2| New News

On arrival in her aunt's home, Derin was introduced to the family. Her aunt had three children; two females, and a male. The females were both older than her, and the male, Dolapo, was the same age with her.

Upon meeting the family, Derin could tell that she wasn't really wanted, and Bunmi was only obligated to take care of her according to the family's traditions and customs. Her daughters and her husband did not try to hide the fact that they also despised her arrival, but Dolapo was very much glad to have her around.

What puzzled her was the fact that her aunt dedicated all the household chores to her, despite having two well developed and capable daughters who were both able of doing the menial works.

Apart from chores, Derin had to accompany her aunt to her boutique every day to work as a sales representative. However, Derin had no choice; she could neither argue nor complain. She had to obey all instructions and commandments laid down for her, and embrace her new life.

The following day began her life as the housemaid to Bunmi and her family, as the daughters of the house gladly neglected all work for her to do.

"Hey," One of the girls called to her, as she headed to the small pantry that would be her room.

She spun around to the caller, and met the both girls standing there. The two girls eyed her appearance and giggled amongst themselves.

She had to be patient, she said to herself as she watched the girls mock her.

"Your name is Derin, right?" The same girl asked, and Derin nodded.

"Oh," The girl smiled, "In that case, I'm Ayodele." She introduced herself. Derin smiled as she took a proper look at her.

Ayodele was petite, and plump with a bulbous but cute face, housing a set of beautiful black eyes and pretty pink lips. She was quite fair, so unlike her sister who was dark, and looked much older than her.

"Nice meeting you, Ayodele," Derin smiled.

The other girl snuffed at her, "Why are you even speaking to this filth?" She asked her sister as she eyed Derin.

Her sister laughed, and faced Derin.

"Derin, she's my sister and her name is Olaleye," The petite spoke up with a smile.

Her sister rolled her eyes and yawned loudly, "This is bullshit, Ayodele." She snorted.

Ayo's smile fell and was instantly replaced with a frown, "All right, Derin. We don't like you, and you are definitely not welcomed in this house." She plainly said.

Derin was taken aback with Ayodele's change of attitude, but she instantly forced out a small smile, "Understood." She said and turned to leave.

"Hey," Ayodele called her, and she turned back to the sisters, "We need you," She said, and a sly smile crept up her lips and she winked at her sister.

Her sister narrowed her eyes, "Derin, we need you as a maid. After all, this is all you are ever going to be." She said, and both her and her sister cut into a laugh.

Derin breathed out, and turned away from them, walking as fast as she could to get away from their jests. Initially, she had thought that at least one of the sisters would be kind to her, but she was wrong.

However, she would not let their words get into her. She was not going to stay a maid forever. They weren't always going to be in the better position, as one day, the tables would turn.

Life changed for the worst for Derin, as her aunt and her daughters made sure she never forgot her place in the house. She wasn't even treated as a member of the family, and even not as a decent maid.

She wanted so many times to just let them know what she really thought of them, but she couldn't and this was due to the cursed moral teaching she had received from her mother. Her mom had told her to remain patient in all situations, and so, she had to play along with her pitiful life.

Everyone in the house treated her as a maid, all except Dolapo, who felt she was unjustly treated but he was as helpless as she was, and he could do nothing to help her out. He did, however, tried his best in assisting her in the chores, careful enough to not let his mother catch him.

Despite the woeful change in her circumstance, Life continued in Port Harcourt. Derin went with the flow of the events; each day a repeat of the previous day. All her life now revolved around the house, her aunt's shop, and all she ever did was chores, chores, and more chores.

Soon it was a year after her parents' accident, and the family held a ceremony in their remembrance. Due to this, Derin was opportune to see her sister after being away for so long.

Before she left for Lagos, her aunt lectured her on the fact that she had to keep lying, and whenever she was asked of her wellbeing, she was to lie that she was being treated like a princess.

Derin had scoffed at this in her mind, but what could she do? If she told on Bunmi, she was very sure that meant she'll have to live in the streets, but if she didn't, she may as well kiss her freedom goodbye. Neither of the choices appealed to her, and this was her dilemma.

On seeing Danielle, all her worries flew off her, and she was instantly filled with joy. Danielle lived a better life and, Derin could see this in her face immediately she saw her. Derin was pleased that luck had not evaded her sister, and that she was living a much better life than that of hers.

The sisters got to meet and chat after the ceremony; it was during their conversation, that Danielle told her sister she had continued school and, she was planning to sit for the main exam. Elle told her sister on all the wonderful things happening with her in the guidance of their father's sister.

After speaking about herself for almost the entire night, Danielle asked her sister about her life but, Derin lied that all was well, and smooth, as she didn't want her sister to know of her current plight, knowing well that her sister will become worried.

Much to her joy, Danielle believed her and they chatted the night away. Derin returned to Port Harcourt, even though she found it hard to part with her sister but, she had too. Therefore, she returned to her regularly screwed up and miserable life.

Time flew by, and a month later was Derin's birthday and she was now eighteen years of age. The day went by just like every other day. It didn't seem an ounce special, as nobody showed that they knew of the day or its significance to her. Danielle remembered, and she sent Derin birthday wishes via text, and this little from her sister made her day. Then, Dolapo bought some cookies and chocolates from school making her much happier but unfortunately, Bunmi caught him giving her, and she seized the goodies, despite his pleas.

As the sunset faraway, Derin sat in her tiny room with her legs pulled to her chest. She wept as she recalled the previous years, and how she had spent her birthdays with her family.

Her thoughts made her recall that her father had promised to get her a car once she clocks eighteen but, here he was no more. Her father never got the chance to fulfill his promise, as the cold and wicked hands of death cuddled him and their mother way forever and the heavens allowed this.

That night, she cried herself to sleep with the picture of her parents held tightly to her chest.

A few months later, and on one fateful evening, Derin overheard that one of the family's friends was returning from the States with their grown-up son.

This news caused so much excitement in the house, and even though Derin had not met the said family, she could tell that they were so important to Bunmi and her family. So, it was not a surprise when the family expressed interest in taking one of her aunt's daughters as a bride to their son. Bunmi immediately made plans of making either of her daughters suitable to be married to him.

"Ayo, Ola, you two, get something to wear, the Hartley's are coming in an hour!"

Bunmi's yell resounded through the walls of the house, as she ran around ensuring everything was perfect and in place.

Derin was cleaning the girls' room when she heard this announcement from her aunt, and she felt lighthearted at the thought of one of her cousin sisters getting married, and leaving the house.

Both girls had done nothing but pick on Derin, they treated more as Cinderella. If not for the fact that they were her cousin sisters, she might have just agreed that her life was as miserable as Cinderella's.

Cinderella had two step-sisters who made her life a living hell, and a stepmother whose specialty was in chores distribution - this was similar to her fate in Bunmi's house. The only difference between her, and the fairytale character was the fact that Cinderella, at the end of the tale, was whisked away by her knight in a shiny armor - her prince charming. Derin had no knight who will come out of the blues, and whisk her away into the sunset.

Fairytales are just fantasies - they are tales that are made to create a belief in things that do not exist. Things like true love, and true loves kiss - the jargon of having a mate from the heavens, and other make beliefs.

This is the truth, right?

There is no such thing as a fairy godmother, a prince charming, and an happily ever after. Fantasies are only here in the world to take people away from their realities, even if it's just for a while, as eventually, one has to wake up to the facts.

"Derin!" Ayo called her out; her loud voices rang in her ears, and she rolled her eyes.

Derin stood up and faced her - she scanned Ayo, and noticed that her cousin was dressed in an elegant knee-length gown which was colored in blue, laced with lime stones. To match with this, Ayo had on her feet a pair of gleaming white stilettos.

Honestly, Ayo looked beautiful in the outfit, but she was extravagantly dressed, and her nose was high up in the air. Yes, she was an epitome of physical beauty, but her inner thoughts were as ugly as a slugs'.

Ayo smiled, and swirled around, "How do I look?"

"You look exquisite, sis," Derin lied.

Ayo pulled on a Cheshire cat grin, and elevated her chin, "That should be how I look," She said, and made her way over to Derin. Her eyes downed over Derin, and she snarled at her. "You know what? When I get married to the Hartley's son, I'll take you along," She said, and grinned dreamily.

Derin nodded; her focus on the bed in the room.

"Who do you think he'll choose?" Ayo asked - her voice sounding suddenly curious.

Derin shrugged, "I don't know."

"He will not pick my sister, will he?" Ayo asked; doubt in her tone, but she laughed immediately, and answered her own question, "That can't happen," She said, and walked out of the room.

Derin exhaled, and sat on the bed. She had no idea whom the Hartley's were, but she could tell that Bunmi and her daughters were so excited to welcome them in.

As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Hartley had come into the house, they lost interest in the daughters of Bunmi, as they noticed that the girls were both unsuitable to become a wife to their son. They needed a girl who would become a great wife, and a companion to their son, and neither of Bunmi's daughters fitted their likes.

"Are these your daughters?" Mr. Lake Hartley asked as he observed the girls with a keen interest, while his wife scrutinized the way the girls acted. They were definitely brought up to be ladies, but they had no humility, and no proper home training.

Lake Hartley was a European having a rather pinkish skin which had reddened due to the degree of sun he got himself into - he had a broad figure, and a pale grey colored eyes. He was an average heighted man, and he still looked handsome despite his age. His wife on the other hand was a slightly chocolate tanned African lady, with a good shape, and a young face. From one glance, anyone would think she's still in her late twenties, but she ought to be older than that.

"You are absolutely correct, Lake," Bunmi replied with a huge grin plastered on her face. She turned to her daughters and introduced them to the couple, "She is Olaleye, and she's Ayodele."

Mrs. Hartley had almost lost all hope, when her eyes fell on the young girl who was cleaning in the kitchen, and her interest instantly went to her.

"Who's she?" The woman asked.

Bunmi followed her gaze, and landed on Derin. Her shoulders fell along with her face, "Oh, she is Derin."

Mrs. Hartley smiled as she watched the girl.

On setting their eyes on Derin, both Lake and his wife agreed that she had all the qualities they were looking for in a good and mannered wife. This they told to Bunmi, who was shocked on their choice, but she immediately conceded after finding out from others that their son was a delinquent man, and his way of life was unspeakable.

Unwilling, Bunmi discussed this with Derin who instantly tried to object, but her aunt made it clear to her that it was not a request but an order. Having no choice, Derin succumbed.

"So you'll just marry him?" Dolapo flared up after Derin had briefed him on the couple's visit and, their decision to make her their son's wife.

"What can I do?" Derin spoke as she crimped the clothes in the laundry room. "It's not like I can say no to your mother," she added in, as she tried to make herself busier.

"What will you do now?" Dolapo questioned, worry valiant in his tone.

"I'll just go on with this and hope that maybe he'll refuse me," She replied vaguely.

"I highly doubt that," Dolapo said, causing her to turn to him all at once.

"What do you mean?"

Dolapo smiled. "How can he ever refuse you Derin?" His tone dropped a notch as he stared at her with a smile, admiring her face. "I mean you're so beautiful, he'll never say no to you," he mumbled.

Derin sighed, "I still hope he says no or, at least-," She tried to say but, Dolapo placed his palm on her shoulders.