I apologise for the length of this chapter in advance🙂💛

Omotara

The girls and I were all seated in the luxurious hotel which Jaylen made us stay. To say we were feeling nostalgic was an understatement. It was our graduation today, and all of a sudden, it was like we all didn't want it to happen.

I sighed and finally got up from the bed to check the dress Roman gave me this morning. I grinned when I saw the dress. A red sequined bodycon gown which reached my foot. Next to it was a box containing red Versace heels and a red Louis Vuitton purse.

"Why are you shining teeth like that?" Stella asked as she styled her edges. She had her hair made into cornrows. She looked very pretty.

"Nothing...I just...I never thought Roman would get me things this expensive for our graduation," I replied and showed them the dress.

"Wow, that's..really nice," Fara commented, a small smile playing on her lips. I nodded in agreement. I turned to Dazzline who was still lying on the bed in her pyjamas.

"Dazzline won't you dress?" I asked. She sighed and sat up on the bed.

"I'm not as enthusiastic as I was last week. I wish we weren't graduating today," she said and rubbed her face.

I sat next to her after wearing the gown, "You're not the only one that feels that way. I feel the same way too," I replied.

"Me three," Daihaah added and plopped down on the bed. "It feels like it was yesterday we resumed SS1. Tara was...mean that time. I'm happy I wasn't in your class then," she said and gave a short laugh. I joined her.

"I'd have sent you away from Hamdyn high,' I admitted. It was the truth. I'd have done thousands of mean things to her.

"Then we wouldn't have met you," Zahra said and added, "To be very honest, I loathed Tara a lot then."

"I was scared of her," Salina said.

"Look how things turned out, we're all friends now." Fara smiled at me. "Although we learned friendship the hard way."

"We did," I nodded in agreement. I remembered when that video was sent to my mother and I hated Dazzline because I thought she was the one who did it. And then Zephan broke up with me and everyone turned against me, including Fara. Then I lost my parents. And now, Fara and I are friends once again. It all seemed funny to me.

If anyone told me that I, Tara Adebayo, would experience all these in SS3, I'd have laughed till my throat was sore, and spat on the person's face.

"SS3 was tough" Stella said as she sat with us on the bed.

"Yeah it was," I muttered in agreement.

"But I'm glad we learned from it. And we were able to change," Stella added, giving Fara and I a pointed look.

"Yeah we learned our lesson the hard way," Fara muttered solemnly.

"Dazzline, you're the only one who hasn't dressed yet," Stella reminded her. Stella was dressed in a pink Chiffon dress that was free on her body and it reached her ankles. A perfect pregnancy dress. And oh, she wore sneakers with it.

Crazy girl. Though, she was rocking it.

Daihaah and Zahra were dressed in matching cream Abayas' and red bottom heels. I had helped them with their edges and while Daihaah tied brown headgears made from Chiffon for herself and Zahra. They both looked elegant.

Fara and Salina...

I shook my head in amusement as I took in their appearance. They were the first people I've seen who'd wear white camisole and blue crazy baggy jeans to their own graduation. Their paired it with a black and white striped shirt and white Adidas sneakers and made their hair into low buns. As simple and crazy as it was, they looked...stunning.

Dazzline was wearing the same thing as I was, only that her's was, of course, black. And she was slaying. I had no doubt that Gabriel's jaw would be left hanging when he saw her.

"I guess we are all ready?" Daihaah asked as she helped Dazzline style her hair into a low bun. I had braided my hair the day before into big box braids which reached my knees. I let two braids drop at the front and had the rest made into a bun.

"Yes we are," Stella replied.

"Oya let's go and wait downstairs," Fara said. Our parents were coming to pick us up here.

Dazzline's phone rang. She picked it up and smile. "Guys, Gabe is video calling."

We all gathered around her as she picked up the call. Their faces appeared on the screen.

"Wait, are you wearing black?!" Gabriel asked, staring at his girlfriend with an open mouth.

"And you're wearing red!" I exclaimed, looking at Zephan.

"Why didn't you wear the same color as me?!" Zahra asked, pouting.

Elliot was dressed in a cream tux, Zephan was wearing the same shade of red as me. Only that he was dressed in a six-piece slim fit suit. Gabriel was dressed in black just like Dazzline, but he was wearing our traditional dress, the one that they call senator. Nathan was wearing a pink, four-piece slim fit suit. I had no doubt that that was the same color Azra was wearing.

I opened my mouth to say something, when a text came in my phone. Our parents were waiting in the parking lot already.

"We've gotta go. Our parents are waiting. We'll talk to you guys at the party," I told them.

"Okay," Gabriel relied and hung up.

"Isn't it funny? We didn't even discuss on the colors to wear. And they're wearing the same colors as us,"Zahra said as she picked up her purse.

I chuckled as we all left the room. All eyes turned to us as we walked down the lobby. I stopped at the receptionist's table, "We'll be back. And don't forget, our after party is holding here. I hope you haven't booked the hall to someone else."

"Of course not, miss Tara. We haven't booked the hall to someone else," she replied as she collected the keys from me. I smiled and walked to meet my friends.

"OMG! Am I dreaming or what?! Isn't that Tara and Dazzline Adebayo-Farrell?!" Someone squealed. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

"I heard today is their school's graduation. Damn they're so beautiful!"

Dazzline hissed loudly next to me. A guy stopped in front of Stella, making all of us wait as we turned to him.

He laughed nervously, "Hi, I'm..."

"Sorry I'm married," She interrupted him with a sweet smile, showing him her wedding ring.

It was then Jaylen decided it was the right time to appear. "Babe, is anything wrong?" He asked, coming out of nowhere as he wrapped his arms around Stella's waist. I didn't miss the glare he shot the poor guy.

"Yes how can we help you?" He asked the guy.

"Honey don't worry. I was just telling him I'm married," Stella replied. She gave the guy another smile and tugged at her husband's arm, "let's go."

*

I got out of the SUV with my family. Nathan and Dazzline were by my side. I ready sighted my friends parents' cars and felt relieved immediately that they were here already.

Roman came down from the car with Fayth in his arms, and went to open the door for Mommy, who was carrying Genesis.

Such a perfect gentleman.

I smiled at them lovingly. They looked perfect together.

"Shall we?" Roman asked and we walked into the school hall, where our graduation was taking place. The event had began an hour ago, so I wasn't surprised when all eyes turned to us when we walked in. I immediately sighted my friends and rushed to them with my siblings while Roman and Mommy went to sit at the table where my friends parents' were.

"You guys are late," Stella said as we sat. She handed us out graduation gown.

"Well, we had to pick up Nathan first, and there was traffic on the way. Have they started sharing awards?" Dazzline asked.

"Yes. They started with commercial class, then arts class. Daihaah has collected two awards now. Best in Literature and History and overall best in arts class. One other girl got best in Yoruba," Zahra explained.

"Okay."

"So we're to move over to science class now," our principal said and picked up an award, "best student in physics, Stella Adeore!"

We screamed as Stella walked out to collect her award. Jaylen and his parents went to take pictures with her. They took her babies along.

Gabriel got best in biology, Dazzline for chemistry, I got Geography and Zephan got best in maths. Best in English went to Zahra. Nathan got best in Economics.

"Finally," Our principal said, beaming, "the valedictorian award goes to.."

There was a slight pause, probably to create suspension, "the award goes to Miss Stella Adeore!!!"

Immediately, our classmates burst into an ear shattering cheers and applause that surprised me. I smiled at Stella happily and whispered congratulations to her. She returned the smile as she walked to the podium. Camera's flashed everywhere as she shook hands with the principal. The microphone was stretched out to her to give her valedictorian speech.

She smiled politely as she faced us, the students, the school authorities, our parents, all the guests at the party.

"Actually, it's Stella Jacobs," she corrected and continued. "First, I'd like to thank our parents, our teachers, the school authorities...all the wonderful guests at our party. Thank you very much, we wouldn't be able to do this without you guys," she paused and smiled.

"Sincerely, I still find it hard to believe we are finally graduating from Hamdyn High. It's been a journey..."

She stopped like she didn't know what to say, or she just didn't know how to say it. Then she shrugged. I chuckled and shook my head in amusement.

"Each one of you have played important roles in my life, even in the tiniest ways. Our final year wasn't exactly a bed of roses. It wasn't all about smiles and happy memories. We've all made mistakes. People we called friends betrayed us, in the worst way...we even lost important people in our lives..."
She looked at my sister and I, then gave a small smile. I returned it.

Ademide was already crying by then, and it seemed like Jaylen couldn't calm the little boy, so he was forced to take him to his mother. Stella smilingly carried her child and petted him till he stopped crying. She kissed his forehead. I could hear series of Awwns' around us. I smiled. They looked cute.

"But the most important thing is that we all learned from these experiences. For the graduands, a chapter of your life ends today and another begins. I know some of us are already making plans for get togethers’ and stuff, but the bitter truth is once we set foot out of this place, we may never see each other again. We're all going to different unis’ and we'll meet other people, make new friends and memories, but the memories of Hamdyn High forever stays in our Hearts.

Our memories...they shape who we are...It's like nurture over nature...Anyways, to the graduating class of 20XX, I say a very gigantic congratulations!!!"

We all broke into wild cheers and screams while her family were called to the podium to take pictures with her.

Faramade got up and rushed to take pictures with them. Jaylen stood next to Stella, carrying Demilade in his arms while Stella was still with Ademide.

I sighed happily.

*
Dazzline

Each of us were still wearing the same clothes we wore for the graduation as we made way to the Jaylen's Limousine. He insisted the limousine took us from his house back to the hotel where our after party was to be held. Every one in SS3 set were invited.

The chauffeur opened the door for us. And since Gabriel and I ware at the front, we were the only ones who saw Jaylen and Stella passionately making out. His hands was hanging mid air as he stared it us in embarrassment.

He wasn't about to...

I shook the thought out of my head as I stared at my friend and her husband in amusement.

Stella quickly sat and stared us, giving an awkward laugh. We sat next to them and I smiled, staring at Jaylen.

"What?" He asked me, obviously confused as to why I was staring at him.

I smiled, "You weren't going to spank her were you?"

He flushed in embarrassment.

"Naughty naughty boy," I teased and laughed at his facial expression. Jaylen and I weren't exactly close, but we could pass off as good friends.

I sighed and rested my head on Gabriel's chest. For the first time in a few months, I felt..happy.

🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

So we just have one more chapter to go and then the Epilogue, making it two chapters.

While writing this chapter, I felt sad and happy at the same time😹😹

My babies are finally graduands🙂🙂.

Thanks for reading.
Stay safe.
Till next time.
Love y'all.
Buhbyeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

Word Count: 2254.