Chapter 19

"Julia, I like you,” Mathew had been confessing his feelings for Julia for minutes now. It was just after their final paper, they had test. Julia had been overwhelmed about how well she answered the questions and had been so excited and grateful throughout. They had gathered at the lawn to eat snacks and gist after school instead if reading, they all decided to rest their brains. It had worked overtime for a long time now. It was no doubt that the four had prepared extra well for this particular exam. They waited hours after school trashing difficult topics, debating and discussing. While on Saturdays and Sundays, they went to Julia's place to read. They all bad their personal times to read too.

Matthew and Zoe had never been so committed to helping others before. Zoe felt good about it and explaining to others what she knew made her understand it better. Corper Gbenga had been around at every study, supervising them. On Saturdays and Sundays, he was the first to get to the Briggs' place. The four friends had teased him about his crush on Julia's sister, Ann, but he always denied the obvious.

Their studying was sure to earn them excellent results in this test and the exams to come. Julia and Zion were so glad to have met these ones. During this time, Matthew couldn't hold back his feelings anymore. He had ranted his emotions to Zion, who had encouraged him to tell Julia how he felt. And her he was, looking Julia in the face and telling her how amazing he thought she was. How selfless and wonderful she was, he couldn't help but confess how much he admired her single dimple and her tiny voice. How much he wished to hug her and look after her all day. How he could change his style of baggy things just to impress her. He let out his heart in well-constructed words. Right there, in front of everyone, at the garden lawn.

“What??” Julia stuttered. She was surprised at what her ears were hearing. Or was she asleep? She face-palmed her face to make sure this was real, and really it was. Her heart leaped at Matthew's words while her expression remained deadpan. Did Matthew just say he liked her? The genius? The one that always compete with Zoe for prizes and won sometimes. The one with saggy glasses that made him look cute whenever he adjusted it? Oh. How she wanted to tell him she like him too. That she had liked him since forever. How she wanted to tell him that her heart start beating fast for him when he shared his textbook with her the first day of Senior School one. How it broke her heart that he chased Zoe who didn't like him one bit. How she wanted to tell him she loved nerds and her taste started when she met him.

But she remained dead pan, unable to say a thing.

"So, Julia I ask. Can you be my girlfriend?” Matthew finally ended his long speech.

"Woww. Hold it there. Relationship, dating? Are you guys ripe for that?” Gbenga said. The first person to say a word since Matthew started talking.

"Gbenga!!!” Zoe shouted him down, as he threw his hands in the air.

"At least he's making moves here. Corper Gbenga you are ripe, aren't you? When are you going to ask Ann out?” Zion dissed. Gbenga mouth fell wide open while Zoe mad Zion burst into laughter.

"Let's just savor this moment for now. After this, Zion 70 frog jumps in the staff room,” Gbenga said. Zoe laughing. “And you. 30 for aiding dissing.”

Their jaws dropped as they walked toward Gbenga, rubbing his shoulders playfully and singing sorry into his ears.

"Err. I don't know Matthew,” Julia finally said, bringing all attention back to them. “I don't know,” Julia said as she rushed out of the garden, carrying her bag with her.

Matthew watched as she left.

"Hope I didn't say anything wrong,” Matthew asked looking very worried.

"No, you didn't. She just needs time to process your sweet speech. Take this coming from a relationship expert!” Gbenga said.

“And you are still single!” Zoe said. Gbenga rolled his eyes as he sat down.

"Just calm down. She'll come around,” Zoe said.

~~~~

Gbenga's phone rang as they walked outside the schools premises. They didn't read today so there were still a lot of people around. Gbenga smile as he started at the callers ID.

“Hello Mummy,” Gbenga said like a baby as he picked the call. Just then Zion's ride arrived, Matthew and Zion were going shoe shopping, so Matthew followed him. They waved at them as they entered the car.

"What?!!! Mom, you are here?” Gbenga said excitedly, gushing like a child. Zoe's eyes widened as she listened to their conversation.

“Yes dear. I'm at a restaurant, Riggs Delight, a few miles from you,” the woman on the phone said, sounding as pleasant as ever, causing Zoe to smile just by hearing her voice.

"Oh my,” Gbenga jumped. “I know that place. I'm on my way mum,” He said excitedly.

“Be quick. I want us to visit my niece today,” his mom said.

"Mum! Yes Zoe. What a coincidence. Mum she's here with me! We will come to you together,” Gbenga replied holding Zoe by the shoulder.

“Wao. Please. Wao, I get to see my brother's child.”

They ended the call, Gbenga and Zoe started walking towards the west side of the area where the restaurant was located. Zoe was nervous as she didn't know how to act. This was the first time she was seeing anyone from her late father's family. She didn't know how to react. Although she knew she was excited, could that be the right way to feel? Nevertheless, this was a great thing happening. And she was just going to hold her cousin’s hands happily as they walked to the Riggs Delight restaurant.

They entered the restaurant, and the woman was the first to noticed them. She waved at them just to get their attention. Gbenga jerked excitedly at the sight of the mother, if not for his khaki uniform which was his identity as a youth corp. Anyone would think he was a young teenager, who just met his mother after a travel.

They walked briskly to where the woman was sitting. And the more Zoe got closer to the woman seated, the more she saw an older version of herself. The resemblance was striking, and there was no doubt she was related to this woman. The looked to alike. High cheek bones, large eyes, and full lips. Their skin color was exactly the same too, if not that Zoe knew her mother, she would have said this woman gave birth to her.

"Mum,” Gbenga called as they reached the table, planting a kiss on her cheeks. Gbenga's mom, Elizabeth smiled as they hugged. She stood up and watched the young lady in her front. Forcing tears in, she saw her late brother in her. And she cursed inside her, the woman who was the cause of her brother's death. Remembering that about 18 years ago, Gbemiga her brother had come home with Darasimi. She was beautiful looked so sophisticated, the kind of woman anyone would want to marry. But her mother, Gbemiga's stepmother had disagreed with their union. That had caused a rancor in the family, since Gbemiga's mother was already dead. Elizabeth herself had questioned her mother's decision but it all fell on deaf ears. Her mother had seen all this happening. Unfortunately, her mother was dead now, but if she was still alive, she would have told her she was right.

Darasimi had prevented Gbemiga from talking to his family members after their marriage. A marriage they did in the city, in secret, without any member of the family aware. As if that wasn't enough, she had pushed and pushed him until he died an untimely death. Not up to a year after that she had married another man, how convenient!

"Zoe?” Elizabeth called. Zoe nodded as she was lost for words. "Come here!” Elizabeth pulled her in a long warm hug, holding her tightly as though she was never letting go.

"I never thought I would see my brother's offspring ever. But God worked it this way,” she said.

“I never thought I would meet any one from my father's family. But God worked it this way,” Zoe muttered looking Elizabeth in the eye, she hugged her tightly and rested her head on Elizabeth shoulders.

“Your mother made us stay far from you and your sister.”

“Yeah, she did,” Zoe said sadly “It is well.”

They sat down and ordered food. Gbenga and his mother did some catching up. While Zoe talked about her life when her father was alive and when he died.

"You had such a beautiful childhood!” Elizabeth said.

“Yes, my Dad was there,” Elizabeth smiled weakly.

“Gabriel's childhood was interesting too. He was a cute little baby until he grew this big!” Elizabeth said.

“Really,”

“Yeah. In fact, he used to dress like a girl back then. Really cute,” Elizabeth said as she took a spoonful of food. Zoe burst into laughter while Gbenga frowned

"Mom!!!” He cautioned. Elizabeth smiled and gestured a sorry at him.

"He must have really looked cute then"

"Yes, he did!”

•••••••

Matthew stared at the ceiling; he couldn't find sleep. He still didn't know if he made the right decision telling Julia how he felt. He couldn't get over the look on her face earlier today as she listened to him talk. The images glued in his memory, when he closed his eyes and opened it, it was still there. Making it difficult for him to think straight.

The way he felt was different. And he couldn't understand why. He had liked Zoe for over five years but he didn't feel this way. How he felt breathless whenever he thought of Julia. How he always smiled whenever he heard her tiny voice. How he wished he could teach her all, all, he knew so she could do well in the examination. How he always felt like pulling her in a deep hug whenever he saw her.

He was still lost in thoughts when his phone rang.

He picked it up without checking the caller's ID.

"Hello,” the caller said. Matthew's ears tingled in delight as her heard that voice. That tiny voice that had made him fall in love. He checked his caller ID and his heart fluttered at the caller.

Julia ❤️

He brought the phone back to his ear and responded.

"Hello Julia.”

"How are you?” She asked.

"I'm fine. What about you?”

“I'm good,” there was loud silence as each didn't know what to say.

“Did you get home safely?” Matthew asked breaking the silence.

“Yes, I did,” Julia responded.

“Okay…” This is awkward, Matthew thought.

"I'm sorry for running off earlier,” Julia apologized.

"No problem I understand. I'm sorry for that too. I should have really waited, I'm sorry,”

“No Matthew. No need to be sorry.”

“Julia. I know you want to focus now, and I don't want to be a distraction. Please forget all I said.,” Matthew said, trying to convince himself that he meant it

"No Matthew. I can't,” Julia said. Her voice making his heart flutter. "Because…I like you too.”

Matthew couldn't believe his ear. He jumped and sat up immediately. Did Julia just say what he thought she said?

"Sorry. Come again, I didn't get you.”

He could hear her breathe heavily and he was worried if he was giving her a hard Time. He couldn't bear to see her in pain because of him, he really needed to put an end to this.

"I said I like youuu,” Julia said in something that sounded like a shriek.

"You…. You...like me?” Matthew stuttered. A smile finding its way to his face.

"Yes I do!” Julia said, "for years now. And now even more. I love you.”