Must Read: Mariana Season 2 Episode 3

EPISODE 3 ⃣

 

A DECADE LATER.

 

 

Author’s POV

 

 

In a pleasant little town of Augusta in Australia, sits on the Blackwood River estuary and is encircled by the Jarrah Forest.

 

Despite a sleepy and laid-back population and a chilled out atmosphere, the town is highly popular among visitors with it’s vast sea.

 

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Toby’s POV

 

“Look what I brought Toby.” She came running to me with a basket in hand. Her long black hair was scattered on her face because of the strong wind blowing.

 

“Hey where have you been? I thought you went to school.” I asked when she got to me.

 

“No I didn’t.”

 

“Not again Pearl. Then where were you?”

 

“At shore.”

 

“I thought i told you not go there again.”

 

“Yeah you did.”

 

“Then?”

 

“Oh common Toby. You know I don’t like going to school, I go when I feel like it. Now will you have a look at what I brought?”

 

 

“Am not interested.”

 

“Alright. You may not be interested now but you will when am done roasting this jellyfish.”

 

“After eating then what next.” I asked even though I knew.

 

“You keep asking the same questions all the time Toby, don’t you think it’s time to know the answers off head?”

 

“Well I just want to know in case you’ve upgraded your answers.”

 

“How do you expect me to upgrade my answers when you haven’t upgraded your questions. Anyway, I will be swimming after eating.” She replied and started gathering firewoods to light a fire.

 

“Where are you going to swim?” I asked and followed her to our little kitchen.

 

“The sea of course.” She said as she washed the jellyfish then she lighted the fire.

 

“The tide is dangerous today, swim the lagoon or the lake instead.” I said and sat down beside her.

 

“Don’t worry Toby. I’ve been swimming this sea for as long as I can remember and nothing has ever happened to me. I will manage so don’t worry.” She said and blew air between the firewood and it bursted into flames.

 

“Ok. But let the sun set first.” I suggested and placed the grill on the open fire.

 

“Now what’s the fun in that? The water gets cold when the sun set and you know I don’t like feeling cold. Besides, I will have to meet my friends when the sunset.” She replied as she started arranging the jellyfish on the grill.

 

“How much did you get for those jellies?”

 

 

“I didn’t sell any today. I think my customers are fed up with the jellies. Maybe I should start going on sea with the other fishermen for better fishes, or I can help you in pulling the nets every dawn. I hope you will be generous enough and pay me with big fishes?”

 

“You know you shouldn’t be doing all this right? I’m your grandad and it’s my responsibility to take care of you.”

 

“I’m not a child anymore granny Toby. How can I watch my grandfather work all alone to feed me while I’m fit enough to work and feed him. And you’re getting weaker and weaker each passing day and I can’t stand watching you work your ass out just to feed me. You shouldn’t worry granny.”

 

“Alright but you won’t go pulling fish nets.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Your palms will harden.” I replied and held her palms.

 

“Is that all?” She asked.

 

“Then no man will be interested in you.”

 

“My gain.” She stated and removed her hand from mine.

 

“Your gain?”

 

“Yes Toby. I don’t want anything to do with boys until am forty or 35.”

 

“Oh really?”

 

“Yes Granny Toby.”

 

“Whatever, just promise me that no matter what you won’t go pulling fishing nets.”

 

“I can’t promise you that Toby.”

 

“But you sure can promise me that you’ll go to school tomorrow.”

 

“That, I can’t…”

 

“Yes you can and that’s final.”

 

“Whatever.” She replied and tried pushing her hair from her face with the back of her hand.

 

“Don’t.” I stopped her.”Lemme help you with it.”

 

I gathered her hair to one side, divided it into three then I started braiding it like how I did all these years. As usual, she will close her eyes as I did.

 

“There. It’s won’t trouble you anymore like how you always do. I wish I can get rid of your troubles just like this.” I finished and brought the long braid to her back.

 

She opened her eyes and laughed sarcastically.

 

“That sucks for you. I’m like that never ending trouble, I will never depart from you.” She replied and got up.

 

She came back with a plate and gathered the jellies on it. My mouth watered at the sight. The aroma alone is tempting. Pearl was right about me being interested when it’s ready.

 

“Have a bite.” She said bringing the jellyfish to my mouth.

 

“Yummy!” I said after taking a bite.

 

“My turn.” She said and opened her mouth wide.

 

I fed her and she also did again and that was how we had our lunch.

 

“Ok Toby, now you’ll have to watch me swim.” She said and we got out.

 

“Sure, I will watch you from here.”

 

 

Our cottage was just in front of the ocean but separated with huge rocks that makes it impossible for water to flood our cottage.

 

“Ok bye.” She said and ran off.

 

When she got to the mouth of the water, she removed her dress and dived in effortlessly. After two minutes, she has still not surfaced. I got a bit scared but my nervousness subsided when I saw her shoot up from the sea.

 

I must say, she’s good at it. She swims so well.

 

I’ve been living on this part of Australia all my life and this countryside is the best.

 

80% of the land was filled with water including the sea.

 

There’s a beautiful waterfall just 1metres away from our cottage, lake and lagoon.

 

The remaining 20% of the land was filled with Forest vegetation.

 

Despite all these water bodies, Pearl still prefers to bath in the great sea.

 

“Hey Grandpa!” Her fingers snapped before my eyes.

 

“Hey Pearl, you’re done?” I asked, blinking.

 

“No Toby, am yet to start.” She replied sarcastically.

 

I looked at her and she was already in her clothes but her hair was wet.

 

“I thought I told you to watch me, but here you are daydreaming as usual. Anyway, am off to see Betsy and Aria.” She half hugged me and ran off.

 

“Take care!” I hollered behind her.

 

“You too.” She replied.

 

How I wish my wife had been alive to see how much our granddaughter has

 

grown.

 

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PEARL’S POV

 

As I walked through the hilly areas to meet my friends, I heard a loud thundering sound.

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I looked up and it was an aeroplane. I waved at it happily and continued walking.

 

Soon I was out of the hilly areas and I got into the forest area. I plugged flowers and sticked them behind my ears and in my hair.

 

I passed through a cluster of trees then I appeared in front of the lake. It was beautiful with flowers adorned at the edges. I’ve been seeing this beautiful sight for long but each time I see it, it’s felt like it was the first time. It looked so calm and nice here.

 

I went to stand in front of it and stared at my reflection.

 

I giggled when I saw my nipples standing proudly. I think I have to start wearing brassieres now.

 

I was wearing a short flowery dress which was just below my butt. It was quite short.

 

But I wear them because I love the way my long legs standouts.

 

I tasted my skin and it was salty. I felt like diving into the lake but I have to go meet my friends.

 

I kicked a pebble inside and run off to meet them at the waterfall.

 

“Hi Betsy!” I called when I got to the waterfall.

 

 

She was sitting on one of the rocks with a book on her lap. Her dark hair flowed behind her. She was wearing an expensive tank top with a jeans and a converse.

 

Unlike my family, Betsy and Aria are quite rich.

 

But hey! Am not jealous, I’m content with what I have.

 

‘Such a bookworm!’ I whispered.

 

“Hey Qunnie. I was waiting for you.” She said and placed the book down. That’s the pet name she gave me.

 

“And I’m here.” I replied and held her hand.

 

“You’re so wet, don’t tell me you’ve been swimming again while we were in school.”

 

“Do I have a choice? School is so boring. They keep forcing us to learn. What’s the fun in sitting behind a book all day?” I asked and looked around for Aria.

 

“Is that why you don’t like coming to school regularly?”

 

“Of course.” I replied and flanged my hands in the air.

 

“But how do you manage to pass all your texts but fail to answer questions in class?” She asked.

 

“Come, I will show you.” I pulled her along as we sat on a rock.

 

“Where’s Aria? I can’t find her.” I asked still looking around.

 

“Oh! She went to shop and make to make a new hair style.”

 

“Oh oo..but why? Did she get a new boyfriend?” I asked with my left finger in my mouth.

 

“Have you not heard?”

 

“Heard what?” I asked and removed the nail from my mouth.

 

“Oh am sorry, I forgot that you ain’t a regular.”

 

“Just tell me already.”

 

“A celebrity would be coming to our school tomorrow and all the girls are trying to impress him with their looks when he comes”

 

“Oh” I said forming my lips into a pout.

 

“Is he a boy?” I asked.

 

” I though I said that. Yes. A very handsome one…”

 

“Then am not interested.” I replied and looked somewhere else.

 

“Why do you always act like a lesbian?”

 

“Swears, I will prefer that to a boy-girl relationship. Looking at how beautiful you are, I won’t hesitate to elope with you.” I said and ran my hands through her hair.

 

“Hey, you’re finally crazy.” She said and stood up.

 

“Come to me babe.” I stood up as well with a smirk.

 

“Don’t come near me Pearl.”

 

“Oh why not? I thought we’re friends.”

 

“Not anymore.”

 

“Oh really. You dare break up with me?” I asked jokingly.

 

She kept moving backwards and didn’t notice that she was a foot away from the collection of the water from the fall.

 

 

“Watch it Betsy.” I ran to her and pulled her back.

 

“See, I just saved your ass and you’re not ready to accept my proposal. You’re so bad.” I said and tickled her softly.

 

“Stop it Pearl else..”

 

“Else?” I challenged.

 

Then she started tickling me so hard.

 

I started rolling on the ground, laughing so hard.

 

“I want you in school tomorrow Pearl.”

 

“Why?” I asked.

 

“Answer me Pearl.”

 

“Alright, I will. I miss school anyway.”

 

“Hallelujah.” She stopped and raised her hands in the sky.

 

“Praise the Lord!” I replied.

 

 

 

 

 

Toby’s POV

 

“Wake up Pearl. It’s time for school, you wouldn’t like to be late.”

 

I woke up early this morning to Sea and I just came back but I can’t see her outside.

 

I went inside but she wasn’t in.

 

Where had she gone to again?

 

 

Has she gone to the lake to catch fishes or jellies?

 

“Boom!”

 

I turned and there she was, looking so beautiful in her neatly ironed uniform.

 

Thank God she decided to iron today.

 

She’s in grade 10. Two mopre grades then she will be completing high school but her uniform looks as new as a fresher’s uniform. Her hair was braided she was smiling so brightly.

 

“You look beautiful my dear, am glad you decided to go to school today. Have you had breakfast?”

 

She nodded.

 

“Ok. Hurry, else you’d miss the bus.”

 

“You’re right. Bye.” She kissed me on the cheek and ran off.

 

 

PEARL’S POV

 

Before I got to the junction I saw the bus leaving.

 

I groaned frustratingly.

 

No matter how hard I try to be in school early, I always end up being late.

 

Now I’d have to walk.

 

I placed my bag sluggishly on my back and started walking.

 

I kicked at anything I saw on the way and sang quietly on the way.

 

I started sweating heavily from the Walk at each junction I passed.

 

 

After about 30minutes, I saw my school’s huge gate. I took in an amount of oxygen and started racing to the gate.

 

The security opened the gate for me and I quickly got in.

 

The whole school was quiet but I wasn’t bothered since today wasn’t the first time.

 

I started running again towards my class when someone bumped into me.

 

I looked up and it was a boy dressed in fancy clothings.

 

He scoffed and started walking away. Stupid bigheaded boy. He thinks he can just bump into me and leave just like that?

 

I smiled mischievously, picked my bag and with full speed, I run into him, knocking him over with all my strength. He fell to the ground and groaned.

 

I looked back and smirked at him.

 

He glared so hard at me without uttering a word, then he got up, formed his lips in a pout and started dusting his clothes.

 

He was a blue denim shirt under a white jacket with a pair of jeans and a white canvas shoe.

 

When his eyes met mine, I winked at him.

 

He was surprised at first but slowly, he smiled then caught the kiss. I noticed a pink shade crept on his cheeks as his blue eyes gleamed.

 

Then he did the unthinkable, he winked at me.

 

I turned away from him and walked hurriedly to my class with a stupid smile on my face.

 

I have mathematics this morning.

 

 

I checked my time and it was 8:50am. Fifty minutes more then the class will come to an end.

 

I pushed my class door open forcefully and got in.

 

I avoided all the surprise faces and walked to my seat.

 

Then all my mates stood up in a standing ovation the moment i sat.

 

“Welcome Miss Pearl Darvis.” They chorused along with the teacher.

 

I wasn’t ashamed because this isn’t the first time they’re doing this.

 

“Thank you Folks. Nice meeting you all once again.” I played along and made myself comfortable.

 

The class sat back.

 

“Focus class.” The maths teacher said when all my mates were staring at me and whispering among themselves.

 

I looked around and all the ladies in the class were looking different even Betsy. Betsy and Aria we’re sitting behind me. I smiled at them and continued my observation forgetting that there was a teacher in the class.

 

I placed my hands on my chin with mouth opened and gawked at each of them.

 

They were all putting on too much make up. I looked at my uniform and that was when I noticed that everyone was wearing casual except me.

 

Today is Friday, how did I forget that? On Fridays we don’t wear uniforms.

 

The whole class roared into laughter which brought my attention back to the board.

 

“Miss Darvis, would you please tell us the formula for finding the close surface area of a cylinder?”

 

What’s that?

 

All the class were looking at me now.

 

Do I even know the answer?

 

TBC…..

 

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New characters? Look closely you might see an old character.

 

 

 

MARIANA

 

Book 2 ⃣