Adaugo had always known she was different, even before anyone said it out loud. It was in the way people looked at her twice when she walked past them, in the way market women tried to guess where she came from, and in the way her classmates always argued about whether she was Nigerian or not.
She lived with her mother in Lagos Mainland, in Ikeja, which many people considered the capital of Lagos State because of the government offices, big schools, and business areas. Their life was comfortable. They were not rich, but they were doing very well. They lived in a nice three-bedroom apartment in a quiet estate, she attended one of the best private secondary schools in Lagos Mainland, and they never lacked food, clothes, or school fees.
Her mother, Ifunanya, was a head chef in one of the most popular restaurants in Lagos Mainland. People came from different parts of Lagos just to eat her food. She was especially famous for her soups and continental dishes. At work, everyone called her Chef Ifunanya, and many people respected her because she worked very hard to reach that position.
Because her mother was a head chef, their house was always full of food. Their freezer was always full of meat, chicken, seafood, and different ingredients. Sometimes her mother experimented with new recipes at home, and Adaugo became the official food tester.
"Come and taste this," her mother would say from the kitchen.
Adaugo would run in with a spoon. "Is it Chinese food again or Italian today?"
Her mother laughed. "Just taste first before talking."
Adaugo tasted the food and nodded seriously like a food critic. "Hmm… needs more salt."
Her mother would shake her head and laugh. "You are already behaving like a restaurant owner."
They were very close — more like best friends than just mother and daughter. Her mother told her many stories about life, work, and how she struggled when she was younger.
But there was one story her mother never liked to tell — the story about her father.
Her Father's Story
As a child, Adaugo asked many questions.
"Mommy, where is my daddy?"
Her mother would always become quiet before answering.
"He passed away before you were born," she would say gently.
"Did he know you were pregnant with me?"
"Yes," her mother would reply.
"Did he see me before he died?"
Her mother would shake her head slowly. "No."
"Do I look like him?"
Her mother would look at her face carefully before answering. "Yes. You look very much like him."
That answer always made Adaugo curious because she did not look like anyone else in her family.
Her mother was fair-skinned, but Adaugo was lighter than most Nigerians she knew. Her eyes were slightly narrow, her nose small and straight, and her face shape looked different. The only thing that made her look fully Nigerian was her thick, curly hair.
Because of her face, people were always guessing where she came from.
In school, it was even worse.
"Chinese girl!" one boy shouted one day during lunch break.
"I am not Chinese," Adaugo replied calmly.
"Korean then!" another girl said.
"Yes, Korean drama actress!" someone else added.
Her friends laughed, but Adaugo just laughed too. She never allowed it to make her angry.
"You people should leave me," she said jokingly. "I am Igbo girl. I am not Korean. I am not Chinese. I am from Nigeria."
But sometimes, when she got home and stood in front of the mirror, she would look at her face carefully and wonder.
Why do I look like this?
She wanted to ask her mother more questions, but something always stopped her. Her mother worked too hard, and she didn't want to stress her with too many questions about the past.
So she kept her curiosity to herself.
The Best School in Ikeja
Adaugo attended one of the best private secondary schools in Ikeja. The school had big classrooms, science labs, a library, a football field, and even a swimming pool. Most of the students came from rich families — children of businessmen, politicians, doctors, and company owners.
Even though Adaugo and her mother were not rich like some of the families in the school, her mother paid her school fees without fail.
"Education is the only thing I can give you that nobody can take from you," her mother always said.
Adaugo was a very good student. She was especially good at English, Literature, and Biology. She also loved reading novels and watching foreign movies. She was curious about the world outside Nigeria and often dreamed about traveling.
Her classmates often talked about going to the UK, Canada, or America for university.
But Adaugo had a different interest.
She was interested in Korea.
It started with Korean movies. Then Korean music. Then Korean food. Then she started watching videos about life in Korea, universities, cities, and culture.
She didn't know why, but she felt strangely connected to the country. Every time she watched videos of the cities, she felt like she was looking at a place she somehow already knew.
One day, her friend asked her, "Why do you like Korea so much?"
Adaugo shrugged. "I don't know. I just feel like I want to go there."
Her friend laughed. "Maybe that is where your ancestors are from."
Adaugo laughed too, but the joke stayed in her mind longer than she expected.
Her Mother's Fear
One evening, Adaugo was doing her homework in the living room while her mother was preparing something in the kitchen.
"Mommy," she called.
"Yes?" her mother replied.
"Do you think I can study abroad for university?"
Her mother came out of the kitchen slowly and leaned against the table.
"Abroad?" she asked. "Why?"
"I just want to see the world. I don't want to stay in one place all my life."
Her mother looked at her for a long time before speaking.
"The world is not easy," she said quietly. "Especially when you are alone."
"I won't be alone. I will make friends."
Her mother shook her head slightly. "Friends are not family."
Adaugo closed her notebook. "Would you allow me if I get admission and scholarship?"
Her mother didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she walked back into the kitchen and turned off the stove. Then she came back and sat down opposite her daughter.
"You are my only child," she said softly. "Since the day you were born, it has always been just me and you. Everything I do is for you."
"I know, Mommy," Adaugo said gently.
"I am not afraid of you traveling," her mother continued. "I am afraid of losing you."
"You won't lose me," Adaugo said. "I will always come back."
Her mother smiled, but the smile looked sad.
"Sometimes life takes people far away from where they started," she said quietly.
Adaugo did not fully understand what her mother meant at that time.
But later in life, she would remember that sentence many times.
A Life That Was About to Change
Adaugo's life was comfortable, peaceful, and happy. She had a loving mother, a good school, a nice home, and a bright future ahead of her.
She believed she knew everything about her life — where she came from, who her parents were, and what her future would look like.
But she was wrong.