"Look into my eyes," Prince Ire lifted Ara's chin. "I don't want to ever hear you did it for me. Let's do it for us. Tell me if you see anything strange. Tell me if anything happens. Don't decide alone thinking it will be good for us. Instead, let's decide together. Let's do it together. Let's fight together. And that's how we can build what we love together. That's how we can grow, and that's how we can love ourselves endlessly." Prince Ire said, his eyes fixed on Ara whose eyes were already wet. He was so serious. He made his choice and this time, he would do anything to protect his woman. The lady who stood before him.

Slowly, Ara moved closer to Prince Ire and hugged him. His cologne drove her crazy. She didn't want to release him. It was the most beautiful hug she had ever received. Special, warm and powerful. Having his arms embracing her back felt even more special to Aramade. She really didn't know what to say. She was totally speechless. Her mind was blank with words. With everything that just happened before her, she understood what's like to be in a relationship and tell each other whatever is going on. To trust your partner's decision even though you have the best way to put an end to the solution. Not going behind your partner's back giving the excuse you did it for both of you. That step could damage a lot of things.

At first, Ara thought Prince Ire was going to leave her and run to Derin after the reason she decided to get married to the Governor had been revealed. But instead, his reply to Derin surprised her and his eyes weren't lying. 'Yes we had something beautiful together, but you lost your chance. You made me feel I wasn't man enough to protect you. Derin, I'm never coming back. I'm out of your life for good. You know I can be mean when I don't care. That side of me can be irritating.'

Those words made Ara adore Prince Ire even more. He was damn serious. He handled the situation very well without anyone getting hurt. After so much time of talking, both Ara and Prince Ire continued their beautiful date which had almost stressed them out.

"Let's get ice cream over there." Prince Ire pointed at the red building a bit close to them. They walked side by side holding hands. They laughed at each other and it was really fun doing it together. The moment they got to the door, it was opened and they strolled in. They bought a big plastic of ice cream and two plates of chicken with it. They sat close to each other relaxing for few seconds. They've been on their feet since they entered the sports building, and it was then they realized they needed rest.

"Okay, I have something that has been bothering my mind." Ara said. "The first day I came into the palace, I heard something about Cocaine and you killing some set of people." Ara quickly switch to a very low voice when she got to the word cocaine and killing part. She didn't want anyone suspecting them. People could start to imagine so many things.

Prince Ire smiled, then replied. "I knew you heard everything that day because there was a knock on the door before you went to hide. And later in the midnight, I remember warning you to mind your business."

"Hmm..." Ara replied with a nod because of the ice cream she had in her mouth.

"Well," Prince Ire continued. "I'm not a bad guy. If I'm one, you wouldn't be alive today..."

Ara cut him off by laughing. "Even if you kill me, I will wake up again. Haven't you heard this song. 🎶 I'll rise up...and do it thousand times again..."

Prince Ire laughed at how naughty Ara was playing. "You could try putting a gun to your head to see what will happen."

Ara turned to Prince Ire's direction. "I hate you." She said with an expression of biting him. Prince Ire just smiled back in return with the thought he had in mind. When he realized Ara was busy with the ice cream again, he Instantly thought of how to get her pissed with his plan.  Slowly, he watched how Ara lifted her spoon up. Almost reaching her mouth, Prince Ire quickly went ahead to bite Ara's hand. Instantly, Ara's face was covered with ice cream, making it look as if she had a white chicken pox on her face. Prince Ire burst out laughing with the horror expression on Ara's face. She looked too cute for him not to laugh.

"Jeez!" Ara tried to be angry but she couldn't hide her smile which resulted into an heavy laughter. She tried to bite Prince Ire in return but he got up too fast. "You just ruined my make up!" She yelled, but not too loud. "One day, you gonna pay for this by doing my make up back. I swear."

Prince Ire grinned before returning back to his seat. "How I get back at people who hate me. And to answer your question,"  he continued. "I have a friend who isn't from a rich home. He's a good person and doesn't deal with drugs, but unfortunately, he was accused of a crime he never committed. He has been in the prison for almost two years now. We've tried all our best but to no avail. Every time, the date is always postponed because they know we will eventually win the fight."

"Oh my God, that's really sad." Ara brought out a wipe from her bag and rubbed off her make up. She brought out another one and wipe off the rest which made her face look horrible. Then brought out another one until her face was clean. Slowly she turned to Prince Ire. Suddenly became interested in what Prince Ire was saying. "I've actually heard about many cases of some people used to replace some set of people in the prison. While the poor ones are living in hell, those ones are out of the prison enjoying the best days of their lives outside the country and some still gallivanting around the country. So bad, but this happens a lot."

Prince Ire gave Ara a light nod. "You wouldn't believe it if I tell you his girlfriend was actually used to set him up. She dropped a small bag of marijuana inside his car boot without him knowing."

"Oh my God! What the hell!" Ara couldn't believe her ears. "These days, I'm beginning to understand my mom in a different way. She would always warn us about a lot of things and share a lot of experiences with us, but we thought her own was just too much. But wait, since they know you will win, they should have given up already."

Prince Ire chuckled at Ara's statement. "Politicians don't give up easily. Not just politicians alone. Some people are stubborn. Instead, if you threaten them, they threaten you back. If you try to expose them, they destroy you first. And not in a half way, but completely. Now he wants us to give him the evidence we have with us, but he isn't ready to release Harun to us. He's proving stubborn he can control everything."

"Then you should release the evidence to the world and get your friend back." Ara said getting angry at whosoever Prince Ire was talking about.

"We have a month to another trial so we are waiting till then. But before then, I have to protect the evidence." Prince Ire said. "And going back to that day, I did talk about killing because those guys know who we are. I might be fighting for my friend's freedom, but I don't think I want my life getting complicated through that. Since I wasn't sure if you have a closed mouth, I had to threaten you to scare you from saying anything out to anyone. But you should know I'm not a murderer, and neither am I a drug dealer."

It was fun for both of them. They asked so many questions and got to know each other better. They laughed at each other, smiled at each other, fought over the ice cream they bought because Ara took the most. But it was fun. It was an amazing day for both lovers. They walked side by side to the car and that was how they left the sports building.

In two hours, they got to Ara's street. The Lagos traffic was too much, and it took much of their time. Almost getting to Ara's house, she told Prince Ire not to drop her at the front of her house even though she knew some people saw her while leaving with Prince Ire. She wondered what she was trying to protect, but she realized it was nothing. After Prince Ire had parked three buildings close to Ara's house, Ara finally realized she was back at home again. When they checked the time, it was past ten in the evening. Time had gone but they did have a nice time. Ara returned the sneakers Prince Ire gave her but he told her it was hers.

Prince Ire escorted Ara back and they both said their goodbyes very quickly. After then, Prince Ire returned to where he parked his car. The moment he opened the door near the driver's seat, he spotted a white envelope. Prince Ire could remember there was nothing on his car bonnet when he escorted Ara. That made him close his car door, moved close to his car bonnet and stretch his right hand forward to take the white envelope. Slowly, he unwrapped it without any fear whatsoever.

To his surprise, there were four pictures staring back at him. When he picked Ara from her house. When they got to the sports building. When they were at the surprise garden with smiles on their faces. And when they kissed.

Prince Ire turned the back of each picture till he got to the last one. And on the last picture were words written on it.

'How about we playing this game together. You back off, we back off. You proceed, we get involve in your relationship. One option is good for you. Text this no: 08912345789

Prince Ire slipped his hand deeply into his left pocket. He couldn't tell who did what was before him. Could it be Derin, his enemies or someone he doesn't even know at all. He finally brought out his phone, dropped the envelope, including the pictures he was holding on his car bonnet. Immediately, he began to type and sent his response very quickly. 

'I love the option two the most. Come for me.'

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😄 Guys what is going on?
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