Ayo
Ten years later...

"Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy to you Ayooo
Happy birthday to you."

Lara was singing a birthday song for me while I groaned for more sleep. Even though it was my birthday,I really needed the sleep because I had been so busy with work. Business was great anyways so I was grateful about that.

I ended up studying Psychology instead and working in a private Non Governmental Organization, that focuses on reaching out to teenagers and children who face emotional battles and peer pressure which is surprising a rampart thing in the society these days.

Lara studied Microbiology but we became partners in our fashion empire, Diamonds and Tiaras. We mostly focus on wedding themes  and it has been a success over the five years.

I sat up and smiled at Lara who was holding a chocolate ice cream cake. I moaned at the cake.

"I would have made you breakfast but that's your husband's duty." I rolled at eyes at her husband topic. She sure had to rub it that she was engaged to Ola now.

Yeah, we all expected that.

I cut my cake and took a slice as I kept listening to Lara's ranting.

"We are having a party baby girl." She squealed happily.

"What?" I exclaimed. "I never agreed to that?" I stated in total shock.

"Yes you did." She said, looking puzzled.

"Did you ask me when I was sleeping?" I asked her. Even though Lara is loaded,we live together in a cute bungalow I bought.

"Yes." She smiled sheepishly. No wonder I agreed to it.

"But it must be small." I warned her.

"Yes, of course. We will have it here." She said.

"Now for your real birthday present." She adjusted her red lacy robe and got our her planner.

She listed all she planned and I just kept looking at her.

"Stop staring and get ready. The car is waiting outside." She squealed and left the room. Can this girl ever grow up?

I entered the bathroom and sat on the toilet set as I  went through my social media feed and was greeted with a lot of birthday wishes from colleagues, friends and family.

Jide sent me a message I finally accepted to read. I found out about him liking me but I was not really interested, maybe because I still liked else.

I read Ire's message as well.Ire had changed over the years especially after Jennifer. We were closer now but he still slaking about settling down at twenty seven.

I was about to drop my phone when I received a call from my mom, praying for me,wishing me happy birthday and asking about Omolara. Funny enough,my mom was coming for the party.

"See this girl o. Just because I'm old, doesn't mean I don't know how to party." My mom said making me laugh so much.

"Besides, a fe ri awon boyfriends e." My mom added.
(We want to see all your boyfriends.)

"Mommy." I palm slapped myself as I debated whether I used the jacuzzi or shower.

"Okay, I will see you later." She added. She apparently had been staying with Ire so she could come over today without informing me.

I just laughed at how everyone was making a big fuzz about my birthday. I went to my playlist and choose a song from my playlist to soak in the jacuzzi for a long time,just to piss Lara and to please myself.

I hummed along to Alicia Keys' Girl on Fire.

****

I was about choosing what to wear but Lara had hanged an outfit for me. It was corporate but cute, just the way I liked it. It was a white wrap peplum top and a multi coloured pencil skirt, I completed the look with black pencil heels,a black hand bag designed by yours truly,Lara and I and gold jewelries. I packed my kinky natural hair into a popular afro bun

I was downstairs where Lara was seated dressed in a short flared blue dress which made her blue eyes stand out. She had straighten her natural hair which flowed to her big butt like a goddess. She had no jewelry on but she looked elegant as she typed away on her Iphone.

"Let's go before Ola decides to carry you away." I rolled my eyes playfully as smiled sheepishly at her phone.

"Jealous much." She stated, thickening her British accent. It was amazing how she wore her accent like a glove and could remove it whenever she liked.

****

We got into my white bugatti and drove to the cute restaurant branch that recently opened. I heard that they had the best breakfast meals, so why not check it out.

The interior decorating was nice, it was modern word panelling with soft gold lights here and there.

It was strictly reservations only so our table was already booked. I ordered a fruit salad with waffles and coffee, Lara had pancakes with chocolate syrup and a tropical smoothie.

"Thanks for this Lara." I smiled at Lara, when our food arrived.

"Of course, what are best friends for?" She blushed lightly before we were interrupted by Lara's phone.

"It's Ola." She said excitedly while I smiled at her.

It was a video call, so she positioned it so both our faces should be shown.

"Happy birthday to you Ayo."
Ola threw confetti towards the phone camera while I just laughed.

"Thank you." I kept on laughing.

In took the camera and dusted off the confetti. "Don't worry, he bought two confetti guns just for you so this is just the pre shower of blessing." Ini said.

"Okay naw." I laughed more.

"So Ola bought two guns,what about when it's my birthday?" Lara whined.

"No baby, I would have married you by then." Ola said in the background.

I and Ini cooed while Lara blushed.

I smiled at the two men and thanked them for their call.

***
We finally left the salon after like four hours . I curled my natural hair let it down while Lara made gold braids.

We got to the house and saw that there were decorations already hanged and I could smell the food that was being prepared. Lara went all out for me and I was so grateful for that.

She even decorated back garden which she cherishes so much, she likes holding meeting here and I didn't blame her with the beautiful flowers she had spent so much time and effort into.

"You decorated the garden so nicely." I told Lara when she sat on my bed.

"Of course, that's why I'm Omolara for crying out loud." She praised herself while I got dressed into the birthday outfit I had bought earlier.

I had planned a simple day at home with a cup of coffee and maybe a movie but I woke up to be beaten by my party planner.

I just dressed into a jean shirt dress with a brown pleated belt and white sneakers.

I wore it intentionally to get Lara's attention which I thankfully did.

"Oh My God." She kept on squealing at how simple my outfit was.

"You look amazing." I striked a poses for her as she kept on admiring.

"Your shakara is to much sef." She said when she was done admiring.

"Our guests will be arriving,let's go." I insisted.

"Good, you're in the party spirit." She jumped off the bed and sashayed to the door.

****

The house was full now and everyone was dancing and having fun.

I got some birthday wishes and a few birthday presents.

Tolu came to see me as well. She is still dating Fola and it saddened my heart when I saw him flirting with another woman in front of Tolu, it was like she was so used to it.

I signed when I remembered how Fola was not arrested. He found his way out somehow.

I excused myself for a little while and walked in the back garden. I just wanted to be alone and be grateful for everything.

Friends.

Family.

And other relationships.

I sighed happily to myself at how beautiful the place looked,until I felt someone behind me.

"Yunno, I still think it's quite unromantic to kiss in a hospital. How about you?" I gasped at that particular phrase.

It couldn't be Sola, I thought immediately.

But only he said that to me before he died.

He died ten years ago after hearing nothing about him and all his medical reports gone.

Then who was this?

"Happy birthday Ayo." The voice said sweetly. I turned around and received the biggest shock of my life.

It was him.

It was really Sola...

THE END

I know we are all expecting a cute love story but nahh...lol.

This books cover a lot of people's perspectives which I will start explaining.

Sola: He was facing two battles, cancer and being accepted into the society because he wasn't listened too.

Ayo: As perfect as we all thought she was, she just wanted to among and accepted as well.

Tolu: She thought Fola would define her but he didn't, he only made her feel worse about herself.
Nobody is to define you, You define yourself

Ire: Peer pressure, thought he deserved to live however he likes.

Jennifer: She had a battle also but failed to fight the right way. Playing dirty can never lead you anywhere.

Tolani: She thinks she can get whatever she wants, not minding others. I will lay more emphasis in my next book.

I hope you all now understand and enjoyed my book.

"No matter the battle we are all facing, fight the good fight triumphantly."   -iamstells💖