Third Person POV
"Nma! Wait for me!" Urenna shouted from across the school courtyard, cheerful as always.
Chidinma turned around, smiling as she saw her best friend running to catch up. Urenna always called her that—Nma. It was short for Chidinma and sounded sweet coming from her.
"You're always walking fast like you're late for something," Urenna said as she reached her, slightly out of breath."I'm not walking fast. You're just dragging your feet," Chidinma replied with a playful roll of her eyes.
The two girls were fifteen, dressed in their neat school uniforms, their shoes clicking softly on the tiles as they made their way to their favorite hangout spot behind the library building. That place was their little corner—quiet, cool, and shaded by two tall almond trees.
As soon as they sat, Urenna pulled out her phone from her bag. "Guess what, Nma? My dad just bought me the latest iPhone! The camera is mad, and the speed—ehn, you won't believe it until you see it!"Chidinma's eyes widened. "You're joking! Let me see."
Urenna handed her the phone with pride. "iPhone 11 Pro Max."
Chidinma turned the phone over in her hand. "Wow. My own is just an iPhone XR. Not bad, but this one is bigger and finer."
"But your dad gave you that gold necklace for your birthday, na. That thing looked expensive," Urenna pointed out.Chidinma smiled. "True. He gave me the necklace and also took me shopping in Dubai. You know Daddy likes to go all out when it comes to birthdays."
Urenna grinned. "Our dads really try, sha. For my last birthday, mine gave me this phone and took us to South Africa. That safari trip? Best experience of my life!"
The girls laughed as they listed the most quality gifts their fathers had given them over the years, each trying to outdo the other. It was all fun and games—two privileged girls, sharing memories without a care in the world.
After a while, Urenna leaned back against the tree and said, "So when we grow up, what do you think we'll become?"
"You go first," Chidinma said."I will become a successful lawyer like my dad," Urenna said without thinking twice. "But not just any lawyer—I want to be the type that speaks in international courts, travels around the world for high-profile cases, and maybe even become a judge one day. You'll see my name on the news. Urenna Nwankwo—Global Legal Force."
Chidinma clapped. "You're too much."Urenna laughed and said, "Now it's your turn. What about you, Nma?"
Chidinma looked thoughtful for a second. "I'll become a capitalist. Just like Daddy. But bigger. I'll build businesses everywhere. I want my name to be known around the world—not just as a rich woman, but as one with power."
Urenna burst into laughter. "Nma, you and power! Your ambitions can be scary sometimes."
"I'm serious," Chidinma said, smiling but firm. "Daddy always says legacy is more than money. I want to leave something greater than his own behind."
Urenna gave her a look of admiration. "You really love your dad, don't you?"
"I do," Chidinma said softly.
Urenna smiled. "My dad has been teaching me how to play chess. He says if I learn it well, I'll know how to plan life better. Like thinking two or three moves ahead."
"Really?" Chidinma asked.
"Yes. He even said everything in life is like chess. School, work, marriage—everything is strategy."
Chidinma nodded slowly but didn't say anything. A quiet sadness had started to come over her. Her eyes dropped to the grass, and her smile faded.
Urenna noticed. "Nma, what is it? Why are you suddenly quiet?"
There was a short silence.Chidinma looked up, her eyes teary. "Urenna… something is wrong with Daddy."
Urenna frowned. "What do you mean?"
Chidinma looked down again. She lowered her voice. "Last week, I overheard him talking to Mummy. I wasn't supposed to hear it. But they were in the living room, and I was coming down the stairs. He was talking about… threats."
Urenna sat up straight. "Threats?"
"Yes. About work. He didn't say much, but I could tell he was worried. And Mummy… She looked scared. Really scared."
Urenna gently placed a hand on her friend's arm. "Have you talked to him about it?"
"I tried," Chidinma whispered. "I asked him if he was okay. But he just smiled and said everything was fine. He even joked about it. That's what he always does—he waves things away."
Tears started to fall down her cheeks.
"That was the first time I saw them both looking like that," she continued. "Mummy was quiet for the rest of that evening. Daddy tried to act normal, but I could tell something was not right."
Urenna pulled her into a hug. "It's okay, Nma. It's okay."
Chidinma cried quietly into her shoulder. "He's always so strong, Urenna. So full of life. He's the kind of person that lights up every room. I've never seen him scared. I've never seen him unsure. He's the one person I believe cannot be shaken."
"I understand," Urenna said softly. "He's your hero."
"Yes," Chidinma said with a sniff. "No man ever looked as brave or kind as he does. Not even in books or films. Sometimes I wonder if any man can ever reach that level."
Urenna stroked her back gently. "You know what, Nma? My dad once told me that men are trained to carry heavy things on their own. Not just physical things, but the hard stuff in life. They don't like to show weakness, especially to their children. Your dad is probably protecting you by acting like everything is fine."
Chidinma nodded slowly, wiping her tears."Whatever it is," Urenna continued, "he'll face it. And he'll win. I know it."
Chidinma looked into her friend's eyes. "You really think so?"
"I believe so," Urenna said. "And I'll be here too. Anytime you need to talk."
Chidinma gave a small smile. "Thank you."
They heard the bell ring in the distance, signalling the end of lunch break."
Come on," Urenna said, pulling her up gently. "Let's go to class before that Mr. Okoye gives us punishment again."
Chidinma laughed a little through her sniffles. "You're the one who's always late, not me."
**************
Chidinma remembered this memory from her childhood days and couldn't help but ask herself if her dad really won considering how he died. None of them knows anything different about his death except what they were told.
"Well, I'm sure I'll get to the bottom of it with time…" Then, she thought to herself, If Urenna eventually became a lawyer, seeing that none of her media accounts hinted anything about it.
"I've yet to become a capitalist myself. Who knew life was going to take this trajectory...?" she mused.
The lessons her dad taught her that were gleaned from chess began to come back to her, and she started thinking about how she could immediately put them into play in real time.
"Callum and Fiona have been very good to me and my family; I really do appreciate their kind, unconditional gestures — but then, if I truly want to become a capitalist, everyone will have to become a piece of plaything, and the world my chessboard."
She concluded with a resolve.