Stella scanned through the dressing room looking for her daughter. She finally saw kylie by the side trying out an outfit that just didn't fit no how much she tried.
She walked over and helped her pull the dress up, she strapped the back and then tapped her shoulders.
Okay just try to hold on till the shoot is over okay!
But mum I can barely breathe!
I know but it looks good on you, just hold on a bit, it'll be over soon. Go on she nudged her forward.
Kylie was really uncomfortable, even her smile was stiff but she still had to manage until the shoot ends.
It was finally over, kylie rushed over and almost ripped the dress off, stella had to run to help her out. She was finally able to breathe as she held her sides panting.
They packed everything up, thanked everyone and left the studio. Kylie opened the back door of the car and put her bags, she closed the door and opened the door to the front seat, she climbed in and sat down waiting for her mum who was busy talking to someone on the phone.
Stella ended the call and walked into the car, she sat down and started putting some things away. She turned and saw kylie giving her a weird look.
What do you want? She continued with what she was doing.
Mum I don't think I can continue doing this any longer!
Clink! The keys in stella's hand dropped she turned to her. What do you mean by that?
Oh c'mon! You know what I mean! I can't continue doing this, it's not good for my health and you know it.
Eh! Are you feeling unwell anywhere I could...
Stop it mum! Kylie quickly cut her off. I could hardly breathe in that dress and it's not the first time, I'm still a growing child, so this kind of harsh dieting is toxic to my health. While I was taking a bath this morning my hair was pulling out for no reason. Your "everything must be perfect ideology is taking a toll on my body" I'm already fine like this I don't have to be like the others okay!
Ha! Stella scoffed and rested her head on the seat. After your dad left we were left with nothing, that's how I started from scratch to work hard for everything, or have you forgotten that?
No I haven't mum! You're getting it all wrong. You've already made so much money from your career and with that we can be well off. Besides I never I was gonna quit being a model, I love it. I just think that you're taking everything a bit extreme.
I'm taking everything extreme? Oh really? I'm doing this for us okay! Besides the money is not yet enough for my goal.
Mum I know you're doing all this for us. But I also have a say in this matter. And what's your goal? How come I've never heard of it?
Did I ever say you don't have a say? She yelled!.... Her chest heaved as she spoke. Some minutes passed by and she saw kylie's face. She looked hurt due to her outburst.
My goal is to be very independent, so that your dad will never be able to hurt us again okay!.
Kylie looked away and faced the window. Droplets of tears fell from her eyes. She knew her mum has suffered a lot, but... She changed. She was now consumed by her goals that she couldn't understand certain things anymore. She isn't as friendly as she used to be.
They didn't talk to each other again, stella started the car and drove to the estate.
****
Meanwhile! Friday
Ted was busy browsing when he stumbled on something, He couldn't take his eyes off.
Oh! I miss sophia! Yes me too, yh I do too, jeff, zack....and the others echoed. They all came to ted's house to play some games.
Yh ted when is she coming back?, you told us last time that she travelled.
Ted.. ted.. ted..
They called out so many times but couldn't get his attention. they looked at each puzzled. What's going on? They saw him looking intensely at his phone. So they gave each other signals with their eyes.
They tiptoed towards the couch ted was sitting and peeped to see what he was looking at. When they saw what he was looking at they were stunned too.
Ted was looking at Sophia's story, she posted so many cute pictures and videos. He was currently watching a live video were she was trying to get a tangerine down from a tree. It was her grandfather's tangerine tree it's been there for years and it was huge. She passed the phone over to someone after explaining everything and then started climbing. After climbing for a while she got stuck and to make things worse she looked down making her scream. her little hands held the tree as she cried out for help.
The distance wasn't even much yet she was screaming out for help. The person holding the phone started laughing making the video become unstable. Her cousin rushed over and helped her down.
Pfft.... They'll started laughing as the couldn't hold it anymore. This was the best "epic fail" they've ever seen. Sophia looked so cute as she hugged the tree so they couldn't help but laugh so hard.
Ted jolted as he heard laughter behind him. What are you guys doing here?
So ted you here watching something this good and you didn't let us know what are friends for? And wait a minute we all have Sophia's account so how come we can't see this? Jeff tried checking but he didn't see anything.
Oh! It's her private account, she has only a few friends on it. For now she can't post anything public again so, she only posts with this private account.
We are all her friends so how come you have her private account huh? They gave him a questioning look.
Ha! That's because I'm closer to her than all of you. He's chest was raised as he spoke with pride.
They scoffed! When sophia gets back we'll have to get this account. But right now can we join you to watch her story together pls?
He sighed helplessly and agreed! They hopped on the couch and continued viewing her story.
***
The cain's had being in the town for almost a week. It was Friday so they decided to leave on Sunday after service. Meaning that sophia and dave still had time for adventures they had being going out everyday to see new things.
Today they decided to go to the local market to do some shopping after the tangerine incident. The place was bursting with people, it was a very active market.
They saw a woman by the side roasting corns with pears, they walked over and bought a lot. Aren't we buying too much? her cousin asked. Nah! I gonna give some to my parents.
They saw some hand crafted bracelets, sophia thought of the people to she wanted to give it to, so she decided to buy many. Before coming on the trip she withdrew some money from the card nanny zo gave her. So she didn't have a problem buying stuff. The seller looked at sophia as she was busy choosing which bracelets to buy. He smiled and spoke to her, explaining how he made everything.
(*﹏*;)Sophia could only give a stiff smile as she turned to her cousin for assistance. He's telling you how he made it and he wants to know the type you'd want?. Oh! Okay she quickly explained and her cousin translated it.
They finished buying and the seller said one more thing with a blush on his face. Her cousin giggled, he said you're very pretty, you don't look like an african at all.
Aww... Sophia blushed and answered thank you! In the local language at least that was the only thing she knew how to say. Apparently he wasn't lieing, montera is a very unique place; some people were white, some light skinned, some were brown and others dark. It was full of mixed breeds. It was as though everyone was from a separate planet. Sophia's skin was very smooth and she was pretty, even her hair was different from most people.
They went to different stalls to check a lot of things out. They saw some booth games that attracted them so they ran off after agreeing to meet by their grandfather's tangerine tree. It was like a landmark cuz it could seen from any angle, apparently that was the only way sophia could find their house, once she sees the tree she'd know she's close to the house.
Sophia didn't feel like playing so she decided to walk around and survey the area. She walked for a while and saw a wedding being held, she decided to join the others and watch for a while.
They brought some local dancers to entertain them. She enjoyed the dance moves so she brought out her phone and videoed it. After the dance they started doing some stuff she wasn't familiar with, and they were speaking the local language which she didn't understand. She knew it was her queue to leave, so she left the place and went to check out other fun things.
..
Sitting in the town hall a young fair skinned guy with afro was busy looking around when his eyes caught something pretty. A slim fair girl was busy looking around he knew she was new to town.
She wore a face cap with jeans and a black shirt. She was like a cute small doll. He smiled and jumped down. he rushed towards her.
Sophia was enjoying the breeze, the sightings, the atmosphere. Ah! What a nice day. Suddenly she felt a hand slip through her waist. She quickly jolted, and quickly moved away. She turned and saw a guy with a huge grin on his face.
Are you crazy? What kind of nonsense is that?
Calm down! He tried to touch her again.
Pak! She gave him a resounding sound! Don't ever try to lay your filthy hands on me again. I'm glad you can speak English so you can understand what I'm saying so don't try that nonsense again.
Wow even your voice is enchanting, your slap is as cute as you, the grin on his face was even bigger this time. He looked at the little cutie, he never knew her voice would be so nice, even when he was being shouted out he was happy. While he was still daydreaming she had already walked away, he quickly rushed and blocked her.
Where are you from? You're so cute, I like you. Let's hang out!
She looked at him from head to toe. Dude I'm not and will never be interested okay! She tried to walk away. He pulled her back with force. Who do you think you are? Because I'm talking to you, you think you're now a big shot. You're not even that pretty and you're so flat who'd be interested in such a skinny being, you need to eat more, look at your bony hands, he shaked her hands. I could just snap it like a broom stick, you should be happy that I'm even talking to you.
Pak! She used her left hand to slap him this time. I'm perfect just the way I am. I don't need someone as clueless and stupid as you're to talk to me. Next time before you talk to someone take a good look at yourself first. You lack vitamins that's why your level of reasoning is very low. You left your shirt open, what kind of flat chest is that. She forcefully pulled her hand away and turned to leave.
The guy was so persistent that held her from behind. She used her right leg and matched his foot then she used her elbow to hit his side very hard, he screamed attracting some attention. Then she tried to pull him down which was the final move. Unfortunately she couldn't so she hit his groin and then put her leg behind and hit him again, he fell. She quickly picked up sand and poured it on him.
Meanwhile dave and his cousins had finished playing the games they won some prizes then they decided to walk a little. They heard some women discussing about something happening ahead. They explained to dave and quickly rushed over.
When they got there some people were already gathered. They looked and couldn't believe what was happening. This is for putting your filthy hands on me, now I have to go and take a good bath; she kicked him, this is for all the girls you've harassed in this town, she kicked him again. They rushed to meet her, the people around didn't really understand what was happening, so they asked her directly.
She explained everything as she breathed heavily. They got mad too, so they joined in kicking him too. When they heard that some of his friends were coming they gave one last hit before running away.