Chapter seven.
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It feels really good to be back home to my family. I was received wholeheartedly by everyone including my grandma. I got home a little late and I'm really exhausted. I unpacked one of my boxes to get some things for the night and the rest for tomorrow. I took a long cold shower, got some nighties from my wardrobe and lazily carried myself downstairs.
"Nwa m, kedu otu e di?" My grandma asked in my native language. Igbo. "Ahu o dikwa gi nma?"
"I'm fine ma. " I said smiling.
But she just has to be difficult.
"Anaghi m anu oyibo, suo ya na Igbo, I na anu m? She said. I don't understand English, say it in Igbo language, do you understand?!
"A nulam, a dim nma" I replied. I've heard, I'm fine.
"Chioma, we have a lot to talk about " My elder sister said from the dining table and I walked towards her. Amaka, mama as she's fondly called is my twenty one year sister.
I missed her sha!
"Oya, spill em out" I sat next to her and she burst into laughter, why she was laughing, I still don't know.
"My Phone? " I questioned.
"Oh! Here it is, lots of messages await you " She said after her series of laughter.
"Thanks."
"Let me clear up, we have gist o" she exited the dining and I just smiled. Even though I'm really tired, I can't wait to hear what she has to say and gist all night. After all I'm on holidays right?
She was right when she talked about the messages I'd receive. They're annoyingly too many. For goodness sake, I was only gone for three months.
100 friend requests on Facebook.
190 people requested to follow you on Instagram.
5,000 messages on whatsapp.
Not to talk of the messages from all other apps. Geez
To be honest, I like them, I know I wouldn't be so bored during this holiday.
I started scrolling through my messages from Facebook, then whatsapp where I received so many messages from group chats and some unknown numbers too. I replied all the unknown numbers with a 'hi please who is this' and then I decided to open Instagram when one of the unknown numbers replied.
Hey, It's Mofe.
I received a message while checking some of the posts on Instagram but I didn't bother looking at it but I knew that I received message. Later on, I closed the IG app and went back to Whatsapp.
Mofe?
Right now the only Mofe I know is the Mofe from Meadow Hall and I just have a feeling that it's him but he doesn't have my phone number though.
But he said 'it's Mofe?'
Yeah, it's Mofe!
He replied a few minutes later answering my thoughts. And well I read online that when you're talking to someone, if it takes the person two minutes to reply you should also reply within a space of two minutes so it doesn't seem like you're on the person's neck.
Me: Mofe who? From where please? Since you can't introduce yourself properly.
Mofe: Mofe Davis, from Meadow Hall, Chioma!
Really so it was this Mofe all the while and I thought it was one human being.
Me: Oh hey! Hyd?
Mofe: I'm good, u?
"Chioma" my mom called from the kitchen.
"Ma!" I hollered from the dining room and dropped my phone and ran towards the kitchen to find out why she was calling me.
"Are you ready to eat dinner" She asked. "We'd be visiting one of my friends tomorrow so you need to be up very early, Ajah is a bit distant from here. I know you need to rest but she really wants to meet you.
"Yes, don't bother dishing my food, I'll do that myself" I said, I didn't bother asking about the friend we were going to visit. I just prayed that it wouldn't be a boring visit.
"Okay, i'm going to bed, pull down all the curtains, turn off all appliances before you go to bed o, inulam?
" Yes ma"
I dished out my food and I quietly went back to the dining room. The noise from the television in the living room caught my attention and I wondered who'd turn up the volume of the television like that, by this time. But who else could it be? Since it wasn't my mom or grandma.
I picked up my phone, along side my food and headed to the living room. I pulled open the curtains, demarcating the living room from the other part of the house and found my sister seated comfortably on the couch grinning excitedly.
"Why are you not asleep, mama? " I asked taking a seat and making myself comfortable.
"I'm a night crawler" She replied, taking her eyes off the television for a split second before turning back.
"You know we're going out to visit one of mommy's friends tomorrow and you're still up? " I asked putting a spoonful of rice into my mouth.
" I know o, I'll go to bed later " she said, already seeming frustrated.
"Ok, I've heard " I said and I picked up my phone from my lap.
Me: I'm Okay!
I replied to Mofe's message before dropping the phone to join my sister in the movie she was watching. Before I could even put another spoon of rice in my mouth, he replied.
Mofe: How was your journey home?
Me: Smooth
Within myself, I knew the journey was hellish. Traffic!
Mofe : So how are you spending your holidays?
And before I knew what was happening it was already 12:00am. I looked up, finally ungluing my eyes from my phone only to find my sister asleep on the couch.
Madam night crawler!
I woke her up so she could go to her room, I lazily dumped my plate in the sink, turned off all appliances, pulled down the curtains and retired to my bed.
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Unlike school where aunty Pataka was our alarm clock, here I have an actual alarm clock and it's clearly jealous of my relationship with my bed. For goodness sake, it always goes off at the wrongest time. If that's a word.
Why I even set the alarm clock, I still don't know or maybe I'm just curious to know who we're visiting today and if there'll be any fine boys.
I climbed off the bed lazily and walked downstairs. My grandma was already up, with her Bible getting ready to pray. She does this every morning, it's her daily routine.
"Good morning ma" I greeted.
"Nwa m, I bola chi?" She asked. I bola chi, according to my mom is just a way of saying good morning but when translated in English, it says something like have you woken up. And I wonder why you'd ask such a question when you can see that I'm already up, abi is it my ghost you're seeing ? But who am I to argue with my grandma?
"Eee" I answered.
"Call your mother and sister for morning devotion. " She finally spoke English.
Oh God. I don't like her morning prayers. She always expects us to bring up songs in our native language. I just have to persuade her to pray alone this morning.
"Ehm" I scratched my head, trying to think of a very good lie. " They're getting ready to go out, we're all going out together well except you " I said, I guess i didn't have to lie.
"Okay, go and get ready fast" she said and I ran upstairs to my sister's room. Phew!
You need to see my grandma in action, she'd normally start with worship songs, then she's a bit calmer but when it comes to the thanksgiving songs, all hell breaks loose. She starts clapping rapidly with her hands wide open making thunderstorms called claps. It actually scares me, sometimes the noise wakes me up and I'm like God save my soul. But it's all part of prayers.
Mama was already awake and getting ready. I left for my own room to get ready too. I showered quickly and started to dress up.
What to wear? When it comes to what I'm going to wear out, there'll always be a problem but when I'm at home I dress up like I'm going to see the president.
After much deliberation, I picked out a pair of jeans with an off shouldered top and matching sneakers. I braided my long black hair into two and added some hairs accessories to it.
Everyone was seated in the living room when I stepped out, looks like they were waiting for me.
"Are you finally done? " Mama asked.
"Yeah" I said. " Are we having breakfast before leaving?" I turned to face my mom.
"No, but you can take some snacks along with you, we need to leave now" she stated, already walking towards the door.
I grabbed some snacks from the kitchen, waved at grandma and walked out to meet my mom and sister already seated in the car.
The journey to Ajah was very long, and very tiring. The traffic on the way was hectic. I slept like ten times. I didn't use my phone so I could save the battery since I didn't come out with a charger or power bank.
We finally arrived at a place with Gem Estate boldly written at the top and we drove in. Mom parked after she drove into a building with a very large black gate and we all alighted from the vehicle.
The place looked really beautiful. It was a brown and cream duplex with beautiful flowers all around it. It had a garage with about five cars and a dog in a cage closer to the gate.
"Wow" I said talking to no one in particular. " This place is beautiful " I finished.
"Really beautiful " my sister said and we walked to the door following my mom closely behind.
My mom knocked on the door and before I knew it, a beautiful petite lady appeared in front of us smiling. She looked like she was in her early 40's.
"Oh, Ore mi, I missed you o! " she screamed hugging my mom tightly.
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Hello my lovely readers,
How was this chapter?!
Any errors?!
What do you think is going to happen in the next chapter?
Chioma is finally back home!
Let's see how her holiday goes!
Next time,
Gigi.
🎶 You're so gorgeous, I can't say anything to your face 🎶
🎶 Cause look at your face 🎶
🎶 Gorgeous 🎶
🎶 And I'm so furious at you for making me feel this way 🎶