It was obvious why they said those encouraging words, yet they made it subtle so that she wouldn't be embarrassed at her inability to let insults roll off her back.
She decided to keep her thoughts to herself for now and continue observing.
Nnenna and Olaedo exchanged triumphant glances, mentally highfiving. Their subtle counsel had done its job. What they didn't realize, however, was that their words had reached not just one pair of ears, but two.
Adanna, who had been quiet during the exchange, was lost in thought. Their words had pierced her as well, lodging deep in her heart.
'No one can make you feel inferior except you allow it.'
Unbeknownst to her companions, those words would come back to guide her in the future, shaping her decisions and helping her navigate challenges she never saw coming.
Adanna would later reflect that wisdom is often hidden in plain sight, and lessons are there to be learned, even when the teaching isn't directed at you.
The girls stood in line for the bumper cars, their spirits rejuvenated. Ifeoma's earlier moodiness had been replaced with a glimmer of determination, thanks to Olaedo's and Nnenna's timely intervention. They were ready for some harmless fun, until a familiar group of young men swaggered into view.
"Look who we have here," Chidindu, the self-proclaimed leader of the group, smirked. His confidence oozed as he stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ladies, we meet again. This must be fate."
"Fate?" Adanna arched an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I would call it unfortunate coincidence."
His group snickered, clearly enjoying his attempts at bravado. Chidindu, undeterred, gestured at the bumper cars. "How about we settle things properly this time? A little friendly competition. Boys versus girls."
Ifeoma scoffed, crossing her arms. "Competition? Are you sure you can handle the humiliation?"
"Oh, we're sure," another boy chimed in, cracking his knuckles. "We don't lose."
Olaedo chuckled softly, her gaze sharp as a knife. "That's quite the claim, considering your earlier retreat was anything but victorious."
The jab landed, and a few of the boys exchanged awkward glances. Chidindu, however, wasn't so easily rattled. "Alright, let's make this interesting," he challenged. "First team to knock out three opponents wins. The losers...well, let's just say they'll have to bow and admit their inferiority."
"Bow?" Nnenna laughed, the sound both melodic and mocking. "Is this a playground, or are we settling a grudge?"
Adanna turned to Olaedo. "What do you think?"
Olaedo shrugged with a serene smile. "Why not? They've already embarrassed themselves once. We might as well give them an encore."
"Deal," Ifeoma declared before the boys could respond. "Let's show them what real competition looks like."
The attendant assigned them cars, and the arena buzzed with anticipation. Spectators gathered to watch the impromptu match, sensing the brewing tension.
The whistle blew, and chaos erupted.
Chidindu's team launched their offensive immediately, targeting Adanna, whom they assumed to be the weakest link. But Adanna's reserved demeanor hid a surprising agility; she dodged their cars with ease, causing one of the boys to crash into the railing instead.
"Oops, was that your plan?" she asked innocently, her lips curling into a rare smirk.
Meanwhile, Ifeoma drove like a daredevil, her car zigzagging unpredictably. "Catch me if you can!" she taunted, narrowly avoiding a headon collision with two of the boys who miscalculated her speed.
Olaedo played strategically, observing the chaos and waiting for the perfect opportunity. Nnenna, however, was on the offensive, her car slamming into opponents with such precision that one boy was forced to stop, his car temporarily stuck.
"One down!" she shouted triumphantly.
Chidindu, gritting his teeth, focused on Olaedo, whom he perceived as the leader. "Your elegance won't save you here," he sneered, aiming his car directly at hers.
Olaedo smirked, her calm demeanor unshaken. At the last moment, she swerved expertly, causing him to overshoot and crash into his teammate instead.
"Oops. Guess elegance does save me," she quipped.
The crowd erupted in laughter, and the girls high fived each other as they gained the upper hand. With only two boys still in play, Chidindu's confidence began to waver.
"Regroup!" he shouted, but it was too late.
Nnenna and Ifeoma coordinated a pincer attack, trapping one of the boys between their cars. Adanna delivered the final blow, knocking him out of the game.
"Two down!" Adanna said, her voice unusually gleeful.
Now only Chidindu remained, and the spectators were cheering wildly for the girls.
"You're done for," Olaedo declared, her voice carrying a finality that sent a chill down Chidindu's spine.
"Never!" he growled, determined to salvage his pride. He revved his car and aimed for Ifeoma, who was momentarily distracted.
But Olaedo had anticipated this. With a swift move, she intercepted him, slamming her car into his side and sending him spinning out of control.
"Game over," she said coolly as Chidindu's car stalled in defeat.
The whistle blew, and the arena erupted in applause. The girls climbed out of their cars, their faces glowing with triumph.
"Looks like the better team won," Nnenna teased, dusting her hands off dramatically.
Chidindu's group sulked by the sidelines, their earlier bravado nowhere to be seen.
"You got lucky," Chidindu muttered, refusing to meet their eyes.
"Lucky?" Ifeoma repeated, her tone dripping with mockery. "No, we're just better. But hey, don't forget the deal. We're waiting for that bow."
The boys hesitated, their egos too bruised to comply. After a tense moment, Chidindu gave a shallow bow, his face burning with humiliation.
"That'll do," Olaedo said graciously, though her triumphant smile made it clear she was savoring the victory.
As the girls walked away, Nnenna turned to Olaedo. "You know, I think we just earned the title of bumper car queens."
"Agreed," Adanna said, her rare smile lighting up her face.
Even Ifeoma, who usually found reasons to sulk, couldn't hide her grin. "We crushed them!"
Olaedo smiled, her heart warming at the camaraderie. "Let's celebrate. Who's up for ice cream?"
They cheered in unison, their laughter echoing through the park as they left the defeated boys to stew in their shame.
The girls returned to the Arinze mansion in high spirits, their laughter spilling into the grand living room. Even the usually reserved Adanna seemed animated, her cheeks tinged with the faintest flush of excitement.
"I can't believe those boys thought they could defeat us in the bumper car competition!" Ifeoma exclaimed, throwing her bag onto the couch and flopping down dramatically.
Nnenna joined her, still catching her breath from laughing. "I swear, I'll be hearing Chidindu's frustrated commands in my dreams for weeks!"
"His commands?" Olaedo added, smirking. "What about the way he thought he could take Ifeoma out and I slammed him till he went out of control."
Adanna shook her head with a small smile. "It was fun, though. I never imagined bumper cars could be so... entertaining."
As their chatter filled the space, Chibuzor appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in his usual sharp casuals, his expression unreadable. He descended the steps slowly, his eyes briefly scanning each of them before settling on Olaedo.
"Welcome back," he said, his deep voice cutting through their conversation.
The room fell silent for a moment. Olaedo, ever perceptive, noticed the faint tension in his gaze, a tension only she could recognize after spending months observing his subtle moods.
"Thank you," she replied with a polite smile, her tone light.
"I see you all had quite the adventure," Chibuzor remarked, his voice calm but with an edge that made Ifeoma and Nnenna exchange wary glances.
"Don't be too jealous, Chibuzor," Ifeoma teased, trying to break the sudden tension. "It was a girls' day out. You wouldn't have liked it anyway."
Chibuzor's gaze shifted to her, his expression unchanging. "Is that so?"
Adanna interjected, sensing the undercurrent of annoyance he was carefully masking. "Honestly, big brother, we didn't think you would be interested. Besides, it was mostly rides and snacks, not exactly your scene."
Chibuzor tilted his head slightly, as though weighing her words. "You might be right.....or not," he said finally, his voice even. "But the next time you plan to leave the house for an entire day, a little notice would be appreciated."
The girls stiffened slightly at his tone, except for Olaedo, who met his gaze with a calm smile.
"Noted," she replied smoothly. "We'll be sure to send you an itinerary next time."
"See that you do." His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, taking in her refreshing look, before he turned to leave, heading toward his study.
As soon as his footsteps faded, Ifeoma let out a low whistle. "Well, that was... intense."
"He's not mad," Adanna said quickly, though she didn't sound entirely convinced.
Nnenna raised an eyebrow. "He didn't look particularly thrilled either."
Olaedo remained quiet, her thoughts focused on the subtle flicker of emotion she had seen in Chibuzor's usually cold eyes. 'Was it jealousy? Disappointment? Or something else entirely?'