TOO MUCH FOR YOU. ENOUGH FOR HIM

Chapter 13: Surpriseeee

Zendaya’s POV

The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky as I walked across the parking lot toward my car. The air felt lighter somehow, like the day had quietly decided to be kind to me for once. I unlocked my car and slid into the driver’s seat, closing the door behind me with a soft thud.

For a moment, I just sat there.

Then a smile slowly spread across my face.

“I’m going home,” I whispered to myself.

The words alone filled my chest with warmth.

It had been weeks since I had last seen my family. Between classes, assignments, and the endless emotional chaos that seemed to follow me everywhere lately, I had barely found time to breathe. But today felt different.

Today, I needed peace.

And my family had always been my peace.

Since it was Friday, I had already decided I would spend the whole weekend with them. No rushing back to campus. No thinking about school stress. No thinking about Ransford… or Darian… or any of the complicated things tangled up in my life right now.

Just family.

I started the engine and pulled out of the parking space.

Music immediately filled the car as I connected my phone to the speakers. A soft Afrobeats track began playing, and before I even realized it, I was already singing along.

Loudly.

“See me now, I’m living my life…” I sang, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel.

The road stretched ahead of me, smooth and familiar. Cars passed occasionally, but for the most part the drive was peaceful.

The wind rushed softly through the slightly open window, brushing against my face.

I felt free.

For the first time in days, my mind wasn’t replaying awkward conversations or confusing emotions. Instead, I focused on the music, letting each song carry me forward.

I switched to another song and laughed when my favorite part came on.

“Oh this one!” I said excitedly.

I raised the volume and sang even louder, my voice filling the car.

If anyone drove past me, they would probably think I was crazy.

But I didn’t care.

My heart felt light.

About thirty minutes into the drive, I suddenly remembered something and gasped.

“Oh my God!”

I quickly glanced in the rearview mirror before slowing down slightly.

“How could I forget?”

I couldn’t show up empty-handed.

My family would never complain about it, but it just felt wrong not to bring them something. Growing up, every time my parents traveled, they always returned with little gifts for us.

It had become a small tradition in our family.

I spotted a roadside market up ahead and quickly turned into the small parking area.

The place was lively. Vendors stood behind small stalls displaying different foods, fruits, and snacks.

I stepped out of the car, the smell of grilled meat and fried pastries immediately greeting me.

Perfect.

I walked toward one of the stalls where a woman was arranging neatly packaged meat pies.

My mom loved meat pies.

“Hello, my dear,” the woman greeted warmly.

“Hello,” I replied with a smile. “Can I get a few meat pies please?”

She quickly placed several warm ones into a takeaway box.

“That will make someone very happy,” she said.

“It will,” I laughed.

After paying, I continued walking through the stalls.

Next was my dad.

I spotted exactly what I was looking for almost immediately.

Roasted groundnuts.

My dad could eat roasted groundnuts every day and never get tired of them.

I bought two small bags just in case.

Finally, I thought about my little brother.

That boy loved chocolate more than anything in the world.

I walked into a small shop beside the stalls and grabbed a large chocolate bar and a pack of his favorite biscuits.

“He’s going to lose his mind when he sees this,” I said to myself, smiling.

With the small bag of treats in my hand, I returned to my car and placed everything carefully on the passenger seat.

“Mission accomplished,” I whispered proudly.

I started the engine again and continued the journey.

The sky had started turning slightly golden as the afternoon slowly drifted toward evening. The familiar roads leading toward my parents’ neighborhood began appearing, and my excitement grew stronger with every passing minute.

My foot pressed lightly on the accelerator.

I couldn’t wait to see them.

I imagined my mom’s face when she saw me.

My dad pretending not to be emotional but hugging me tightly anyway.

My little brother probably screaming like a maniac.

Just thinking about it made me laugh.

The streets became more familiar the closer I got.

Then finally…

There it was.

Our house.

My heart jumped.

“Oh my God!”

I turned into the driveway so quickly I almost forgot to slow down.

Instead of parking quietly, I did the exact opposite.

I leaned on the horn.

“BEEEEEP!”

Then again.

“BEEEEEEP!”

I started laughing uncontrollably.

“Come outside!” I shouted even though they couldn’t hear me yet.

The front door opened.

First my mom stepped out, looking confused.

Then my dad appeared behind her.

For a second they just stood there, trying to see who was in the car.

I rolled down the window and waved both hands excitedly.

“Surprise!”

My mom gasped loudly.

“Zendaya?!”

Before I could even open the car door properly, she was already running toward me.

My dad followed right behind her.

I stepped out of the car just in time for my mom to wrap her arms tightly around me.

“Oh my baby!” she exclaimed.

I laughed as I hugged her back just as tightly.

“I missed you too, Mom.”

My dad reached us a second later, pulling me into another hug.

“You didn’t tell us you were coming,” he said.

“That’s why it’s called a surprise,” I replied with a grin.

My mom pulled back slightly, holding my face in her hands as if she was checking to make sure I was real.

“You look thinner,” she said immediately.

I groaned.

“Mom…”

“You’re not eating well in that school.”

“I promise I am.”

Before she could say anything else, a familiar voice shouted from the doorway.

“ZENDAYA!”

My little brother came sprinting toward us like a rocket.

He practically launched himself at me.

I stumbled backward laughing as he hugged me tightly.

“You came!”

“Of course I did,” I said, ruffling his hair.

“I brought you something.”

His eyes widened immediately.

“You did?!”

I walked to the passenger side of my car and grabbed the small bag.

“Okay,” I said dramatically. “Let’s see…”

I handed the meat pies to my mom.

“For you.”

Her eyes lit up instantly.

“You remembered!”

“Always.”

Then I gave the roasted groundnuts to my dad.

“And these are for you.”

He laughed.

“You know me too well.”

Finally, I pulled out the chocolate and biscuits.

My little brother nearly screamed.

“YES!”

He grabbed them excitedly.

“You’re the best sister ever!”

“I know,” I said proudly.

My mom wrapped her arm around my shoulders as we began walking toward the house.

“You’re staying the whole weekend,” she said firmly.

“I planned to.”

“Good.”

As we stepped inside, warmth filled my chest.

The house smelled the same.

Felt the same.

Everything about it reminded me that no matter how messy life outside became, this place would always be my safe space.

And right now…

That was exactly what I needed.