Chapter 1
Anike’s POV

“Anike! Anike!”

Oh my God!

I opened my eyes a little, stretched my hands for my phone which was right beside me because I slept off around three while reading a novel on Wattpad.

It feels like my head is literally banging and I could finally see the reason when I saw the time was just five thirty.

Why is grandma waking me up by five thirty for crying out loud?

“Anike open the door.”
I sighed,
“Coming grandma.”
I muttered quietly and rolled out of the king-sized bed.

I got to Ibadan yesterday and just like mum promised, grandma was waiting for me. We met immediately. I stepped down from the bus and she pulled me into a hug.

Mum got her genes from grandma, meaning grandma also looks really young for her age. maybe it is also because of her wealth, she eats well and trust me this house already makes me have second thoughts.

I can see why grandma always complains whenever she is at our little comfy bungalow which obviously cannot compare to the mansion that she lives in.

 One she used to share with late grandpa.
She and dad have never been on good terms, so he does not allow me to come here for vacation. 

To be honest, I cannot even remember the last time I have been here or maybe I have not even been here at all because everything seems so foreign.

 I was even more shocked when I saw the bedroom that she had prepared for me, the king-sized bed, flat screen TV, a small bookshelf, a reading area, a vanity table, a closet and an in -built bathroom. 

I immediately got comfortable in it after eating. I turned on the air conditioner, snuggled in the most comfortable and soft blankets ever, then started reading this interesting novel I had found the previous day.

I yawned as I opened the door.
“I have been knocking since.”

I knelt down
“Good morning ma.”
I greeted and this made all the complaints disappear.

“My dear Anike. My baby, how was your night? Hope you slept well?”

 I nodded with a smile and waited for her to say something else.

I do not know if you have noticed but I am more of an introvert and holding conversations is not really my thing. I was shocked yesterday when I spoke up to my mum like that and now my high has really gone low. Especially now that I only slept for two hours.

“I should have left you to sleep more but I thought we could have a morning devotion then you can go back to sleep. You still hold morning devotions at home, right?”

“No, we stopped months before mum and dad announced their divorce.”

Grandma looked absolutely shocked.
More than shocked to be honest and I almost laughed out except the matter was not even laughable.

 It is just so sad that our family just crumbled. But looking at the good side, I found myself in one of the coolest rooms ever. 

“That is bad.”
She sighed and forced herself into my room.
She sat on my bed and patted the space beside her,

I grudgingly took my seat and waited for her to say something.

“Are you okay?”

No one has asked me that question ever since everything. Well, I do not have friends and my mum’s friends do not care. 

They have also divorced a lot of times; mum just joined the league properly.

But hearing that question now somehow makes me feel like just snuggling in this bed and crying myself back to sleep.

“I am okay.”

“Are you sure? You can talk to me.”

I know that but I do not know how to express what I am feeling to someone else. I have learnt the art of being able to comfort myself and it is fine.

“Grandma, I am sure you know I am not okay. My family is gone and I feel like I am the only one left with the good memories.”
I said,

My heart took its own decision to speak out my mind and went against my brain which was screaming keep shut.

She reached for my hand and held it in her soft ones.

“I apologise on behalf of my daughter. On behalf of your parents. They got married when they were twenty-two, and gave birth a year later. They had no true concept of marriage and  I guess that is why they both fell out of love and thought it was fine to just go their separate ways after. But I am here now and even though I am not your parents, let us have the perfect grandma and grand-daughter fun!”

I laughed out loud when she talked about fun, and her apology even though one of them personally would be better still brought a smile to my face.
Is this really the grandma I know?

“What? You do not think we can have fun.”

“No ma, we can.”

“Exactly. You are resuming school next week.”

Not prepared for that but it is inevitable.

“It is the school where I retired as the Principal. It is a nice boarding school and when they saw your transcript, they immediately accepted the transfer.”

Well, that is meant to be nice, right?

I can give myself the accolades of topping my class right from grade one but whatever. I just haven’t seen it as a big deal even though most of my former classmates made it their hobby to call me proud for not caring.

“You know Royal high schools are very picky with their students.”

This conversation is really not the best for this morning, but the earlier we are done, the sooner I can get back to sleep. 

But wait, did I just hear Royal high school?
“Grandma, is it only royals that attend the school or what?”

She laughed wholeheartedly,

“No, are you royal? Their school fees are just too high for average earners and they want only the top-notch students.”

Wow, a typical Wattpad novel setting.

I chuckled inwardly at my thoughts. I am sure I am going to end up alone there too. Rich kids already have their clique and from experience I have never fit in one.

“That is nice. Who is paying the school fees? Dad?”

“both of them. There is a discount because I was once a principal. Well, one of our neighbours also attends the school and they are visiting today. They are also in SS2, so why don’t you guys bond and talk about school?”

The worst thing that an introvert never wants to hear is being forced to talk to someone new.

“Is it really necessary?”

“Yeah, they are going shopping for school stuff and you can go with them.”

“Grandma, I am not sure.”

“Do not worry about it. They are nice and sweet. I will leave you now.”

I nodded eagerly and watched her leave my room with a big smile on my face. Once she closed the door, I laid down in my bed, hugged the pillow tight and discarded all what she said for now as I fell asleep.

**********

“Sweet like butter like a criminal undercover…”

I sang along to BTS as I put on my normal house wear, a pair of floral shorts and top. I woke up feeling better than earlier and like I said earlier, I discarded most of what grandma said. especially the part of people visiting.

I picked my phone from the bedside table and I turned off the music. I walked out of my room and down the stairs.

Grandma was seated in the living room with a frown on her face as she talked to whoever on her Samsung phone.

I have no idea why my old grandma is using a Samsung Fold but yeah, she is using it. and in my total silence yesterday, my two eyes were fixed on that fold.

My guess is mum’s older sister, aunt Dami, sent it to her from America. Aunt Dami is a tech freak and actually makes millions in what she loves doing. 

She also got my Samsung S10 plus for me on my sixteenth birthday and I have loved her more ever since. She is one of the few people I can talk to comfortably but she seems to have gotten more distant lately.

I walked past grandma and into the kitchen. Looking through the fridge and the cupboards, I decided to go with a delicious looking granola cereal.

The more I looked around the kitchen, the more I loved it. I served myself the cereal and sat on the bar stool to eat quietly on my own.

That plan was great and okay until I heard voices and then footsteps getting more distinct. 

It was obvious that the said people were walking to the kitchen and I suddenly felt like disappearing if it were the neighbour grandma talked about this morning.

But only if wishes were horses because at the end of it all I watched grandma walk into the kitchen laughing loudly with a girl about my age.
I gave her a quick one over and I felt her do the same.

She is a dark beauty and I loved the way she packed her long natural hair into a bun and left two strands falling down her face. She is also tall and literally has a perfect shape which still showed despite wearing a baggy top and joggers.

“Jada this is Anike, Anike this is Jada.”

 Jada, a sweet name for a beautiful…. She cut off my thoughts by walking up to me with a beautiful grin. Well, I have no idea how to react right now so I just forced  a smile back.

“I am Jada and it is so nice to meet you. You are so pretty.”

She complimented and I got stuck.

It really sucks to be a loner because I have no idea what to do right now?
Should I compliment her back or just tell her thank you.

I should go with both.

I brushed a braid that fell to my face away first before muttering the next few words,
“Thanks, uhm you look beautiful too.”

I decided to go with the two options and she loved it.

I looked at the door and grandma was gone.

Shit!

“Grandma told me that you are also resuming at the Royals next week.”

 I nodded,

“Well, that is great. The Royals is one of the best schools ever and I am sure you will love it but not so sure about the people.”

Okay, that is true. But a little part of me hopes that I can make friends here and maybe Jada might be my first, if she can tolerate this quiet, shy, introvert.

“And we are actually resuming on Saturday. you should have attended the summer coaching.”

“I was not around then.”

And I hate them. Wearing casuals and trying to look good every single day, paying extra to what I can learn at home and it is probably just school I hate.

My ringtone, which is Dynamite by BTS, stopped Jada from replying. I quickly grabbed my phone and when I saw it was my mum, I felt like just dropping it but Jada was watching my every move so I picked the call.

“Hello.”

“Hello baby. How are you? How are you loving Ibadan?”

I looked round the kitchen and at a smiling Jada, Ibadan looked a little promising.

“Good.”

“I am sorry for not calling yesterday. I saw mum’s message and it just slipped my mind.”

Well, why won’t I skip her mind?

I do not need this negative energy this morning.

“Yeah.”

“Anike.”

“Ma…”

“Babe, what are you doing? Come check this car out... Anike, let's talk later, okay?”

I ended the call not bothering to reply to that.
I glanced at Jada when I was done and she was busy with something on her iPhone 12.

“So, you are an army?”

She asked when she noticed my stare on her,
“Yeah.”
“Really, I am an army too!”

She screamed and pulled me into a hug.

I found myself smiling into the hug because we do have something in common. BTS.  I love them and from this hug, she loves them too.

We spent the rest of the morning talking about BTS, Korea actors and I found a new part of myself and came to a realisation,

This feeling and moment is better than being a loner. 

Maybe there is something here for me in Ibadan after all.

How do we love the first chapter?
Yes, I brought Royal Highschool to this book too.
If  you don't know Royal High, you can check out
THE WISH.

What do you think about Anike’s family issues?

Divorce?

And Jada?

Will Anike be able to settle in?

Please vote, comment, share and follow.

Love y'all

Eniola 💕💕