looks just like her mum when she was about
that age."
"Don't I
look the same now?" Yemi's mother teased as she linked her hands
with her husband's.
"Of
course you do, my dear. You are just as beautiful as
ever."
"I quite
agree, sir," Akeem joined in. "I can see where Yemi got her looks
from."
They
chatted with her parents for a while before setting off. Yemi was
pleased at how easily Akeem got along with her parents. She could
tell that they liked him a lot and were very impressed with his
manners. Her parents had initially had some reservations about
their relationship because of the differences in their ages and
Akeem's social status, but all that had been erased when they met
him.
"So
how's my first-class honours girl doing?" Akeem asked her as he
nosed his car onto the motorway. "Has it sunk in yet?"
"It
still feels so surreal! I remember how shaky I was when I went to
check the results."
"I was
just as nervous as you were yesterday. When my phone rang and I saw
your number, I was almost too scared to pick it."
Yemi
laughed. "No wonder it rang for a while before you answered it. I
thought it was because you were in a meeting."
"No, I
was just biting my nails and hoping with all my heart that
everything was okay."
"Well,
I'm glad that it's all over," Yemi sighed happily. There were times
when she still woke up at night thinking that she had to study
before it would dawn on her that she was truly done with school and
exams.
"Do you
remember my family friend, Sesan?" she asked him. Akeem nodded.
"It's always been assumed by everyone that he would graduate with
first-class honours very easily, but amazingly he didn't. He came
out with a second-class upper."
"That's
still okay."
"You
don't get it." Yemi turned slightly in her seat towards him. "Sesan
is brilliant! Easily cleverer than me any day. So this is such a
surprise to everyone."
"Well,
now you've beaten him, so that should make you happy."
"Not
really. I'm more puzzled about what could have happened to
him."
"Like I
said, he'll be all right. He does not even need a degree to be
successful, but hey, let's not talk about academics or anything
like that tonight." He gave her an injured look. "I'm still
trying to get over the trauma of you rationing the time we spent
together when you were studying for your exams."
Yemi
laughed. "I'm all yours now, at your beck and call!"
A
crooked smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "How about making
that offer permanent?"
"How do
you mean?"
"How do
you think I mean?"
"I have
no idea."
"Really?"
Yemi
didn't reply. He glanced at her smiling, averted face and laughed
softly before changing the topic.
"I've
heard about this place. Everyone says it's so glamorous," Yemi said
as Akeem pulled into the parking lot of Navagne, a five-star hotel
that had been recently opened on Victoria Island.
"I felt
I needed to take you somewhere really special tonight to celebrate
your success," Akeem said as he parked the car.
They
walked into the hotel and were escorted to their table. Yemi looked
at the interior of the hotel in admiration. The lights from the
chandeliers cast a magical glow over everything.
"Nicer
and nicer." She said as they were seated in the VIP section, where
Akeem had booked them a table.
"Only
the best is good enough for my girl," Akeem said, pulling out her
chair for her before sitting down himself. "It's good to see you
looking relaxed again."
She
leaned over and touched his hand. "Thanks for being there for
me."
"I'll
always be there for you, baby," Akeem said softly, taking her hand
in his. "Always."
Yemi
didn't know if it was possible to love him any more than she
already did. He was everything she had always desired and more. "Me
too," she said, holding his gaze.
The
tender moment was interrupted by a waiter coming to take their
orders. Some minutes later, another waiter brought their
drinks.
"I'll
likely be popping into my office at Abuja this week," Akeem said
after the waiter had left.
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