect and recharge. Though she might appear reserved to some, she was confident in her own skin and unafraid to speak her mind when she felt strongly about something. She had a lifelong love for learning and parsued knowledge on her own terms, fueling her curiosity and passion. Ultimately, she prioritized her own happiness and made conscious choices about how she spent her time and energy."
Drifting away from her thoughts, she smiled at her reflection, a laugh escaping her lips. "That's me, Nina - a crazy girl!" she whispered.."
She headed to the toilet to grab the gown she'd washed earlier, balancing it in one hand while holding her chemistry notebook, jotter, and pen in the other. As she stepped out, she made her way to the farmhouse, just steps away from their living quarters.
First, she hung the gown she'd washed and was about to head to the farmhouse to get some reading done when she noticed her school uniform still draped over the line, speckled with dust. Nina couldn't help but roll her eyes at the thought of her father's reaction to her careless handling of school things. "Ah, well," she shrugged, taking the uniform to her room and tossing onto her bed
Back in the parlor, Nina settled onto the couch with her Chemistry notebook, intent on studying. However, her mind wandered, and she found herself pondering a poem instead. After a few moments of mental scribbling, she opened her book, but the words blurred together after just a few minutes.
Feeling restless, she glanced at the clock and saw it was 1:47 PM. Her stomach growled, reminding her that her mother and brothers weren't back yet. As she sat there, the quiet of the afternoon got the better of her, and she drifted off to sleep.
"I'm giving it to her!" Femi said.
"No, I am!" Folu shot back.
"Okay, fine! We'll both give it to her then. Agreed?" Femi asked.
"Yes, you boys go give it to her together," their mom said, walking into the kitchen.
Nina, who had been dozing off on the couch, stirred at the sound of their voices, her eyes fluttering open as a smile spread across her face.
She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "What's all the commotion about?" she asked. "Is it the stuff I asked you to bring?"
Femi and Folu grinned mischievously at each other.
She stood up and walked towards them, while Momma emerged from the kitchen with plates in her hands, heading to the dining space.
"Welcome back, Momma!" Said, hurrying over. "When did you get back? How's Mami?"
"How's the home?" Momma asked,"Have you read your books?" she added, arranging plates on the table.
Nina glanced at where she had been sitting, noticing her books had dropped on the rug while the pen remained on the couch.
She remembered she hadn't gotten much reading done, feeling restless. However, she simply told her mother, "Yes, I was reading when sleep took over. Look, my books are there," she said, pointing toward the couch.
"Good. I thought you'd eat without waiting for us," Momma said.
"No, Momma, I can wait. I'm not that hungry," Nina replied. "And after all, you're here. How's Mami? Did you tell her my message?"
"Yes, I told her you're coming to see her on Monday," Momma replied as she served the food…
"We're coming!" Folu exclaimed.
Nina turned to the boys. "What's that you're bringing for me?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Something nice," Femi said.
As he approached Nina, she helped him into the dining chair and gently took the package from him. Folu joined them, and they all sat down to enjoy their meal together. She looked at each of them, trying to get a hint about the surprise. However, they all remained tight-lipped, their faces expressionless.
Nina's patience finally wore thin, and she tore open the package. Inside, she found chocolate and a slice of banana cake. "Oh, I love Mami!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with delight.
"Mami or the cake?" Momma asked playfully
"Ahn! Which cake, Momma? Nina said. "You know Mami is my favorite with cake or not." And all of them laughed.
They finished eating, and Momma went inside to freshen up the boys, who were tired. Nina packed the plates and washed them in the kitchen.
Then, she returned to the parlor with her books. Instead of reading, she savored the chocolate and cake from Mami, her loving paternal grandmother.
Mami, Dada's stepmom had become a mother figure to him after his mother passed away. Her elder brother, Praise, was once always with Mami before studying abroad. Her aunt Lara, who used to live with Mami, got married three years ago, and now it's just Dada and Mami when he's not busy with work.
She took the book and opened it again, but her mind wandered… She couldn't understand why her father was so strict about her school performance, especially when she didn't enjoy the traditional classroom setting. She preferred reading novels and self-study…
Later, as they sat in the parlor, Nina told her father, "Dada, I want to visit Mami on Monday after school."
"Isn't that the day your exams start?" her father asked.
"Yes, Dada," Nina replied.
"Have you prepared well enough?" he inquired.
"I've been reading, Dada," Nina said.
"Good. Finish your exams first, then you can visit Mami. She's doing better," her father said.
Nina nodded, hiding her disappointment. She knew her father had high expectations.
As the evening drew to a close, Femi and Folu were already asleep. Only Nina, her mother, and father remained in the parlor. Nina was about to head to bed when her father's phone rang.
The phone was on the cushion she was sitting on. He had sat there earlier, watching the news on TV, and had shifted to the side. Nina picked up the phone and handed it to him. "Goodnight, Dada," she said.
"Goodnight, dear! Sleep tight!" her mother called out. "Goodnight, sleep well, love you," her father added.
He didn't respond, still looking at the phone. It wasn't until Nina went to her room that the call ended. Immediately, the phone rang again. This time, he picked it up and put it on speaker.
"Good evening, sir. Is this Nina's father?" a voice asked. Surprised, her father looked at the s
creen, confusion etched on his face. It wasn't a number he recognized.
He looked at her mother, his eyes questioning, and mouthed, "Who is this?"