BELIEVE EPISODE 1

[the girl he never noticed]
BY: ADESOLA ADEOMOWOLE

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enjooooooooy
~~12pm
Onome a middle aged woman rushed outside the hut of the most powerful dibia with a verrry big black pot on her head,she looked left and right to see if anyone was coming,sure that no one was coming she dropped the pot hurriedly and brought out a red substance from her cloth.
she took it close to her mouth.
“papa papa papa!
she called three times.
“papa papa papa!
she repeated.
“papa Onome your daughter is here again,wherever you are be it sea,ocean, lake,river, stream or land papa come to me do not forsake me for all my trust are bestowed on you” she shrieked and licked little out of the substance.
A strong wind blew them a very old man dressed in an all black attire appeared out of nowhere.
“here i am my daughter” he said.
she quickly knelt down.
“the eyes of the gods here I am again to renew the sacrifice of ugliness” Onome said and brought out a beautiful baby doll.She bowed as she presents it.
“I want her to be more more ugly…
papa make this spell strong stronger strongest this time around I want people to run away from her,I want to see her being treated with disdain”
Onome solicited.
“consider it done…..
just make sure she doesn’t sing,let her run away from music, the more she run away from singing,the more her spell last” the dibia said and disappeared away with the doll.
Onome smiled to herself as she thanked her creator, she rushed back to the hut she stays with Adeife,her step daughter and Olamma, her daughter.
Her own daughter Olamma is the most beautiful maiden after the princess from the next kingdom.
People come from far and near just to see Olamma and of course would die just to be her friend.
At age 21,she already have hundreds of suitors but she refused them bluntly saying that her own prince charming is yet to arrive.
Adeife’s case is the reverse,her ugliness is a thing that makes people run away from her,she doesn’t have friends at all which made her graduated into a complete introvert.Her only friend is the village stream,a place she can always find solace to pour out her heart.
*******************
The sun was already out immediately Onome got home.
“where are these children?
“where is this stupid girl!…
she scoffed and banged into her hut.
She entered the room,her daughter Olamma was sleeping comfortably on the wooden bed,the lantern was out but Ife could still be seen sleeping on the cold floor with just a wrapper even when the bed is wide enough to contain three people.
“she’s still sleeping!
Onome shot Ife a glare and rush out to get a bucket of cold water.
Adeife Adeife
why is my life so painful?…
swears I really wish I won’t wake up today,I wish for death.Dying is at least better than embarrassment and trouble.
even the neighborhood now knows me as an ugly duckling.
my step mother is not even helping issues at all my dad case is more worst he doesn’t like looking at me he once disowned me publicly saying he never gave birth to an ugly being, that was the most painful experience of my life,only my sister gets all the praises,care and attention.
mom why did you die when you know you can’t stay with me, mom this is not really fair oooo
I don’t really know you but people usually says you’re a slave,they said you’re actually one of those women who was captured during the last war,my dad was the one who bought her away from slavery.
Fine you ain’t a slave again….but mom this is not really fair.
someone poured cold water on me,I sprang up with shivering.
“morning nne..ga anù agolongo ndú (you will live long)” I greeted.
“let your mother live long cos I never for once gave birth to an ugly duckling” she shouted.
Olamma woke up,the shout I guess.
she stood up and stretched herself well, she couldn’t even greet mother.
“is it morning already*
sleeping Olamma asked.
“yes my Luna, it is” Onome replied her daughter tenderly as she faced me..
“this is the second month now and you’ve still not save up to the required amount that is needed…Are you seriously getting lazy?”, Onome asked with tension.
“no nne I will work harder” I said.
Olamma laughed mockingly, I shot her a stare…
“how much can an ugly duckling save up” she said and brought out a bag from her breast wrapper.
“nne this is my support”
she said as she gave mother the bag.
Of course it must have been given to her by one of her numerous boyfriend.
ohh my Luna…
my daughter….
the next queen of Deerah kingdom…
Olamma you will live long,
never in your live will you know poverty nor give birth to worthless kids ….
Onome started praising Olamma who kept on smiling.
She stopped and faced me with furry.
“what are you still waiting for?”,
she shouted,I ran away to the kitchen with a dautless heart.I already know how to endure pains ..
I picked a pot from the kitchen and wanted to leave but I stopped on a second instant.
There’s something on fire,
I used my rapper to open the pot, aroma of the steaming ogbono soup filled everywhere.In fact the soup was richly garnished but no matter enticing it might be,I won’t still get carried away cos my mouth won’t taste it.When last did I even eat meat.
I looked at the pot on fire and thought of what to do then I used a small calabash to pour plenty salt into the soup,since she enjoy picking on me,this is her punishment….
no one embarrass me and go scot free.I tied the bag of salt well and headed for the stream.
I met my mates on the way.
as usual I was avoided as a plague, no one talks to me ..
“Hi Ife,where is Olamma?”,
chiamanda spoke to me for the first time,she waved as she spoke to me with gestures..she couldn’t even look into my face.
I ignored her question…
why should I answer her when she is always speaking bad about my appearance..
if she wants to see Olamma then should go and check her at home by herself.
gaaaad that girl,she’s sooo ugly!
is she human???
Tufiakwa,I can’t look at her!
so disgusting,I don’t want to get infected!.
I heard murmurs.
more maidens tropped in..
they continue chatting till we get to the stream.
“hmmm do you know chidinma,the daughter of the palm wine tapper?
chiamanda asked…
“that girl… eyah as beautiful as she is hunn it’s not suppose to be her”
vivan said with care.
“she’s pregnant! the rape scandal!
chiamanda bursted out.
“ohh my gaaaad! chioma shouted.
“good for her,thank goodness”
Adanna whispered.
“ahh this is not really good”
vivan,the most caring maiden and of course the daughter of a wealty merchant said.She is known for the best best dress sense…..
I listened to their conversation by the stream as I waited patiently for who would help me lift my pot on my head.
“what is not really good? do you know what that stupid chidinma did to me? she snatched Emeka from me.It was my creator that made her to get raped…..that’s how the end should look like for people like her”.
Adanna said,joyfully.
“do you know what again?”,
chiamanda trapped their interest again.
“our princes are back from the states” she said.Adanna jumped up.
“you mean the twins…. awww how I wish I can identify them,they so much look alike,I just hope there won’t be a problem on who will asccend the throne” vivan giggled.
“the strongest ascends the throne”.
chiamanda said.
“no it depends on who the gods choose” Adanna replied.
I watched as the girls helped their selves…
Vivan looked at my side with so much care, I know she will help me lift my pot…..
Adanna stamped her feet on the floor, I might not understand words well but I know gestures.
“It’s none of your business who she choose to help” I said,directly to Adanna.
“what’s the architect of your problem did I talk to you?”, Adanna fired back, getting ready to pick a fight..
Vivan smiled and helped me with one hand. Only her looks into my face while talking to me.
“ugly pig”, Adanna said lowly.
“For the fight, come back tomorrow am not in the mood. If care is not taken I will wound you desperately”
I warned Adanna.
She kept quiet.
“thank you my friend” I said to Vivian.
“anytime” she replied.
the maidens walked on one side gisting, I followed the other side of the way listening to their gists.At times I wish I am beautiful too.
soon I got absent mindedly in my thoughts…
aaag hunger will soon kill me.
I was even thinking desperately as I walked..
“chimmooo….Ife…. Adeife!
I heard Vivian voice,I already got irresponsible in my thoughts,I jammed a figure,my pot fell and broke into pieces..I raised my head.
whoops! they are two…
Guards rushed to cover them,instantly I went on mgmy kneels as fear gripped me..
“ohhh my gaad my princes ….the twin princes! I startled.
all thanks to Onome that made me so stupid,thinking of hunger.
The maidens stop on one side and covered their mouth in shock.
I raised my head slowly, and I swer they are the same….same appearance,they both look like Greek gods with their very fair tonned skin complexion.They both have the same royalty head band,it seems there’s no difference between them.
“get her in captive for her carelessness” one of the princes spoke in a strange language,it was very fast and fluent.He covered his face as he shifts back ..
I look sideways and saw the maidens drooling….
my prince don’t get infested!
Adanna said.
chai…that was how she was born..like a pig” chiamanda said.
I shakes my head and did the begging sign….
one of the twin was harsh,
The other twin kept quiet and look down at his wrist near his royal bracelets,on his fingers were two simple black rings that match with the princes necklace on his neck.
He wanted to look through my face,I covered it.
“ohhh goodness,
my pot gave him a cut!!!!!