Nobody ever wrote down a plan to be broke, fat, lazy or stupid. Those things happen when you don't have a plan.
     
                                Larry Winget.

68

The past. Should be left behind us. Should be forgotten. Should never be discussed. It's something I don't wanna talk about, think about, or like to remember. The past should be in my past. Prince Ire told himself many times. Yes, he was right. Yes, that was good for him. He did confess the right words. But no matter what, there are certain set of people who should know where we are coming from and where we are heading to. Those people who has proven to stay in our lives.

Many times, relationships are broken because the partner finds out something hidden and dangerous about the person he or she wants to spend the rest of his or her life with... All because they decided not to share that part of themselves to each other. All because they were trying to keep such persons to themselves. But no matter what, we can't force people to stay in our lives. If they want to, they will. They won't just stay, but also support us and give their best at all time. If after revealing our fears and they are still willing to stay, it's really a blessing meeting someone who really has faith in where we are heading to and not our past.

But many times, once the truth is out, the woman realise it's something she can't handle. The man realise it's something he can't dive into or strong enough to handle. As a result of that, they split and sometimes, things get complicated.

Both Aramade and Prince Ire sat down together. She had refused to talk to him despite his plead. She felt really bad that he wasn't willing to share anything with her. She had told him about her breakup, shared many of her past with him, yet he wasn't ready to reciprocate.

"Babe..." Prince Ire tried to touch Ara's hand but she quickly moved her hand away. She rolled her eyes at him and slowly looked away. That was the result that came with ignoring her. She was not a little child who couldn't tell what happened day before. He ignored her. He refused to pick her calls when she tried calling too. He refused to reply her text. At a point, his phone was switched off. Now, he wanted to talk to her. This time around, Ara told herself it wouldn't be easy getting her attention.

Prince Ire kept his hand back, staring at her. He decided to try again, this time not touching her. "Babe, stop being mad at me." He said quietly, but Ara acted like she wasn't listening to him. Part of her wanted to talk and reply him. She felt the sadness in his voice from the way he was trying to get her attention. She couldn't guess what the story could be that he wasn't ready to share. Despite her willingness to hear him out, she tried her best to act like she was oblivious of him. While still pleading, Aramade concentrated on her food before Prince Ire reached foward and pushed her food aside hoping to get her attention. "Babe, talk to me. How was your exam?"

Ara finally looked up from her food. She was too hungry, and wasn't ready to keep quiet about that.

"Common babe," Prince Ire threw her a wink, smiling, hoping that would get Ara to smile but she didn't. "You need stop acting like Omolade and act like a grown up. You don't need this."

Ara pushed her food closer but ended up smiling a little before looking up at Prince Ire again. Acting like her sister? Aramade shook her head. This restaurant wouldn't contain them cause they will end up sending them out of the place. Ara rolled her eyes at Prince Ire. "You don't know what you are talking about," she said. "My sister would have jumped on you and make you act like a mad man. Abi is not Omolade."

Those words made Prince Ire smile even more. He was happy to have her reply him. "Whao!" He looked a little bit surprised hearing that, but ended up laughing. "Your sis is gifted."

That made Ara stop eating and laughed. "Which one is my sis is gifted. Is fighting a gift? Let's be guided please."

Prince Ire made fun of Ara. Deep down, he was happy to get her attention. His smile turned out big and very cute. Slowly, his smile grew to a light laughter. But all of a sudden, he surprised Ara by laughing a bit louder without any care of getting too much attention or being watched by everyone. The laughter came all because it was always funny to watch Ara mad at him. When he stopped laughing, he couldn't stop staring intensively at her. Ara looked so cute with her half angry and smiling face. She was effortlessly beautiful. Looking so simple with her hair packed in a style. Makeup free and still gorgeous. Prince Ire stared at Ara once more. He was deeply in love with the pretty lady before him. He knew why Aramade was acting in such manner towards him. Was he scared? A little.

He couldn't tell what would happen if he exposed himself. He decided to keep quiet and allowed them to eat in silence once again. After some minutes, Prince Ire was done eating but Aramade wasn't. Immediately, the table remained quiet before Prince Ire's voice came out a bit low. "Moyin was my friend." He said and paused. "We were very close friends when I was still into drugs. For about six years together." He kept quiet and stared at Ara to see her reaction.

Where Ara sat listening to everything he was saying, the spoon she was holding fell back inside her plate. Drugs? She thought but remained quiet. She didn't want him to stop. She wanted to hear the whole story. She couldn't look up at him. Was she scared? No. Was she ashamed? No. But she was shocked by his confession. Prince Ire was into drugs?

The cool, quiet Prince was once into drugs.

Aramade stopped eating and slowly looked up at him. Now she understood why he was always trying to be himself. She understood why he doesn't like partying or buying unnecessary things again. He was scared of going back to his vomit.  But still, she remained silent, allowing him to do the talking.

"Do you think you can still be with me?" Prince Ire asked, his eyes staring straight down at Aramade. This time, his fears caught up with him, but he continued. "I've lived that life I'm not proud to talk to anyone about Ara. I've allowed circumstances to define how I should live my life. Drugs was my way of escape. I found joy in it. I was emotionally stable with me taking it. I was happy with it cause it makes me feel on top of the world. It makes me feel like I'm living my best life and I didn't have anything to worry about or care about." He paused, but a drop of tears made it down and he didn't bother to hide it.

Aramade reached for his hand and held it. His palm was cold. He seemed to have thought about it feeling a bit ashamed. Aramade squeezed his hand. "It's okay babes. Please don't talk about it anymore." She was being sincere. She didn't know it was something so serious as this. She only asked because she felt he wasn't always himself. She noticed he was too close to himself, shutting people out of his life and acting really cold to others. He did that to her once and she didn't like it. She had seen how everyone feared and hated him at the palace. She didn't like how everyone talked about him behind his back. She did care about him. She did love him. Something she never thought would happen. Something she never thought would be real, but it was. She was in love with this man. A smile crept to her face when she remembered her first night. When they met in the kitchen. Who would have believed his smile was this beautiful. Who would have thought about him being a caring and wise man. Ara was glad he ended up sharing that part of his life to her. She loved him still. Whatever must have happened, is now in the past.

Aramade looked up at him and smile. "How about me kissing you to make those tears disappear. Don't you love magic babes?"

That brought a sweet smile to Prince Ire's face. He knew that side of Ara too well. Always being playful when he needed her to be serious. He was forced to call out her name. "Ara---"

"Shhhhh....." Aramade dragged. "I congratulate you for becoming a better version of yourself babe. I'm glad you went for your healing. I'm glad you are here. I'm glad you found me. I'm glad I'm in love with a man like you. Despite everything, you've come this far and you are doing well....may be I should add fantabulous!" Aramade laughed. "But Mr Man, you are forbidden to ever ignore this lady again. Fine girls scarce for market you know." Ara ended with a very sweet smile, throwing a quick wink at Prince Ire. Then licked her lower lip.

Prince Ire's fears were instantly gone replaced with his sweetest and happiest smile. He felt relieved. He enjoyed seeing this part of Ara which looked even more cute and quite funny when she displayed that side of her. He laughed a little, licking his lower lip as usual. "Where did I see you miss? You are such a copy cat."

Aramade shook her head. "Mr man,  you fell in love with me first. Remember? I didn't even know you exist. Sorry, how did I fall for you actually?"

Gosh! She looked so cute and drove him wide with those looks.

Prince Ire smiled and the two ended up laughing. "How can you be this sassy to a fine boy Ara. Be calming down babe. Don't trigger my bad boy moves."

The two laughed at their craziness and Ara couldn't help blushing.

Prince Ire was the one holding her hand now. "You are too beautiful you know. Your looks, your skin, your shape...but I wasn't even looking at your beauty then. I saw something else in you."

That got Ara's attention. She smiled at him eager to know what he saw in her. "So, what got you attracted to me if not my physic. Cause I think that's what people spot at first sight."

Prince Ire drank the rest of the water inside the bottle before him. He was suddenly feeling thirsty and ended up squeezing the bottle itself after taking the water. He looked at Aramade and smiled. "You should know men are not only attracted to beauty alone. Yes, we love that too. But don't you wonder why some men still choose to get married to people who are not physically attractive? Don't you also wonder why a man meets a particular lady and insist on being with them at all cost?"

"Hmm..." Ara nodded. "It's love. Or what else?"

Prince Ire sat down confidently. He shook his head at her. "It's not just about love. At this point of my life, I'm not looking for a woman who will slay with my money anymore. I've done that in the past. I'm not looking for a woman who can only offer me sex and hang around me to parties anymore. They are things men do when they are out there still having fun. But now, matured men are looking out for women with values. Women who has something going on for them and can add to their own values too." Prince Ire said. "One of the reasons why the rich wants their children to marry someone from an affluent background is because they know successful men need successful women to contribute to their career and keep the money coming from two sides."

Ara sat back and watched him. She got it without much stress. To be with this kind of men, women needs to be independent, successful and hard-working. She then thought about it truly. Being with someone with a promising future or successful career boost one's career even more. She stopped herself from thinking about anything and listen to Prince Ire.

"Think about the successful men out there and search for their wives." Prince Ire continued. "They might not be beautiful but productive, educated, successful and independent. These are what successful men are looking out for. These women have something going on for them before they met. They are hard-working, respected in the society and impacting lives. When I saw you, I was attracted to your act of patience and the care you showed to majority of people you attended to that day. At that moment, I wasn't looking at a girl to smash and move on. I saw someone I wanted to get to know and spoil with love."

That brought a sweet smile to Ara's face. "I just love you." She gushed at him. In few months of being with this man, she had learnt so much. She had become more serious about herself. She had a change of mindset and really couldn't forget all his advice. She tried not to compare her last relationship with the one she has with Prince Ire, but she couldn't. In her last relationship, they never had time to talk to each other and correct themselves. They never really motivate each other or plan their lives together. They were both in that relationship to point to themselves as boyfriend and girlfriend. May be to brag to his friends that he was dating a fine girl. Ara prayed every lady who is luckily blessed with a man who spoils them with attention and care about their feelings and dreams will know their worth and not lose them due to their carelessness.

From what she had seen, Prince Ire was from a learned family and if she was ready to really be with him, she had to take her education serious.

While they were talking and laughing at each other, a guy working at the restaurant walked up to them. "Sorry, are you Prince Adedamire?"

Prince Ire looked up at him and looked down at the brown envelope he was holding. "Yea. Lemme have it." He stretched out his right hand. Holding the brown envelope with his two hands, he dipped his right hand inside it and brought out what was inside. It turned out it was another two pictures of them. Taken with the same clothes they had on. Inside same restaurant. One was the image of Ara smiling while he stared at her. Another one was the picture of them laughing together. Prince Ire spread the two pictures on the table and read the words boldly written on it with a black marker.

                   'Stop dreaming.'

He turned the back of the two pictures as if he knew something was written at the back.

              You are a piece of shit!

                      I hate you!

Aramade read it too. She could feel Prince Ire's reaction. His happy smiles were gone. He looked totally worried seeing another pictures again with the words on it. Ara raised his chin with her hand and touched his cheek. "I love that piece of shit. I think at this point, you need to know you are not safe. Someone doesn't want you happy. And they are ready to go to any length."

Prince Ire grabbed her hand with his and kissed it lightly. "But who could it be?"

_____________________________________

Hmmm😄guys who could it be?
Who do you think hates Prince Ire so much that he doesn't want him happy😁

Guess🤩 and by next month, we will find out. I love you all. Kisses😘😘

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO CLICK THE STAR 🌟 BUTTON 🙏 YOUR SUPPORT MEANS A WHOLE LOT TO ME. GOD BLESS YOU.