Happiness is not about getting all you want, it's about enjoying all you have

-Unknown

*unedited*

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  "Zarah would you tell us what ever it is you want to tell us already and stop grinning like a moron?" Justin demanded a little bit too sweetly, he tapped his feet impatiently on the floor, forming an irregular rhythm.

  Zarah mock glared at him "I'm not a moron!" She huffed out an irritated breath. She took in a deep breath and within seconds she was smiling widely, She shuffled from feet to feet as she could barely keep her excitement at bay.

  "Zarah you are wasting my time" Her mother warned. Although she sounded stern, you could tell she was amused by her twinkling eyes.

  "Okay" She took another deep breath and barred her pearly whites at them again. "MomIwonascholarship" Zarah said all in one breath.

  "You're rapping, can you please slow down? I didn't hear a word you said" Justin requested.

  "I...said...I...won...a...scholarship" Zarah said slowly, enunciating each word like she was talking to a toddler.

  It took a minute for them to assimilate what she said.

  "Wait! You mean you won a scholarship?" Her mother asked, surprise and disbelief evident in her voice.

  "Yeah, remember the scholarship exam I took few months ago just for the fun of it?" She paused peering at the faces of her mother and daughter. They nodded in confirmation, eager her to continue.

  "Since I used Precious's email, they sent her and an email and she just printed it out from a cyber cafe, and guess what?" She paused dramatically "I'm to start at Regal academy tomorrow!" She squealed waving the paper she was holding excitedly in their faces.

  "Wait!" Justin jumped up and snatched the paper out of her hand. His eyes scanned the paper quickly and he thrust it into his mother's hand who was frozen in shock.

  He hoisted her off the ground with relative ease and gave her a swirl happily and Zarah melodious laughter pealed across the room.

  "I still can't believe this! You won a scholarship? And to Regal academy?" He asked to be sure of what he heard after he had put her down.

"Huh-uhn" Zarah nodded, she could barely hold back her grin.

"I'm so proud of you" Tears shone n his eyes as he planted a tender kiss on his younger sister's forehead.

Ruth walked slowly to where her children stood, retying her wrapper as she walked.

  "Zarah, you won a scholarship?" She asked in a daze. The word scholarship sounded foreign on her tongue. Zarah nodded firmly in affirmation.

"My daughter won a scholarship" she repeated her eyes brimming with unshed tears of joy.

Zarah's mom took her daughter's head in her hand affectionately. Her eyes searched Zarah's and it asked the same question and she nodded again.

Ruth pulled her daughter in for a warm embrace, the tears she was trying to keep at bay broke through her restraint, her sleeping emotions bursting forth.

Zarah raised her arms awkwardly and patted her mom on her back. "Mummy don't cry" she said softly, her voice wavering slightly.

"I'm not crying" Her mum pulled away sniffing. Zarah immediately missed the warmth her mother's embrace provided her.

Slowly Ruth wiped her tears with the edge of her wrapper. "I'm just happy" she felt the need to add, hoping her daughter understood why she was crying.

"So my daughter is going to study in Regal academy?" She asked no one in particular  "A school for the rich, my own daughter"

"You know what?" She asked suddenly, Zarah and Justin's head turned sharply to face her.

"Get ready, tomorrow we are going to get things for school"

"But...." Zarah protested weakly.

"No buts" Her mom shushed her "My daughter is not going to resume a school with rich kids dressed like a pauper" Fierce determination Zarah had never seen flashed across her mother's face. For a moment Zarah thought she looked younger and more........ beautiful? No stunning was the word.

Zarah's previous excitement turned into nervousness as soon as she into stepped Regal academy. Her hands turned clammy and she rubbed it repeatedly into the dress she wore. She then clutched the straps of the bag tightly, her heart thumping loudly and her mind wandering picturing how everything could possibly go wrong.

She was sporting a blue knee length floral dress which she kept for very special occasions and a pair of black new sandals. Her dark long hair was braided neatly in two French braids giving her an innocent look.

"Zarah let's go" Her mother's voice pulled her out her reverie.

She hurried after her mother whom a dark stocky man was leading to the principal's office.

Zarah stared in awe at the large buildings and the exquisite design. The school was huge and magnificent, she had never seen anything as splendid in her entire fifteen years of existence.

They were ushered into the principal's office and the cold air hit her taking her unawares. She subconsciously gripped her biceps and rubbed her exposed arms, shivering slightly. She wondered how the temperature could drop so drastically.

She was awestruck at the beauty of the room, she surreptitiously glanced around the elaborately decorated room. It was tastefully furnished, sparkling clean and exquisitely designed. The walls were adorned with paintings, medals and portraits of the president, governor and proprietor.

She was so absorbed in admiring the beauty of the room that she barely noticed the discomfort of her mom under the probing eyes of the principal.

He cleared his throat loudly, Zarah's head snapped in his direction. He was a strikingly handsome man in his early forties, dressed corporately. He was sitting behind an antique mahogany table that was so carefully furnished that you could see your reflection on it. It screamed absolute lustre and sheen.

He adjusted his black rimmed glasses, crossed one leg over the other and clasped his hand loosely over his lap. He smiled, Zarah thought his smile was rather spine chilling.

"What can I do for you?" His voice boomed, his personality was intrusive and his voice authoritative. He was the type that commanded respect wherever he went.

His voice held hints of humour which was absent on his face and unmistakable curiosity swirled in eyes. His look spoke volumes, it was like it had a hidden meaning she couldn't quite place and it sent a skitter up her spine.

"Erm..... Sorry, Good morning sir. My daughter won a scholarship to study here" Her mother's eyes were anywhere else but on him. He seemed to rather enjoy her discomfort.

  He wilted against the back of his chair and a grin split his face. "So Ruth, your daughter was among the students that won this year's scholarship? Impressive!" He swirled a pen in his hand, his eyes absentmindedly roving around the room until it landed on Zarah. "Oh! Sorry forgive my manners, have your seat young lady"

He pointed at some chairs across the room. "And you..." His gaze landed on Ruth "You can sit here"

"So..." He straightened and assumed a professional pose, his voice strict "What's you daughter's name and what class is she?"

Zarah strode across the plush carpet an sat a black plush armchair, she shifted uncomfortably on the chair, she felt like she was going to transfer her filth unto the chair.

A thought crossed her mind and she furrowed her brows in confusion, didn't the principal just call her mom by her name earlier? That was definitely strange.

She snuck a glanced at the duo, her mom was fidgeting and wringing her fingers nervously while the principal's lips was twisted in a wry smile.

Something's wrong somewhere!

She thought squinting at the pair suspiciously, she had never seen her mom act so nervous and it was weird seeing her act so strange.

"Erm Zarah!" She was hurtled back to reality by her mother's voice.

She stood up quickly and padded over to where her mother and the principal now stood.

"Welcome to Regal academy, your performance was really impressive and I must commend you for that...." His phone ringing snagged his attention, he peered into the phone screen to check the caller's ID "You would receive your uniform tomorrow, come for your measurement before twelve and any other vital information would be passed to you before the end of today, erm... the classes are easy to locate I trust you wouldn't have any difficulty in that aspect. Have a nice day" He said hurriedly and swiped the receiver button, he dismissed them with a wave of hand.

"Hey sweetheart, whats up?" He looked directly at Zarah's mom with a smug smile on his face.

Zarah and her mom hurried out of the principal's office, the latter letting out an exhale in relief which made Zarah stare at her suspiciously.

"Mom what's the matter with you?"

"Huh?... Oh nothing honey, don't worry about me" she handed Zarah a document and a folded paper and Zarah raised a brow in confusion.

"The principal said to give you this, so when you're settled in you could go over to the vice principal's office and get your books. Give him that paper and he'd give you the books you need" she fished out her purse from her bag "Take this two hundred naira, it's all I have if not I'd have added more. Use it to eat, I'll send Justin to come pick you up so you wouldn't use it for transport"

She squeezed the two hundred naira note into her hand and smiled lovingly at her.

"But mom...." Zarah attempted a protest.

"Shh...." She placed her index finger on Zarah's lips in order to shush her up.

"It's enough, at least when I have the money, you should be able to enjoy these little privileges once in while" she gave Zarah's hand a gentle squeeze, her eyes brimming with unshed tears of joy "I know you'd make me proud, it's not like I doubt it, you have always made me proud and this is not an exception. Now go, you're already late for your classes and I don't want to make you any later" She smiled tenderly at her.

"Okay" Zarah mumbled but made no attempt to move from where she was standing.

Ruth kissed her daughter on her forehead and bade her goodbye. Zarah stood watching her retreating figure with a small smile and not until she was at the gate did she turn to go find her classes.

Taking in a deep breath, she stared at the large school building and read the words writing beautifully on top of it on a golden plate.

"Regal Academy"

  Zarah was so engrossed in reading the names of each class she passed that she didn't pay attention to where she was heading.

She was brought back to reality when she bumped  into someone.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry" She muttered apologetically and hurriedly bent to pick the person's books which were sprawled across the floor.

"It's no problem" An angelic voice chirped "It wasn't totally your fault, I didn't watch where I was going either"

Zarah handed over the books to her and she took them gratefully. She was a tall, beautiful dark complexioned girl dressed tidily in the school uniform. Her long hair was braided neatly in corn rows. She had a dazzling smile on her face and her brown eyes held a sparkling vitality. Zarah thought she looked like a goddess.

"So... You're new right?"

"Yeah I am" Zarah nodded.

"I could tell easily, your dressing"

"Oh!" Was all Zarah could say.

"Hmm... Sorry, forgive my manners please. My name's Ruby and you are?" She stretched out her hand for a handshake.

Zarah laughed, her eyes twinkling as she took Ruby's hand "You don't have to be so formal, anyway Zarah's the name"

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl" The cliche rolled of her tongue smoothly "What class were you assigned to"

Zarah picked up the document she was given to confirm "Hmm... SS2 A"

"Awwn, too bad I'm in SS2 B" Ruby pouted "Anyway lemme show you to your class then"

Zarah nodded gratefully and moved aside so Ruby could lead the way.

"So... What school did you transfer from?" Ruby asked her perfect smile still on her face.

"Government day secondary school" Zarah searched for a trace or hint of disapproval or disgust on Ruby's face but found none, she blew out a relieved breath. She decided already that she liked Ruby, most rich people she knew were stuck up and snobbish and thankfully Ruby didn't seem any of the two.

"Why did you change schools?" She Ruby asked as she led her up the stairs.

"I won a scholarship"

"Oh I see!" She trilled "You're a brainy one"

Zarah smiled shyly.

"So that's your class" Ruby stopped and pointed at a large class "My class is next to yours so call me if you need anything, see you around then" All it took was for Zarah to turn around and Ruby was gone. She swallowed the words of farewell she was about to say.

The was fast!

Zarah thought. Whirling back to stare at the class she was supposed to be in, she stood contemplating whether to go in through the back door or front door. After mulling over the thought for some seconds, she then decided to go in through the front door since she could already hear the voice of the teacher.

She took in a deep breath for the umpteenth time to calm her racing pulse, flexing her fingers nervously.

After standing outside for a minute, she finally found the courage to push it open.

"Uh... Good morning sir"

All heads snapped in her direction and the class went dead silent.

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A/N

Another chapter guys! 😌

Give it up for Favour!!!!!!, Ahn ahn where are the drums na? 😂😂😂

Anyway just kidding.

I'm so lazy! I can't believe I typed this chapter for two days 😯

Sha it's because I don't have a phone yet and I'm trying to manage with my mom's phone.

So what do you think?

I personally think it's boring.

Well updates would be sooner since I'm done with secondary school now, I'll try to update twice a week

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