"Will you marry me?" Dayo dared to ask the dreaded question. For a minute there, he felt brave while his heart drummed away. Now that he has heard his own voice, Dayo realised perhaps, he was being a bit too foolish. Joy's profound silence made him understand that maybe he'd crossed the line.

"Um... uh, the pastor from the church sug—suggested we get married because it seemed less liable to be the topic of discussion than us just living together without any bidding relationship."

Joy was yet to say anything. How could she? He had asked her a question. One that normally shouldn't have a dramatic effect on her. Instead, her heart raced on and she remained frozen. Not because she was scared or because she ran. But because... Adedayo Michael asked her to marry him. She'd always thought the strange tension between them whenever they were close was simply a natural phenomenon whenever a man and woman came closer. She didn't see it otherwise or gave attention to making out a new meaning.

"Joy." Adedayo lowered his head for a minute. "It's okay if your answer is no... we don't have to get married."

"Yes."

His brows arched up. "Y-yes?"

"I'll... I'll marry you."

Both stared at each other. Dayo knew he would've loved to hear those words from her but he also didn't quite expect it.

"You'll... you'll marry me?" He had to repeat, perhaps, he'd heard wrong the first time.

She nodded her head and said, "yes."

Again, there was silence in their midst. It was too good to be true. Adedayo scratched the back of his neck and lowered his eyes from her. He wanted to ask why. Why is she saying yes to his marriage proposal? Was it to be kind and repay him for his goodness or could there be a deeper meaning? Yet, he couldn't bring himself to ask. He feared the reply he might receive.

"Maybe you should think about it some more and tell me your final answer by morning." He mentioned before sliding down from his sitting position. "Goodnight." Dayo turned his back to her.

Joy laid down, closed her hands together and positioned them under her head. She stared at him. He was right. By morning if her decision still stands then maybe there definitely was something special going on.

Adedayo would love to be realistic but his head was becoming filled with the thought that she might be his someday. He shut his eyes tightly as if that would ward off those thoughts. He wanted her to be happy and whatever makes her happy should be her decision. Dayo also feared that her happiness might not be with him. Secretly, he wished that by morning, nothing about her decision would change.

It took a while before either eventually fell asleep and by morning, Adedayo was the first to wake up. As he had his bath, his mind kept wandering back to the thought that she would give her final decision today and it might be a no. It wasn't his first time getting disappointed but for some reason this time, he didn't have a clue how he was going to handle everything. He told himself that he was taking this way too personal. It shouldn't be. This was an idea borne out of the intention to protect them from the public speculations.

Adedayo carried his briefcase from the couch and looked one last time at the door of the bedroom. The last time he saw her, she was still asleep and maybe he would have to go to work without getting a reply from her.

He turned away to leave.

The moment Joy opened the door, she called to him. "Dayo."

He turned to her and he watched her walk up to him. All this while, his heart began to race. It took everything in him to remain stable. She stopped in front of him. His hands by his sides started to tremble. Dayo folded them into a fist in order to try and stabilize them. He watched her take the next few steps closer, causing the jittery he was feeling to multiply.

Joy held his face and drew hers closer. When he didn't expect it, she merged her lips with his. The kiss was tender and soft. It was like a thousand fireworks went off in his head. Dayo had never felt like this before. Ever. She pulled away and said to him in a low voice. "Yes, I'll marry you." Joy smiled and more than anything, Adedayo was sure he loved her. For her, he was ready to break his rules.

She withdrew her hand and turned away. Dayo held her hand before she could walk away. Joy turned to him. He let his briefcase fall to the ground and this time, he was the one who closed the gap between them. His left hand slid onto her back and the other held the side of her face while his lips reached down to hers. Unlike the kiss from hers, his was deeper, and relishing. His hand on her back held her firmer and refused to allow any sort of distance between them to exist.

Joy didn't think she had ever felt this way. If it was possible for her heart to eventually jump out of her chest at the pace it was going then it most probably would've done that by now. How did she never realise it before? How did she never notice she'd gradually fallen in love with him? When did it all start? Was it the first day he was kind to her or the day she noticed a growing tension between them? Either way, her feelings were real and her heart told her he felt the same way.

Gradually, he released her from the kiss and placed his forehead to hers as both tried to catch their breath. His thumb soothed her cheek.

"Thank you." Dayo told her in a low and hoarse voice. She might not understand but he was grateful for her presence in his life. For making this choice.

Joy smiled and told him as her eyes momentarily met his. "You... you might be late to work." She didn't want to steady her eyes. Neither might not be able to let the other go.

Adedayo leaned his head away from hers. For a moment, he stared at her before kissing her again. In a jiffy, he pulled away, picked his briefcase off the ground and walked out of the house.

Joy wasn't sure how long but she stood there. She was still a little lost in the memory of what just happened. She placed both hands on her chest as her smile stretched all the way close to her ear. Right when she turned away, Dayo opened the door, hurried to her and wrapped his arm around her in a tight hug. Even though she couldn't see his face, she could feel his heartbeat behind her and it was more than enough. Finally, he released her and hurried back out the same way he came in. Joy cupped her face in her hands before she looked at the door.

Adedayo has never smiled as long and as much as he was doing. His colleagues kept stealing glances at him and would whisper some things between themselves. He couldn't care less for their gazes. For the first time, his happiness was genuine and nothing was going to ruin it. He was too happy to scold any of his pupils that misbehaved. He became a better version of himself.

Sarki who leaned on his car with his arms folded below his chest intentionally sighed loud enough for Dayo's hearing. When it seemed to have no effect on the young man in front of him, he knew he needed to speak up.

"Dayo, you don't know anything about this woman. Marrying her is a big risk."

Adedayo lifted his eyes to him. On his own, he'd made his way to Sarki's workplace after giving him a call to find out if he was in. Adedayo didn't want this joy he felt to phase out. He knew his friend wasn't going to like his decision. It was up to him to convince him. After all, Sarki was the only friend he had and he was the only one who could help him.

"It's the same with me. She doesn't know anything about me but she said yes."

"Because you're the only one who can help her. Maybe she's worried that if she said no, you might ask her to leave." Sarki unfolded his arms. "Dayo, abeg, be sharp."

"Joy is not manipulative and she knows I won't do that to her."

Sarki let his arms fall to his sides and he shook his head.

"I know. Look, I sabi watin I dey talk. Yes. Everything seems stupid but it's for the best."

Sarki irritatedly brushed his hand over his face. "How? You said the pastor advised you. It's simple. Don't take his advice... Unless..." He narrowed his eyes at Dayo. A crooked smile appeared on the side of Sarki's face. "... You like her, don't you?"

Dayo made no attempt to deny it. Not even with his expression.

Sarki burst into laughter. "I knew it. Ah, I knew this was eventually how this story was going to turn out." He laughed some more. Dayo rubbed his temple and ran a hand over his mouth. He started to feel irritated.

"Are you going to help me or not?"

Finally, Sarki quenched his laugh after seeing the seriousness on his friend's face. He came closer and put his hand around his friend's shoulder. "Of course, I'll help you. You've found happiness regardless of the means."

Adedayo looked at his face, the smile he had on encouraged him to put one on his as well. He might never show it enough but he was grateful for Sarki's presence in his life. Dayo remembered the first time they met. They both attended the same Polytechnique school. Although they didn't speak, Dayo knew his face as one of his classmates. Their friendship started sometime after Dayo saved him from nearly getting exposed for cheating. The small paper he came into the hall with, mistakenly had flown away from his desk. Sarki didn't want the invigilator to notice and he also couldn't bend and stretch out his hand to the paper. Suddenly, Dayo placed his feet over the small paper and dragged it to his side. That way, the paper was hidden away from the invigilator's eyes. Sarki thanked him after the exams. Back then, Adedayo didn't talk much. Since then, Sarki seeked out his company even while Dayo pushed him away. He stuck to him like gum on the bottom of a shoe.

Sarki carried his arm off Adedayo and stood in his front. "It's a good thing I have long legs in government offices. But it'll take some time as Joy has no papers of identification."

Dayo nodded to his words. "Thank you."

Sarki lightly hit his arm. "It's fine. What are friends for? Don't worry, by the end of next week, you'll be getting married."

Adedayo smiled at the thought of his union with Joy. He took in a deep breath and released it. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong.

Unfamiliar words

Abeg - Please

I sabi watin I dey talk - I know what I'm talking about