Tunmise

"One more year and I'll be an old woman." I say looking at myself in the mirror.

"Being 30 doesn't make you old, sis." Semilore calls out from her bed.

"You're just saying that cause you're just 23, you have 7 whole years ahead of you."

She bursts out laughing. "You sef ehn. Tell me, how are you spending your birthday?."

"I'm just going to stay at home and eat chocolate."

"Ehn?, Stay where?, This is your last birthday till you turn 30, it has to be fun."

"Lota isn't replying my texts or picking my calls."

"Your boyfriend is busy, he's working, he's going to call you when he's free."

"But it's my birthday."

"Look, I'm sure he's thinking about you as we speak, relax."

I sigh. Lota travelled two days ago, it was impromptu, I didn't want him to go because I wanted him to be around on my birthday but he had to, he's supposed to stay for five days. I've been calling and texting him all morning but he has not replied.

"You sef, who have you been texting?." I ask her.

"Just this someone."

"Who?."

"His name is Dapo."

"Go on." I urge her.

"I met him at the mall like three weeks ago, he actually came up to me and told me I looked familiar, well, I wasn't surprised, I've heard that from a lot of people, he was sha like I'm beautiful and blah blah blah, at the end, he asked me for my number and we've been talking since then."

"Is he fine?."

"Handsome man like this."

I nod my head in understanding.

"Hope you know you're not staying home all day, abeg go and have your bath o. Mum and Dad want you at home this night."

"You people just like stressing me." I groan.

"We stress you cause we love you. I'm hungry, I'm going to make something downstairs, should I make for you?."

"What are you making?."

"Sausage and eggs."

"Yes, please."

I watch as she leaves the room before I turn back to my phone.

____________

"This one that the house is dark. What's wrong?." I ask Semilore as we come down from the car.

"Is it not your parents house?, Let's enter and see naw."

She walks to the front door while I follow behind her, she brings out her spare key from her purse and turns the key in the lock. I walk in cautiously

"Surprise!." The light comes on. My eyes widen in shock as I look around.

Mum, Dad, Niyi, His parents, Niyi's girlfriend, Kate, Lota's parents, his sisters, Jessica, Kamsi, her husband, her son and a lot of my other friends.

Even a photographer is here.

Balloons and streamers decorate the wall and the dining table is arranged with cakes, bottles of wine and different sizes of wrapped gifts. In the middle of the sitting room is a table where five different cakes are placed.

"You guys did all of this for me?." I ask a smile on my face.

"Of course, we love you." Niyi shouts from the back.

I think I've got the best family ever.

_____________

Halfway into the party and I'm starting to get really worried.

I'm worried that Lota might not be okay because it's so unlike him to not be with his phone for a whole day. I look at the clock.

7pm.

Just five more hours and my birthday will be over. One thing that can make this birthday complete is if Lota magically appears here. Something which I know is impossible.

I walk over to the table to get more red wine but stop when there's none there. I sight my mum talking to Niyi and walk over to them.

"The celebrant is confused as to why there's no red wine at her party." I begin.

"Oh, there's more upstairs. In your room, just go get it." My mum says.

I can't help but notice she looks different, happier, I think?.

"Whatever." I sigh climbing up the stairs. My room light is off when I get there and I switch it on quickly, I've never been a fan of the dark. I see the packet of wine beside the bed and I walk over to get it. As I bend down, my mouth is covered by a hand, I try to scream but it comes out muffled.

I'm doomed for. I never imagined I'll die on my 29th birthday. The music is loud downstairs so me shouting might not even help matters. I-

"Hey." The voice says.

Wait. Am I hallucinating?. That voice sounds so familiar. I turn around slowly now face to face with Lota. I can't help it, I wrap my arms around his torso pulling him closer to me, he smells so good.

"I'll take that as my 'hi'." He lets out a deep chuckle.

"How did you get here?." I ask him, my face still on his chest.

"Long story. I've missed you."

"Me too." I look up at him smiling. He presses his lips to mine softly sending fireworks through my stomach.

Even after three years. This man...

"Happy birthday, My Queen." He whispers.

"Thank you."

"The things I got for you are in the car. But I have something for you here."

"Okay." I say as he pulls away.

He digs into his pocket bringing out a small red box, when he opens it, I audibly gasp.

"Tunmise." He goes down on one knee, "I've stood in front of the mirror practising this for weeks now but now that I'm here, it's like I don't know what to say. Nothing truly ever made sense until you came into my life. You changed my life the moment you walked into it, I knew you were the one, you're beautiful, smart, funny, responsible and God-fearing. I've never met a woman like you before, you're unique and God's own plan for me.

These three years that I've known you have been pure bliss. Dreaming of you keeps me asleep. Being with you keeps me alive.The heart wants what it wants, and as it seems, my heart wants nothing more than to be with you.You are everything that I never knew I wanted in this life. Everyday is a celebration of having you in my life and I can't love you enough because you're a precious jewel in my world. Every time someone asked me how I see myself when I'm older, I never knew what to say. But then you came into my life and now I know precisely what I want - I want to be in love with you until I'm old and gray. Some say that true love can last a lifetime, and I would love to spend the rest of my life with you figuring out if that were true.

I love you Tunmise. Will you marry me?."

I hear whispers behind me and I turn around to see everybody standing and watching. The photographer is taking pictures and a *click* sound can be heard. "Say yes." Jessica mouths to me.

I turn back to Lota who is expectantly waiting for an answer.

"Yes." I nod my head, "Yes, I'll marry you, Lota."

He brings out the diamond ring and I hold out my left hand as he slips it on my ring finger, the ring is beautiful. He stands up and I pull him into a long kiss, when we finally pull away, I'm surrounded by different women asking to see the ring.

Different echoes of "Awwn, Wow, This ring is beautiful, I'm so happy for you guys, Both of you are so cute together." Is heard as I hold out my left hand for them to see the ring.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm officially engaged to the love of my life.

••••••
It's not yet over guys.

Stay tuned for the Epilogue!!!!

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