Someone advised that I shouldn't interpret the pigin English, it only takes out the fun in it. And I'm kind of taking that into consideration.

And because I'm taking that into consideration. I've decided to minimize the pigin in this story, irrespective of Uyai's background.

This chapter is dedicated to Estmay ❤

Above is a picture of Femi, a new character that would be added on the cast list.

Enjoy.

                      ~°~°~°~°~

Have you ever noticed that morning sleep tends to be sweeter? It's hard to fall asleep at night but when the morning comes, none of us are willing to get up from the bed.

Uyai.

Imagine staying out all night and then crashing on your bed around two in the morning. Yeah, getting up when it's the breaking of dawn would be anything but possible.

Uyai.

Laying on my bed, I knew I was late for something but I just couldn't figure it out.

Uyai.

Yesterday was a Saturday, which only meant today must be a Sunday.

Uyai.

And since today was a Sunday, it meant I was supposed to be in church.

Uyai.

A church I hated so much.

"Uyai!"

"Jesus!" I opened my eyes as I felt a hand smack the back of my head. I brought my hand to the back of my head and began to rub it. "Mummy na."

Mother looked at me with so much raged in her eyes, "Mummy kill you there!"

What?

"What's your time?" She demanded. I looked at the little room Idara and I, were meant to be sharing, then back at mother.

"I don't know Mma [Mother]." How was I supposed to know, when I did not have a phone nor a wrist watch nor even a wall clock in the room.

Mother fastened her wrapper on her chubby waist. If eyes could kill, I would have been six feet under.

"Well I'll tell you. The time is half past seven!" She yelled. I remained calm as I looked at mother with knitted brows.

"But mummy, church starts by nine." I grumbled, same time I tried to let my head hit the pillow.

"Will you stand up!" Mother yelled. She forcefully pulled out my wrapper and pushed me out of the bed. My butt connected with the cemented ground, which made a loud 'THUD'.

"Are the plates washed? Are the drums filled? Is the inside of the house and compound swept?!" I looked at mother in bewilderment and then glanced over at Idara, whom was still fast asleep.

Idara was my fifteen years old younger sister. She wasn't just a brat, she was also lazy and slow. She does nothing but flunt around with boys way older than herself.

Idara and I looked nothing alike. Idara was a light skinned girl and she was very tall too. Sometimes, people thought she was the older sibling  cause of her mature body, and the way she carried herself around town.

But with all the horrible things mentioned above, mum and dad still didn't find any fault in her.

"But mummy na, what about Idara?" I demanded. "I can't do all that by myself o."

"Are you mad?!" Mother smacked me hard at the side of my head which knocked the air out of me. "Is she not your younger sister? Do you want her to die? Are you not supposed to protect your sister?!"

"Mummy that's not how to do things," I said to her, as I looked at every where but my mother's eyes. Her eyes were like that of Medusa. But instead of turning me into a statue, I'd be receiving a really hot slap.

"So you know that those chores could actually kill someone," I went on.

"Shut up!" Mother snapped. "For being so disobedient, you're not going to the church with us."

Thank Jehovah!

Unknown to mother, she was doing me a huge favor. Who wants to go to a church that does nothing but condemn people?

"And no food for you through out today!" Mother finished in a really harsh tone.

"Mma!" My mouth went wide in bewilderment, as I summond the courage to look her in the eyes. "E too much na!"

Mother gave a loud hiss, as she eyed me from head to toe. "Next time, you think before you talk." Mother warned. "You think you've grown wings, eh? I'll cut it off for you." Mother gave her last hiss, before walking out of the box I called room.

"E-Eh Uyai, your mouth to dey run o." Idara out of blues, said.

"See this fish o," I swung my head and channelled all my anger at her. "Will you continue your pretentious sleep. Big head."

Idara gave some little grumble here and there, but eventually did what I asked of her.

                    ~°~°~°~°~

The sun above my head, could boil two drums of water for Eba. Mother was so wicked to let me go over to the next estate, just to fetch water. Mother would had let me go over to Mama Edosa's compound, not too far from our house, to fetch the water. But she wanted to display her pure wicked self to me.

Walking back home with a heavy water on my head, Femi - The son of the man that owned our estate, suddenly jumped out of the bush and eventually blocked my part.

Femi was a good looking boy, so fine that lots of girls were dying to have him. Even Judith found him 'date worthy'.

Femi wasn't like every Other notorious boys in town. His father was rich, since he had the money to build a whole poor estate. I would have been cool with Femi, if it wasn't for the fact that he wouldn't let me be.

Femi's addiction towards me started from the first day he came to my school as a new student. He forgot his lunch money and was so hungry. Though I had little money with me, I had decided to buy him few snacks, which he was grateful for. And just because of that little deed, Femi wouldn't let me be.

He had asked me out numerous times, which I had refused without hesitation. I even embarrassed him once, by throwing sand in his eyes, just because he was acting stubborn.

My adamant behavior towards him, prompted him to make friends with the bad boys. Now, Femi was no longer showing any interest towards me in a romantic way. But instead, he found joy when he and his gang bullied me.

"Femi," I hissed has I tried to balance the huge drum on my head. "What do you want?"

Femi looked at the drum on my head, then chuckled a bit. "I would have given you a better life than this."

"Says the boy that's still collecting money from his father," I spat out. "Get out of my way."

I could feel my neck ache. It felt like it would break any minute, if I didn't do fast and get the drum off of my head.

"Femi dey go na!" I grumbled as the pain began to get worst.

"You just insulted me not to long ago," Femi folded his arms as a smile crawled up his lip. "Watching you in so much pain could stand as an apology."

I began to look for an escape route, but there was none. "Is it by force to date you?"

"Tsk tsk tsk," Femi wriggled his fingers in front of my face. "Who said anything about dating you, Uyai? you're in my past. I don't go back to old crushes."

"Then leave me be na," I grumbled as I readjusted the drum on my head. "I'll shout rape o."

That made Femi to laugh like a maniac. "You're just bluffing."

I smiled at that. He thought I was bluffing. I opened my mouth wide as I sucked in some air. "Rape!"

Femi quickly sprinted towards me and tried to cover my mouth. "Are you mad?!"

I wriggled his hands off. "Rape o! Rape! Ra..." My words became muffled, as Femi used his big hands to cover my mouth again.

"What's going on there?" A distance voice said, which made Femi to swear at me, before finding his way back into the bushes. The man whose voice had stopped Femi, quickly ran towards me.

"Are you okay?" He demanded, as he searched my body for scratches.

I swung my head sideways slowly, as I voiced out a "No."

The man nodded at that. "Do you want to report it to the police?"

that statement alone made me to laugh. "I think the police would be happy if I don't disturb their afternoon nap."

                    ~°~°~°~°~

I let out a groan, as I brought down the drum from my head, and then turned it into a bigger drum. Lukily for me, it was the last drum, which meant I was done fetching water, which also meant no more encounter with Femi.

Mum and Idara had gone to church, while dad had gone to his work. I strode towards the door, so I could grasp the broom used in sweeping the compound, when I saw a brown envelope at the foot of the door.

Mummy forget her tithe money again?

I shrugged, but picked up the envelope nonetheless.

'To Uyai', was written on the envelope, with a black ink. It was so unusual of me to have a letter. I knew it wasn't a scholarship, cause I wasn't a bright student and I didn't apply for one. So that was out of the question.

To ease my curiosity, I decided to open the envelope.

"Iyami!" I exclaimed, as I saw one thousand naira notes inside the envelope. I quickly dashed into the house, cause everyone on my street had a natural talent in their DNA, known as eye service, or amebo [gossip].

Sitting on our already lifeless couch, I brought out the money from the envelope and decided to count it. After counting the money twice, I concluded that it was ten thousand naira.

Who would settle down and dash me this kind of money?

Ten thousand naira was like a million dollars to me. On a normal day, I don't even see up to fifty naira for myself, talkmoreless of a whole real life ten thousand naira.

Searching inside the envelope for more cash, I noticed a white note which was neatly folded. I pulled it out of the envelope and unfolded it.

To Uyai.

I can't believe you are actually real. I really just can't.

But seeing the medical report last year, made me to believe you actually existed. Even though I had my doubt back then.

I guess fate made us cross paths, who knows.

I felt really happy meeting you for the first time. Though I was scared to display it out to you.

But after following you home that night in the shadows, I felt my heart shatter into peices.

I could not believe you were living in such a dumb. A place that wasn't befitting for someone like you.

Comparing to what I have, I know that ten thousand naira is a little bit on the low side. But I wanted it to be easy for you to hide away from the person you call mother.

I'll keep in touch with you soon, cause it's only fair to look after you.

Just have it in mind that someone loves you.

T.

"What's this one saying?" I hissed and squeezed the paper into a paper ball. I was about to throw it out the window, but a second thought stopped me.

I let my eyes scan through the later that was written in a really neat handwriting, one last time.

Who are you?

I began to storm my brain for possible answers. But then, my eyes landed on the one thousand naira notes I had neatly placed on my lap.

"Well who cares," I shrugged. My lips formed a wide smile as I held the money close to my nose, so I could sniff that new money smell. "Free money is like a miracle alert."

Eddy : Turns out I don't have a schedule. So I'm gonna leave it up to the readers to decide. When do you want me to update new chapters?

With that said, What do you think of Uyai's character, and also her family's behavior in this chapter?

Comment your thoughts, vote 🌟 and also share.

Words : 2057

Till next time,

Much love,

X
-Eddy