Chapter 83

Jade’s POV

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yessssssss!!!!!!!!" I probably said the word yes a million times. The whole crowd cheered and he kissed me live, letting honey men to growl, and his admirers jealous. And that was certainly a we are taken message to everyone.

Attention was diverted to me, and I knew I got lot of stares. Tears ran down my cheeks as his lips sealed the proposal. After he got up, the celebration continued, but people's camera were still flashing at us.

Who knew this day was ever going to come? It wasn't as a result of what will be, will be. Every relationship deserves a chance. If he's around and you think he deserves a chance with you, give it a try. If he's gone, then he's gone. If he's back again, see it as a second chance life is throwing at you. If I had not step in for this trial, we wouldn't be here. Everyone on the table congratulated us. It was a beautiful moment for me. He wasn't perfect, I couldn't change him. You can never change a man. Any man whoever claims to love you will do his best to become better for you. That's not changing him, but moulding him to be a better person in himself, and that's because he met you. You made him realize that.

That night was my memorable day. I glanced, watched, rocked, touched, and smiled at the most beautiful ring ever shining on my little finger. I wasn't crying all because Gori proposed to me, but at that moment, I realized how far I had come. How far I had fought, and still fighting. And that was because God put a fight in me. I was that girl That girl who made a mistake that tried to hold her back, drag her into the mud,

take her dream away from her and wanted to see her give up. And if I had given up, my mistake would have turned me into a bitter person. At that point, I realized life proposed defeat to me. Life proposed the opposite of what I wanted. Life caught me unaware, but along the way, I returned the ring back because I wanted a better proposal!

At some point, many of us have said yes to a proposal we never wanted. A proposal that looks like what we want, but turns out to be a different thing. It happens so suddenly, and we thought that was the end. We thought that was what we were destined for. Till death do us part. But the moment I realized my life was in my hands, I opted out. And if the only option means I had to fight my way in for the proposal I deserve, I was glad I fought my way through. Sometimes, life will not serve you want you want. You have to get to your feet, walk into the room, and prepare your meal! You know exactly how you want it.

Before reaching home, the news already spread like an unquenched fire that set the social media ablaze. I guess I forgot I got engaged to the President's son, and that was expected to happen. In a twinkle of an eye, everything changed totally for me. Our pictures were every where including my name. Bloggers didn't take chill at all. They all spread the news with different caption.

'Finally the President's son is taken!'

'Goriola Adams proposed to his lucky girlfriend, and the mother of his child.' 'Our crush is gone. Why Jadesola?'

'That handsome, tall boy is taken. Ladies keep searching in another direction."

Some captions brought smiles to my face, while some made me frown. I got calls from people I knew, and the ones I didn't. My missed calls was filled with unknown numbers. On getting home that night, Mom and Dad called me. I walked in, and sat in between them.

"Jade," my Dad began immediately I sat in between them. "Are you sure about this?" "Sure about what? That's not why we called her now."

"Will you let me talk." Dad gave mom a look of this woman, I know what I'm doing. I smiled and signal to mom to let him continue.

"Jade," he started again. "We are so proud of you for choosing to look past your mistake. You really have made us proud because not every child out there going through what you went through have the courage to ignore more

temptations, and focus on their priorities." His eyes danced with happiness, and I believe he was truly happy for me.

"Darling," he continued. "You have one more year to go, and I can't believe you are almost a graduate." His smile turned big. "Jadesola..." He dragged with a smile still on his lips bringing out his right hand for a shake.

"Congratulations on getting engaged." My smile turned to a small chuckle. That was my Dad for you. The Coker man himself! I shook his hand, and hugged him. "Dad, thank you so much for everything. I'm glad I have you and mom by my side." Sincerely, I was grateful for having them because I knew not all parents would accept their child's mistake, and help her back to her feet.

Many girls like me wish someone would just trust them again, accept them again, show love and kindness to them, advice them, guide their decisions like before, and give them a lifting hand because some of us did realize our mistakes. Few beatings are okay, word lashing is okay too, but abandoning her, casting her aside, making her feel lonely in this lonely world...will only, or might lead her into making more

mistakes. I was glad I had someone like big mommy, like Kemi, Miracle, Kelvin, Pearl, Ladi, and beautiful parents who after throwing blames at me still supported me

through the journey. No matter what, parents should never abandon their children because they will always be our guide.

When it got to mom's turn to talk, tears was the first thing that expressed how she felt. For as long as I could remember, we hugged each other, and I couldn't help the tears that slowly ran down my cheeks too. That moment, only women could feel it better. The love of a mother I knew when I became one. When she found her voice, prayers were the words that filled her mouth. She prayed through tears while hugging me, and blessing Gori and I even though he wasn't present. Through the tough journey, I had come to love mom, and saw her in a new light. She could be strict, tough, and hard on me, but still, this woman loved me so much. Everyone expected her to spoil me as her only child, but her affection towards me was different, and I thought she was just too much.

Getting back to school, I was faced with a new life entirely. Of course, Funmi

attacked me. She was angry, disappointed, and couldn't believe I could do such thing. They wondered how Gori and I met, stayed so quiet about our relationship, and how it turned out that he was Arabella's father. I was being honest because Funmi really liked him, and I didn't know how to break the news to them and not hurt my dear friend, Funmi.

After I explained how Gori and I met, with everything I had been through, Funmi almost cried. Haleema felt bad for accusing me, and Chioma was the first to apologize as the rest joined, and finally congratulated me. When I thought I would not be taking my personal car Gori bought for me, I realized he had his reasons. One of them was people walking up to me to ask me unheard, foolish, and annoying questions. People will always be strange sometimes!

••••••••••••

This was my best day. I was more than excited letting my happiness to flow and get the best of me because this graduation was once, and it was never coming back to repeat it self. We took pictures, and celebrated with one another. I was finally a graduate, and it was so real that I couldn't contain my happiness. My joy was filled, and running over because nothing was able to piss me off, and that was because no one did anyways.

He looked down at me after the whole treat he gave me. "Congratulations on being a graduate." He moved his hand behind my back, and kissed me. I smiled in between because I knew he had wanted that all day, but couldn't because I was with my family, and friends. I put my two hands around his neck in response for him to know I was in for that sweet kiss, and I wanted it all day too. Mom, Dad, Kemi, Pearl, big mommy, and big Daddy all came for my graduation except from Ladi who was not around, and Miracle had returned back to the states. Been long I heard from Kelvin. Gori also brought Bella who spent her holidays at his parent's place. His Dad was no longer the President, but then, attention was not shifted on Gori himself. He was a celebrity himself.

"Arrghhh!" He sounded not pleased, staring at me. "Do you have to go?"

I laughed at him, taking my seat on his long, black leather sofa. I wished I could spend the whole day at his place, but then I knew another celebration was waiting for me at home cause mom reminded me with a text when Gori was taking me to make sure I didn't take long. He sat beside me, very, very close. "What's with the smile?" He asked resting his back on the sofa.

I turned to him still smiling. "Because it's my graduation boy."

He chuckled so slowly, using his left hand to pull me closer to him. My chest rested on his, and he looked down at me. "I want us to get married before you go to law school."

I believed he saw the expression on my face. Shocked! We've actually discussed, and concluded about the matter he brought up again. We agreed till I was done with law school, but he seemed really impatient. "Gori-"

He shut my mouth with a slow kiss letting my whole body responding to his mouth magic before moving his mouth away. "I already talked to your mom and Dad about it. My parents are ready too. Jade I can't wait any longer.

Please don't make me."

This time, I was the one who moved up, and kissed him. "I love you Goriola. If that's what you want, and both parents have agreed, then babe, I can't wait too. Thank you for coming back into my life. Thank you for making me a real queen. I love you more than you can ever imagine. You are a candy every lady wish to have for the rest of her life." He smiled at me, and winked with his left eye, feeling himself as he rubbed his stubble up, and down. I let him as I continued. "You and Arabella are the best thing that has ever happened to me." I gave him a quick kiss. "I love you."

I guess he wasn't that pleased with the second to the last statement. "So, someone is sharing my feelings now.

Arrgghh!!!" He sounded like he wanted to cry.

I laughed at his silly statement, and reaction. See this old man. Of course, I didn't say that out. If I had said that out, he would go about trying to show me how his bones were strong. Gori was definition of trouble maker whenever he has time for one.

"What are you thinking? Trying to call me an old man...hmmm!" He tickled me, and I burst out laughing knowing I had said that in my mind. "Baby no!" I lied laughing as he tickled me. I laid down on the sofa laughing. "Gori, I beg you...see, the time is going. I have to start going."

"No babe, that's not how to beg a man." I smell trouble.

His body came on top of me, and when he looked down to the blessing of God on my chest flowing from left to right as a result of my laughter, he shook his head and muttered slowly. "Chai! Kapaichumarimarichopaco!" I burst into laughter. His expression, and use of slang can make one laugh till eternity.

"Hmmm..." A voice was cleared. I realized there was someone in the sitting room, but Gori didn't move. I looked up at him, only to have him responded instead of getting up. "Go wait for me, we will talk when I'm done. It's my sister," he said.

That was why I needed him to stand up. Bella told me how Lola was so nice to her. I couldn't believe my ears, but I was glad she didn't transfer the dislike she had for me on my daughter. Gori finally moved away, and immediately I got up to my feet stopping her. "Thank you so much for taking care of Bella. She told me everything."

She faced me, putting her long weavon behind her ear with her manicured fingers. "It's okay Jade. I really like Bella.

Thanks for letting her spend some time with us. Bro, I'm up," she said, and turned away, hitting the tiles with her heels as she walked upstairs pressing her phone.

I sat back, glancing at Gori. "She doesn't like me still."

He smiled at me. "She finds it a bit hard to accept how she feels for a person until she's totally into that person. But I thought you never care."

I looked up at Gori. "I care now that we are getting married. I really want to get to know her. My Bella is so into her. Like, she's the nicest person on earth to her."

Gori laughed. "Bella feels right. Apart from being annoying at times, Lola is caring when she likes you. But you guys don't agree because you seem not to like defeat and you are both quick to put people in place."

"Well, sometimes you have to because some people can take you for granted when you are too slow to put them in their place."

He laughed. "With time, you will both come around. Can't force her, but she knows she has to respect you."

I understood Gori. You can't force anyone to like another person. But then, I knew she liked her brother a lot, and the time spent with Goriola, I realized they were closed than the rest of their siblings.

The moment I walked into the house, my eight years old Arabella shouted. "You are the best mama ever!" Holding a cardboard, with words written on it with her handwriting...

I LOVE YOU MOMMY.

I smiled at her. I was the luckiest mommy on earth ever!