AFTER ALL THESE YEARS Episode 1

Am the first born child and daughter of  Abolarin Abode an average Nigeria man, My name is Isaac AbodeAdejoke Henrietta . Everybody calls me Adejoke except my Dad, who only calls me Henrietta. The first daughter of a family of three kids (two girls and a boy) My Parents are civil servants. am a student of Unilag (University of Lagos) I'm intelligent, emotional,beautiful, tall, size 8, dark skin. I can classify myself as a good girl because I was raised well by my Parents. I’m not an introvert and I’m not an extrovert either. Let me just say I’m in between.

Olu and I are level mate, same department. We’ve been very good friends since 100 level. He’s the best student in class with the highest CGPA followed by me, making us the best two student in class. By the time we got to 200l I realized he had feelings for me. Truth be told I have feelings for him too. The eye contact we exchange in class, especially during practical’s when we are grouped together and all that but we shy away from it.

What attracted me to him was the fact that he was brilliant, tall and handsome. I love brilliant guys. And all my male friends back home are brilliant as well. 

One fateful day, he told me after class that he’d like to discuss something with me. I was scared because I know what he wanted to say. He held my hands. Adejoke, I like you, I know we are friends and....

all but I want us to take this friendship to another love

Another level! I don’t get you I pretended as if I don’t understand what he was saying.

I know you know what I mean, but if you want me to say it out loud I will. So say it out loud I want you to be my girl, I really like you, I like you too but I don’t like the idea of dating my class mate. We see each other every day I explained.

That shouldnt be a barrier, or what do you think? I’ll think about it Please do, I hope I’ll get a positive reply I just smiled at him. Olu finally let it out, and profess his love for me. See you tomorrow Olu I said and walked away.

I came back from school and I met commotion at my lodge. What’s going on here I asked one of my lodge mate. Its Bolu's parent o they came to pack her things Why is that? You won’t believe it, she has been rusticated since 100l and she never told her parent about it. That’s not possible, she do go for classes, in fact I’ve met her in lecture theaters severally and if during exams we go for night classes together She’s just acting o, she no more a student of this school Adejoke, so you don’t know all this while, I have known since Another girl in my lodge joined the conversation.

Really, I never noticed, because most times we even go to school together in the morning Her parents thought she was in final year o, and she’s been collecting school fees from them o. Na only school fees pain you, she even collected #200,000 for project.

Jesus! This is so unfair to her parents nau. Thank God for the good Samaritan that revealed the truth to them She even denied it, not until her parent went to her so called department and discovered the whole truth.This is so sad, She made a big mistake, she should have open up to them or better still use all the money she’s been collecting to get a Jamb form and try again.

She wrote Jamb twice after she was rusticated, but she was denied admission Its not compulsory she stays in this school, she should have opt for another university If she change university the truth go come out na, you know the thing weh pain me pass What is it I asked She’s the only child o, and she’s making her parent suffer and waste money like this Eh ya, but it’s not to late, she can still start all over again, I believe she has learnt her lessons If na my papa o, no school for you again o. He don finish for you be that That won’t help her, I believe she can still start all over again, everyone deserves a second chance I said

Bolu's parents were through packing her things with the help of some guys. They all entered into the car. Bolu was sitting at the back seat. I walked up to her and held her hand. While her Dad was still doing one or two things in the car. I seize the opportunity to have a word with her.

Bolu you dont have to cry, tears wont repair all the damage. Just make sure you don’t give up on yourself. Thank you Adejoke she sniffed.

You can start a fresh, you can be whatever you want to be. All you need is determination Thank you my daughter her mummy said to me. It’s nothing ma, please ma, don’t give up on her. I know how you feel right now, but it’s not the end of the road for her Thank you dear she said Thank you, thanks for the advice, I’ll try my best Bolu Dad said You are welcome sir, I pray you and mummy will reap the fruit of your labor Amen they chorused.

I faced Bolu, it’s not a crime to fall, but the most important is too rise again. May God be with you Amen she nodded, crying out loud. I will give you a call I said She nodded. Safe journey I said and waved at them as the car took off.

I went straight to my room and crashed on my bed, I was tired and famished at the same time.I thought about Bolus case again, I really felt sorry for her parent.

Weeks later, Olu and I started dating. Trust people, they noticed in no time. We are already tagged couples. Some girls in class who has eyes on him gave me attitudes but I understand. I know they secretly envied me because I was dating the most intelligent guy not only in the department but even in the faculty. I know how they flock around him all in the name of tutorials, but he never gave them attention.

With time they realized we are for real and gave up. Even the guys discovered that they can only get him to tutor them through me, so they have no choice than to be on my good books. With time the girls started relating well with me and everything was back to normal again.

Olu and I became so close and inseparable; we spent most of our free time together.

Some months later, he came to my room in the evening to check on me. We chatted for a while and all of a sudden we started this stupid rough play. He kissed me, caressed me. I wanted to stop him but I couldn’t. I realized things are getting more heated between us, so I gathered all the strength in me and stop him. 

I moved away from him.

Olu please stop, you are trespassing

Trespassing!

Olu what do you want from me

I want you

I’m a virgin, I don’t want to lose it, not now

You want to keep it for your man, right

I nodded

I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I’m not just dating you for the fun of it, I’m in this for real. I want to marry you

You can’t be so sure, we still have a long journey ahead of us

I will never disappoint you, I will never hurt you, I promise

I eventually gave in, he undressed me, I was shy at first, I’ve never been unclad in the presence of a guy before, I grabbed my cover cloth to cover myself. He pulled the cover cloth gently from my body.

You don’t have to be shy, look at me, I’m unclad too

I couldn’t bring myself to look at him, I was even scared of seeing him unclothed.

My church mind was saying otherwise, but I gave in after so much persuasion. I lost my virginity that very night. Before now I promised myself not to lose my virginity until I’m married, but I broke my promise and gave myself to him.

That night he slept in my room for the first time. And ever since that night we started having sex on a regular basis.

Exam came, we read and studied together( exam didn't stop us from having sex)But we don’t sit together in the exam hall. We sit separately. We do submit our answer booklets almost at the same time. So we leave the exam hall together.

Our result came out the next semester and he was still leading the class with the highest CGPA followed by me. I was happy our relationship did not get in the way of our academics.

By the time we got to 300l, Olu and I practically lived together in his self contained apartment in school. Its not that I don’t have my own room, I do but he wanted me to be a live in girlfriend.I don’t like the cohabitation idea in the first place but I eventually agreed to it. I only go to my place once in a while to clean up and do one or two things. I only sleep in my room when my relative came visiting especially my mum.

Our love waxed stronger, we do things together and things were going on smoothly between us. Then the worst happened.

TBC.......