chapter fifteen

Adaora's pov

I was turning fourteen soon. Life was moving great.

School was smooth, my grades were fine, and nothing strange had happened in a long time. Ifeoma, Zainab and Stella were still my closest friends, and we spent most of our days talking about schoolwork, the latest gossip, and, of course, boys.

My older sister had a boyfriend now. She spent hours on the phone with him, giggling, whispering, and acting all secretive. It was funny to watch, but it also made me wonder.

When would I get a boyfriend?

Would I ever get one?

It wasn't like I didn't have admirers. A few boys in school had tried to talk to me, some had even sent me love notes, but I never felt anything for them. Not even the tiniest bit of excitement.

Sometimes, I wondered if something was wrong with me.

As the days passed, my excitement for my birthday grew. My mother had already promised to cook my favorite meal, and my little brother kept pestering me about what gift I wanted.

At school, Ifeoma and Stella kept reminding me that turning 14 was a big deal.

"You're almost a full-grown woman," Stella teased, flipping her braids dramatically.

Ifeoma smirked. "Soon, boys will be chasing after you."

I laughed, shaking my head. "I doubt that."

But deep down, I wondered. Would anything change? Would I finally feel like a proper teenager? Would someone notice me?

That evening, as I sat outside, watching the sky darken, a cool breeze swept through the compound. It felt different stronger, carrying something I couldn't name.

A shiver ran down my spine.

I stood up, brushing off the strange feeling. It was nothing. Just the wind.

But as I turned to go inside, I heard it.

A voice.

Soft. Whispering.

"Adaora... my little flower."

I froze. My breath caught in my throat.

Slowly, I turned back.

No one was there.

The next day was a Saturday, and my sister came to make my hair.

"Ow!" I yelped as she dragged the comb through a tangle. "Comb gently!"

She rolled her eyes and mimicked my voice. "Comb gently, comb gently! Will you endure? You think it's easy to be a fine girl? You will endure, joor!"

I glared at her, but she just laughed, working her fingers through my thick hair.

"Next week, you'll be a big girl," she teased. "Your birthday is coming soon."

I sighed. "I know. Fourteen."

She smiled. "Fourteen 

I swatted her arm playfully. "Leave me alone!"

She chuckled but didn't push further. The room fell quiet except for the sound of the comb sliding through my hair.

"You're too quiet," she said after a while. "Thinking about your future husband?"

I scoffed. "Future husband? Please. I don't even have a boyfriend."

She smirked. "Yet. You never know. Maybe someone is already watching you."

I rolled my eyes, but a shiver ran down my spine. Someone watching me… The memory of that deep, echoing voice calling me my little flower crept back into my mind.

I shook my head. "Abeg, just finish my hair."

She laughed and went back to braiding, humming a song under her breath.

By the time she was done, my scalp felt sore, but my hair looked beautiful. I admired it in the mirror, tilting my head from side to side.

"See fine girl," my sister teased, nudging me.

I smiled. "Thank you."

"Better buy me something on your birthday," she said, standing up. 

I watched as she left the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

Now alone, I lay back on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Fourteen.

Would anything change? Would I ever have a normal crush, a normal love life like my sister?

I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to ignore the strange feeling creeping over me.

That night, I dreamed of water.

Dark, endless water stretching as far as my eyes could see. And in the middle of it, a figure stood, waiting.

Waiting for me.

The weekends went by fast, and before I knew it, Tuesday arrived my birthday.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to this monkey!" My brother and sister sang as they barged into my room.

I looked up at them with a smile, still groggy from sleep.

"It's now 14 years since Mum and Dad found you in the dustbin," Chuka added with a mischievous grin.

I grabbed my pillow and hurled it at him, but he dodged, laughing. "Hahahaha!"

"Mummy, come and remove your son from my room before I kill him!" I yelled.

My sister smacked Chuka's arm. "Leave her alone, joor. Just say happy birthday and go!"

"Okay, okay," he said, still laughing. "Happy birthday, dustbin princess!"

I groaned, but before I could retaliate, he dashed out of the room, still cackling like a madman.

My sister sat beside me, shaking her head. "Ignore him. Happy birthday, Adaora."

I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "Thanks."

"You're fourteen now. A big girl," she said, nudging me. "Before you know it, you'll have a boyfriend."

I scoffed. "Please. Who even wants one?"

She smirked. "That's what you think now."

Before I could argue, my mother's voice rang from the living room.

"Adaora, come and eat before school!"

I sighed, dragging myself out of bed. Another school day on my birthday.

Still, as I got ready, a strange feeling sat heavy in my chest.

I shook off the uneasy feeling and got dressed for school. Birthdays were supposed to be fun, not weird.

By the time I got to the dining table, my mum had already set my plate. "Happy birthday, Nkem," she said with a smile.

I groaned. "Mummy, stop calling me that."

My siblings snickered, and Chuka whispered, "Dustbin Nkem."

I shot him a glare before digging into my food.

At school, things were surprisingly normal. Ifeoma and Stella were the first to scream, "Happy birthday!" before pulling me into a tight hug.

"You're officially fourteen! Any birthday plans?" Stella asked.

I shrugged. "Nothing special. Maybe cake at home."

"Ah ah, cake that you won't even bring to school," Ifeoma teased.

Before I could respond, someone behind me spoke.

"Happy birthday, Adaora."

I turned and found Jude, one of the senior boys, smiling at me. He was tall, with dimples and a voice that made some girls blush.

I blinked, surprised. "Oh… thank you."

He gave a small nod and walked away.

The moment he was out of earshot, Stella grabbed my arm. "Did you hear that? Jude knows your birthday!"

"Okay? And?" I asked, confused.

Ifeoma wiggled her eyebrows. "Maybe your first boyfriend is coming sooner than you think."

I rolled my eyes. "You people should behave."

But even as I laughed with them, that strange feeling from the morning returned.

During break time, Ifeoma kept singing while Stella danced beside her, being silly.

"Oya, Zainab, twerk for us!" Ifeoma teased, laughing.

Zainab gasped dramatically. "No way! You forget I am for Allah."

We all burst into laughter.

"Common, Adaora, come and shake your waist!" Stella said, grabbing my hands and spinning me around.

The song All the Single Ladies by Beyoncé was playing from someone's phone nearby, and we playfully moved to the beat, laughing at our own ridiculous dance moves.

"You all are naughty," Zainab scolded, shaking her head but smiling.

Then Ifeoma suddenly leaned in, lowering her voice. "Jude is watching you."

"Hahahaha!" Stella cackled while I froze for a second before rolling my eyes.

"You people should leave me alone," I said, pretending not to care, but my face was already warm.

"You're blushing!" Ifeoma pointed out, and the rest of them burst into laughter again.

"Abeg, let's go," Zainab said, adjusting her hijab. "Break is over. We have computer class."

Still giggling, we gathered our books and walked back to class.

As we entered the computer lab, I couldn't help but sneak a glance toward Jude's direction.

He was still there, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, his eyes on me.

My stomach did a weird flip, and I quickly looked away, focusing on getting to my seat.

After school, I got home and found the house empty. It wasn't unusual Mum was probably still at work, and my siblings were out.

I went straight to my room, sighing as I peeled off my uniform. The day had felt long, and all I wanted was to relax.

As I changed into a fresh top and shorts, ready to step out of my room, my eyes caught something on my desk.

A flower.

A red, beautiful flower.

My breath hitched. I hadn't put it there. I was sure of that.

Immediately, the air in the room felt… different. Heavier. Like the walls were closing in ever so slightly.

I swallowed, stepping closer. My fingers tingled as I reached out, barely brushing against the petals.

Soft. Velvet-like.

Slowly, I picked it up and brought it to my nose.

The scent was unlike anything I had ever smelled before sweet, intoxicating, almost hypnotic. It sent a wave of warmth through my entire body, making my eyelids flutter.

For a second, everything else faded. The room. The silence. Even my own thoughts.

Just the flower and its heavenly scent.

Then—

A whisper.

Soft. Close.

I turned sharply.

Nobody was there.