Chapter Thirty-Two
547 Words
The sun rose softly over Maitama, draping the city in a warm, golden hue. At the back of Nightengale Academy, pristine white marquees and elegant stretch tents dotted the lawn, their fabric billowing gently in the breeze. Beneath them, linen-draped tables held gleaming glass pitchers of chilled hibiscus lemonade and tiers of freshly baked pastries. Music floated through the air, blending with the scent of spiced meat pies and butter-rich cupcakes, creating a festive and refined atmosphere as Family Day began.
But across town, in a cosy apartment in Wuse 2, Uremma’s living room had been transformed into a mini glam studio.
‘Amina, you did what?’ Uremma asked, blinking at the unfamiliar ring light set up in the corner. On her centre table, Amina and a gentle-faced makeup artist named Yejide were already arranging brushes and palettes as if preparing for a movie set.
‘I told you,’ Amina said, grinning as she sipped her iced zobo. ‘You can’t go to Family Day looking like a tired doctor. This is your moment.’
Beside them, Ego was sorting through a velvet jewellery box on the table. ‘Exactly. Obinna is going to be there. You need soft glam. Fresh, pretty, effortless… but still unforgettable.’
Yejide smiled as she dipped her brush and began dabbing foundation onto Uremma’s glowing skin. ‘You already have such a beautiful face. We’re just enhancing.’
Uremma rolled her eyes but smiled. ‘This is so dramatic.’
‘It’s called preparation,’ Amina said, lifting her phone to snap a behind-the-scenes picture. ‘The kind you see in movies before the heroine steps into her destiny.’
By the time they were done, Uremma’s face looked like it had been kissed by the morning sun. Soft rosy blush, dewy skin, lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and lips painted with a subtle nude gloss. Her hair had been curled into loose waves, pinned slightly to one side so it danced freely when she moved.
She stepped into her floral dress, a light and flowy design in soft shades of pink, lavender, and cream. It fit her perfectly, hugging her in all the right places, with just enough flare to sway with each step.
Ego clasped a pair of dainty earrings onto Uremma’s ears and took a step back. ‘You’re ready,’ she said with a wink. ‘He won’t know what hit him.’
Uremma blushed. ‘I’m going to a school event, not a fashion show.’
‘Tell that to your reflection,’ Amina teased, pointing at the mirror.
Uremma glanced once, and for a moment, even she had to admit she looked breathtaking.
Outside the gate, the Uber honked. She grabbed her handbag, exhaled, and headed out the door. As she stepped into the soft morning light, a group of little ones on their way to school with their mother slowed down, staring in awe at her graceful figure. From a nearby balcony, Mama Nkechi, the friendly old woman who always offered garden herbs, called down with a smile, ‘Ah, Uremma! You look like a princess today!’
Even the Uber driver couldn’t help himself. He blinked, stole a second look, then straightened at once, hurrying to open the door for her with a respectful nod. ‘Good morning, ma,’ he said warmly.
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- Writer
