BELIEVE🎻🎷🎤
[the girl he never noticed💦]
EPISODE 5🎻🎻🎻
~~~
chimooo my toes
it really hurts as i ran.
“wait my dear maiden,plea-se wait.I mean no harm” I heard Arinze’s voice from behind.I didn’t wait,I still continue running till I found a route.
“finally” I breathed as i moved into an hideout.I noticed I was not with the w@!st bead Ngozi gave me to use..
ohhh my,did I lost it?
is this not trouble again?…
I peeped from my hideout and used the tree as a shade to cover up.
I could see Arinze searching around for me,lying in his pres£nce on the floor is the w@!st bead am looking for.
how am I going to get it back?…
chai it’s not for me,what am i going to tell Ngozi?…
my heart pondered as I watch Arinze pick it up.He held it with so much care as he examine it.
“whosoever you are,I will find you and make you mine” i heard him say,
he left with the w@!st bead.
I just hope Ngozi will not get mad at me because of this bead.
I left my hideout and ran like have never done on my life,it was alre-ady getting dark,it still didn’t bother me.
Finally,i left princess akuna’s kingdom and entered ours.
I st©pped to catch my breath before retiring to the lover’s sp©t.
I took off what i had on and tied my old looking wra-ppers.
You won’t believe I have just five set of wra-ppers,out of those five’s I can only boast of one,not like it is among the best.
I have never worn w@!st beads,earrings, n£¢k beads and anklets.Today is my first time.
if not for Ngozi, were would i be today???
Should I also say today is the only day am very happy,my most happiest day because i met many princes and they also enjoy seeing me dance.
I was done with my dressing,I wra-pped the one’s Ngozi borrowed me and kept it in a safe place beside a stone and finally left empty handed.
Soon,I got to where I kept my pot,I lifted it on my head.
I walked home tiredly.
Onome was outside discussing with her friend, mama mmesoma.
I pas-sed them as I greeted.
None of them answered.I went to the backyard to empty my pot.
I got outside, only onome was there. I think her friend just left..
“Stupid girl,Ukwu ka Aziza(legs like broom stick) go and get me water,I am thirsty” onome said.
I cursed her inwardly as i turn to walk into the kitchen.
“what did you just did?”, she yelled.
“nothing mama,I didn’t dare you”,
I replied and entered the kitchen hurriedly to get her water.
I turned and met her standing behind me with a pestle.The water i was holding in a calabash fell,the calabash shattered.
The end as finally come for me. I quic-kly knelt down.
“mama bikonu(plea-se)” I pleaded in tears.She hit the pestle on my back.
“mama I didn’t go against you,I didn’t do anything wrong” I begged.She grinned wickedly.
“you sang today,didn’t you?”,
she asked.
“mbanu(no) mama” I replied.
At times I do wonder if onome is a witch.She usually knows if I sing at her back…
“you sang….didn’t i told you to run away from music! she skrie-ked.
“mama plea-se I won’t do it again!
I cried,she continue hitting me..
I hastily stood up and wanted to run out but I mistakenly pushed her, she fell and papa c@m£ in that moment.
“what’s happening here?”, he asked.
“Ife has killed me,she hit me just because am trying to correct her” onome lied,she’s always turning me against my father.
“no no I didn’t hit her, I pushed her and it was mistake” I said. He sl@pped me.
“You want to kill your stepmother the way you killed your mother” he exaggerated.
onome stood up.
“have you fetched water?”, she asked.
“no am not done” I replied.
“have you washed olamma’s cloth?”,
she asked.
“noo mother” I replied.
“eeehh ru-bbish upon ru-bbish! she cl@pped her hands in danger singnal.
It was my father’s turn to hit me.
With tears in my eyes,I rush off to the stream with olamma’s cloth and my pot of water.
Never in my life will I sing.
Each time I sing at her back,she usually knows… She always says songs are not meant for ugly maidens like me,she always says BELIEVE is not for me…..
I shouldn’t BELIEVE while singing.
I finished my work very late in the midnight,I retired home after spre-ading olamma’s cloth.I sle-pt with an empty stomach on the cold floor while olamma sle-pt comfortably on the be-d.
⏰⏰⏰⏰⏰⏰⏰⏰⏰
Olamma started crying in sleep, onome quic-kly rushed into the hut olamma and I share like she is been chased by something…..
She rush to onome on the be-d and wiped her tears.
“my daughter is crying,you’re slee-ping! onome yelled at me, I sprang up although I distance myself
😭 Mama ain’t i beautiful anymore? have never been disgraced like this in my entire life😭
😭 A strange girl c@m£ to the p@rty, she embarras-sed me so much in front of other maidens just because I want to be her friend,ohhh mama I never loss😭….
she started crying.
🚺 my daughter,
🚺 my ornament,
🚺 the future queen of deerah kingdom, no maiden can beat your beauty……
Onome pet her daughter to sleep,I was made to fan her.
She sle-pt so fast,onome left.
I smiled as I dropped the fan…good for her…
I felt proud of the embarras-sment I gave her.I sle-pt.
🚒🚒🚒🚒🚒🚒🚒🚒
next day…… THE GOLDEN PALACE…
🎻Ikechukwu’s p.o.v🎻
I walked briskly into the princes empire so I would call them for early morning stroll.I can’t even say who is who till now.They so much look alike.
I really envy them yesterday at the p@rty….
virtually all the maidens were drooling on them,it feels so good to have s£dûçt!vephysique.
I got to a door in the princes empire, the hallway was glittering with bright lights,the floor was different entirely..
igwe really spent a lot in furnishing this place,it is so much special.
I knocked on the first door,
“who is there?”,, a voice answered.
I think it’s Lotanna or….
“I said who is there?”, the voice c@m£ up again.
“my prince it is me,ikechukwu the head guard and your loyal servant” I replied,piously.
“what do you want?”, he asked..
“we are talking a walk this morning”,
I replied…. he was silent which made my breath ceased..
“that maiden yesterday,the beautiful one,what’s her name?”, he asked with so much superiority.
“prince Lotanna, I have no idea”
I replied.
“am not Lotanna, am Jidenna”
he corrected.
what an attitude!
I left his door and walked futher.
I guess this should be Lotanna’s door then.
I knocked.
“come in” a soft voice said.
I opened and entered…He was sitting on one of the heavenly couch and was on phone.A little girl was sitting very close to him with her legs on his l@ps…
🚺 isn’t that Amarachi,also p@rt of the royal blood! that smart 15years old kid!…
“Brother it is not the hare that won the race, the tortoise did” Amarachi said… Lotanna picked an Apple and turned to me,Amarachi tapped him.
“early morning walk my prince” I said with a bow.It is really a taboo here to look directly into a prince eyes.
“come and sit,tell us a story…. my brother doesn’t know any folktale” Amarachi said…
Lotanna pu-ll-ed out a golden stool for me to sit..
such an honor!
I hastily sat and started, at times I would pause to steal a glance at the prince…who is very busy with what he is doing on phone.
“sorry for cutting you off…let’s walk around, there’s actually no network around here” he said as he picked his spectranet device…
“my plea-sure,my prince! I replied and led the way…
such a sweet someb©dy,now the only way I can differentiate the princes is throu-gh their behaviors.
😍Adeife😍Adeife
I was thanking my ancestor onome wasn’t around….if not I would have cried this early morning.Even papa wasn’t around.
Olamma yawned lazily,the first thing she picked was a mirror.
“Ife am hungry” olamma said.
I sh0t her a glare.”Am only Ife,am not a chef” I said.
She dropped her mirror and turned to me……she better not pas-s her boundary this early morning.
“Ife am hungry,I must not repeat myself” she said.
“Poison is available” I replied.
“Ife am hungry! she shouted and sl@pped me angrily.
“sooooooo!!! I shouted and sl@pped mine.We started a fight,I made sure I cut those beads her admirers bought for her….
“never in your life! Olamma I repeat never in your life! I said with pain and pu-ll-ed her hairs,I bite her n£¢k side. She screamed in pains and attra-cted neighbors.
Mama Mmesoma was the one who rush to separate us..
“do you want to kill her the way you killed your mother! she shouted.
Olamma’s n£¢k was alre-ady red,p@rt of her face had blood cause of the scratch I gave her..
Mother and child can’t be maltreating me at the same time…
Olamma ran inside,I also walk away to a widow’s house.She usually pays me to wash her clothes.
“good morning nne(mother)” I greeted…
“yes my daughter” she replied and payed for service…
I knelt as I collected it.I packed her clothes and turned to leave.
hmmmm what if onome also collect this money from me?? I think I should start saving. Nothing is too small.
I turned back to the widow.
“nne,I want to be keeping my money with you” I said.
“no problem” she said.I handed her the money and went for the stream with her cloths.
On getting to the stream,I met Arinze on one side swimming, on his wrist was the w@!st bead,he actually wore it in folds….He keeps hair to,he bind it up with a black br@celet…
He turned, by then I was alre-ady washing….I turned my back against him so that he won’t get irritated by my ugliness…
how I wish I can get the w@!st bead back from him??.
someone approached,I turned and it was Ngozi.She also c@m£ with cloth.
“thanks for yesterday” I said..
“you’re welcome… but the bead where is it,it is the only treasure I have?”, she asked,her eyes search around,it landed on Arinze’s wrist.
“Arinze what are you doing with my br@celet?”,she shouted.
Arinze c@m£ out of the water with water dripping from his hair,down to his ba-re che-st ma-king the hairs on them curl sweetly.
“what w@!st bead? it belongs to my maiden” Arinze said.
“I said if is for me! Ngozi shouted and brou-ght out the matching n£¢klace.
“That’s not enough for a prove because you ain’t beautiful like her, you are shapeless!
Arinze said…Ngozi fumed in anger. She really hate insults.
chimo am I also the cause of this one?
“who is shapeless?????
BELIEVE🎻🎷🎤
[the girl he never noticed💦]
EPISODE 6🎻🎻
~~~
“who is shapeless?.
“Did you just call me shapeless?” Ngozi fumed in real anger.
“yes you are shapeless…a total disgrace to woman hood-is there any difference between you and Adeife? ugly shapeless fellows”Arinze cursed.
I dropped the cloth am washing, he just mentoomedy name,he abused I and my friend.
“look who we have here,Miss ugly and miss shapeless! Arinze still cursed,loudly.
“Ngozi am sorry,forgive me” I said. I faced Arinze,he shifted back and cover his face.
“what’s all this bad luck very early in the morning! he said as he shifts back.
“All the days of your life,badluck” said,Ngozi.
“and if you don’t give back the w@!st best,your first born will be ugly” I said
“your second born will be shapeless”Ngozi said.
“your future wife,broom stick” I said.
“your first son,impotent” Ngozi said.
Arinze stared at the both of us as we curse him.
“just st©p cursing me,you don’t know the angel that is pas-sing by” he said.
“then give back the w@!st bead” Ngozi still said with anger.
“no matter your curse,I won’t give it back” Arinze said.
Next,Ngozi rushed him and bite his che-st. They started fighting for the bead,I didn’t even know what to do in the moment…Ngozi is not patient.
“ngo,st©p dragging it..it will cut,if it cut then you both loss” I said.She won’t still listen.
They struggled the more and I think Arinze is trying his best not to injure her.She is a female,he is a male.
am the cause of this,I know?
seems my soul is purely add!çted to trouble!.
“ngo, leave it for him.I will pay for it with my savings” I said.she didn’t still listen.
The bead cut,that was when Arinze left the other end.I watch in dismay as some of the beads pour into the stream.Ngozi left the other end in frustration.
“you finally cut it!! she shouted at Arinze, tears welled up in her eyes which made me really felt bad.
“we both loss” Arinze said,happily and left the side of the stream.
Adanna and Chiamanda approached the stream with their pots- those gossipers,especially Amaka.
thank goodness she isn’t here today.
“Ngozi,am sorry” I said lowly as she left the place she was.
The bead pain her,I could see it subconsciously in her emotions as she left the fight scene to the sp©t she is washing cloth beside me.
“Ngozi, am sorry” I said,she didn’t answer.
I signed,feeling pained she isn’t talking to me again.
hmmm this is unlike her,
why is she getting like this?…
is it still the bead matter or the fight or the curse?.
“what if I get you another one? You know am saving in five different places plus old Nana’s place ma-king it six.Before the end of this month,I will buy it for you…am really really sorry” I said.
“I don’t nee-d it!”, she replied,angrily.
she started ignoring me,
the silence really hurts.
knowing fully well that she is the only supporter i have,seeing that only supporter staying mad at me because of an ordinary bead kills me from the inside-
“Ngo,am sorry! I said..
“whatttt….why sorry? did I fall down!
she shut me out…
sooo painful.
To her it might be nothing but to me it is something.Ngozi does not really knows little things hurt me.
I looked at her,I could not even concentrate on what I was washing.
“And one day if destiny puts me where I want to be,I will come back for you” I said.
she still didn’t answer.
Her cloth was not really much,she was done.
hmmmmmmm….
she will leave me again.
“which one have you not wash?”,
she finally speak to me,I felt happy.
“do not stay happy for I am still mad at you” she said and started helping me with the cloths.
I hvgged her timidly,she splashed water on me,I did it back happily.It turned into a water fight.
The last water Ngozi splashed on me mistakenly t©uçh chiamanda and Adanna.
“eeee what type of nons-en-se is this?
she exaggerated.
“sorry” Ngozi said politely.
“witches of the same feathers” Adanna hissed..
“say it again if you dare!” Ngozi said to adanna’s face.I trust Ngozi….
Ngozi the fighter.
I smiled….I remembered she taught me how to always fight back.
“Coward… you dare not repeat it again” she said and c@m£ back to help me out.
more maidens c@m£ to fetch water,
I started hearing things about me…
🚺 Her ugliness keeps getting worst
🚺 ohhh my gaaaad…
🚺 seriously,I just noticed.
🚺 Just out of hand.
🚺 Guess that’s how it runs in her generations.She looks like Old Nana.
I heard murmurs.
Ngozi wanted to fight back,I held her back.There’s no point in doing that…
it is just my fault that am ugly.
if am not ugly,they won’t possibly talk….
I spre-ad the cloths I washed,
Ngozi left, I also went to the other places that I work.I was able to gather little pennies,I tied some on the ti-p of my wra-pper and took the rest to “old Nana’s” the place I save.
I dare not take all the money home, onome will collect it and she won’t still give me food.
finally I decided to leave for home..
🎤 ikechukwu’s p.o.v🎤
we were set to leave for the morning stroll…the three of us,
the prince,me and Amarachi…the youngest kid in the palace.She’s just 15…people always thinks she is a royal blood but she is not.She was found by some fishermen near the pond side,the king decided to raise her as his…till now,her lineage is not yet known.
The secret was made unknown to her until last year’s festival ceremony,she overhead some chiefs saying it….she felt bad,she thought she is a princess,the way the king raise her up was very special.
📰📰📰📰📰📰📰📰📰
ohhhhh no!!!! mom why????
why did you keep me beside that *fish pond? what if I got killed!!!!
14years old Amarachi laments during last years festival…I* remembered how the king hvgged her to console her,he used his thumb to wipe her tears too..
Since then,no one dare talk about it. I don’t even think the princes knows about it.
“So where are you taking us to? strolling to where?”, she asked.
“anywhere my princess” I replied.
“okay” she nodded as she held hands with Lotanna.
“Shall we stroll to the market,it’s been long I did that” she said…
we got out with three more guards,I kept on looking at prince Lotanna.
can he cope with walking around? I don’t think he is use to it…
his catwalk only says it all,
Just so amazing…it looks like heaven is open to rain..
“we shouldn’t take long” he said fluently in his strange language which I don’t think I heard.
Amarachi laughed.”you don’t un-derstand English” she said to me before interpreting what Lotanna said….
😍Adeife😍Adeife
I got home,the outside was very quiet which is so usual..
Onome ought to be back! why isn’t she outside?.
I entered inside and met Olamma lying on the be-d,Onome was attending to her wounds..
“mama welcome” I said..
She turned to me,Next she spilled the h0t water in my direction.Her eyes was boiling rage.
Then it occurred to me I really injure Olamma during the morning fight.
“mama my n£¢k,it really hurt!
“She bite it,she dragged the new hair I just plait…see they are all loose!
Olamma said.She started crying..
I knew it was fake.
Onome didn’t say a word,she attended to olamma’s wound….
chai my teeth are gone,laughter is now a difficult thing.
Never in my life will i l@ymy hand on Olamma,even if she makes trouble I will avoid her.
“you want to kill her like you killed your mother….it is today your foolish father will disown you” onome said.
I mistakenly bite my teeth in pain.
“but mama you are calling papa foolish,he is also your husband”
I said..
She stood up,I knew what was next,I ran back.
“what are you seriously turning into?
“you’re telling me I don’t know what am doing hunn! she yelled.
“it’s true you said papa is foolish and he is also your husband” I said.
She cl@pped her hands in dismay and gr@bb£d me…
I wailed as she beat me mercilessly. She left me when she was tired.
“They have started pressing you… you’re enjoying what is bigger than you…I know ooo because this is how your mother started” she said.I dare not speak.
“the mats are outside…take them to the market and make sure you sell them all” she said.
I [email protected] no one will buy from me..am ugly,they always run away from me…
I ran out and wipe my tears,then I bundled the mats and took them to the market.
ohhh goodness,who did I offend???
I st©pped halfway and decided to use a mask,they won’t know it’s me.
But this money is the last thing I have with me…I sigh and used it to buy a mask.I put it on and made my way into the market….
did I even eat anything since morning?? oh god save Ife.
I shade the mats and started calling out for buyers,none was coming.
my mind said “sing buyer will come”.
hnmm
I wish I can…but I can’t.
the last time i did,Onome knew.
🎶believe in all that can be
🎶 a miracle starts whenever you dream…
I sang in my heart,I dare not sing it out.
“how much is your mat?”, I heard a very tiny voice…I hastily raise my head.I didn’t look at the buyer well.
“which one??? I asked and brou-ght out mats with different patterns….
“my princess wants a mat! I heard another voice.
A princess!!!!!
am I sure am hearing well?.
I hastily raise my head,thank god am with a mask… she would have ran cause of my ugliness.
“Yes,they are pretty” she said and pointed to one…
I wasn’t even looking well,my gaze were directed to the prince.Three guards were surrounding him and he was holding something unfamiliar-
is that a phone?….
I said it,only super wealthy people used that.
“hmm it is not really expensive.How many do you want?”, I asked..
The prince moved forward,Princess Amarachi hastily intertwined their hands…
gosh many maidens were drooling.
“my respect,my princess” I bowed as I pres£nt the mat…
The prince took the mat from me,his f!ngersbrushed into mine.
I felt a s-en-sation,a spark in my heart..
what’s wrong with me???
what feelings is this?….
hmmmm how do I tell the prince to leave my hand…
TBC