ACCEPTANCE

The voices in my head were telling me she would come eventually, not that she informed me about it but I just believed it. I sat down in my private corner, watching the tall trees and the monkeys hanging on the trees hoofing all about while I watch.

After a while I brought my pack of snacks to take a bite of it, I felt disappointed about the whole plan, what was I thinking

"that she would come?" I said to myself, pondering the enthusiasm that led me to this place.

With time I began feeling bad about the whole experience and started packing off my things when my eyes stumbled on someone in front, without much thought about it, I ran quickly to take a pic of the creature afar, it was indeed Zina and another person standing tall and watching the skies and the birds flying above them.

I was annoyed at the second guest but immediately calmed myself down and walk closer to her without a second thought about it.

"HI Zina, you came" I blushed for a moment when she turned in my direction.

I brought out my hand for a shake but she snubbed it without notice.

"Meet Zaiah, my brother," she said touching his chest in acclamation, Zaiah looked tall and handsome too, his eyes were blue and brown at the time.

"Hi, am Zucha, Zina's classmate and possibly a friend," I said almost immediately after she introduced him, he shook my hands that were still hanging out for Zina's.

"Nice name Zucha, are you from around here?" he said looking so serious without concentrating on my presence.

"Yes, this is my hometown, I grew up here," I said gazing at Zina while she chuckles.

"That's good, that means you will get to show me around then" he smuggles those words from his mouth, I felt like he never wanted to say such or maybe was making gest of me, just can't place his last statement.

Then he turned towards me directly with a stern look.

"what's your family name," he asked.

That was too forward of him to ask but I was caught in the moment

"Alfred," I said

"Hmmmm, nice surname, isn't that your dad's" he promptly said it looking at me to give my family surname.

"Yes, it is, that's what I answer in school because I don't like answering my family's name"

He looked at me curiously and laughed for a bit.

"Are you ashamed of your name?"

"Why should I " I quickly responded without any delay "Alphasas," I said,

It was a freezing atmosphere at that time, Zina and Zaiah turned mute at that word, I could feel it, they stopped moving and their voices were silent.

"Hello, am I still here?" I was shocked to see both of them in that state for some seconds.

"That's a lovely name, Zaiah chuckled and hugged me instantly. That was weird on my part, I never saw that coming.

"Are you busy at the moment?" he asked quickly.

"No, I just came to take some pictures," I said

"Then am inviting you to my home, do you mind" he was excited about the whole meeting more than I imagined. Zina was just staring at him in confusion, hoping to get a drift of what was going on.

"Why should he come, no!" she interrupted our discussion and for the first time I felt happy about her decision and concurred with her.

"Is no big deal, I like your spirit" he said resting his head on mine and insisting I come with him, he gave Zina a signal of acceptance she was a bit numb and possibly scared of me coming to see her home, I never thought I would one day see her and visit her that same day, it only in my dreams.

He tapped me with excitement around his face.

"Let's go" he snuggled Zina and me into his embrace without further delay.

"Ohm, my bike" I stuttered those words with the hope not coming with them.

"Don't worry about it, will get it for you" I easily those responses, but I kept on insisting that I can't come with them.

"Please, some other time, it's getting late" scratching my head abruptly as I gazed at his expression.

"Yes, tomorrow we will make it official" Zina quickly concurred with me.

"Okay then," he sighed as they both left

"Phew! Hmm, I guess that went well" shaking my head in disbelief that I almost went to Zina's house just like that, the feeling was emphatic that I can only imagine it in my head and here it was in reality.

As I ride my bike home, I kept on pondering why Zaiah accepted me abruptly without questioning knowing how guys can be protective over their sisters and girlfriends, and the thought of the both of them freezing up at the sound of my surname makes it weirder and more unimaginable.

"Something is indeed fishy in that family" my mind has convinced me and I accepted it to find out what's mysterious about this family Alban, just can't remember her surname either.

"You're late" my mum is always a watchdog over everyone at home, she watches the time clicking and clocking while she waits at the entrance to either welcome you or scold you. Being a lecturer in a prestigious University that Zach also attends, makes her come home as early as possible and sometimes she stays at home when she has no lectures to handle.

"I was caught up with the moment" instantly those words popped out without a blink, sluggishly I walked towards my room and shut the door without looking back.

"Your dinner is getting cold!" she yelled out.

I was too inquisitive about what happened earlier today that I forgot I needed to eat.

"Zucha, you need to eat, we are waiting for you" my dad knocked on the door with a dense attitude.

"Am coming out" with that I know I rolled myself up from my bed and off to the dining.