BITTER SWEET LOVE

"Fiyin, wake up! Is this how you'll be sleeping when you're in the university?" my mom queried. I groaned as I lazily got off the bed and staggered to the mini bathroom inside my room. "Fiyinfoluwa Aderinola, are you still sleeping, young lady?" my mom thundered. "I'm up, Mom. I want to freshen up." "Better! You better learn to get up by yourself because when you get to the university, I won't be there to wake your sleepy head up. So make it quick or we'll miss the bus." Yeah, I get it. My mom is a little extra, but that's just how she shows her concern for me. I haven't introduced myself to you guys, my bad. Hi, my name is Fiyinfoluwa Aderinola, as you've heard my mom call me. I am 21, and I just gained admission to study medicine at the all-famous University of Lagos. I am the only child and my mom's favorite daughter. That's what she often refers to me as, even if I'm her only daughter. My dad died when I was 8. The memories are old, but it's still fresh in my head. I used to love my dad a lot when he was with us. My father, Ibidapo Aderinola, was a big-shot rubber plantation businessman. He had many hectares of rubber plantations in Ogun State. By the way, my dad is from Ondo State, Okitipupa local government to be precise, and my mom is from Osun State. We all used to live in Ogun State until my father's death. Three years after my father's death, we were made to leave everything he owned. His family members ganged up against us and took everything from my mom and me. We were left with nothing but my mother's meager savings... We had nowhere to go but my mom's family house. We stayed for a couple of weeks, but were treated like outsiders. They didn't like the idea of their daughter, who was married, coming back to live with them instead of her in-laws. After three weeks of enduring the taunts and suffering, we were kicked out. My grandma gave my mother all her jewelry and a hundred thousand. That was all she had. She took us to the bus stop and told my mom to board a bus to Lagos because she had a friend who ran a textile business. She needed help with her sales and told my mother to learn a thing or two from this woman so that she can start her own textile company. With tears, my mom hugged her mother and we boarded the bus to Lagos. Here we met Madam Funke. Truly, she owned a big textile business in the ever-busy Eko Idumota. The first time we met Mrs. Funke was at her house in Lekki Phase 1. She lived in a palace, that's what you'd describe it as if it were you. She ushered us in warmly, and I must say the inside did justice to the outside. Everywhere looked like a royal palace, and the whole house smelt of wealth. She sat us down and even asked for us to be given refreshments by one of her helpers. My mom requested water, but I happily requested Viju milk, my favorite drink at that time. I hadn't had it for a long time. We were served our refreshments, and I gulped mine at a go without sparing my mother a look because I knew by now if looks could kill my mother must have murdered me. Mrs. Funke then started to tell my mom about herself. She was technically telling us because I could hear her. She said her husband works as a marine officer in the U.S., and he barely comes home. She has two kids, Nora and Kate, both girls. They school in Canada. She continues to tell us that she owns three big shops in Lagos: one in Idumota, Ajah, and Oshodi. She said she sells fabric to celebrities as well. She told my mom that she will have to work in the house for a couple of weeks to determine if she is capable enough to work in one of her big shops. My mom accepted. We were then shown the boy's quarters. Mrs. Funke was generous enough to give us a room in her boy's quarters, and she also promised to help me through school. The next day, my mom started working in the big palace. She always warned me to stay indoors until one day she got back to the room. Her face was lost. She did not speak to me. Instead, she went into the bathroom and turned the shower on, but I could hear her cry. My mother was crying, but I had no idea why. The last I saw my mom cry was at my father's funeral, and I was very sure the person who made her cry was in the big palace. This went on for a couple of days. One day, I summoned up the courage and queried my mother. I told her I knew she always cried whenever she went into the bathroom. I could hear her sob, even when the shower was on. Instead of her telling me the truth, she brushed it off and told me Mrs. Funke wanted to see me, she had good news for me. I had spent two weeks in that house, and that was my second time stepping foot in the palace. My mom accompanied me to Mrs. Funke. She was sitting with her legs crossed, looking ravishing as always. "Fiyin, my daughter, come close to me," she said. I went to her, and she insisted I sit on her lap. Then she proceeded, "Your mother here has been a very good girl, so that is why I decided to share two pieces of good news in your presence. Firstly, from tomorrow, you'll be going to school, as I found the best school for you to enroll in. And secondly, your mom will take over my Idumota branch from next week." I hugged Mrs. Funke without thinking, and she happily hugged me back. I was never happy like this in a long time. I looked at my mother, but what I saw on her face was not what I expected. She was faking a smile, and I knew that, but I had no idea why. I mean, the reason why we came was finally happening, but she seemed displeased. What could be wrong with my mother? What was she hiding? Those were the questions going through my head, but I knew I'd find out."