Lia Yadera, a young beauty with a smile that could light up the darkest room, glided out of the old law building, her figure a testament to years of dance—graceful yet athletic. Her skin, a rich ebony hue, gleamed with a natural glow, and her large, expressive eyes seemed to hold the mysteries of the universe, like stars hiding beneath the surface. Her long, flowing hair, often adorned with vibrant beads or scarves, cascaded down her back in waves. At just seventeen, her youthful appearance often deceived people into thinking she was much younger, but the sharp wit and wisdom behind her smile said otherwise.
As she waved goodbye to her coursemates, the smile lingered on her face, bright and effortless. She paused, debating whether to head to the cafeteria or find Ry, short for Ranyerechukwu, her best friend. After a brief moment of thought, she spun on her heels, deciding to head towards the business school instead, her smile widening as she imagined their usual banter.
Meanwhile, inside the bustling business school, a tall, chocolate-skinned boy named jez sprinted toward the entrance. His eyes scanned the crowd before landing on Ranye, seated in the lecture hall. Grinning, Jez yelled loud enough for half the building to hear, "Ranye, your babe is making her way down here!"
The classroom erupted into cheers and whistles, and Ranye, used to their teasing, just shook his head, his face splitting into a sarcastic smile. He quickly shoved his books and laptop into his bag. "Thanks for the announcement, Jez," he muttered, throwing a middle finger in his friend's direction as he headed for the exit.
Jez, sheepishly grinning, waved him off, while the rest of the class whooped even louder. They all loved to make assumptions about him and Lia. It was understandable—they were inseparable—but what no one else knew was that their relationship was purely platonic. Best friends, nothing more, nothing less. Ranye was the only person who knew Lia's deepest secrets, and people never seemed to believe they weren't dating. He didn't bother correcting them; it was a waste of time.
Turning the corner, Ranye spotted her instantly. Lia's smile stretched wide when she saw him, her eyes sparkling as if she was looking at her favorite person. "Hey!" she waved, her voice full of warmth.
Ranye grinned back, quickening his pace until he was standing right in front of her. "So, what's the plan for today?" he asked, eyeing her with playful suspicion.
Lia's eyes twinkled as she turned, grabbing his hands with an exaggerated flourish. "Quick! I heard the cafeteria's got a new menu. We have to try it!"
Ranye rolled his eyes dramatically. "Of course," he muttered under his breath, though the corners of his lips betrayed a smile.
"I saw that!" Lia teased, without even turning around. She didn't need to. She knew her best friend too well.
Ranye snickered. "I swear you've got like three pairs of eyes."
Lia tossed her head back in laughter. "Trust me, I don't need three to know exactly what's going on in that head of yours!"
Their laughter filled the air as they walked. Lia rattled on about her day. "I've got no lectures until four, then I'm heading to the shop," she said casually.
"Nice," Ranye replied, pulling out his phone and opening Pandora, the new university all-in-one app designed for students. It had everything—real-time transportation, food spots, live lectures, and more. " it was an app everyone was talking about in school. "I've got a tutorial at six, but I'll swing by after."
Lia pulled a face. "Ugh, business students and your messed-up schedules." She stuck her tongue out at him, playfully sassy. Ranye just rolled his eyes, used to her antics by now. As they neared the cafeteria, she couldn't stop geeking out about the new menu. Her excitement was infectious, and even though Ranye pretended to be indifferent, he enjoyed watching her enthusiasm.
The cafeteria buzzed with energy as they arrived, with Lia geeking out over the new menu the entire way. They grabbed their food and found a table, settling in. Lia was just about to take a bite when her phone rang. Without looking, she absentmindedly picked it up. The moment her eyes flicked to the screen, her whole demeanor shifted. The joy drained from her face as quickly as it had appeared. Ranye didn't need to ask who it was. There were only a few people who could make her mood drop like that, and only one of them would bother to persistently call her like that.
"How much this time?" he asked, his voice laced with quiet concern.
Lia sighed, shaking her head, avoiding the question. She dropped the phone face down on the table, but before she could take a bite, it rang again. With a frustrated hiss, she silenced it, her mood soured. "Looks like I'll have to go home today," she murmured, almost too quietly.
Ranye glanced at her, his heart heavy. "I'll come with you."
Lia shook her head quickly. "Nah, it's fine. Tammy might actually have a heart attack if she sees you again." Lia said, a small smile creeping onto her face despite the situation.
That broke the tension, and they both burst out laughing. The tension between them momentarily breaking
"I'll wait outside, then," he said with a smirk, trying to lighten her spirits.
Lia grinned, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "That would be the best decision you've ever made—for both our sakes." She replied, chuckling. As their laughter died down, her phone lit up again, vibrating relentlessly with message after message.
"You useless thing, so we're back to ignoring my calls?"
"Your brother needs money—make sure you get me one million today."
"If you don't, I'll keep calling. You know the drill."
Ranye, without a word, turned her phone face down again, placing his hand on hers. "Let's eat," he said softly.
***************************************************************************
It was already past 5 p.m. when Lia finally reached the shop. After her meal with Ry, he had tried to cheer her up. To lift her spirits, he pulled out his phone, checked Pandora, and found a new dance studio that had just opened nearby. Lia, with her stunning figure, was the picture of strength and grace. Her toned body, flat stomach, tiny waist, and perfectly proportioned hips made her the epitome of "slim thick." Her slim face and rare pink lips, framed by just the right touch of melanin, paired with her large, round eyes, gave her an adorable look that melted hearts—just not the hearts of those closest to her. At five-foot-four, she carried herself with an effortless charm, her cheeky smile making her all the more irresistible.
They had spent the afternoon exploring the dance studio, which offered everything from contemporary and pole dancing to salsa and belly dancing. Lia found herself captivated by the place, and though dancing had always been more of a hobby to escape from her troubles, she was seriously contemplating signing up for a few classes. Time flew by as they flipped through brochures, and before long, she had to leave for her 4 p.m. lecture. Ry, ever the supportive friend, promised to meet her later at the shop.
When Lia arrived at the shop, the familiar scent of flowers immediately enveloped her, and a wide smile spread across her face. The smell alone was enough to lift her spirits, but it was the sight of a familiar figure that really made her day.
"Mom!" Lia yelled, running toward Ry's mother, Isla, who appeared from the back of the shop.
Isla immediately opened her arms, wrapping Lia in a tight hug. "Oh, my darling! I've missed you," she said, holding her so tightly that Lia almost couldn't breathe. But Lia didn't care. In Isla's embrace, she felt safe, protected—things she rarely felt anywhere else.
"When did you get back from your trip?" Lia asked as Isla finally let her go.
"Just about an hour ago," Isla replied, smiling warmly. "I brought in some new flowers and wanted to check on the shop. I should have known you'd keep things running perfectly while I was gone." Lia's sassy grin widened.
"Of course, who am I?" she teased, pretending to boast.
Isla ruffled her hair playfully. "And where's that son of mine?" she asked, turning to tidy up the shop while Lia moved behind the counter to set down her bag and start pruning the roses.
"He's still at Uni. He has a class until six, but he'll be here in an hour at most."
"Good, because I brought back plenty of goodies to share." Isla's eyes twinkled as she spoke.
Lia leaned over the counter, her interest piqued. "So… how was the girls' trip? Was it fun?"
Isla's face lit up with excitement. "Don't tell Ry just yet, but I met a man. He was so handsome—tall, dark, and charming!" She practically glowed as she shared the secret, and Lia dropped the pruning scissors in surprise.
"You didn't!" Lia gasped, leaning in even closer.
Isla nodded, clearly enjoying Lia's reaction. The bond between them was special, something deeper than words could express. Isla had taken Lia in twelve years ago, when the young girl was just six years old and had no one else, and since then, she had treated her like a daughter. Though Lia wasn't her biological child, Isla had loved her fiercely, knowing full well the demons the girl faced. No matter how much Isla tried to fill that void, she understood that Lia carried a heaviness, a pain, that couldn't be so easily healed. But she did everything in her power to make sure Lia felt loved and safe.
"You didn't exchange numbers, did you?" Lia teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, I did! And he's planning to call me soon so we can meet up again," Isla said, grinning.
Lia smiled, but Isla noticed the change in her eyes. The sparkle faded, replaced by a quiet sadness that made her heart ache. "What is it?" Isla asked, her voice soft, but Lia only sighed.
"Do you think he'll be okay knowing you're raising two teens?" Lia's voice was low, almost as if she was afraid to ask.
Isla smiled, reaching across the counter to take Lia's hand. "Don't worry about that. He has grown-up kids of his own. They live with his ex-partner," she explained, squeezing Lia's hand gently. But even as she spoke, she saw the faraway look in Lia's eyes, and her heart sank. Something was bothering her deeply.
"Talk to me," Isla urged.
Lia picked up the pruning scissors again, focusing on the roses as if they could distract her from the storm brewing inside. "I have to go home this evening," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Isla's chest tightened. "How much does she want this time?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Lia's silence spoke volumes. The tears gathering in her eyes told Isla everything she needed to know.
Lia just nodded, biting her lip to keep the emotions from spilling over. Isla wished, for once, that Lia would scream, throw a tantrum, cry—anything other than this quiet, heartbreaking acceptance. She knew Lia didn't want to burden her with the weight of her family's demands. She would rather suffer in silence than drag Isla into the mess that had haunted her for years.
"Make sure you take Ry with you, okay?" Isla said softly.
Just then, the door swung open, and Ry walked in with his usual swagger, winking at his mom as he entered. "Hey, you two," he said with a grin.
Isla rolled her eyes at him, smiling. "Perfect timing, son. We were just talking about you."
Ry raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Oh yeah? What'd I miss?"
Lia quickly wiped her eyes, forcing a smile as she looked up at him. "Nothing much," she said, trying to sound casual.
Ry wasn't fooled, though. He knew Lia too well. His eyes flicked to his mom, who gave him a subtle nod, confirming what he already suspected. She probably already figured it out, but now wasn't the time to push her. Instead, he leaned on the counter, grinning. "I brought snacks," he said, pulling out a bag of treats. "But only if you tell me whatyou brought back from your girls trip."
Lia laughed softly, grateful for the distraction. "You're such a brat," she teased, snatching one of the snacks from the bag.
"Only for you two," Ry replied with a wink.
Isla watched the two of them with a fond smile, but underneath it all, her heart was heavy. She knew that, no matter how much laughter filled the shop in that moment, Lia was still carrying some pretty big nasty weight. And as much as she wanted to shield her from it, Isla understood that there were some battles Lia had to face on her own, especially if she was so guarded about letting other people intervene.
Later that evening, after they had closed up the shop, Lia stood outside, her phone buzzing incessantly with messages she didn't want to read. Ry leaned against the wall beside her, silent for once, just offering his presence as support. He didn't need to say anything—he was just there, like he always was.
"Ready to go?" he asked after a moment, his voice quiet.
Lia nodded, clutching her phone tightly. "Yeah."
Together, they walked toward the looming confrontation, knowing that the night ahead would be another unpleasant conflict Lia would have to endure. It never got easier, as things were always messy anytime she visited home- 'Home' that word felt so strange and foreign.