Back in school, Nina had filled out a form from a creative organization with her school's approval. The organization's mission was to unite young creative minds in a nurturing environment that fostered artistic growth, innovation, and personal development. Nearly a year had passed since she'd submitted the form, and the memory had almost slipped her mind.
That was until the evening her father received an unexpected call inquiring if he was Nina's parent. The unfamiliar caller ID piqued her father's curiosity. But once the caller explained the purpose of the call, Nina's father was relieved.
Her exams were slated for two weeks, and her father was eager to see her do well, not just for her sake but also to make him proud. Despite consistently scoring excellent grades, her father always believed she could do more!
With her exams finally over, Nina's father celebrated by gifting her a brand new smartphone as a graduation gift. For now, Nina mostly used it to catch up with her brother and Dada. Although she wasn't much into social media like her peers, her books remained her closest companions.
Now that her exams were over, Nina split her time between home and Mami's place. A lot had happened recently - her brother had come home for the holidays from abroad, and her father, Dada, had left for a five-month career advancement course in London. Whatever the future held, Nina was so happy to be done with school for now.
Even though Dada had already mentioned that university was just around the corner and Nina would need to prepare soon, she wasn't worrying about the future just yet - the present moment felt too liberating.
The day Praise returned home for the holidays was momentous. It was his first time back home since leaving for abroad studies. Nina was over the moon to have him back, and the timing couldn't have been more perfect, with her exams wrapping up just around the corner - she had only one paper left, scheduled for tomorrow.
The family spent quality time together, and Nina enjoyed it immensely, relieved that she didn't have to study for a day. With Praise's return, she didn't need to make excuses about studying; she thought she'd get a free pass.
However, as they finished dinner together, Dada looked at her knowingly, suspecting she was using her brother's return as an excuse. He cleared his throat and asked, "How's your exam prep going? You're finishing tomorrow, right?" A sinking feeling settled in her stomach as she glanced around the table. "Yes, it's just Mathematics tomorrow." She replied.
Her last day of exams was a moment she couldn't quite put into words. A mix of emotions swirled within her; happiness, undoubtedly, at having finished her exams, but also a lingering sense of uncertainty. Was it the weight of awaiting her results, Dada's expectations, or the realization that she'd completed a significant milestone in her life?
Nina woke up earlier than usual, but ended up pacing restlessly in her room as she got ready. Despite the early start, she still managed to arrive at the parlor at her usual time.
The TV caught her attention, broadcasting a morning program, a lively talent show. Dada and Praise were engrossed in conversation on the couch.
"Good morning, Dada. Good morning, Bro," she greeted them, her eyes fixed on the screen.
Her father smiled warmly. "Good morning, love."
Praise chimed in, "Good morning, Siso. Ready to celebrate?" His teasing tone brought a faint smile to her lips.
She headed straight to the kitchen, unaware that Dada was about to ask her something. He sensed she wasn't her usual self and was about to ask if everything was okay, but as she headed to the kitchen, he turned to Praise and continued their conversation instead.
There, she met Momma, who was getting her brothers ready for school while heading to the kitchen from her bedroom.
Together, they arranged breakfast on the table, and the family gathered to share a meal.
After breakfast, Praise offered to drive the kids to school, a welcome change from Momma's usual routine. Dada was set to leave for work, but Momma stayed back to see Nina off.
"Nina, sweetie, you're going to do great today," Momma said, giving her a warm hug. "I can tell you're a bit anxious, but you've prepared well. Just relax and trust yourself."
Nina smiled, feeling a mix of gratitude and affection for her mom's understanding.
At the gate, Dada leaned into the window. "All the best for your exam, love. You've got this."
Praise chuckled. "Wow, the wishes are pouring in. Should we get her a parade or something? You're going to make her nervous."
Nina playfully rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Broo."
As they dropped off the twins, Nina's anxiety began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of calm. The time spent with Praise in the car had been therapeutic, his teasing and jokes had lifted her spirits.
"You know, you're not so bad for a big bro," Nina said, smiling at Praise.
Praise grinned. "That's what I'm here for. Now, go crush that exam!"
Nina laughed, feeling more confident as she stepped out of the car. "Thanks, Praise. You're the best."
The tension in Nina's shoulders dissipated as she walked into the house. With her final exam behind her, she felt a rush of exhilaration mixed with a hint of uncertainty.
"We know you could do it, dear! You're done!"
Momma's warm smile and nice words greeted her as she walked towards her with a smile. They hugged each other with affection.
"Thank you, Momma, I love you," she said, still leaning on her mother's arm.
The rest of the day was spent laughing and joking over a delicious lunch and dinner, with Praise cracking jokes that had everyone in stitches. The atmosphere was filled with warmth, love, and celebration, as they reveled in Nina's accomplishment and the joy of being together.
As they settled into the parlor for some TV time, Dada pulled out a small box and handed it to Nina. She walked over to him, and her eyes lit up as she unwrapped the gift.
"Is this for me?" she squealed, hugging him tightly. "I love you so much, Dada."
"It's alright, love, I love you too, and I'm proud," he said with a warm smile.
The whole family was touched by the sweet scene Nina and Dada made, their faces flushing with warmth.
"That's it, she'll turn into a typical Gen Z now, glued to that thing 24/7," Praise teased, and the family erupted into laughter.
"Not my baby," Momma chimed in, laughing.
Nina had never yearned for a phone or wondered why she didn't have one. But now that she had one, she might just become as attached to it as her brother suggested. Even though her true passion lay elsewhere - in her books.
While many of her classmates had phones and used them at school, Nina didn't seem to mind being phone-free. Her experience with phones was limited to talking with Praise on Momma's phone.
Dada's voice came next, "By the way, I'll be heading to London next week for a 5-month course."
"I'm leaving in a week too!" Praise piped up. And they started discussing their plans and schedules.
Dada explained his course details, and they chatted some more before the night wound down, wrapping up a lovely day together.
The first day Nina attended the Art Club was actually the second meeting. The organization had been in touch with Dada, and since he forgot to pass on the invitation, she had missed the first event. When they spoke later, he mentioned it and asked her to use her contact details going forward, now that she had a phone.
The event itself was great, but Nina felt overwhelmed at first. She was relieved to see Alia, a schoolmate from a different class whom she usually attended practicals with. Alia filled her in on the first meeting, which had been all about introducing the organization's mission and welcoming new members.
The third event, which was the second for Nina was a silent reading session, and Nina found it to be a perfect way to unwind.
As the meeting drew to a close, one of the organizers announced that the next meeting would feature a poetry performance. She encouraged the poets in the group to share their work, inviting them to come prepared to perform an original piece.
Nina felt a spark of determination and impulsively pledged to take part. But as the meeting adjourned and she headed home, doubts began to creep in. Could she really do it?
As she sat at home, fidgeting with her pen and notebook, Nina's mind wandered to the looming poetry performance. She had always loved writing, but standing up in front of people to recite her own words was a different story altogether.
She scribbled down a few lines, then scratched them out. What if she froze up? What if her poem was terrible? The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Taking a deep breath, Nina tried to focus on the words swirling in her head. She began to write, the words flowing onto the page in a rush of emotion. Maybe, just maybe, she had a chance.
As the performance day loomed, Nina's self-doubt intensified. She scribbled in her notebook, writing and rewriting her poem until her mind was a jumble of words and emotions.
The night before the event, she stared blankly at the page, hesitant to finalize her participation. It wasn't until midnight, with the event just hours away, that she filled out the form. With a mix of fear, excitement, and determination, she
submitted it. Tomorrow, she'd face her fears and share her poetry. For now, she just hoped for some sleep.