TITLE: Send Off Party

Aliyah POV

"Who do you owe this match to?" One of them asked again.

I looked at the camera, and smiled excitedly.

"I know you're watching me mom, I made it, I fulfilled my promise to you." I said excitedly. They spent a few more minutes, interviewing me, and after they were done, I finally got time to spend with my friend.

"Congratulations baby girl, I told you to be calmed, that you're going to win the match." She said happily, as she helped me arranged my stuffs into my backpack. I was just too tired, so I just wanna go home and rest.

"Thanks." I replied simply, and gulped down some water from my water bottle, before leaning against the closet, as I closed my eyes. I suddenly didn't want to travel, all my life, I've always lived with my mom, I've grown too attached to her. And Zohara, she's another case, I'm really going to miss her, she's the only one I got.

"Cmon let's go already." She said, as she hung my backpack on her shoulders, before walking towards the door, while I followed her.

She drove me home in her car, which is what she always do. By the time we got home, mom was already waiting in front of the house.

Stepping out of the car, she rushed to us, and hugged me tightly.

"Congratulations my dear, I'm so proud of you." She said happily.

After the happy welcoming, she took us inside, and served us jollof rice. After we were done eating, Zohara left our place, giving I and mom, the privacy we needed.

Mom was super excited, that I was going to be traveling out of the country, but then, I couldn't help being sad. I love mom alot, and being separated from her is going to be the most difficult thing I've ever done in my entire life, but I have to do it, right? It's for the best for our lives.

Like every other African parents, my mom isn't any different from them. She called and advised me, on how to live my life, while I'm in the foreign country.

It was finally evening, as we both retired to our various rooms. I laid on my small sized bed, as I stared up at the ceiling, thinking about what fate has in store for me. As much as I was happy, that my dream of years, have finally come through, I just couldn't bring myself to stop thinking about my mom. How will she be able to cope here without me? Will she be ok? Different thoughts kept parading my messed mind. Maybe I shouldn't have signed up for this in the first place, I thought it was going to be easy, but turns out that it isn't as easy as I thought it'd be.

Letting out a sigh, I drew the blanket to cover myself, as I allowed sleep take over me, cutting off all my worries for the time being.

I didn't know how many hours I've slept, but the sound of my ringing phone, jolted me out of my deep slumber, and I reached for it under my pillow, before sliding the answer button, not checking who the call was coming from.

"Hello!" I said on the phone sleepily, as I opened my eyes and closed them back again.

"Goodness! Aliyah! You're still sleeping by this time of the day? Do you realize we still have alot of things to wrap up here before you leave? It's 2pm now for heaven sake!" Coach's angry voice thundered through the phone.

What! 2pm? God! How did I ended up sleeping that much. Jumping off the bed, I quickly slipped my feet in my slippers, and ended the call, before throwing my phone on the bed, after which I ran out of my room.

I rushed to get some water from the nearby water tank, before having my bath, after which I got dressed, and headed to the school. I took a cab to our school, and headed straight to the coach's office.

Stepping into his office, I found him sorting out some files.

"Good afternoon sir." I greeted him in my usual straight voice. I'm not a sadist, but I'm not a type that's always happy too.

"For heaven sake Aliyah, who sleeps until this time of the day?" He glared at me.

Is this man being serious right now? I am the one that played yesterday's match, not some log of woods. I'm a human, and I tend to get tired, right?

"So, what am I here for sir?" I asked, ignoring his rants. I don't have energy for arguing, I'm too tired for that.

"Your sponsor asked to do some shopping for you, and also, we're having a send off party tonight, in the school hall, and you have to be present, but before then, we'll be going together to get your passport in a few minutes, they called me that it's ready, you're leaving by first flight in two days." He said, not raising his gaze to look at me.

My chest tightened in agony, as I stared down at my shoes, I couldn't stopped the tears, that found their ways out of my eyes, as the thought of leaving mom and my only friend, Zohara, hit me hard, and hurting me badly, like a knife was thrusted in my heart.

Hours later, it was already evening, and the party already started. Even if I didn't want to come, our coach will never listen to me.

I'm not a party type, but I had to attend this one. Zohara already took care of the dress I was going to wear, which happens to be a very beautiful pink gown and a small hijab, which stopped right on my shoulders, a pair of pink heeled shoes were fitted on my feet, and a little make-up on my face. It was all Zohara's doings.

Stepping into the hall with Zohara, all eyes fell on me, as their eyes dropped opened, with some, having a widened eyes. Well, I don't blame them, even I, was wowed at my own self, when I saw the transformation, for some minutes, I thought I wasn't the same person.

"Look how they're staring at you." Zohara whispered into my ear, and chuckled.

I didn't say a word, as I just glanced at her, and maintained a straight face. I can't wait for the whole nonsense to be over, so I can get out of this place.

"Can you smile for once? Stop making that face, like we all are aliens." She nudged my arm playfully.

"Cmon let's go sit over there." She said, and started dragging me away. She led us to sit on two empty chairs, after which she ordered for two glass of non alcoholic drinks.

"You'll have fun here, trust me." She smiled at me.

I nodded simply, and took a sip from the drink, looking around the place. Almost all of our students were presents, with some teachers, some of them were dancing to the music, while some were chatting and laughing.

"Finally, the school witch is gonna be off my neck." Came the familiar voice, which I'll recognize, even in my sleep....