"Janet! Where are you? Come down now, we're almost late for our flight!"

Abisola's voice echoed through the living room as she dragged two large suitcases toward the door.

"Coming! Let me just pack my perfume!" Janet shouted back, scrambling around upstairs like someone searching for hidden treasure.

Jeffrey shook his head as he zipped his own bag. "If this girl delays us and we miss this flight ehn… I'll personally ship her to Nigeria inside DHL carton."

Jason laughed. "Relax, Jeff. She's excited."

"Excited for what? She's not the one competing." Jeff rolled his eyes.

"Competing for attention," Alice teased.

They all burst into laughter.

Finally—after what felt like a whole extra hour—Janet descended the stairs dramatically, posing like she was walking a runway.

From head to toe: lace front wig laid, sunglasses oversized, outfit coordinated, perfume cloud following her like she owned the whole airport.

"Sorry you all," she said with a cute smile.

"I had to pack properly. After all… we are going to Paris. The land of love."

She even did a little spin.

Everyone stared at her silently.

Then PONK—Jeffrey lightly knocked her head.

"Next time I'll give you a harder one," he said. "Inside the car. Now."

Janet pouted like she'd been struck by lightning.

The family burst into laughter again.

"Let's move!" Jaden clapped his hands, leading the way out.

---

AT THE AIRPORT

The van stopped at the terminal, and familiar figures were already waiting.

Valery waved both hands excitedly. "Finally! You people came! We thought airport spirit swallowed you!"

Jason laughed. "We would have arrived earlier if a certain somebody packed fewer than seven bags."

Everyone turned to look at Janet.

She immediately found the floor interesting.

Valery walked to her and tapped her head gently. "You did good."

Janet's face lit up instantly. "Hehe, I knew it."

Abisola shook her head dramatically. "All of you are the ones spoiling her. I will take her to Nigeria for three months — she will reset immediately."

The entire group erupted into laughter.

Wayne placed a hand on his chest.

"Abisola, please, don't take our princess to Nigeria. We beg her majesty."

"She must go soon," Abisola replied. "But she is safe… for now."

Janet gasped, dropped her bags, and ran to her mother.

"Iya Dayo, ẹ jọọ́, ẹ má gbà mí lọ sí Nigeria!"

(Janet said it in very broken Yoruba.)

Everyone paused.

All eyes slowly turned to Abisola.

Abisola stared at her daughter, then burst into loud laughter.

The others joined immediately.

Alice blinked. "Aunt Abisola... what did she say?"

Abisola still giggling replied, "Even me, I don't understand."

More laughter.

Then she looked at Janet. "Where did you even learn that from? You don't listen when I try to teach you."

Janet folded her arms. "It's Dayo. Anytime I needed something, he would say, 'Ask in Yoruba first.' So I had to learn."

"Haha! That's my son," Abisola said proudly.

Jeffrey looked at her expectantly.

"Mom… what about me?"

Abisola looked him up and down and asked, "Eh… what about you?"

Another explosion of laughter.

Jeffrey smirked.

"Mo mọ bí a ṣe n sọ Yorùbá, ṣùgbọ́n mi ò kan sọ fún ẹ ni."

(I know how to speak Yoruba, I just don't normally show you.)

This time everyone went quiet from the way he said it it was early better than Janet's.

Abisola blinked repeatedly.

Then nodded. "Nitootọ́… ọmọ mi ni ìwọ."

Jeffrey bowed dramatically. "Thank you, mother."

Valery shook her head, laughing. "This family is chaotic."

"Get used to it," Wayne said. "They're worse when Dayo is around."

---

THEY CHECK IN

The group walked together to the check-in counter.

Alice held her passport like a child holding biscuits.

"This is my first time going to Paris," she said, bouncing.

"Mine too," Jeffrey added.

"Same here," Valery said. "But don't worry—Wayne knows everywhere."

Wayne raised his brows proudly. "Tour guide of life."

"Sir, move forward," the attendant said, cutting his swagger short.

Everyone laughed again.

They checked in their bags — even Janet's mountain of luggage — then collected their boarding passes.

***

Inside the plane, they sat in two rows facing each other.

Wayne stretched. "Ahh, first class. God bless Dayo."

Alice nodded. "Honestly. He doesn't even know we came."

Jeffrey grinned. "He will faint when he sees us."

"Good," Abisola said. "Let him faint. That boy wants to carry all his stress alone."

Janet leaned in. "Mommy, when are we surprising him?"

"When the time is right," Jaden answered.

Valery added, "After the finals. Before that, we must stay hidden."

Janet gasped dramatically. "So we're undercover agents?"

Wayne rolled his eyes. "Please sit down, Spy Kids."

The flight attendants passed by offering drinks.

Janet grabbed orange juice.

Jeffrey took water.

Valery took wine.

Alice took apple juice.

Abisola collected tea.

Jaden asked for coffee.

Wayne, proudly, collected two cups at once.

Alice laughed. "Wayne, are you okay?"

"No," he replied. "I'm emotionally preparing for Paris."

***

After takeoff, the cabin lights dimmed slightly.

Alice leaned toward Abisola. "Auntie… how is Dayo really doing? He always says he's fine."

Abisola sighed. "He is strong, but strong children also get tired."

Jeffrey nodded. "When we video-called him yesterday, he looked exhausted."

Valery added, "He's carrying three categories. That pressure is insane."

Jaden placed an arm around Abisola. "We will be there for him. Seeing us will give him strength."

Janet hugged her pillow. "When I see him, I'm going to jump on him."

"No, you won't," Abisola scolded. "He will be tired."

"Fine," Janet pouted. "I'll jump a little."

Everyone laughed.

***

LANDING IN PARIS

The announcement chimed overhead.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now landing in Paris…"

Alice pressed her face against the window.

"Oh my God… look at the city."

Valery leaned over. "It's so pretty…"

Wayne nodded. "Welcome to the land of croissants and heartbreak."

Jeffrey turned to him. "Who broke your heart?"

"No one," Wayne said quickly. "Focus on the Eiffel Tower."

Abisola shook her head. "Wayne you're a grown man o…"

This made everyone laugh.

The plane touched down.

Everyone clapped — including Janet, who clapped the loudest.

"Calm down, aunty," Jeffrey said.

"It's just landing, not the Olympics medal ceremony."

Janet hissed loudly.

***

AT THE AIRPORT IN PARIS

They walked out into the arrival hall, the massive airport buzzing with activity.

Alice took a deep breath.

"It even smells rich."

"That might be Janet's perfume," Jeffrey said.

Janet smacked his arm.

Valery stretched. "Okay guys… we're officially here. Operation: Surprise Dayo begins."

Abisola nodded. "We will go straight to the hotel, pray he does well in the semifinals, and appear when he needs us most."

Wayne added, "This is going to be fun."

The group of seven rolled their suitcases forward together.

A united front.

A family.

A team.

And somewhere across the city…

Dayo had absolutely no idea that his entire world had just landed.

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