Chapter 46: Chapter 46
"Sandwich, this better be worth it " I groaned,pressing my feet slightly on the accelerator
I had been face-timing with my girls in my blue Rolls Royce, gisting, chattering and laughing out loud..like it's been ten years since I saw them last. And damn! I missed them so much.
"It's an art gallery as a matter of fact, one of the biggest art galleries in Nigeria and in Lagos so, yea.it's worth visiting " she squealed
For some reasons unknown to me, she seemed extremely excited about me visiting the art gallery.
"Besides, it's the newest in lagos and they're going to open it today" sola added
I pouted "so how do I come in?"
"Oh don't be such a big baby..just go there first.."sandwich retorts
"And have you been speaking to dozie since you got back from New York city?" sophie asked
I felt myself shudder pleasantly just by hearing his name, a small smile stretched itself on my lips in reflex. So natural came the smile just by hearing his name.
I have dated other guys within ten years but none gave me those pleasant shivers that always ran through me whenever I was with dozie.
Heck!
I didn't even feel butterflies with the other guys I dated
But he was different. he was/is special, he was everything I could ever wish. He was golden!
anyway, dozie and I had been in touch after we broke up. He was studying in university of arts london while I was at Tenstrings music institute in lagos and then at the time I got into Mahanatha school of music in New York, we had lost contact till date.
I had recently come back to Nigeria basically because it's holidays so I could see my family, friends and well, I also had my own music school in lagos...anyway, that explains that.
"Did you zone out while driving?" Sandwich yelled, jerking me out of my reverie
"Gosh..!! Annette control your screaming nau..you almost got my colleagues at work jittery"sophie said making us all to laugh
"Anyway, sandwich. I haven't been speaking to dozie.." I answered her first question
She sighed "well, too bad.but I don't wanna spoil your suprise so you'll just have to find out by yourself "
Curiosity seeping through me as I asked "what suprise?"
" just keep driving to wherever you're going" she replied, using her powder brush to dab on her face
"Fine.let's see this special place we are talking about then."
"Trust me..no, scratch that...trust us,you'll love it" sophie said with strong conviction laced in her tone
"I bet I will.." I replied
"And i can't wait to see you guys at my wedding ?"sola squealed
"Definitely" I replied with a grin
"Of course, babes .we're rocking it that day"sandwich replied happily
Sola and priye were getting married in a weeks time.I think that's part of the reasons why I had to come down to Nigeria
"Umm..I would have loved to come but I'm stuck in Germany."sophie groaned
Sophie was a human anatomist in germany,she's kind of the always busy.
"Aww...." I coo'd
"Sophie, you should better start thinking of taking a break from work before I personally drag your butts down here" sola threatened playfully and we all laughed
"Well..sure, I'm definitely not missing your wedding for the world..like it's my baby's wedding duh " she replied and we laughed some more
"How 'bout Ayo?" Sophie asked and I shrugged
"He's fine..yunno working as a psychologist in one of the biggest hospitals in Abuja" I said, Ayo and I still kept in touch so I got to know about his welfare
"Girls...I have something to tell you" sandwich announced trying to hide her squeal
"What's the suprise?"sophie asked in curiosity
She raised up her left hands to reveal a shiny diamond ring resting sophisticatedly on her left finger
"Oh my gosh!"I squealed, screeching my car to a halt so I don't hit someone
"You're engaged?" Sola asked with eyes bulging in excitement while sophie coo'd and coo'd
"Yes..I am" sandwich replied, beaming at us "and hey! MJAY..don't go about trying to hit people" she warned, trying to sound stern. I laughed heartily
"Geez..who's the lucky guy?"I asked and she proceeded to tell us how she met her fiance after high school, initially she dated Adam and they both broke up after a year..then sometime before she started her modelling career, she met this handsome guy ( she showed us a picture) in Uju's modelling/fashion company.. yea..Uju owned her modelling agency while kelechi worked as an engineer in UK.
Anyway, sandwich and her fiance started off as acquaintances untill he asked her out and from there they both started dating.and blah blah..her fiancee is into the estate management and he owns one of the multi billion companies in lagos..
"aww....I'm so happy for my babies" sola cooed while sandwich and the rest of us smiled widely like craze clowns
"And Adam, did you guys talk to each other?"I asked
"Last time I spoke with him..he's been in Spain for quite a while now..never at a place yunno.." sandwich trailed off as if expecting us to get the gist which I'm pretty sure we did because i and the girls went all_
"Awwwwwnnn "..
I pulled my car to a halt infront of the gigantic building towering before my car and I.
It was a like serene white mass integrated into a kind of composed. monotonous sky rise building.
"Girls..I'm there" I announced, taking my time to run my eyes through the impressive architectural design of the gallery.
"Now..meera, you'll walk in there like the princess that you are..and enjoy the rest of your day" sola said..her voice sounded dreamily
"Seriously...just like that?" I asked rolling my eyes but then seeing sandwich shooting me her best death glare made me huff
"Alright...this better be worth it " I sigh in defeat as she smiled broadly
"Of course...and yunno, thank us later..you're welcome" she replied, quickly saying the last part to herself as she blew me a kiss before disconnecting herself with sola and sophie doing the same and leaving me still sitting in my car and gazing at the beauty of the environment,it had this comfort of nature friendly cultural space in which a green flow of parks embodied with the art museum to become a single entity.
Well, maybe it wasn't a bad idea to come here.
Checking my makeup once more, I nodded in satisfaction at my appearance.I wore a red floral printed, cut-shoulder jumpsuit which was wide-legged and alittle above the ankle. I donned a pair of glam stilettos on my feet and a glitzy earrings and choker to match.
letting my shiny black African hair to fall on the sides of my shoulders, making it look almost like a short bob except that it was too full.
Yup.I was good to go.
********
I strutted in,clutching my glittery purse in my left hands with a cold gust of air from the A.c gently wafting through my face.some guides on royal blue patterned uniforms gave curt nods at whosoever walked in through the entrance of the automated glass door which rotated in a 360 form. I took a brief look around my surroundings and wow! This place was totally magnificent
From the behemoth white marble tiles which floored the ground in a sparkling clean state, to the white wall paint gracing the beautiful portraits which hung on the wall.everywhere was as prim and pristine as the words itself.
I noticed some people gaze at the portraits with admiration clearly glittering in their eyes.some had a guide to tour them on the origin of some of the art works displayed. I took a step futher to gaze at some of the beautiful paintings gracing the wall where it was hung when a particular painting enraptured my attention.
It was a lively painting of a girl sitting gracefully with closed eyes, holding a cello in between her knees..a flock of doves fluttering their wings in the air and a small smile resting on the girls lips.
Something about this painting seemed so familiar.so familiar that it got my intuitions tugging at my chest..could it be?
Nah....maybe it's not what I'm thinking
Maybe my imaginations and intuitions were going wild
"It's beautiful" a deep calm voice said behind me.
So deep was the voice that it sent pleasant shivers run through me.this time my intuitions had begun going berserk but I didn't dare to turn around.yet, the deep baritone kept speaking;
"Reminds me of someone..."he said and just then my lips moved on their own accord to ask
"She must be very dear to you?"
And then he chuckled.
He chuckled, the small hearty laugh sounding so musical,the kind of laugh that I had gotten used to hearing from ten years back, the kind of laugh that made my insides melt softly while my knees grow weak.sending excited shivers run through my every being.
But, I didn't dare to turn back.
He seemed not to mind cause he went ahead to answer my question.
"She was." He paused for for a split second, then he resumed talking in that rich baritone of his
"She was special..she was an angel to me, sings like one and she had a cheerful personality always around her, i got my inspiration from her..and the doves, a significant of who she was to me." He explained
For weird reasons, a small smile played on my lips as I listened to him speak with admiration about the girl on the painting.this girl must have really pulled his heartstrings
"You seem to be interested in this particular painting.." he said
"Umm..yes, I .." damn! Why was I stuttering now??
"I could give this as a gift to you..if you wish" he said
Tsk.tsk! He's a generous person
"It's part of your exhibitions..why would you give me something that means alot to you" I said,gently declining though.
"Cause..it has the sign written MJAY on it" he replied and I furrowed my brows in confusion
"MJAY?"
"Yup." He replied with a jovial tone.I peered closely at the painting and indeed.it had MJAY signed at it.
I couldn't help the curiosity which had bubbled up inside me so I slowly spurned around and...
Here..
He was the one, standing in front of me in a well fitted blue Italian suit and a wide grin on his face.I flickered my wide-eyed gaze through him, my eyes accessing every part of him, from his aquiline chiseled jaws to his perfect shaped lips, his slightly pointed nose, nice haircut. Dang! He was hot.
Made me wonder between him and the arts displayed proudly in this room, which one would be more fascinating to drool at.
Definitely him!
I rested my gaze in his eyes, allowing his sharp hazel brown eyes bore into mine before slowly dropping his hazel eyes to run through my appearance.
Slowly as if his stares were worshipping my existence.then he brought his gaze to meet mine, the playful grin still resting on his lips as he rolled the words off his tongue..with a tone which he specially dedicated in calling me
"Hey chin chin! "
His chin chin
A happy smile stretched broadly on my cheeks as I racked my traitorous brain to spill out words yet the only thing that could come off was a pathetic incomprehensible bundle of sentence that had barely left my mouth when his lips came crashing down on mine.
I kissed him back.shuddering in excitement at every feeling.it was an intense and passionate kiss that ignited spark, sending waves of excitment erratically surge through me as he tugged me closer, wrapping his hands around my waist while my hands found itself wrapped around the nape of his neck as we continued kissing like lovers who were long separated and had just found themselves
Which ironically, that was the case.
Slowly we pulled away,rest our temples on each other's as our hot breath fanned our selves..the wide grin never leaving
"I missed you" I breathed
"I missed you more" he replied through soft breaths.
I giggled, feeling ny face flush up in a silly blush which at that point I didn't mind whether I was blushing or not.
"You did?" I asked chuckling like a love struck teenager while a wide grin formed on his face as he reluctantly pulled away from our earlier position
"Come" he said entwining our fingers with each other as I obediently followed him while he led me through the large building, away from where the art works were displayed
"The painting...when did you do that?" I asked as he flashed a grin at me
"In the music room..that was the first day I heard you sing, and you sang Alfred Lorens 'never enough' " he replied
I literally could feel my whole being melting again and again in pure love for him, he was perfect..he was my everything and damn whosoever had told me that true love didn't exist because with dozie, there was nothing else i wanted but to be with him, breath into his every being and be His forever
"We're here" he announced, snapping me out of my trance. I stared into the neat and exquisitely decorated hall which was already getting full with different people both African and a handful of white people who maybe from different continents. They seemed more like they were the cherry picks of the society.a dim blue light shaded the large hall while soft music sang out in the background
"Wow" I exclaimed as he smiled
"Go in" he tugged, I titled my head to one side as I stared at him..
"Are you going to come in here anytime soon?"i asked pouting as he broke into a light chuckle before taking my hands into his and rubbing them gently
"Meera...I'm going to do the one thing I have always wanted to do with you, today..." he said softly
"What's that?" I asked and in reply, he gave my hands a gently squeeze as he placed a soft kiss on them before the MC's voice came through the microphone.
"Gotta go" he said. I gave him a small kiss on the lips as i walked inside the dimly lit hall, smiling broadly like one who won a gold carat.
***********
The whole launching of the new art gallery had been progressive and now it was time to unveil the name of the art gallery.I watched in delight as dozie made his way smartly to the stage.he still had this gait that commanded attention just with his presence as the mini crowd waited in anticipation for the name revealing.
There were the media eagerly waiting to cover the news of the latest art gallery in lagos owned by one of the most popular artist in the world
A large projector rolled down, covered in a black cloth as dozie stood in front of the audience
" I want to first of all thank all of you for coming here today......." his rich baritone echoed through the hall as he continued to speak about certain things and then it was time to reveal the name when he said
"I'm dedicating this art gallery to the most beautiful woman in my life who had my back throughout my life as an artist and as an individual..she taught me to persevere and pursue my dreams till it becomes reality and today, it's just not my dreams and realities but her resilient spirit that have brought our dreams to existence and in the spirit of that, I therefore present to you.."
The dark cloth covering the large projector was rolled off as I stared mouth agape at what was staring right back at me in bold letters
" THE MEERA JOHNSON'S GALLERY OF ARTS "
This was so much...he had named his art gallery after me!!! The excitement pummeling in me was something indescribable..and as though that wasn't enough,the spotlights were quickly turned on me as I heard him say again, this time he was speaking in a more gentle tone as he made his way towards me.
Everywhere fell dead silent, a comfortable and interesting silence enveloping the hall as we watched dozie take dainty steps towards me
"And to the amazing woman in my life, who's kept motivating me in achieving my dreams, never giving up on me, my personal adviser, the best person I have ever come across in life, infact my everything..Miss, Meera Johnson, my favourite chin chin and the best thing that has ever happened to me in the world.will you marry me?" He popped the question, getting down on one knee with a diamond ring resting in a small box
I felt my eyes well up with tears, mostly tears of joy..who would have believed that this day would come when I get to say yes to the one person my heart really wished for..
I snapped myself out of my reverie, dozie was still kneeling on one knee.waiting for my reply with a pouty look
Should I ditch his proposal cause he called me chin chin in front of everyone?
Haha..not a chance..cos this douche just went all cute and I will be damned if I ever said no to this wrap of blessings kneeling in front of me
I smiled broadly "HELL YES! YES...I'LL MARRY YOU DOZIE " i replied and immediately loud cheers erupted through the building as he lifted me off the ground in excitement, spurning me around while I laughed heartily
He dropped me on the ground, staring deeply into my eyes before kissing each other passionately again as more loud cheers erupted from all sides of the hall.
"I love you so much" I breathed,
"And I love you too" he replied and just when we were about to kiss again, we heard familiar voice sing out
"Finally, bish's gotten engaged! "
I quickly snapped my head towards the direction of the voice and for the umpteenth time that day,I had my eyes bulging out in suprise
"What the fuck? Sandwich!??" I exclaimed while she flashed me a wide smile
"Congratulations to you too" she replied engulfing me into a tight hug i smiled widely, hugging her back
And yup.
not just sandwich was here but, my mum, siblings, sola, priye, Adam, Ayo, Nini, aunty dara, a few of our high school classmates, some of our high school teachers including sir Ahmed and the devil may care ones and finally my dad and dozie's father.
The both men had settled their beefs long ago and dozie's father had forgiven my dad for what happened so yepp...we were all cool
"I'm so happy for you my baby girl" mum said sobbing happily as she hugged
"Me too mum, thanks so much" I said, equally sobbing at god knows what..
Mum's sobs just knew how to be infectious...
Priye clincked on his wine cup,using a fork to draw the attention of everyone. He raised his glass up to propose a toast.
" to our newest couples. And the newest art gallery in Nigeria, cheers!!"
"Cheers!!!!" Everyone replied simultaneously as we clincked wine glasses with each other.and enjoying the rest of the day.