An Unexpected Opportunity

As the saying goes, "Opportunity comes but once" but that wasn't so for Maabena as she was affectionately called by her loved ones. There had been countless opportunities for her, to apply for a scholarship outside but none of them seemed to work out.

As a girl obsessed with Kdrama and Kpop, it had always been Carly's dream to land an opportunity to travel to South Korea– whether for education or pleasure. Not to talk of her big love for BTS. Her entire room was decorated with their merch and pictures. I mean the ones she could afford, actually.

That time of applying for a scholarship was here again and she couldn't help being anxious. Thinking of all the sleepless nights just to study the Korean Language. Thanks to her hard work, she can at least hold up a conversation now.

Weeks had passed after her last application for the April/ May GKS Korean Government Scholarship. Carly sat behind her study table, staring at the screen of her laptop with bated breath as she navigated the cursor to the Gmail icon.

Her cousin, Kojo had called in earlier to inform her about the results of their application on the internet. But his was for the TEFL application. She could feel her heart pounding in her ears, just holding the mouse.

With a deep breath, she clicks on the mail– patiently waiting for it to display its content. She almost screamed when the messages lined up before her eyes after a few seconds.

CONTRATULATIONS CARLY JACKSON, the first message header read.

Carly clicks on it, just not to get ahead of herself. She concentratedly read the first few paragraphs and as if on cue, gasped, covering her mouth with her hand while her eyes glittered with excitement. You could see the unshed tears shimmering in her eyes.

Finally, after her countless efforts, they had all been proven worthy. She would soon be flying to her dream country and University. Nothing was as satisfying as this. Usually, Ghanaians rarely get this chance. She was so over the moon and couldn't wait to share the news.

"Maame!" her voice resonated as she jolted to her full length– reaching straight for the door. " Maame! " she called once again– already out the door and racing through the hallway as she headed to the living room.

Maame Afua who had heard her daughter's voice turned her gaze from the movie she was watching, towards the direction which Carly's voice was coming from.

"Can't you walk?" she said the moment Carly came in sight, almost slipping off her feet as she rounded the sofa. Her mother's eyes followed her, not sure what her excitement was about while she slammed in beside her.

Just seeing her daughter happy made her giggle. "What's this about?" a smile plastered her face while staring expectantly at her.

"I finally got the scholarship," she announced, smiling from ear to ear. Knowing to what extent the efforts her mother had put in for her after they lost their Dad 5 years ago.

She had been both the father and mother of her three kids after she lost her husband in a robbery attack. Maabena Carly, being the oldest was 15 by then and the twin girls were 10.

Carly is soon turning 20 in April and she couldn't help being happy for her. Intuitively, she scooped her daughter into a hug, tears of joy running down her cheeks.

"Good job, I'm so proud of you." the words escaped her lips as she pattered Carly's back. "You've really worked hard. You deserve it."

From her voice, Carly could tell she was crying. Instinctively, she robs her mother's back– allowing her to free her spirit. After about 2mins, Maame Afua breaks from the hug, wiping the tears from her face.

"Don't mind me," she sniffs, "I'm just being emotional." she giggles and so does her daughter. "So tell me, " she snaps even before Carly can make out a word. "...what do we have to do now?" she inquired, curious and ready to help.

Fortunately, the scholarship was fully funded. Being it air ticket, fees, and accommodation among others– all covered. All she needs now is a valid passport and visa. Coupled with some documents that need stamping from her current University and the Korean Embassy. And also her health records.

"I need to get all this done within a week," she said. "But don't worry, I can handle it." she assures, "Remember Agnes, my best friend, she works in a migration company. She will take it up."

Maame Afua nods at this revelation, feeling rest assured. "The orientation will be in two weeks from now. I need to prepare a few basic needs." she announces.

It was then that realization dawned on her. She hadn't seen her twins sisters nor heard their voices. Her brows creased, lurking around. " Where is Peyin and Kakra?" as they were locally called.

"Bertha was asked by Auntie Connie to pick up some things from her shop so Betty went with her." As usual, Maame Afua loved addressing her twins by their English names. She said it always connects her with her husband – giving her the assurance that he was with them.

With Carly's question answered, she springs to her feet. She needed to start organizing herself. The earlier the better. Excusing herself, she trots back to her room.

She picked her phone from the side of her bed, clicking the power button to display the screen. 10: 40 am it read.

She needs to catch up with Theresa in the next 10 minutes to drive her to the Embassy. They had made plans for it even before the news. But first, she needs to send the yet to be printed file over. She swaps the phone open, unlocking the screen.

As she selected a file from her Ms word app, she sends it through WhatsApp– picking Thes' chat log. [ Print these doc and bring it. ] she typed, pressing the enter key as she sent it over.

Making sure it had double ticked, she toss the phone back on the bed and rushed into her closet.

———

Within the next 5 minutes, she sauntered out in a blue Jeans trousers coupled with a tan top and a mini bag hanging across her chest.

"Maame!" she called out to her mother who had stood up from her initial spot. "I'm meeting Thes," she added.

"Okay, you guys should drive safely." her mother's voice came in from the storage room.

"Yoo," her voice resonates as she sped out. "Hello?" Maame Afua heard her say as her voice drifted away. She could tell who it was just by her response.

Theresa and Carly had been best of cousins since their early grades, doing almost everything together. Family members had always tagged them as twins who were born from different mothers.

"Just wait at the junction, I will be there soon." she heard her voice fade in the distance.