DEDICATED TO _Aasa_

  April huffs as she drags her luggage outside. She hisses in frustration as she walks out of the room, placing the box on the floor. When she hears her mother's voice, she tries to support herself by leaning against the wall.

"April, sleep there okay, " Her mother's voice echoes in her ears. Typical of Nigerian mothers, they use the opposite to tell you what they want. Most of the time, it is hilarious. April hisses as she drags herself downstairs to the sitting room. When she arrived, one thing led to another, causing her to miss her step. Before she knew it, she had landed on her buttocks.

   Wunmi's laughter fills the sitting room, making April furious.

"Your eyes are always up; you can never let them drop to the ground," Mrs Kuti frowns, making April angrier. Nigerian mothers for you.

"Her body is just itching her. If you like go to school and start misbehaving," Wunmi says, irritating April, who knew better than to argue with her. She knew her older sister was a pain in the ass.

“Will you please get off the ground? Why not use your butt to wipe the floor? Given that you are now a mop." Mrs. Kuti scowls as April tentatively stands up.

With a mocking smile, Wunmi says, "Be a good girl and remember the family you came from."

"She shouldn't, na," Mrs. Kuti remarks.

"You understand that you are able to attend such a school due to your scholarship. Improve and maintain your grades so that you can outperform me and improve our lives." Wunmi says it honestly for the first time.

"April, you know our condition," Mrs Kuti says, while April's face goes blank. She despised it when her mother brought up the past. She felt weak thinking about how their lives could have been better if it had not been for the tragic situation.

       Aprils, Dad. Mr Kuti died ten years ago; at the time, she was seven years old and could only accumulate and understand a few things. Her father died of a heart attack caused by the sinking of his multimillion-dollar ship. He could not handle it emotionally, and he had hypertension.

Her father's family and relations did not waste time throwing them out on the street. She was not sure if it was because her father did not marry a Yoruba woman as his parents wanted, or because her mother did not have a son. No one intervened for them. They had no one to help them, and her mother had no brother or sister.

Her mother's parents were also late. Since then, they have been able to manage independently. Mrs Kuti had been selling fresh tomatoes and peppers at Rumuokoro market with the help of her daughters, particularly Wunmi. They never progressed because Wunmi had sickle cell anemia. Everything her mother sold always ended up in the hospital; they were just relieved she survived to this age and hoped she would not die.

Wunmi completed secondary school two years ago and has not been able to continue her education due to a lack of funds. So she had been helping her mother ever since. April, on the other hand, had been attending a government-run school.

The organization that gave her the scholarship will cover her tuition and all other school-related expenses. Since it is a boarding school. She only needed some provisions and pocket money for her comfort.

Mrs. Kuti had already squeezed out what little she could, despite the fact that she was not earning much due to the Rumuokoro Construction, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, the current governor, was planning a flyover in Rumuokoro, and the task force assigned to him was doing their job while also taking advantage of the situation, extorting money from poor market women and drivers. People like Mrs Kuti, who had no shop and sold near the road, had to pay a price. They were constantly on the run.

"Let us get going, so I will be back early." Mrs Kuti says as she searches through her washed-looking handbag. Meanwhile, April grabs her travel box. It did not look old, nor was it new. It was worth managing.

"Mummy, if you do not return early, should I go to the market?" Wunmi inquired.

"Wunmi, I am not going to sleep there, Biko (Please). Port-Harcourt can be busy, but there is no way someone moving from Rumuodumaya to Rupokwu will spend hours," Mrs Kuti mocks.

"But mummy, I'm not talking about getting there, won't you stay till she get settled in?" Wunmi inquires earnestly.

"Wunmi! Cook the rice. Jollof rice, specifically, and that almost-spoiled tomato. I do not want it to go to waste; it was purchased with money." Mrs Kuti shifts the subject.

"Mummy, I was..."

"You have not told me what you are doing with the boy who grinds tomatoes in the market." Mrs Kuti exclaims angrily, while April's eyes widen.

"Mummy, how does that relate to this?" Wunmi, who appeared to be losing her temper, asks with a frown.

"Wunmi, it has everything to do with this. It has everything to do with this," Mrs Kuti yells at the top of her lungs.

April, speculating about what their neighbors might be thinking or saying right now, says, "Mummy, calm down na, we are disturbing others in their rooms." They lived in two single rooms, which they turned into a sitting room and bedroom, Typical Face me I face you houses in Nigeria.

"Wunmi it has everything to do with this," Mrs Kuti says practically ignoring her daughter. Meanwhile, Wunmi attempts to walk into the other room. They rented two rooms, one was used as a sitting room while the other a bedroom. The typical, face me I slap you houses

"Will you come back here? E wey sense (you don't have sense) Mrs Kuti says in Ikwerre. Meanwhile Wunmi who attempted to walk away, stopped.

"Mom, what is this na?" Wunmi frowns as she queries.

"You think I do not know why you want to go to the market?" Mrs Kuti inquires in a strict tone.

"Mummy, what is the reason again? If I do not agree to assist you. "You will complain, and even if I do, you will continue to complain," Wunmi frowns.

"You think mummy Chisom did not tell me about your misbehavior with that unfortunate human being. "When you go to the market," Mrs Kuti says, frowning.

"Oh, that's what mummy Chisom told you? I should have realized. That gossip", Wunmi defends.

"Will you shut up? you won't follow reasonable people, look at our lives and you say it's tomato, pepper and egusi grounder that is your problem" Mrs Kuti, who could no longer take it, says.

"Mummy, you were complaining about us being late," April says, while her mother gives her a look capable of burying someone.

"Wunmi, you are not a kid. There are so many wealthy and responsible men out there; a pepper grinder will not be your portion. "God forbid," Mrs. Kuti says, amusingly. "April, Oya, get going." Without saying anything more, Mrs. Kuti says as she leaves.

"You married a rich man; look at how your life turned out." Wunmi hisses, causing April, who was attempting to lift her box, to turn towards her.

"Wunmi," April exclaims.

"Go and meet your mother." Wumi hisses and walks into the other room, leaving April all alone. April shakes her head with pity. She is curious as to how Mama Chisom, who works as a neighbor at home and in the market, learned about Wunmi and Daniel the grounder. How was it that she was aware of their relationship? due to Wunmi's excessive secrecy. Her attention is drawn to her mother's loud voice, and she wonders silently how Wunmi got caught.

Mrs. Kuti threatened, "April, if I meet you there, I will beat you up." April grinned. She was aware of her mother's abilities. Even at their current age, she knew her mother was capable of giving them a good beating.

"April!" Someone calls out while she barged in.

April yells, "Homa," as her best friend gives her a hug. She smiles gently at her and lets her go.

"Let me help," Homa says, attempting to drag the box.

                            ____________________🖊️

"I thought I.B. would resume today?" Bright inquires of Fisayo, who appeared to be very busy stocking her locker with provisions.

"She said so, and the day has not even ended yet," Fisayo responds, sparing a glance at Bright, who simply smiles.

"Flourish, please pass me that butter," Bright says to a girl who is obviously trying to take a nap on her bed.

"Bright, na!" Flourish hisses as she picks up the butter that was lying carelessly on her bed and throws it over to Bright, who catches it in time.

"Smart move; you are not as clumsy as the previous term," Fisayo says, as Bright frowns.

"Bright, she was joking na," Flourish, who noticed her friend's facial expression, says with a smile, as a tall dark-skinned girl walks into the room, capturing the three friends' full attention. They just watch her place something on an empty bed and walk out without saying anything.

"Do not tell me about that lousy girl, Wendy. Will be sharing this room with us." Bright almost yells.

"Like, who did this?" Everyone knows our cliques and theirs do not get along," Flourish says as she tries to settle into her bed.

"Ibinabor needs to be here," Fisayo says, still stocking her supplies.

"If there is one thing I am certain of, it is that we and those devils can not be in the same room this term!" Flourish yells. Fisayo attempts to speak but is interrupted by a broken glass. The sound causes the three girls to turn toward the direction from which the sound was clearly coming. The junior students shiver with fear. With the expression they were giving.

"Are you stupid? "Come on, pack those things and get out of here," Flourish barks.

"That is what they will be doing, amibour. Look at the fresh toad. Like we need to cut those tails real soon," Bright says, clearly frowning.

"Otondos, pick up those glasses and go." Flourish barks making the students flinch.

"Flourish, please come and help me," Fisayo says to her friend. They begin stockpiling things while completely ignoring Junior.

1720 words.

THE BETRAYAL SER🌹ES