What's that one food you can't eat no matter what??.
"And from her eyes he saw the best of the best".
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Abuja, Nigeria
The sound of booming laughter from the living room fills the whole house as the men converse about politics and business.
The living room is adorned with vibrant colours, from the richly patterned rug to the intricately carved wooden furniture.
The air is thick with the scent of imported Turaren along with the scent of herbal tea and snacks.
Her father sits with her uncles as they converse freely, dressed in kaftans and agbadas sewn from Loro Piana fabrics and an intricately designed zanna bukar on their heads.
"Toh Zamu " We are about to go
Her uncle Aminu says standing up from the chair in which he is seated.
Her aunts- Siblings of her father and the wives of her uncle dressed like they are going to impress.
Swiss laces sewn into impressive and eye-catching designs and high end gold sitting around their necks and ear.
"Toh baba" Ammar says, stepping forward to shake the hands of the men while the women hug each other.
"You have to be careful here and also take care of yourselves, we'll be waiting for you" Her mother chides in a low voice conveying her concern for them.
Omar rolls his eyes with a small smile on his lips and that earns him a smack from his mother.
"Mama" He exclaimed with a whine while stepping back in feigned fear.
"You think you have grown up bad" She questions glaring at him.
"KIKI" A dramatic loud voice is heard accompanied by the sound of pounding of feet on the floor.
A high pitch squeal of excitement makes the elders in the room shake their heads with small smiles playing on their lips.
"When madness meets Crazy" Adnan mutters under his breath his brows pulled together and eyes filled with a haunted look.
"Lala" Kiara squeals, matching the girl's energy as she also starts running towards the voice.
They meet half in the middle of the living room and they pause to stare at each other.
"3,2,1.." Adnan mutters and just as he finishes the girls scream again and envelope each other in a tight hug.
"I've missed you so much" Kiara says, tightening her hold on her cousin sister who returns the gesture.
As they stand there holding each other like lost lovers seeing each other after centuries the guards who were busy taking out bags walk back in.
"The car is ready sir" Just then the sounds of siren reach them and the elders nod.
It is a heartfelt moment between them as they hug the kids before walking outside to the cars waiting with escorts and departing to the airport.
"I'm going to miss you" Their father says, pulling Aya and Kiara into a hug along with their cousin sister.
"Urgh" Adnan groans, not making direct eye contact with them; he continues tapping on his phone.
It is only when Kiara nudges him does he raise his head.
"Bye, it's not like we won't see each other again and besides we'll be flying out soon to meet you guys" Omar says while staring at his family in disbelief.
"I don't even know why you people have to travel sef" Kiara says with an eye roll.
"Mara sa hankali" The one that lacks sense.
"An important figure is going to be coming to Nigeria and as a family we have to be there for the Royal celebration" Hajiya Faleey reminds her.
'if he's so important he should be walking on the clouds'.
She says internally with an eye roll but doesn't say it out loud as she knows her mother.
"Who is this man self that's making uncle Aminu tremble like this?" Aya, who has been busy scrolling through her phone, asks while tilting her head towards the direction of their uncle who is busy giving instructions.
"Yes o please tell us" Kiara asks now slightly interested in the conversation.
"Ai mijinki nei" it's your husband. Her mother says in a light tone, the humor evident.
"Allah ya kiyaye" God forbid.
Kiara says a sour expression on her face at the topic about marriage.
She shakes her head, willing unnecessary thoughts and whispers away from her head, her breath catching just slightly.
Some moments later.
"Finally we have the house to ourself" A deep breath escapes Kiara's cousin as she settles on the couch, her body relaxing and sinking into it.
Kiara sits beside her, with eyes closed in exaggeration and a breath of relief escaping her.
"Finally o Nalani" Kiara esclaims before dramatically plumping her whole weight on the couch.
Aya also walks in with phone in hand, with an extra bounce in her step and eyes sparkling she tries hard to fight off the grin from her face.
"This one you are behaving like someone who saw Santa Claus" Nalani questions with raised brows as she leans into the chair to stare at Aya.
Aya's grin only widens as she lets out a screech before practically jumping on the chair.
"Guess what" Aya asks, her speech rapid and voice high pitch as she passes them a look filled with anticipation.
"Ahmed babangida is now a human" Nalani says referring to a fictional character from a book they had read and fallen in love with.
Aya's grin falters only for a moment as she glares at Nalani while Kiara just stares at her sister, hand under her chin and a look of interest in her eyes.
"Mtcheew" Aya hisses.
Her grin however widens as she continues "I got accepted by this company in Nigeria that used to work only internationally"
"Wow" Kiara mumbles inching closer to her sister with the intention of seeing a picture of the company name.
"What company" Nalani's words are rushed as she stares at Aya, her grin mirroring hers.
"Well…. It's that Dantata group" Immediately she finishes, loud squeals fill the air as they rush towards her to envelope her in a hug.
They start talking about the company and all when warm hands wrap around Kiara's eyes and a playful voice whispers "Guess who".
Kiara grins, mentally rolls her eyes as she calls out the name "If not Gina Malika Alakija Dan Fodio the only half Yoruba girl I know" Gina groans dropping her hands to her side as she glares at Kiara.
"Masoyiyata" Kiara calls out already knowing how annoyed the dark skinned Yoruba beauty gets when called her full name.
With a height that intimidates most men, long legs, nice curves, long straight black shoulder length hair and piercing eyes and Pearly whites.
Gina Malika is surely a melanin beauty that makes heads turn especially with her bubbly character.
"Abeg leave me, who is your love. You came to Naija and did not bother calling or visiting" Gina says brushing past Kiara to go hug Nalani and Aya.
"Madam first lady" Gina says hugging Nalani which earns her a smack.
"Ouch" Gina cries out rubbing the spot as she moves to sit close to Aya.
"Which one is Madam first lady, no tell me say you marry president" Don't Tell me you got married to the president. Aya questions.
"Yenyen, I just told her I am now head of security for the president and ever since, this girl has been mad" Nalani replies with a shrug of her shoulder.
The girls all stare at her with glittery eyes as they listen to her words.
"Wow, that's huge," Kiara exclaims.
"Talking about important people, I'm here to stay because my parents have flown out to Sokoto for the party" Gina says.
"Hmm this one is getting serious, abeg who is this person" Aya's voice betrays her will to hide her need for gossip.
Just as Gina parts her lips to start talking, Kiara's phone rings and she quickly excuses herself.
After 30 minutes outside she signals for a guard to step closer and tells him something before walking back in.
"I'll be back soon" She sprints upstairs to her room.
Ten minutes later she rushes down the stairs, now dressed in black leather pants, black t shirt tucked in and a black leather thigh length jacket with a jersey veil around her hair.
"I'll be back soon, see you guys" With that she races out and out the front door where the car she asks for is waiting for her.
A black Maybach.
The city lights blur together as she drives towards her destination with the lights creating a path for her to drive through as it is now evening.
As she gets closer to her destination the sound of the revving engine grows louder.
Smiling to herself she parks the Car in her regular sport before stepping out.
The street racing spot.
The neon lights of the racing ground cast an otherworldly glow on her skin. The air pulses with the thrum of engines and the distant screams of the crowd, drawing her in like a moth to flame.
She is immediately ushered into a black McLaren 765LT, the letter seats immediately providing comfort.
She turns to face the driver, his features obscure by a helmet.
"Noraiz" Her voice was laced with excitement and familiarity.
Noraiz hands her the helmet on his lap and she quickly puts it on.
"3,2,1..Go" The announcer screams into the mic while dropping down the flag.
The car shoots forward like a bullet and Kiara's senses heightened as they devoured the asphalt.
The rush of adrenaline is intoxicating as her heart pounds in her chest like a jackhammer, the streets of Abuja are awake with the lights creating a kaleidoscope of colours.
They take the corner at breakneck speeds, the tires screeching in protest but Noraiz's skilled hands guard the car with precision. As they cross the finish line, the cheer from the crowd grows louder.
"That was mad" Noraiz breathes beside Kiara as he starts removing his helmet.
Removing the helmet fully, it reveals his light skinned handsome face, with slightly bushy brows, honey coloured eyes that carry a lot of mischief in them and plump pink lips.
They step out of the car together and that seems to send the car wilder as they start screaming out their stage name " Noor and K" They turn to stare at each other, their faces mirroring the same smile.
"Thanks Noraiz" She tells him to which he chuckles with a shake of his head.
"Don't thank me Kiki, what are friends for" He says playfully bumping their shoulders together.
She lets out a small laugh about to say something witty when her phone beeps
"Shit I have to go, Papa doesn't like me staying out late" Kiara mutters after having a glance at her phone.
"So soon" It comes out whiny Ashe foldshis hands across his chest.
"Hmm" Kiara says while staring at him.
Noraiz's gaze is deep but his eyes sparkle with something familiar as he opens his arm's wide.
Kiara glares at him with a low hiss "You know I won't" She reminds him to which he rolls his eyes.
"The day I get married to you, your own don finish. I'll tie you" he teases, her eyes crinkle at the corners as she laughs a warmth spreading in her chest.
'Marriage… hmmm..' Kiara says internally.
She enters her car after warning him to send her share of the money from the car race and with that she drives off.
Driving for some minutes while listening to the Dream girl podcast, Kiara's mind is relaxed as she lets the calming words float through her but it is soon interrupted when an impact on the side of the car she is sitting makes her jolt.
A searing pain hits her hand but before she can dwell on it another hit comes and her eyes widen slightly.
Kiara's pulse pounds in her chest with her hands tightening around the steering as she narrows her almond shaped eyes. She revs her car backwards and delivers a hit to the car which is tailing hers.
She speeds down the road after that, her car weaving through the traffic with the tailing car persistently after hers.
When she realizes that the car has no intention of stopping she quickly tries to connect her phone to the pain.
"Ouch" The searing pain from her wrist slows her down just for a second before she finally dials Ammar's number.
"What is it?" That is the first thing that escapes his lips and Kiara fights back a hiss.
"Yaya, I'm being tailed" That is all it takes for his tone to change.
"Continue driving, I'll be there and don't end the call Kiki" his voice drops into a gentle a gentle tone his voice laced with worry and Kiara lets out a sigh of relief.
Before Kiara can register what is happening a huge truck appears…..
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Noraiz
Gina
Nalani are all introduced here what do you think