Chapter 20: Chapter 20

I was chatting with Tayo on Saturday since I was home alone and I had nothing tangible to do.

Tayo- So, what are you wearing to the party

"I'm not telling you" I replied even though I had no idea on what to wear.

Tayo- Come on, don't be like that nah send a picture

Me- Don't bribe me, it's gonna be a surprise on that day.

Tayo- Hmm, okay. I'll be awaiting your beauty at the gate on that day.

Me- Yea, I'll be the one in a gorgeous dress

Tayo- Don't tell me we just made our own quote of Twilight.

Me- guess we did.

Tayo- , have you had lunch.

Me- Nope, you?

Tayo- Eating salad, why haven't you eaten?

Me- Still cooking.

Tayo- What are you cooking?

Me- Noodles and egg.

Tayo: Na you ooh.

Me: Yes ooh.

I checked on my noodles as I made my way upstairs to look for an outfit to wear to the party. I started to play "Nothing dey" by Kizz daniel as I opened my wardrobe.

I kept on searching for the perfect clothe as I threw everything on my bed. Few minutes later, I went to check on my noodles which was ready.

I ate it and went back to my search; it took me another five minutes before I finally found the perfect dress. I gasped as I brought it out, I had long forgotten about it.

Smiling like a Cheshire cat, I got a heel to match from my elder sister, Temi's wardrobe. I arranged my wardrobe as I planned what to do with my hair.

The next two weeks before the party was spent not going to school regularly, meeting up at Faith's house with the boys and Goriola.

The D day finally arrived and I woke up early, I was so excited about the party. I laid out my clothes on my bed as I went to take my bath.

"Enitan, when is the party starting?" Mum asked from the dinning where she was eating as I exited the bathroom.

"African time.10:00 am." I replied.

"Okay, I will be leaving soon. Come here." She said as I walked to her, towel wrapped around me and tucked underneath my armpit.

"Ma." I said as I got to her.

"Be careful, don't follow anybody anywhere and don't take alcohol, okay." She said, warning me like all Nigerian mothers do before handing me a thousand naira note.

"Take picture and enjoy yourself ooh." She said as she packed her bag.

"Okay ma, bye ma." I replied as I walked back into my room to get ready, the clock read 9:23 am.

I slipped on the mid length black ball gown Goriola had gotten me for my birthday. Brush the weave-on that I had fixed in my hair earlier in the week. After that, I settled down and did a very light makeup, adding a very colourful lipstick. I slipped on the heels before putting on the white wristwatch Tayo had gotten me for my birthday.

My phone beeped as I got a message from Faith informing me, she was around. I picked up the important things I needed and dropped them in my bag.

I took a few selfies, closed all the windows and as I left the house, I received a call from Faith again. I didn't pick it, I just walked faster till I was outside our compound where she was standing beside one of her Father's car which was to carry us to the party.

"Babes, you look amazing." She said eagerly as she hugged me.

"So, do you." I reciprocated but, I meant it. She looked stunning in her cord material dinner gown. She had on a fixed weavon, it was curly, bouncing and flowing down her shoulders. She had on a high heel and her makeup was flashy but it accentuates her face.

"Thanks, but I think your look is what is going to make Tayo speechless tonight. No other girl can top it." She said, winking to me as the driver sped off.

When we arrived at the school, true to Tayo's word. He was standing at the school gate and true to Faith's word, he was rendered speechless as he stammered for a few minutes before finally catching himself.

"You look stunning." He said, dropping a light kiss on my forehead before walking with me to the hall where the party was holding.

"You are wearing your wristwatch." He stated.

"Yes, doesn't it look beautiful?" I asked.

"It does but you look a thousand time prettier." He said as I blushed.

"Have you seen Goriola?" I asked.

"Yes, John is her date." He said.

"Yeah, she told me he asked her." I said as we finally got to the hall. I was surprised by the transformation that has been done to our school hall. It has been decorated in such a way that it looks like a wedding venue, the boys and girls around it dressed in gorgeous attire also added to its beauty as we stepped in.

"Tayo, Enitan!" I heard Goriola scream, waving at us from afar. She was walking towards us looking like a princess with a tiara on her head to complete the appearance. Bode and John were beside her.

"You guys look gorgeous." She said hugging me as I greeted the guys.

“And you look beautiful.” I smiled at her.

Half an hour later, the principal climbed on the podium while I muttered to myself. "So much for 10:00am."

"It is with great joy that I announce that the term is over. I pray that we shall all resume in happiness and good health.

Today, I don't really have much to say except that I'm going to acknowledge the best students in each class, best students result overall, well mannered prefects and, they are all going to be given a gift here on stage." He said motioning to a pile of gift beside him, it looked flat so I knew it was probably textbooks or notebooks.

He started listing off some names as I listened attentively so I could pick up the ones I know.

"John Wellington; The most disciplined student in SSS2." He said. John walked to the podium amidst claps as he was handed one of the gifts.

By the end of the roll call, he had acknowledged Tayo for overall best male result in SSS1 and Goriola for best result in mathematics. Faith was given a gift later for being social. I didn't receive any prize, same with Bode.

The party began after the principal speech as we danced away to "Madu" by Kizz daniel.

They food and drinks were shared by our class teachers and, after we have gotten ours which had a bucket and flask as souvenir. We went to drop it in Tayo's car which he drove himself to the party before returning to the party.

"Enitan, I have something to show you. Let's go somewhere quiet." He shouted, above the noise.

I nodded as we walked out of the hall. We made our way to one of the empty classes and sat down beside each other.

"Okay, so what do you want to show me?" I asked.

He brought out his phone and started to click on something leaving me to wonder what he might wants to show me.

"Look here." He said, clicking on a video on his phone.

It started with my pictures that we took on my birthday, some that I took alone and some with him. Pictures from our first outing together, some of my random pictures on Facebook and the pictures we took on the day he kissed me. The song "Made for you." by Banky W was playing underneath the video.

The video ended with the picture I took on my birthday. It was one of my favorite pictures. Tayo was crouched in front of me, putting on the wristwatch for me. I remember telling myself back then that he looked like he was proposing as I smiled. My smile faded as a word popped up.

"Will you be my girl? " It reads as I gasped.

"Will you?" He asked, his eyes pleading with me to say yes.

I nodded since I was too stunned to speak, it took me a minute but I finally said "Yes." The relief on his face was evident.

"Yes, I will be your girl." I said again, releasing a shaky breath.

He brought out a box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a necklace with the name "Eniayo." customized as its pendant.

"I got mine as a wrist band since I don't wear necklaces." He said as he showed me the black wrist band which had Eniayo written on it with beads. I took a second look at the necklace that was glittering as a tear left my eyes.

"Thank you for saying yes. I love you and I promise to always make you happy." He said, pressing a soft kiss on my forehead as he put on the necklace for me.

"I love you too." I replied, my voice cracked. He took a few pictures of us, posting one with the caption "Finally, she is mine!!!" as I blushed.

"Congrats..." Our friends including John screamed as we got back to the hall.

"Thank you." I muttered shyly.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"Tayo's status." Faith replied.

"You came back just in time, it's time for couple’s pictures." She said pushing us, John and Goriola forward while we just smiled. The rest of the day was spent taking pictures, dancing and having fun.

I smiled at them in joy as I tried to make sense of how I felt. I just couldn’t believe that within a span of three months, I had grown tremendously. I had met new friends, realized I was also capable of falling in love and finally, understood what friendship really meant. It was not just about sitting together in class or walking home together, it’s more than that. It is about always being there for them, during thick and thin.

With Tayo’s arms around me, I felt excited about the next term. I was certain that although we all had a long way to go before, we arrive at the end of this chapter in our lives. Yet, I believe that we could go through anything as long as we are alive because this was just the beginning of our journey together.