Chapter 81

Jade’s POV

I was done with my exams, and in less than two weeks, I was going to resume into fourth year. Gori and I had become very close, and now talk more often. I felt like he was taking his time because Kemi kept asking if he popped any question which both of us knew what she meant, but I said not at all because he had not said anything to me yet. How we spent time together was by hanging out, having a nice time, catching up with old times, talking, and most times, whatsapp video call is where we get to continue the rest of the hang out. I found myself replying his messages on time, and would always look forward to talk to him but then, it took the whole of our time because we never ran out of words, and would always take half a whole day.

He told me he already told his mom, and when I asked him about his Dad, he said I shouldn't worry about him cause he was aware already. I felt like he was trying to hold some words back from me, but I didn't push him. After I was satisfied with the relationship between Gori and Arabella, I decided it was time I tell her, and both mom and Dad supported my decision. The moment I came back from school, the one and only name that kept coming out of Arabella's mouth to me was 'Mr. President's son'. How he bought her that, how he gave her this, how they went out together, and

came back with something for grandma. Of course, mom also added how Gori had been nice to them since he started visiting.

I love the fact that everyone adores him in my family. Even if Dad wasn't saying much, or tell me to ask him come over for both of them to meet each other, I still believe Dad respected him, and somewhere in his heart he saw him as a responsible guy. Telling Arabella the truth about who Goriola was to her seem a bit hard, but eventually I did it. I told her, and she couldn't hide her shock. Her eyes expressed so much, full of questions that I wasn't sure I could find answers to all of them. She was confused, and was asking Grandma a lot of questions.

"Arabella, mommy has to tell you something," I started, and immediately she sensed something wasn't right. My mom was with me to encourage me, and not make me feel too nervous. While Arabella turned her head to mom, mom smiled back at her, nodding her head telling her to listen to me. I stared back at her, and held her hands tightly. "Arabella, the man in this house is my Daddy, and not your Daddy. Just like Grandma is my mommy, Grandpa is my Daddy too. Both of them gave birth to me.

Me alone." I slowly beat on my chest for her understand me well. I didn't know how else to start or say it. I just continued with how it came out from my mouth.

"Who is now my Dad?" She looked between Mom and I. She looked nervous, yet eager waiting for me to answer her question.

"Well," I heaved a sigh. "You see that Mr. Pressure son is your Dad. We gave birth

to you." I breathed slowly capturing her eyes with mine seeing the quick shock that came, and left immediately.

"Mr. President's son is my Dad?" It was more like a question, glancing between mom and I hoping one of us would say no, yes, somehow, likely, we just thought. But it was the truth. I nodded, and mom did too. "Yes Bella, he's your Dad, and that's the reason why he has been visiting you all these while."

Arabella moved towards me, and hugged me, crying. Her cry started slowly till she burst into tears, breathing heavily. "Thank you Thank,,, thank you so much

mommy. I like my Daddy. When are we going to start living with my Dad like Pauline, and Gloria? You and Daddy should also come and take me home like Gloria's parents," she added again, coming out of my embrace as she looked at me with her red eyes ready to continue saying more.

My mom couldn't take the scene because she felt for Arabella, and left. Before getting up, she gave me a look of this is what I've been telling you, now you know how she feels too. May God help mother, and daughter. Then she left.

I didn't know when I started crying with her. I realized she had so much bottled in her mind. She desired so much but she wasn't getting it, and part of her was sometimes sad when she saw how other families were. It became very clear to me why she wanted my Dad to always come for their school meeting, telling me to also come so we can take her home in the car, but I couldn't because of school, dad was

also busy as well, except grandma who always made time and found her way down there only to call me at night that Arabella was crying and has refused to eat supper. And of course, she would cry to my ears saying...mommy I'm so angry at you. But then, I knew how to calm her down by making a promise to come home the following weekend, and bought her favourite ice cream.

Ever since we told her, she became more happier to me. To my surprise, she told Dad, and even told some of her friends in school that my mom and I will soon start living with my Daddy till her class teacher heard, and called to congratulate me. I felt a bit embarrassed, and laughed it off telling Mr. Philip thank you than having to explain myself to him because I knew him too well to whine, and get more than I wanted to say from me. He was just that way, and almost all parents liked him for

his respect, how good he was to the children, and how friendly he was to we parents. During the video call, Arabella was always with me after she was back from lesson because Gori was intentionally calling at that time to reach both of us.

Gori had eventually asked me out on a date, and every time he called, he made sure to remind me causing me to break into laughter because it was too much of him, and I found it funny the way he passed the message across to me. As early as six in the morning, I received his text reminding me the day was here, and no devil would I be able to lie against cause they all have been permanently sacked from their job of holding people's memory down. When it was an hour close to the time we agreed a car was coming to pick me, he texted me again giving a girl who had not started preparing a shock of her life that the car was on its way. I ran around the house causing my mom to laugh at me. She anticipated this time with me, and had reminded me to start preparing but I told her I don't take long with my dressing.

When I stepped out in a nude, strap gown that held my curves tightly reaching below my knees, I saw a lot of people stopped on their track to stare, but not just at me as the limousine almost caused, and eventually led to some bodies hitting one another as they swear at each other. Oh heavens, I wasn't expecting that too. At one corner, I saw an old friend of mine I grew up together with in the same street but stopped being friends a long time ago trying to shine from a Glory she once condemned. Immediately I sensed she was about calling my name, I

blessed myself for getting a black shades too. I looked away, and climbed inside the limousine. She did herself a favour by not calling me the second time.

••••••••

I thought I was being taken to a restaurant, but then, the car drove inside a compound. I stepped down, and I couldn't help but admire what was before me. It was beyond beautiful, and was everyone's dream. The guy told me to go in, and he was gone. Okay, I didn't know what was coming out of this, so I smiled at myself. The moment I stepped in, what I saw melted my heart. I smiled so sheepishly unable to bring myself to believe Gori did what I was stepping on with my heels. Red of roses. On the wall with five steps forward, I read everything he hung on the wall.

'My beautiful Jade.' I smiled.

'There is a lucky man in this building.' I chuckled.

'He found a precious diamond who is in form of a woman. Her smile is just like the rising sun, no moon, star or anything on earth can ever be compared to.' My smile widened, brushing the little tear gathering down as I chuckled.

'He waited his whole life for this precious diamond, but he never knew he had her around him. What a loser he was."

'This diamond is everything he ever wanted, and still desire for. This diamond makes him smile, makes him grin like a little boy, makes him feel like a king as well, makes him complete...'

I couldn't believe I was becoming teary as I read them. I blinked my eyes to stop myself from crying as I kept walking fixing my gaze on the wall.

'Now he wants this diamond forever. He wants her. He wants you. Because you are this precious diamond. I love you so much Jadesola."

My heart skipped a bit, and immediately, I knew my tears had gotten a license to roll down because I couldn't hold them anymore. I knew I was the one, but then, the certain three words I read made my hand went straight to my heart which started racing. Gori loves me. I wondered if it was really true. I quickly wiped my tear to continue but looking down, there were no red roses again. It stopped exactly where I stood.

"I'm here." The voice made me turn around, and for the second time that night, I was thrown into night of surprises.

"Gori..." I tried to call him by his name, but he suddenly grabbed my waist, placing his lips on mine and everything ignited! For good seven years after what we did, no guy had kissed me. I made sure of that not to start what might burn me again. I turned everyone down, but this man, there was no power in my fierce spirit to stop this man. I kissed him back, and slowly I knew I was completely lost into the emotions because I realized how much I've missed him. We pulled apart staying put to regain our normal breaths. I couldn't look up at him. What was he thinking of me again? I thought.

"I couldn't help it," he said in a very low voice. I looked up to tell him it was okay but then, my mouth formed an o shape at what was slowly happening before me.

"Gori what are you doing?" I demanded looking straight into his eyes shocked. He saw them, and smiled.

"I have to do this please," he pleaded. My eyes had seen so much, but this it made

me see him in another dimension. Goriola was on his knees. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I realized how much I love you, and I need you to consider me." His voice was more like he was pleading.

He picked up a long paper, a look at it, I saw words scribbled on it to the last end. He opened his mouth and began reading out what he wrote. I wondered why he needed to go through this stress.

'I wrote this down because I might never be able to say it this way. As a teenager I was back then, I've lived a kind of life I'm not proud of today. I was that guy who lived that part of my life partying around, getting high, getting into fights and moving around with bad friends. Even before my Dad ever became the President, my siblings and I grew up with money, and being that rich kid, I had started to live my life at the age of sixteen. When I met you that

day, I never thought I would ever set my eyes on you again. Days after, I got involved in an accident that took the life of my precious best friend away. Jade, I wish I was the one death took away, and left my friend blind with hope of seeing again. But today, I'm not being selfish but I've realized life has reasons to everything according to God. He knew my life couldn't be replaced because there was something beautiful waiting for me. He couldn't take me away because he already preserved a precious diamond destined to make me see life the way he wants me to. He knew a lovely girl with an exceptional brain was going to come out of me, and one day I was going to see how wonderful he has been to me and remain grateful for the rest of my life.

Today, I want to let you know I'm sorry for all the pain I made you go through. All the insults you got for my sake. I'm sorry for those times I acted like you never existed. Jadesola, thanks for crossing my path. Thanks for showing your affection towards me despite who I was in the past. But now, I want to make it up to you, love you, care you for you, brighten your day with one of my killing smiles, take the turn of the lover boy. Jadesola Coker, please pride this boy by letting him in your heart. If in six month I am still no good, you can bre---"

I collected the paper, and threw it on the floor. "Never! Because I wouldn't just remain your girlfriend by then. You will have to promote me one day Mr. lover boy okay. Who knows, may be in six months time." I smiled down at him with my tears rolling down. I couldn't hide how I felt hearing him pour out all that to me on his knees. I hugged him to my stomach, and slowly, my left hand brushed his hair, hugging him tightly as I couldn't contain my happiness which brought more tears down. I lifted him up to his feet staring at him with my teary eyes. "I've always admired you Mr. President's son." He smiled hearing that. I smiled back. "You gonna be one best of a lover, husband, and a father. I love you Goriola Adams Gabr---"

He shut my mouth with a passionate kiss, and I couldn't help laughing during the kiss causing him to withdraw.

"Babe be serious. I don't play with work like this." I laughed putting my two hands around his neck. "I hope you know you have no access to anywhere apart from this." I pointed to my mouth.

Suddenly, his hand behind my back drew me closer causing my chest to pressed closer to his. I raised my brow smiling. "You are playing with fire."

He smiled down at me. "I like big, soft fire."

I bursted out laughing, and quickly released my hands from his neck. He seemed so serious that I stopped laughing to set a limit this time. I raised my left five fingers up, and touched the second to the last. "From what I realized, as long as this finger is still naked, no lady should ever get naked for a man."

He looked at me like, I've seen you before. Then I gave him a look of, this twenty three years old body is nothing compared to my sixteen years old body. Innovation happens every year.

He scratched his head like, this babe is serious o..."So, what if something covers that finger?" He asked.

"Well, I will gladly cover his little buddy anytime, any day because he can now have access to the deep things of a woman." I said, looking up to steal a glance at his reaction but we both did at the same time, and burst into laughter.

"Ahhhhhh!" He breathed heavily and fanned himself with his hands. "I think it's time to eat."

"Yea, time to eat." I chuckled witnessing the heat I caused for him as he wiped away the sudden sweat on his forehead. It is never too late for a girl to realize that because a guy claims to love you does not, and has not given him the permission to tour your body or make him think there is a body he can exercise his sexual excitement on anytime he wishes. There are processes to accessing the deep things of a woman. Show me I'm the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with.