The next academic session,
Mandy, Ifes and everyone in their squad prepared to return for the new academic section. Upon Mandy's insistence, Ifes had travelled with Mandy and celebrated Thanksgiving with her family. Ayo had politely declined Mandy's invitation to come with them to Texas for the Thanksgiving break. Now the duo were about returning to college and decided to put a call across to him to inform him of their coming.
"Why don't you call him with your cell phone," Ifes said, fully conscious of her friend's feelings for Ayo.
Since the day she learnt of her friend's feelings, she had created a little distance between herself and Ayo. Most times when they both went out with Mandy for a picnic or any other hangout, she would stylishly stay out of their conversation and when Ayo invited her in, she would speak little and back out again. She had intentionally stayed away from him to give her friend a chance with him but she wasn't sure if her efforts were yielding success. Well, she should give it some time.
Ayo was bent over his reading table, studying the Bible, when a call came in. He picked up his phone, looked at the caller ID and didn't hesitate to answer the call when he saw it was Mandy.
"Hello, pretty one."
He heard Mandy chuckle through his phone's speaker.
"I'll take that as a flattery," Mandy said although she wished he meant it.
Ayo laughed. "You think I'm joking, right?"
"How are you?" Mandy asked, ignoring his question.
"I'm fine, just missing everyone. I can't wait to see you guys."
"We're coming back today."
"Oh, wow! Seriously?"
"Yes."
"This means I'm expecting you guys anytime from now?"
"Umm, yeah."
"Alright then, I'll be waiting." Ayo said and they both disconnected the call.
Ayo was elated with the news of their return. He will not only be seeing the guys today, but he will also be seeing the lady he had fallen in love with but haven't had the courage to tell all this while.
How many times? How many times had he attempted to tell her of his feelings but his courage failed him? Now, he was determined and nothing was going to stop him. He could only hope and pray that she felt the same way for him.
"Oh, God! Please make her love me. Please, make her see how much I love and am willing to go for her. Oh! How I wish I could open my heart to her, so she could see just how much I love and respect her!" And he loved her indeed. He'd missed her.
As the flight took off from Waco regional airport, Mandy wanted so much to be in UPenn. She wanted to set her eyes on Ayo again in person. She had missed him. When he called her pretty one, it had made her pulse go wild.
Ifes had asked her to pray for God's direction to the right person and at the right time, but right now she couldn't see past what she felt for him.
"Oh, God! Please help me because I don't know what to pray for right now."
How could she pray and ask God to take Ayo away from her life if he was not his will for her? Was that also part of Christianity or her friend's sentiment?
Ayo received his friends at the airport and they were all happy to reunite again.
"My man!" Hunter slapped Ayo's back.
"Handsome as ever," Ayo replied, taking his hands for a handshake.
They all exchanged pleasantries before leaving for the college. As they drove to the college, Ayo's eyes were more fascinated by the glorious sight of the girl he had fallen in love with.
Why? She seemed to have grown much more beautiful, with her sparkling smile that matched her beautiful and captivating eyes.
"God help me!" Ayo wiped off perspiration from his face with his hands.
Someone tapped him slightly on his shoulders. "Is everything okay?"
He tilted his head to see Mandy's concerned gaze. "Yes, thanks for asking."
Mandy wasn't satisfied with his answer but decided to be quiet.
Three weeks later, Ayo stood, went to his closet, picked out his nicest outfit and donned it. Smiling, he yanked out his phone from his side pocket and put a call across to Ifes.
"Hello," Ifesinachi's voice chimed through his phone's speaker.
"How are you?"
"Is someone spying on me?"
Ayo laughed. "So I shouldn't ask after a friend again?"
"Hmm! Oya go straight to the point and tell me why you called because I know you'd never call without a reason."
Ayo laughed louder. "So you think you know me that much?"
Indeed, she had really studied him. Being casual friends, he knew he should always give reasons why he called.
"Are you free this afternoon, Ifes?"
"Hmmmm... Yes."
"I was thinking if we could have lunch this afternoon."
"Just you and I," he added, making it clear that a third-party wasn't needed.
When she didn't say anything, he continued, "Please na!"
"Okay, I'll be ready in half an hour," Ifes said before she thought better of it. "What of Mandy?" she wanted to ask.
"Alright then. I'll be waiting," Ayo said and disconnected the call.
He stood, looked himself over in the mirror before stepping out of his dorm room.
They ate their food halfway before Ayo decided to speak up what was in his mind.
"I'm in love with you, Ifes."
Ifes' fork and knife abruptly dropped from her hands to the plate. No word could explain how Ifes felt hearing those words from the one she never expected to say them.
Ayo reached out across the table and held her now-slightly-trembling hands in his. "I'm falling in love with you."
She wondered if this was real or a dream. But how could this be? After everything, why didn't he notice her friend's feelings for him? Ayo finished speaking and was now expecting an answer from her.
Ifes sat, staring. How would she decline his proposal without hurting him? How could she tell him that her best friend, who was like a sister, was in love with him? She hissed quietly, hopelessly, knowing there was no way out. She would have to give him the blunt answer no matter how much it hurt.
Ayo went back to his dorm room crestfallen and made for his bed. His roommate gave him a concerned look. "Are you okay?"
He tilted his head to look at his roommate. "Yes, Kelly, I'm fine." But no, his head was pounding, his heart in turmoil, his eyes moist, and his emotions in a total mess.
"Oh, God! Help me!" He had fallen in love for the first time in his life, and the lady he had fallen in love with had declined his proposal. It was crazy. Was this how other guys like him felt when they got a no from their belles? He wasn't just hurting because of the disappointment of the rejection, but also the heartbreak.
Someone tapped him. He turned on his back to see his roommate standing beside his bed with a cup of coffee in hand.
"You don't look ok, my friend. Maybe this will help," Kelly said, handing him the cup of coffee.
Ayo sat up straight in his bed. "Thank you." He stretched out his hands to receive the cup of coffee.
"You are welcome. I'm all ears if you wish to talk about it."
He looked at Kelly and wanted to ask if he had ever fallen in love and how he felt about it but abruptly decided against it.
"I'm fine, really," Ayo said, shoving his hurt down his heart. Kelly gave him a skeptical glance before walking to his bed.
He drank his coffee in one gulp. Kelly came back, collected the cup from him and made for the dishwasher.
"I'm sorry I'm stressing you."
Kelly waved his hand over his shoulder. "This is no stress my friend. Let me serve you. It's my pleasure."
Ayo laid back on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Oh, God! Precious Holy Spirit, I knew that if I had sought your guidance, you would have directed me to someone who wouldn't say no. Nevertheless, I still bring this up to you. Help me. And if it is your will, let her go over my proposal tonight and give me a positive answer tomorrow morning. If not, help me to get over these feelings I have for her in Jesus name, Amen!"
Ayo slept that night with a heavy heart, and woke up the next day feeling peace. And that was the answer to his prayers. He would continue to take Ifes as a sister and a friend as he looked forward to the direction of the Holy Spirit about the right person for him.
In answer to his prayers, that morning; God had spoken to him during his morning devotion from the book of Proverbs 3:5. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Although he was a Christian, he knew he didn't follow the instruction in that particular scripture to the letter. This was mostly the reason he struggled and went through a lot of things which the Lord did not promise him in His word. He made a resolve to learn to seek God's face in everything, in every way of his life. He was certain God would direct his paths.