CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

 

BROKEN
I used to stay away from it in school but at the Landmark beach, I got to know that volleyball is one of the most interesting games ever! Each time a member of the opposing team threw the ball higher than expected, the tension building up in my body increased but I was still more determined than ever to defeat the fierce-looking guys on the other team, although two of their eyes were very manipulating because I found love in them!

After the volleyball game, some team members retired to the beachside for a swim while I and Cleo played with the swing within the beach. At noontime, we settled in one of the tables which had been prepared for our real party. Then, DJ Freaki started to showcase his turntable skills, which called lots of feet to the dance floor while others like me remained in our seats, slowly sipping our fruit juice and chatting with our loved ones.

When asked which was the most funny scene in the carol play for a prize, Shola said that it was the part when Rose unknowingly greeted the king in a western style, and he did likewise, calling her a bitch in return.

She was right because even the person with the most serious face in the hall that night was forced to laugh after watching their mad display.

In the end, DJ Freaki invited Cleo and me to do our dance which contained lots of errors as usual😂 but kept everyone entertained.

"Thank you all for coming tonight", he continued talking even after we've had our dance." As you all know, we're here to celebrate the success of CAROL'25" A shout of excitement filled the air..." we're also here to celebrate one of our old niggers who has been transferred to the largest city in West Africa for his upcoming WASSCE.

"He's talking about Senior Cleo Martins" Shola explained further, and goosebumps began to appear on my skin.

"She's kidding, right?" I laughed hysterically. Thereafter, my eyes red, and I lost balance.

"Yh...I mean no. I planned to inform you..." He tried to explain himself but I just wasn't ready to listen to his explanation.

"I don't need you to give me excuses", my eyes wallowed in tears."All this while, I thought our relationship meant something to you. I thought I found someone who totally understands me but I was wrong. I'm such a big fool to have allowed myself to fall in love with you", I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

We spent the last day of the year, as well as the day Aunt Simi rent expired in her old apartment since she planned to move in with us since she was getting married, though she hasn't been
able to convince grandma Doctor Show is the perfect man for her.

I saw no reason why she needed to do that anyway because I started believing creatures like him(men) were scumbags. Bola had to make extra efforts to make me get up early and help with parking our few remaining luggage because I wasn't ready to return home to deal with the huge portrait of Cleo and me, which was above my headboard. I certainly wasn't ready to sell Aunt Simi off to a man liable to break her heart like someone did to me. I wasn't ready to see my cousins play with fireworks or see other people participate in activities to celebrate the start of a new year. I didn't want to enter a new year broken, yet I couldn't figure out how to get back on my feet on time.

I didn't want to have an outing with any member of my family because I was still hurting over what Cleo did to me, but as they were about to leave for the crossover service at 'House On The Rock', I changed my mind.

HOUSE ON THE ROCK CHURCH 🗿

Oh God! I thought this was where I was gonna find hearts I can play games with like I've been toyed with, but it wasn't. Here, I was reminded that God's purpose for my life is not for me to wallow in defeat, but to be strong against all odds! To enjoy his love, and blessings which are new every morning.

So as the person mounting the pulpit made us realize that we've all made it to the new year, everyone including me started praising God since we owed my existence to no one but him! Even if even and earth pass away, we were assured he'll remain the mighty one he's always been.

THE ADEOYE'S MANSION

"Oh my goodness! Happy new year", I clung unto grandma for a while, shedding tears of joy.

For the very first time, she planned a surprise birthday party for me! I mean it's not every day you get a bouquet of flowers 💐 all over your home, cakes of unique designs, an open-air arrangement where you can gist and have fun with your friends so I felt very happy even though there was still something missing. Something I'd rather not talk about with anyone.

"Happy new year, and happy birthday day, dearie", Grandma kissed me on her forehead.

" May you keep being happy for the rest of your life", Aunt Simi patted my hair.

"Amen", I smiled and Bola dragged me upstairs where I spent hours getting my makeover done, and the perfect style for the braids forced she forced me to make the previous day.

When it was time for me to be presented to the guests in my sleeveless Borgoundi dress and champagne gold gele with heels, I felt nervous because I looked totally different from the usual me.

"Oh my goodness! Is this really you, Nifemi?" Dj Freaki made matters worse."You look verrrry hot🔥.

"Thanks", I smiled, and allowed him to present me to the guests who are amazed as well and couldn't stop taking shots of me! It was just like how I saw it in my dream months ago.

Though there was enough breeze around me, I felt like I was being choked yet there was nothing I can do to help myself.

Afterward, my family members are called take pictures with me, then my school mates, and friends from my old neighborhood who I never thought I'd see again.

As soon as I was about to cut my 16th birthday cake, Cleo created a scene by appearing with a couple of friends in a champagne gold agbada attire with a nice hair cut, brogues shoes as dark as an overused metallic pot, and dark glasses.

Even though I try as much as possible not to be affected by him, my lips still blushed as he moved close to whisper 'happy birthday' in my ears, and supported me in cutting my birthday cake.

For as long as I loved Cleo, I kept remembering the genuine smile that appeared on his lips, because I didn't prevent him from celebrating one of the precious moments of my life with him.

I made good use of the golden opportunity I had to spend more time with him. Even if I had to crush my self-pride, for the time being, I did it just to savor every moment left with him so I won't regret it when he's nowhere to be found.

"Hello, everyone", Grandma called everyone's attention after the cake cutting session."I want to thank you all for being here to celebrate this important moment in my granddaughter's life. She's one of the best things that ever happened to me so she deserves this and more".

"Awwwn. Thanks, grandma. I love you", I tried as much as possible to stop myself from crying, as my guests gave me a round of applause.

"I also want to use this medium to announce that my own precious daughter has found the perfect man for her, and so they'll be getting married on the 14th of February", she continued her speech.

"Wooho!" We were all taken back by what she said but still supported Aunt Simi with the clapping of our hands, as she quickly ran to the stage to hug her mom.

"Thank you so much, mama", bits of tears started dripping from hers, and grandma's eyes.

"There's no way a mother wouldn't be happy when her daughter brings home the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with", Grandma said."I just hope you're sure that he really is the one for you because I don't want you to repeat the same mistake. t don't want my daughter to get hurt over again..."

"It's okay mum", Aunt Simi assured her. "With God's intervention and your constant love and support, I'm sure everything will turn out well", Mother and daughter hugged each other once again.

After grandma's speech, Cleo also mounted the podium to tell everyone how much every moment spent with me mattered to him, though I thought otherwise. Then, he also gave me the best gift in the world; a printed copy of the carol play I wrote and we launched it with a toast to love!

"So, who convinced you to get a haircut at last?" I asked him when the two of us were alone. There were still guests around ordering for plates of roasted chicken and having their cocktail glasses refilled but the sun had gone down!

How could that possibly happen when I wanted that special day to go on forever?

"You did..", he was bold enough to maintain eye contact with me for a long time." What was I supposed to do when you even sent me a brand new hair clipper as a Christmas gift?".

"Ohh, how did you get that?" I totally forgot about it because of what happened.

"Bola gave it to me after you left", he replied.

"It must have been hard for you because you really cherished that hair. I'm so sorry", I felt bad for making him do something he probably didn't want to do.

"No, it's absolutely fine", he smiled" Over five thousand girls liked my pictures on Instagram, Facebook, wattsap, twitter, snap chat, and others today!"

"Ohh", my countenance changed.

He wasn't even gone yet and they've already started liking his pictures! I felt like my heart was being ripped to pieces.

"But what matters most is you liking them because my heart only beats faster for you", His words hit me like lightning would do to banana tree, and we both remained dumbfounded for few minutes.

"What am I supposed to do now? Promise to wait for you for as long as it takes", I was able to finally speak to him we both laughed.

"Then, I'll promise my ever-burning love for you and maybe about a month to this time, my d.p would have changed to that of a naked lady", We laugh once more then he continued."I'm going to miss you more than I can ever imagine".

"Isn't that enough reason to keep your eyes from other girls", Words started flowing well from my mouth.

"Don't wait for me, Nifemi", his tone changed."As much as I'd love to have you all to myself, I'm human. If my heart starts breathing faster for someone else, I wouldn't be able to do anything to control it and the last thing I want to do is hurt you".

"Sure", I struggled to control my emotions."You should do the same thing".

"Oh my goodness! You guys are the most boring couple I've ever seen", Rose made a mockery of us.

"I've always known you'll have boring romantic life, Cleo. Who ends a relationship that hasn't even started" Michelle backed her up.

"Oh, come on!" Shola scoffed."Not even a goodbye kiss?"

"Should we show them how it's being done?", Loveboy pulled Shola close to himself.

"Yh, and you also get ready to have yourselves permanently kicked out of here", Cleo and I laughed, seeing the way grandma was staring at them from a distance.

"Marie's high is just a useless school" Freaki served everyone a bottle of fruit wine round."How can they just disrupt a perfect love story? I swear if this yeye guy remained here, he wouldn't have no choice but to date her", He high fived loveboy.

"E ma gba mi ke", he laughed hysterically."Were you guys planning to force me into a relationship ni? Besides, I like what Marie's high did no matter how much it hurts".

"Would you at least sing her a love song?" Michelle suggested.

"Thanks but no", I quickly rejected the offer." Do you guys want me to cry?"

"Why not?" They all laughed.

"It's okay, darling", Shola patted my back."It's normal for people to cry when they get heartbreaks".

"Yh, sure but grandma's still watching us", I used her as an excuse.

"Don't worry, I'll find a way to distract her."My devil of a cousin named Bola went to meet grandma and she disappeared into thin air.

Cleo was forced to sing along to beginning by Joe boy, then Jealous by fire boy, and many others. During this period, we have fun dancing but when he requested for 'happier', I had to find an escape route to my bedroom since I can no longer control my emotions. Even when Bola came to inform me that my friends were already prepared to go home, I begged her to see them off on my behalf.

MURTALA MUHAMMED AIRPORT 🛫   🛄

When Bola returned from the errand I sent her the previous day, she gave me a note from Cleo which said his flight was scheduled for this morning. As soon as I finishing reading it, I showed grandma so she didn't stop Uncle Bayo from giving me a ride here.

I tried to drift into wonderland each time I closed my two sad yet happy eyes last night, but they couldn't work with me. They stayed wide open as I thought of the beautiful memories I had with him.

So by the time the first cock crowed, I was already having a quick bath in my bathroom. I would have taken more time to do that no matter how cold the weather is, especially because we're on holiday, but my mood wouldn't let me. Everything I did that morning was done sharply, but taking breakfast wasn't included. I didn't have the appetite to eat even the best mean in the world.

"Hey, you made it", Cleo smiled and embraced me for a while at the airport. His African boy appearance had changed to that of a playboy🤣! 

I mean he looked too hot for someone like me. I enjoyed the sweet scent of his perfume and wanted to keep sniffing it forever. I also badly wanted to play with the tiny strands of beards popping under his chin but I didn't even have the courage to touch them briefly or just tease him about them.

"Hi, darling. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it to your party yesterday. My sister had her wedding anniversary", Mrs. Martins made me aware of her presence because all my eyes could see then was Cleo.

"It's okay, ma", I smiled.

"And I'm sorry about your friend as well", she patted my back as she embraced me.

"Oh, gosh. Are we going to spend the whole day doing this?"Michelle prepared us for a photoshoot."Everyone say cheese"

And cheese we said....

"You have to keep being a good guy...and promise me you'll have a distinctive result...You are only permitted to have As" I said as he was about to leave.

"Even you?", he grumbled." Why do you guys have so much faith in me? Can't you even pamper me for once?"

"Nah. To whom much is given, much is expected", I remained him of our favorite Bible passage.

"Alright...I'll try my best", He gave us each a final hug." I'm going to miss the three most important women in my life".

"And we'll miss you too", his mother hugged him once again while I restrained myself, even though I also wanted to do that.

"Bye", he waved at us after walking a distance, and we waved back at him.

"In case you plan to cry, I have many lonely handkerchiefs like you in the car", Those were the only words Michelle could say to comfort me.

"Don't mind her", Mrs. Martins was on my side."You'll be fine. You're a very strong person".

"Thanks, ma'am", I was glad to have met someone like her.

" So what are your plans for today?"She asked as we headed back to the Island.

"I don't really have a plan yet", I told her.

" If you don't mind, you can join me in making sharwama. I've been craving homemade one for long", she told me.

"That's cool! I'll join you if grandma permits me", I took a sip from a bottle of cold water lying beneath my legs in the passenger's seat.

"I smell flames", Michelle sniffled."Thank God I'm having brunch at Roses' place"

"You're just hating because you know we're going to make a pretty good team.", I stick out my tongue at her.

"That's my girl!", Mrs. Martins smiled broadly.

*******
So a year ago, my life experienced a lot of chaos. Then, I wouldn't have thought I would be in the kind of position right now, but I am because a special someone made a huge impact in my messed up life.

I don't know what the future has in store for us. I don't know if our relationship can ever be the same, but one thing I do know is he'll always have a special place in my heart! Marie's high won't be the same without him.

The end...

A/N:
A big thank you to you all for sticking with Marie's high till the end but we aren't done yet. Please try as much as possible to share this book with your friends and don't hesitate to give me feedback about it.

I think Cleo did the right thing by not giving Nifemi false promises, what do you think? Do you think he didn't start a relationship with her because he didn't love her enough? Your opinions will be highly appreciated😁😍

This book is dedicated to every minor out there struggling to control their feelings so they won't make decisions that can jeopardize their future.

And of course, our journey isn't going to end well, I'm going to start publishing another teen fiction book titled, "The Externals" so anticipate😉

If you want me to make a sequel to Marie's high, kindly say in the comment section.
Thank you once again for your love and support.
Yours teenfictionly,
Eniola Oluwamuyiwa