It was towards the end of September the next year. We had written WAEC and NECO and awaiting the results. I and my family had supped that night and I left for my room early. The rains were almost gone but there was a slight drizzle outside which cooled the temperature a little. I turned off the fan and laid on my bed.

I and Lizzy had grown so fond of each other over the last months. She had been of immense help to me academically and psychologically. I was now having a huge sense of worth and self esteem and a reason to believe in myself. Indeed she was my lucky charm. I haven't told her about how I really felt about her but I hoped I was going to find the courage to tell her soon before someone else beats me to it.

My phone beeped. It was a call me back text from Mike. I dialed his number and he picked up.

"Hi, Mike what's up?"

"Have you not heard? The WAEC results are out," his voice was full of excitement at the other end of the line.

"You don't mean it!" I exclaimed.
I didn't know if I should be happy or worried. The exams had been really tough.

"Of course," Mike replied. "I do. I'll be going to the cyber cafe to check mine tomorrow."

"Okay thanks man I'll check mine tomorrow, too. I pray we make it."

"May God help us."

"Goodnight, dude. Talk to you tomorrow with goodnews hopefully."
I ended the call.

I rushed downstairs to tell my parents about the news. I was filled with anxiety and mum said a word of prayer for me. Dad gave me some money that I was going to use to check my results the next day. I returned back to my room and quickly dialed Lizzy's number. She picked the second time.

"Hello, Raymond," her sleepy voice came from the other end of the line. "You woke me up."

"I'm so sorry about that, dear, but I just got it from Mike that the WAEC results are out and I couldn't wait to tell you."

"Wow." There was more indifference than excitement in her voice. She absolutely had nothing to worry about. The bookworm.

"Yeah, so I was wondering if we could go and check it together tomorrow."
"Ok that'll be great. You can come to my house by noon. By then I must have finished washing."

"Alright, Liz. See you tomorrow then. And please don't forget to pray about it, especially mine."

She giggled. "Sure I will. I'm hundred percent sure you made it."

"For the life of me, I sincerely hope so."

"Goodnight, Raymond."

"Goodnight, Liz."

I hung up and soon fell asleep.

Next day I couldn't eat breakfast. The anxiety was killing me I was in utmost apprehension. Mum had to calm me down telling me it was going to be alright. She was so sure about it after seeing the tremendous improvements I've made in my studies. It was past eleven a.m now so I took my bath and got dressed.

"Bye, mum, I'm using your ride, " I shouted, ready to leave.

"Bye, Raymond," she responded from somewhere in the house. "I wish you an excellent result."

"Thanks, mum."

I saw Katie emerging from the stairs.
"Come give big brother a hug and wish him goodluck," I called out to her.

She ran forward to me and I pulled her close.

"Goodluck, brother Raymond."

I was feeling so happy now despite not having seen the result but there was this assurance deep within me. Lizzy's house was a long way from the GRA where I reside. She just finished bathing when I got to her house so I waited while she got dressed.

"Your mum's at the shop, right?" I inquired.

"Yep. She even asked me to come help her out later in the day."

She was fully dressed now and she locked the door and came out of the house. She was putting on a purple mini-gown with white patches and stripes and a black shoe. The gown did well to reveal her curves which were present at all the right places. She seemed so mature now more than when I first saw her a year ago. She looked gorgeous. She smelled great.

"You're gorgeous," I remarked.

"Thanks," she blushed.

"I'm sure you're gonna have some good news for mum when you go to meet her later."

"I hope so."

"Come on now," I nudged her by the arm. "You're always the one with the best grades. I'm sure WAEC was just a piece o'cake for you."

"You're always saying that," she smiled at me. "Thanks anyway."

When we got to the cafe, my heart started beating faster.

We decided to check Lizzy's result first so as to put me at ease. It worked. Her result was filled with A's and B's. I was so happy for her. I gave her a warm hug and appraised her.

Then it was time for mine. I closed my eyes as the page began loading on the screen. Lizzy held my hands tight and whispered something into my ears.
I didn't want to open my eyes. I felt so safe just being there with her.

"Wow, you made it, Raymond! She exclaimed. "You made it!"

My heart literally leapt for joy.

"Yaaaaay my God we did it!!!" I couldn't contain my excitement. I was filled to the brim with utter elation. I wrapped my arms around Lizzy and raised her right up into the air and put a kiss to her lips right there in the cafe, never minding the presence of anyone. It felt like heaven.

"We did it, Liz, we did it," I smiled as I released her, staring deep into her beautiful big eyes.

"I'm so happy for you, Ray. I always knew you had it in you."

We paid and left.

***

"It was all your doing, Liz."
We were now seated in a restaurant close to the cafe. I had offered to buy her a drink as a way to thank her for everything. We were seated facing each other, helping ourselves to some bottles of malt drink. She wouldn't have anything to do with alcohol.

"If you had not come into my life," I continued, "I would still have been lost. In you I've found joy, hope and a reason to believe in myself."

"It's all my pleasure, Ray," she flushed. You have no idea how happy I am that God used me to make you a much better person."

"There's no denying that it was providence that brought you to my school at the time you came."

I put out my hand forward and held hers, interlocking our fingers.

"There's something I've been intending to tell you for some time now, Liz." I swallowed a huge lump.
She stopped sipping her malt and stared at me with interest. "And what could that be?"

I gazed back into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity.

"I love you, Liz."

At last! I succeeded in uttering those three words I had always wanted to say to her right since the first day we met. I didn't even recognize my own voice for a second. I blushed again and looked away. She put out her other hand and clutched mine tightly.
"I love you too, Ray."

I was shocked. I don't know if ever I have been that shocked in my life.

"You don't mean it, do you?" I asked, desperately expecting a yes.

"I do. I guess I must have developed these feelings during those times we spent together in the library and all that. To tell you the truth, I have been kinda expecting those three golden words from you sooner than later."

"Bless the heavens, you don't know how happy you just made me. As a matter of fact, my name could be written down in the Guiness world book of records as the happiest and luckiest man alive right now."

A smile cut across her pretty face. Oh, how her dimples forms when she smiles.

"You are my angel, Lizzy. I don't wanna ever lose you. You are my lucky charm and I intend to hold unto you with everything I've got."

She looked up at me and her eyes burned through mine.

"Promise me this that you won't break this heart of mine," she asked.

"Not in this life," I replied with earnest.

I leaned towards her and kissed her supple heart shaped lips.

**************

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