TIARA

Moving to Lagos

Hello guys,
This is my first story on wattpad, please be nice.
😃
I'll try to make it worth your time.
Read and enjoy♥️♥️♥️

~TIARA'S POV~

W

hat are you saying? Both of you are traveling at the same time and leaving me for a whole year? I thought our plan was that you both don't schedule your travels simultaneously." I was at the brink of tears.

My Dad came closer and hugged me. He had been unusually quiet for the past two weeks. Whenever I asked him about it, he would just smile and say he'd be fine. Perhaps he felt guilty about leaving me; his frequent business trips over the past six months seemed to be taking a toll on him.

"My angel, you know that your mum and I would never leave you alone if it wasn't extremely important."

I pulled out of his embrace and questioned, "What is so important that both of you have to travel for a whole year, and I can't even go with you?" My parents frequently went on business trips, but never for such an extended period. As their only daughter, they usually made an effort to spend time with me, sometims even taking me along on their trips. That's why I couldn't understand why they were both leaving for a year.

My mum patted my shoulders reassuringly, saying, "Baby, I promise you that we'll all go for a family vacation when your Dad and I come back from this trip. We'll never leave you alone again."

Though my parents provided everything I wanted, sometimes I wished for a simpler family life or even a sibling. However, my mum had told me that she had me and my twin brother through IVF, and it was her only chance at childbearing. Unfortunately, my twin brother didn't survive at birth, and I barely made it, thanks to excellent medical care. Since my birth, I've een more than cared for. I love my parents deeply, but their demanding jobs keep them away.

Standing up from my bed, I hugged my parents tightly. "You both promise you'll stay home more after this?"

They both responded almost immediately, "Of course, baby/angel."

I sat back down after releasing them from my embrace and wiping away a tear. "Okay, Mum and Dad, I'll go with Uncle Henry and move to Lagos." My parents couldn't hide their delight. My dad looked at me and asked, "Are you sure, my Angel?" Uncle Henry, y dad's youngest brother, was the closest family we had, and the only one my parents trusted to be my guardian.

I took their hands. "I think it's high time I visited Uncle Henry's family too. He and Aunty Valerie have been so good to me, sending gifts on my birthdays and checking on me when you were not around."

My mum looked a bit sad hearing this. "Baby, I'm sorry I'm leaving you. You know I love you, right? No one can love you like I do, but you're right; your Uncle and his family are the only ones I can trust to take good care of you. I'm just sad to be away from you for so lng." She started to cry. "I'll miss you so much, baby. Come here." She pulled me close to her chest as she cried some more.

"My angel, I've spoken to your Uncle Henry; he's ready to come get you and take you to Lagos himself. You can enroll in your cousin's school next session. I researched the school, and it's one of the best in Lagos." My dad, ever meticulous, ensured that the transition would be smooth. "I'm sure your uncle will tak care of you like his own daughter; he's your godfather after all. You have nothing to worry about; it'll be like your second home."

I smiled at my dad's enthusiasm. "I know, Dad. It's just that I'll miss you both so much." We all hugged, and my parents kissed me goodnight

************

"Look who's here, Tiara dear! Come here and hug your Aunty."

I dropped my bags and rushed over to embrace her. Uncle Henry and I just arrived in Lagos in the evening. Our flight, originally scheduled for 3 am, got delayed to 5 pm, and we landed in Lagos by 8 pm. I've been to Lagos before, but I can never get used to the heavytraffic—perhaps because it's so densely populated.

My parents were dramatic about sending me off to Uncle Henry, especially my mum. She packed an excessive amount of luggage, leading my dad to scold her. It took a lot of convincing for her to reduce my luggage by one box. Finally, I bid them goodbye at the airport as we boarded our flight.

Upon landing, my parents bombarded me with calls, but Aunty Valerie quickly intervened. She introdced me to my cousin brothers, Olumide and Iretimofe.

"Meet your cousin sister, Tiaraoluwa."

Olumide, 12, is in JSS 2, and Iretimofe, 9, is in Primary 5, they attend a boys only boarding school at Pristine High. A boarding school because of the nature of the parent's job, Aunty Valerie is a nurse and she does night shifts and my Uncle of course works late into the night. I on the other hand cannot cope in a boarding school so my Aunty picked out a day shool for me to attend; Stellar Academy, my Dad and Uncles Alma mater. My Dad suggested it.

My cousin brothers greeted warmly me and took my belongings to my room.

Entering my room, I was surprised to find it exactly like my room back home—cream-colored walls, matching bedspread, and even a large white teddy bear. I'm beginning to like it here.

"I hope it's to your liking," Aunty Valerie said.
"Your mum asked me to decorate your room like your room at home, so I did a bit of retouching for yourcomfort."

Touched by her effort, I responded, "Aunty Valerie, you didn't have to. I feel like you went through so much trouble just for me."

"Don't be silly. It's no trouble at all," she replied.

"I really enjoyed designing the room for you. You know, I wished I had a daughter to design a princess room for. When I heard you were coming, I was so happy I could finally design a girl's room. Plus, your mother mentioned you don't sleep well in a strange place, so she wanted you to feel at home. I hope you like it."

I hugged her tightly, saying, "Of course, Aunty. It's beautiful.

I explored the room, including the bathroom, toilet, and a small closet. A call came in—a conference call with my parents. I showed them the room, explained it was like my room at home, and they were finally at ease and we said our goodbyes.

After freshening up, I joined the family for dinner—jollof rice, plantain, and chicken, my favorite. We chatted after dinner, and I felt the warmth of my new family. As I went to bed, I placed my parents' framed picture on the bedside table and blew them kisses. Lying awake for a while, thoughts of leaving home for the first time crossed my mind. I missed my parents deeply and wondered about my new school. Before I knew it, I fell asleep, anticipating a new chapter in my life.