How It All Began

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A burnt smell invaded my nostrils along with

with the sweet smell of Chicken Nuggets and Buffalo Wings, entranced by the smell as I stood in the middle of the kitchen with mum who was still sobbing as we embraced each other, "mum the dishes" I screamed as l remembered the dishes mum was preparing were getting burnt. She immediately realised the situation as she hurriedly cleaned her eyes and she turned off the Electric Cooker. "Hopefully we reacted on time it isn't completely burnt it just has a burnt smell I guess" l said to mum as I tried to make her feel better as she had a dampen look on her face.

" I know dear, am not sad I just feel relieved after a long time, since your dad died during that carnival, hah" she sighed as she opened the kitchen windows for ventilation. I listened to her as I watched her serve out our breakfast "you know you can always talk about it sometimes" I replied as I took the plates out her hands, went into the dinning room and arranged them neatly on the dinning table.

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"Mum you also ruined my apple pie" I whined as I sat next to my Mum at the dinning table as I pretended to be angry at her as I pouted making a cute face. She rolled her eyes as she played along with my charade " Hehe young lady it's your fault for making this old lady emotional so that's your punishment" my Mum jests as she gave me a mocking look as she imitated a grumpy old lady.

"Hahaha Haha" we laughed at our joke.

"Okay funny funny now time for business" she said as she checked the time. She turned to me and said "it's already 6'0 clock, are all the your stuffs ready," she asked to which I nodded with a smile.

" Liliana, do you remember what we talked about yesterday " Mum asked me as we are our had breakfast "umm I think I do" I said as I fumbled with my words as I knew mum was now serious with that look she gives me. "Oh really ana you think so" she exclaimed as she gave that ' like seriously look' of hers' "no I really do remember" I said nervously but looking serious. Reminiscing about yesterday's talk with mum with smile as my mind drifted back to how it all started.

------------. Saturday 4th of January 2020

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"Liliana" I heard Mum yelling my name from outside the house." what's mum doing at home by this time of the day" I mumbled to no one in particular as I ran down the stairs. "Did you forget something mum ? why are you home this early?" I asked as she looked like she ran all the way home."Congratulations, honey you've made me and your Dad so proud" she said breathlessly as smiled at me happily as tears fell from her eyes.

' I don't what wrong with mum today as she looks beautiful as always with dark hair, d- cupped breasts and wide hips and a a soft butt, a real beauty to behold as men still tried to chase after her even before dad's dismiss. Miss Kira Reed my mum was an orphan and my dad's mum died after their marriage. Though she had friends she refused to depend on them as she strived to be independent as she worked as a language translator, even though she usually left home for days she never left for months or weeks like other translators so unfortunately it limited her career as she was a first - class upper student of foreign languages. Kira my mum is known for her fluent speech in over 200 languages of the world as she still learns more, due to all this factors she's a widely sought out translator by various international companies and agencies all over the world. Knowing this am very proud to be called her daughter but I also feel very guilty as she stopped pursuing her dreams as she had always wanted to tour the world, learning new languages and trying new cultures, dialects and delicacies around the world. But mum wouldn't hear of it as she always says am her little darling so she refuses to take job offers faraway from Lexington Ave the city we live in but unfortunately due to funds required for our upkeep and living expenses alike she has to juggle multiple jobs at the same time usually making her days hectic and tiring. I always try to help out in little ways by carrying out chores and fending for myself when she's away inorder not to make her worried-sick about me when she travels out for work. Its been working out pretty much fine for the last few years as I managed to convince mum to take up some jobs to help with the situation at home and also to not limit her career as she raises me as it would make me feel bad which she agreed with after several pleas from me and I my sermons about dad not being happy with her refusal to pursue her dreams after his death. So see her rushing home from work looking exhausted and all flustered not long after she left home made me feel worried as mum is very meticulous about her work schedule and stuffs and hardly forget things.' Seeing her her home made me feel puzzled as since I have been with her she never rushed back from work all drenched with sweat and looking tattered. 'What's wrong with mum today I asked myself as I had earlier noticed she behaved strangely this morning although I really didn't pay attention to her oddity today and concluded its was stress as I never remembered her acting like this' I thought as my memories with her flowed in my mind.

I looked up at her with a confused look 😕 " Is everything okay" I said to her.

"Its never been better sweetheart, maybe this is probably one of the best things that has happened to us" she replied with the same sweet, happy, sad and proud look in her eyes as touched my face creasing my arched up brows.

"Please sit down mum I will go get you something to drink first" I said to her as I made her sit down on the couch as I went into the kitchen to get some chilled water to cool down.

"Take this mum, it will help you calm down" I gave her a glass of water as I sat down next to her.

"Thanks darling it really did help" she thanked me with a smile as she placed the glass on the centre table and in the living room. "You know you've really grown up to know what I need and when I do, hehe" mum said as she finally calmed down, sighed in remembrance as she chuckled in delight.

Seeing her this happy was really a rare sight for me as I sat down and enveloped myself in one of the beautiful moments we usually had in silence, as I just nodded with a small smile at her comment.

"So what's up mum, why are you home early I thought you had an emergency at work" l said after I felt her piercing gaze on me breaking the solemn atmosphere".

"Liliana did you remember how I left home early in a rush this morning to work" she rapped out in one breath immediately I inquired about her absence from work at this time.

Before she could continue I placed by hands on her lips and sighed "Shhh mum, breathe in breathe in" I told her as I released her lips and placed on her chest helping her to tune down her excitement which was obvious : seeing her face.

Holding her hands as I clasped it against mine as I remembered how she had being acting strange all day.

Click

"Mum are leaving again, why you're re in a hurry" I asked as I rushed out of my room looking disheveled after overhearing her talking with someone on the phone saying she's on her way out. Doubt, confusion, and disappointment flashed on my face as I watched her pick up her stuffs as she puts them in her handbag."I thought we'd spend the weekend together mum, you this not the first time you'd blow me off because of your work" I said with anger as I felt my emotions slipping away, realising what I had spurred out, in my fit of emotions seeing mum's smiling face as she looked up at me after she was done packing her stuffs. I quickly rushed down the stairs as I reached where she stood with an exhausted look, she seemed to be in a hurry as she worn a layering purple gown with white edges with a fancy outdoor slippers, looking simple and beautiful.

"I'm sorry I had just lost it there at the moment, being self centred when you being working your ass off to provide for me, am so sorry mum" I chanted in a trembling voice with a guilty expression on my face as I looked at mum feeling down.

"Its okay sweetie, I know you don't mean it and am really sorry dear you know a call just came through and it's really important I need go now, so take care I will be home faster than you think. Hearing this l felt she was acting out of the character I knew, pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind.

I rushed up to her and held her hands stopping her from leaving the house "Important is it really more important than me and besides I know you took leave so you could spend some time with me, are they seriously working your off ?" l said pouting as she took me out of house, as stood at the door.

"I am not sure too but I will tell you about it when I get back" she said with a contemplating look as she argued within herself if she should tell me about it or not, finally deciding to keep it to herself.

Seeing this I gave her a suspicious look, before sighing in defeat as I knew I would never win against her " please don't tire yourself in order to make it up to me. I understand you know and I'll miss you" hugging her as I reminded her. " I will miss you too" she replied as she ran off before turning back with a smirk as she remembered something. " Liliana you stink please take a shower". Thinking she would say something important I frowned after hearing her words as I was literally shooting her bullets with my eyes as I yelled back in frustration, "you know l came down to stop you from leaving home" I seethed in anger. Seeing my reaction she laughed as she mouthed me a ' l know ' as she entered her car with an excited look on her face, which l could literally hear her in her voice and see on her face when talked earlier, I watched her as she hurried drove out the garage. "Be careful" I shouted as I thought she was really acting weird today as I my mind went back to when she said she would come home early which never did due to her job, how she smiled at me through out our emotional saga without crying and apologizing to me several times about having to leave home abruptly, and she was never this excited about working out of her already hectic schedule even with more pay especially when it disrupts our bonding times like this.

'I guess am just over thinking things' I thought as I went inside the house closing the door after me, as l could longer see mum's car.

"Down to Earth, Liliana Howard" mum smiled at me as she pinched my hands as I was lost in thought. "Quch, that was painful" I cursed as looked up at my mum, as I massaged my hurt hands in annoyance as I answered her previous question. "Yeah I definitely//////// remembered how you acted out of your usual personae today"

"Heh Hehe" I heard her chuckle, as I asked her "so how does that relate to you being home this early" looking over the clock as I pointed "it isn't even an hour you left home for your so - called ' important emergency' and now you're back home, just after I finished taking a bath as you said I stink, like seriously" I looked at her in disbelief as I ranted on angrily without giving her a chance to say a word.

"You remember the National Scholarship Exams, you took last month the results are out and ....." she stopped immediately she noticed that the change in my mood as I looked at her with an excited and expected look instead of mine previous angry one as the word National Scholarship Exams fell from her lips.

"Mum please, just spill it did I pass the Exams or not". I urged her with pleading eyes." I didn't think you would be this angry at me " she said with an amused look on her face as she teased me with a knowing smirk adorned on her lips

"plea .…. se...….." I begged her with folded arms as I stuttered to on my words.

"umh, young lady I think you need to calm down, am not running away you know and you'll learn about your results sooner or later, or am I wrong?" mum said to me as she shew no mercy to my plight.

"Ugh dumb me, how couldn't I have known that the only thing that would make mum overreact the way she did earlier would definitely be me" I cursed as I looked at her with hateful eyes.

" Hehe. he " I heard her giggling as she sat uprightly. "Okay I'll tell you about it" she finally conceded seeing mine tears-stained eyes to which I smiled cleaning my eyes.

"So here comes the bombshell ....." she started in an exaggerating manner at the same time putting me in suspense as my hear pounded against my chest as if trying to break free.

Picking up a piece of paper from her bag which I think her my results, opening it she gave me a reassuring smile as looked into the paper, she began reading.

"Congratulations to you Liliana Howard, for passing the 2020 NSE programme for young adults and teens with an overall average of 100% and position of 1st. You are given the opportunity of studying in the most prestigious school in the world - throughout your educational life - THE LIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL, Mayveile.

The ticking clock in the living room could be heard as I listened to mum as she read t ppuded the contents of the paper in mum's hands ans flowed than my already dried eyes.

" Am so proud of you and I know your dad would be too" mum said as she hugged me tightly as eyes of happiness filled her eyes.

" Mum you I can't believe that I passed the exams" I said reveling in shock and excitement. Mum released me from her arms, holding my face gently with a sad smile on her face she kissed my cheeks " Lia you didn't pass you won, you won because you came 1st. All your painstaking efforts finally paid off" Mum said to me with a chuckle as she patted my hair.

"That means I going to study in THE LIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL " I said as I hurried snatched the paper on the table as I looked over it again pinching myself to ensure it wasn't a dream.

"in Mayveile ...." I suddenly paused as she it dawned on me that I would be leaving Starford - my birth home if I leave for Mayveile. Mum smiled at me as I now understood why she seemed sad ever since she came back.

" Mum you know am not going anywhere far from you" I instantly refuted mum's thoughts before she could utter them out.

"Come with me" I heard her say as dragged me out of the house and took me out of house. Reaching the car she opened the back door as she gestured to go in.

"am not going anywhere " I mumbled as she smiled at me saying,

"it's gonna be alright" as she slammed the door as she entered the car through the front door as she entered the car and drove out of the house.