Reassured, or perhaps out of curiosity, Adanna bit into the cotton candy. Her eyes widened as the sugary sweetness melted on her tongue. "This is… amazing!" she exclaimed, her expression lighting up like a child's.
In mere seconds, she finished hers and looked longingly at the rest. Nnenna, noticing her silent request, chuckled and handed hers over. "You can have mine, Ada. I've had it before."
"Thanks, big sister!" Adanna said, her grin wide as she accepted the treat.
The group sat together, enjoying their snacks and recounting the highlights of the day. Laughter bubbled up easily among them, the warmth of their camaraderie filling the air as much as the lively sounds of the park itself.
Across from where the girls sat was a brightly lit photo booth. A group of young, good-looking men leaned casually against its frame, their attention fixed on the girls.
"Guys, we really hit the jackpot this time," said one of them, Chidindu, with a sly grin. "I was starting to think my idea of picking up girls at an amusement park was stupid, but I stand corrected."
The others laughed and nodded in agreement. One of them clapped Chidindu on the shoulder, his grin wide. "Good job, man! This was genius."
Emboldened, the group followed Chidindu to where the girls were seated, enjoying their snacks. Chidindu, as the self-proclaimed leader, took the lead.
"Ladies," he began smoothly, flashing what he thought was a charming smile. "It looks like you're here alone. Beautiful girls like you shouldn't be wandering around without company. How about we join you? Maybe after, we can take some pictures together?"
The girls froze mid-bite, their gazes snapping to the group of intruders. 'Who raised these ones?' they thought collectively.
Ifeoma, who had never experienced such blatant flirting before because her male classmates were too terrified to even try, turned to her sister in confusion. "Big Sister, what are they talking about? We've been fine on our own, and we don't need anyone's help to take pictures."
Adanna, who was too busy sampling snacks to acknowledge the men initially, sighed and reluctantly put down her cotton candy when Ifeoma addressed her.
She looked over the group with a mix of irritation and disinterest. "They're trying to flirt with us with such old fashioned methods," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Just ignore them. They'll leave eventually."
The men, overhearing this, exchanged looks of disbelief.
Old-fashioned? they thought, baffled. 'Since when did our method stop working?'
Not ready to give up, one of the men stepped forward. "You don't have to be wary of us," he said, his tone deliberately reassuring. "We're just offering our assistance."
Their persistence was growing tiresome. Olaedo, who had been quietly observing, finally decided to step in. Her calm demeanor remained intact as she addressed them directly.
"Gentlemen," she began, her voice even but firm. "Thank you for the offer. But if we needed bodyguards or companions to take pictures, it certainly wouldn't be you." She allowed a sly smile to cross her face, her words laced with confidence. "The four of us can play those roles perfectly fine."
The men were momentarily stunned into silence. Then, with a sharp tone and an intensity that could only come from someone used to commanding respect, she added, "Now... scram."
Her CEO aura seemed to burst forth, overwhelming the men with its sheer force. Without another word, they retreated, disorganized and defeated.
Ifeoma stared after them, wide-eyed. "Oh my gosh! Sister in law, that was so amazing!" she blurted out, her tone genuine. "So that's how you handle situations like this?"
Olaedo smiled, inwardly surprised by Ifeoma's first genuine acknowledgment of her. "Yes, that's how it's done. But you must approach it with grace, calmness, confidence, and boldness. If you don't, they won't respect your command."
Adanna nodded approvingly, her smile soft but proud. Olaedo was right to bring Ifeoma along.
Nnenna, watching the interaction, felt a small spark of relief. She didn't know the full extent of Ifeoma's grudge against Olaedo but had sensed the tension earlier. Now, the air seemed lighter, and she was glad. 'Maybe Olaedo won't have such a hard time in her new home after all.'
Her thoughts wandered briefly. 'Speaking of her new home, I still haven't asked her how this marriage came about specifically...'
The moment passed as the girls finished their snacks and turned their attention to the nearby photo booth.
"Let's take some memory photos!" Nnenna suggested enthusiastically.
The cramped booth barely fit all four of them, but they managed to squeeze in. Nnenna made goofy faces in each frame, and after a moment's hesitation, Ifeoma joined in, mimicking her poses.
Olaedo, ever poised, smiled brilliantly, her grin showing all thirty-two teeth. Adanna, true to her reserved nature, stuck to her usual subtle smile. While she didn't show her teeth, her bright eyes spoke volumes about her mood.
The resulting photos were a mix of chaos, laughter, and moments they would cherish forever.
Afterward, they wandered through the park, their eyes scanning for a ride they hadn't yet tried. That was when they spotted the bumper cars.
"Oh, we have to do this!" Ifeoma exclaimed, practically bouncing on her heels.
The others laughed, nodding in agreement as they made their way to the attraction.
Ifeoma clutched the rail that surrounded the bumper car arena, her eyes sparkling with childlike excitement as she watched the cars zoom around. Her enthusiasm was palpable, and yet, it drew strange looks from the people around her.
"Who's this country bumpkin?" someone muttered under their breath.
The words hit Ifeoma like a splash of cold water. 'Country bumpkin?' The irony.
She straightened her posture, her pride stung. 'Me? Young Miss Ifeoma of the Arinze family, the crème de la crème of aristocratic families in the entire country, being called a country bumpkin just because I've never been to an amusement park before?'
Her hand loosened its grip on the rail as she sighed inwardly. The comment, though dismissive, sparked an uncomfortable realization.
'No matter how much we think we know, whenever we step into unfamiliar territory, we become like ignorant children, easy targets for ridicule. It's humbling. Maybe... maybe I've been too narrow-minded, focused only on the things I'm already good at. If I want to be truly well rounded, I need to explore more of life.'
The increasing whispers around her grew louder, each one feeling like a judgmental jab. Her earlier enthusiasm withered away, replaced by a cold façade. Her face hardened as she turned sharply to the group.
"I think we've had enough fun for one day. Let's go home now!" she announced curtly.
Adanna frowned at her sudden change in demeanor, her playful mood deflating. "But it's still early, and we're not done having fun."
"Exactly. We've got plenty of time," Olaedo added with a warm smile, trying to ease the tension.
Her words, however, seemed to ignite Ifeoma's ire. She whirled on Olaedo, her voice laced with venom. "I wouldn't expect a lowlife like you to understand that the time of aristocrats is precious. Wasting a whole day here pains my heart! I wish I hadn't let you drag me along."
Olaedo's expression faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly regained her composure.
Turning to her elder sister, Ifeoma continued, her tone insistent. "Big Sis, do not let this woman deceive you. We need to leave now!"
Nnenna, who had been observing quietly, frowned. If she had not seen the joy and wonder Ifeoma had shown just moments ago, she might have believed her. But after witnessing Ifeoma's excitement today, she knew this sudden change in attitude wasn't genuine.
She exchanged a knowing glance with Olaedo, who seemed to share her thoughts. Without missing a beat, Olaedo decided to subtly handle the situation.
"Hey, Nnenna," she began, her voice calm and light, "remember the first time we came here?"
Nnenna smiled faintly, catching on to Olaedo's plan. "Oh, how could I forget? We were a mess. Totally embarrassing. I wanted to dig a hole and hide when people started pointing at us." She paused for dramatic effect. "If not for what you told me that day..."
Together, they chorused: "NO ONE can make you feel inferior except YOU allow it."
The words struck Ifeoma like a lightning bolt. She stood frozen, her mind echoing the phrase. 'No one can make me feel inferior except I allow it?'
Slowly, she turned to look at the people who had mocked her earlier. This time, she didn't feel the sting of their words. Instead, she felt a surge of quiet defiance. 'Then I will not allow it,' she resolved silently.
Despite her newfound determination, she felt a pang of helplessness. Once again, her sister in law had proven herself wise and composed. Ifeoma had learned so much today, about herself and the world, but it still baffled her how this woman, whom she had vowed to despise, could be so effortlessly impressive.