Eight years ago: Night
The night sky was Crystal clear, stars were shinning brightly, it was a cold night. Eight years old Kiya sat on the cushion wrapped in her father's arm. The television was on but none of them was interested in watching it,. Kiya's Mom sat adjacent to her husband and daughter doing some wool craft. Ten minutes ago they had dinner and Kiya's father had just finished telling her a beautiful story about bible heroes but Kiya was not satisfied, she needed more, she needed something different, so she spoke to her dad:
"Baba you always tell me stories about bible heroes and other stories from the Bible, why is it that you don't tell me stories about our own people, our country Nigeria? Don't i need to know about my origin?"
"You will not be able to handle it my dear, our village is full of things I don't want you to know about. It full of witchcraft and everything against our moral standard." Zibeh replied.
"What do you mean by that,. Is everybody in the village a witch?" She curiously asked.
Zibeh laughed.. "No.. No my little one, not everybody. Well, i think we should change the topic, if i may ask you, what do you want to be in the future?" he asked his daughter.
After Kiya thought for a second.. "Oh I want to be a Scientist." she gladly answered.
Zahra sat quietly listening to the two, for she'd already known how fund of each other her husband and daughter have always been.
"Wow! That is great Kiya. What kind of scientist do you want to be?" Zibeh excitedly asked his daughter.
Zahra responded to her husband,. "How do you think she will know?" she added "She is still young for that."
"Mom! Being young does not mean I am not smart or know what i want. I love plant and trees and anything nature, so i will be a scientist that is concern with that, it is called 'Botany' "
"Aha! That is my smart girl." Zibeh excitedly said.. he turned to his wife "You see? She knows."
Zahra smiled and said "Hmm.. Am amazed no doubt. I forgot how smart my daughter is."
Present Day: School time
Kiya got bored after sitting in class quietly, it seemed no teacher wanted to come into the class, she turned to her seat mate and began a conversation:
"Huh! Ah this class is freaking boring. I can't wait to write my senior school certificate examination so that i can get it over with secondary school, I am beginning to feel too grown for this class." she smirked.
"Seriously? Chill babe there's no need to rush. You will soon write the examination and leave ok." her seatmate replied after feeling awful with what Kiya had said.
"You have no idea.. Anytime I see Miss. Jagma in her Corp member uniform, I go crazy. That uniform fits her so too well, she's always looking smart in it and she is so beautiful.. huh" Kiya replied back.
Kiya's seatmate looked at her in disgust and blurted.. "Ewoh! Babe what going on here. If it not because I know you are a girl, I had conclude that you are in love with Alisha. You better come to your senses o."
Kiya frowned at her seatmate mate and clarified,. "Her name is Miss. Jagma, have some respect girl. You can't just go about calling her Alisha, she's your teacher, a well respected youth corp member. Do you know what it took her to be where she is now? She had to pass through where we are right now, pass through the University and now a Corp member, so give her some respect."
"Yea yea whatever you say girl" she raised her eyebrows in surprise "Ohh talk about the devil and the devil shows up."
On hearing her seatmate, Kiya got excited.. "Wow! Miss. Jagma looks even more beautiful today. Wait.. do we have a class with her today?" she hurriedly asked her seatmate.
"Nop.. but am suspecting she is coming here to see you, she has grown fund of you these past weeks, i noticed."
Kiya stared blushing after hearing her seatmate, she quickly asked,. "what do you think you are, master of observation?"
"Just wait and see" her seatmate answered with a coy smile.
When Miss. Jagma reached the class, she walked right to Kiya and her seatmate ignoring all the other students completely. Both girls quickly greeted her with beautiful smiles and she responded nicely also. She wanted to strike a conversation with Kiya but kept her peace and politely asked if she could talk to her outside and alone. Kiya's seatmate stared enviously as Miss. Jagma and Kiya left the class, for deep within her she also admires the beautiful youth corp member, even though she is good at hiding her feelings.
For the past four weeks Kiya and Miss. Jagma have been talking. Both ladies eventually got fund of each other and now, they both can't let a day go by without talking to each other even it for few minutes only. Miss. Jagma had already given Kiya the liberty to refer to her as 'Alisha' instead of 'Miss. Jagma' amd Kiya righly do so, but, the reason Kiya frowned at her seatmate referring to Alisha as 'Alisha' it is because she felt no one has the right to use that name but her.
Alisha took Kiya to a mini garden beside the Senior school block, there is the place they like to meet and talk during most break times. That day Alisha took Kiya out on a time that isn't break time, she desperately needed to talk to her for few minutes before the class next section. Alsiha quickly motioned Kiya to sit on one of the garden's bench and began to talk to her:
"I apologize for taking you out of the class on a wrong time today. I needed to enquire from you on how far you have gone with your SSCE preparation and to also make sure you have some money to spend during break time, and also to tell you how much i miss you."
"I am fine, i have some money to spend during break time and well, i have been studying and trying my best to prepare for the SSCE. As a matter of fact, I can't wait to write so that i can leave secondary school for the university."
"Oh nice. I know you are a smart girl who can help herself, and that is the more reason why I am going to miss you so much when I leave this school after am done with my NYSC."
(Kiya's countenance dropped) "You mean we will never see again? Alisha you are my best friend, you thought me a lot about life and am still learning science from you, I can not imagine a life without you." she said.
(Alisha smiled) "Hey! Don't worry little sister, we will always be together. Moreover, it not like my state is far from yours. I can always come around." she replied.
Alisha's words made Kiya blush.. "Thank you Alisha. But hey, do you know that you are up to six years older than I am and that we have been together for only a month? Yet, you are my best friend, and I love you so much."
Kiya's word also touched Alisha deeply, but she had to keep her cool.
"Alright baby.. I think you should go back to class now. Thanks for the chat, once again, happy birthday to you my sweet little one Kiya." she calmly replied Kiya.
(Kiya Smiled lovingly) "Thank you so much big sis.. You know I am sixteen now, my parents are going to lift lots of guidance from me, I will have more time with you." she gladly informed Alisha.
"Kiya dear.. Don't let anything get into your head. I know that you are a smart science student. We share the same passion for science, and you will soon graduate from here to a bigger place. I need you to focus on your studies especially now that you are not only a senior student but also one of the must serious student. Sometimes having a sense of freedom can delude someone, so just know that freedom comes with a great responsibility, and that is, to take care of yourself and every decision you make."
"Thank you Alisha. I promise to take care of myself and I will be fine. Talk to you later and bye"
(waved with her right hand) "Bye my Kiya."
Kiya's Home: Evening
The kitchen at Kiya's home is spacial, clean, and functional. She mostly uses gas burners for cooking and yea, Kiya is a good cook, well trained by her mother who is a proficient cook herself. Kiya moved from one end of the kitchen to another cooking dinner for the family. Suddenly her phone rang, she ran to the dinning space where she kept her phone, "Hello!"
"Hello, am I speaking to Miss. Kiya Zibeh Ankri?" the caller asked.
"Yes I am." she answered "Who are you and how can i help you?" she asked.
"My name is Jackson Dinga, I am calling you from Gold High Scholarship Company. You are one of the only three Senior students of Girls Science School Jos that won the scholarship exams you wrote on our website. So i am glad to tell you to go to the website and continue with the scholarship process. We will need your full information, put it all up on the website on a page created for that purpose and you will hear from us soon again. But remember to always check our website time to time for update, we might not give you a phone call next time. Thank you and bye."
(Beeb.. drops call)
Extremely excited Kiya shouted "Oh my God! Yes! Yes! Yes.. I won the scholarship. I can't wait for Mom and Dad to come back, I will blow the good news to them, or maybe I should call Alisha and tell her right now.. (Panting) Oh my God, I knew i could do it (Talking to herself) Ok girl just calm down, calm down.. just wait for Mom and Dad and break the news to them first before Alisha."
Kiya could hardly calm herself because of the good news, she managed to do though, and also managed to finish her cooking. Her Parents eventually came back home from work and during dinner time.. she inevitably broke the good news to them. Her parent were so excited and blessed their daughter for doing well in her exams and studies. They both gave her a few more words of appreciation and encouragement and after a good dinner, they all went into their bedrooms for good night rest.