PRETTY, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FRA!

— A rather questionable observation by Blanç.

Pretty...

With a little bit of FRA!

Hmmmm...

Well, I happen to be an individual who appreciates a little spice.

But, as it turns out, I'm certainly not the only one with such preferences. 🌚

You see, Nigerians—no, pardon me, Africans—are a rather peculiar breed of humanity.

A wonderfully energetic population, distinguished by our rather unreasonable enthusiasm for life, our outgoing dispositions, and our seemingly supernatural ability to turn the most uneventful gathering into an occasion worth remembering.

We light up rooms.

We awaken sleeping beauties.

We put otherwise innocent individuals into situations where their legs begin performing activities that would probably require a separate physics lecture to explain.

And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

But there's something I've come to appreciate about this particular part of the world.

PRETTY DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK WITHOUT A LITTLE SPICE.

And by spice, I mean a little... FRA. 🌚

Now, what exactly is FRA, you might ask?

Well, darling, FRA is a rather laid-back expression used to describe that peculiar state of unnecessary excitement and unrestrained enthusiasm in which an individual becomes so energetically expressive that observers begin questioning their mental stability.

You know the type.

The person who is perfectly capable of behaving normally but has somehow decided that normality is an unnecessary social construct.

The individual who laughs a little too loudly, dances a little too enthusiastically, talks with their entire body, and occasionally behaves as though they've received confidential information from the universe.

And let me tell you something.

As long as you so much as EXIST in Nigeria, you WILL experience FRA.

Perhaps unintentionally.

Perhaps against your will.

But you WILL.

Coming from a distinguished Englishman such as myself, I can confidently report that I've experienced several episodes over the past week alone.

Some attributable to the ongoing atmospheric warfare otherwise known as El Niño.

Others, unfortunately, attributable to Babcock University, an institution that appears to have developed a rather impressive reputation for testing the psychological endurance of its inhabitants.

But I digress.

Back to PRETTY.

Now, in my rather humble opinion, beauty extends considerably beyond facial symmetry, physical proportions, or the unfortunate business of possessing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Although, I must confess, ebony beauties seem to have received a rather generous allocation of nature's artistic privileges.

Good heavens. 👀

But there's something else.

Something considerably more interesting.

CHARACTER.

That little spark.

That mischievous glimmer in a woman's personality.

That spontaneous, slightly unpredictable, occasionally ridiculous energy that makes her presence feel different from everyone else's.

A beautiful face might catch your attention.

A beautiful personality might earn your admiration.

But a beautiful woman with a little FRA?

Fawwk.

Now you've got my attention.

There's something particularly delightful about discovering that your supposed 11/10 isn't just another pretty face.

She's playful.

She's expressive.

She's got a little mischief tucked somewhere between her laughter and her vocabulary.

She can be a darling one moment and an absolute menace the next.

And somehow, both versions are equally adorable.

It's the kind of energy that makes an ordinary afternoon feel like an entirely different experience.

The sort of person who can turn a rather bland conversation into an adventure, make you laugh when you've got absolutely no business laughing, and somehow leave you looking forward to the next time you'll get to experience her company.

Because, honestly, what's the point of having someone beautiful around if their personality feels like unseasoned noodles?

Pretty is lovely.

Pretty with personality is wonderful.

But PRETTY WITH FRA?

An entirely different department.

And I shall personally recommend that you consider acquiring yourself one of these magnificent creatures.

A little sweetness.

A little madness.

A little mischief.

A little FRA.

Trust me, your everyday existence could use the renovation.

You can thank me later.

...

Although, on a rather unfortunate note, I should mention that there's a particular complication associated with these FRA-infused beauties.

Apparently, attempting to maintain an intellectually stimulating conversation with one while simultaneously trying not to embarrass yourself is considerably more difficult than I initially anticipated.

You see, I had prepared several perfectly reasonable conversation starters.

A few intellectual observations.

Perhaps an amusing anecdote or two.

I was composed.

I was articulate.

I was, dare I say, magnificent.

And then she smiled.

...

What was I saying again?

Fawwwwwwwk. 😭

— Blanç, temporarily deprived of his vocabulary.