ONE Ap

Apekeola stared at her mother's lips as she spoke. She just couldn't help tuning out her voice. Fabunmi kept advising her on how she was to carry herself. She was never concerned with these things and she had even been made fun of by some girls because of these. She didn't want to change herself for some man who to her, didn't even deserve it .

"Are you even listening to me,Apeke?"

Listening?She definitely was ,and all she could hear were ways to mold her into perfection. What was wrong with how she was now? She always knew she was different and that had driven her mother mad. All she wanted was a good and cultured daughter that would obey her. But Apekeola doubted that even that would please her mother as she had always wanted a boy in her place. Always wondering if maybe she had had a son her father wouldn't have been forced to marry that woman.

"You are going to be married to the prince,you must carry yourself well and stop all these mannerless stunts you pull." Fabunmi couldn't understand why she couldn't have a normal child. Now that she had indeed caught the eye of royalty shouldn't she be different? Shouldn't she be happy with this?Why,then did she look like she was been forced to take agbo?

"Why?"Apekeola suddenly asked.

"What do you mean,why?"She asked, perplexed .Now what was this daughter of hers going on about again?

"Why do I have to change myself for a man I do not know?"

Fabunmi was shocked at the tone of her voice ,to say the least. She sounded so serious and ....sad? She had never seen her daughter like that. She was used to Apekeola always being playful and cheerful,maybe sometimes angry but rarely ever sad and never this much.

"You will get to know him."

"I do not want to get to know him! I do not want to marry him at all!"Why did she have to do away with what brought her joy for a man who didn't even care about her.Yes,she got a reaction out of him it that was nowhere enough to base her entire life on.

"I will not let you throw away this opportunity .Do you hear me?You are to marry the crown prince,the crown prince for heaven's sake! How can you not be happy about that?You do realize you would become queen,do you not? Don't you want that?"

"No, mama I do not want it. I do not want the power that you seek so greedily."

"How dare you speak to me in that manner?" Fabunmi was schoked at her daughter's audacity. What was wrong with been ambitious? Power is after all what we all seek,it's the way we get it that differs.

"All I have done is speak the truth, mother."She said and walked out angrily.