72

A bright morning could have made some certain set of people smiled, excited, eager, expectant, or intentionally grateful to try more things. Go out, have fun, start their business, or hang out. These reasons weren't completed, because some set of people woke up and they wanted the day to come to an end. At this point, Prince Ire didn't just want the day to come to an end, but days of running here and there to put an end to his blackmailers and be able to live again. To finally not think of anyone plotting evil against him anymore. He thought it was some prank and could end in no time, but it look longer than he expected.

A black venza stood separately from other cars that were parked. The moment it was driven in, it was parked not far away from the entrance, where everyone either going in or coming out could be seen. Prince Ire had intentionally left the palace early to beat the traffic. He could remember Ara telling him she had just one paper everyday. After what his Dad told him, he knew he needed to see Moyin, and before that could happen, he needed to see the flier Moyin gave them which was with Aramade. Prince Ire knew once he had seen his church, he could visit there anytime on Sunday to see him. He decided to take one of his brother's car instead, knowing Ara would recognise his and he didn't want her to know he was around first.

Prince Ire rested on the driver's seat, relaxing. While doing so, he didnt forget to keep his eyes fixed on the door to be the first person to see Aramade while making her way out. When he got there, he was told the exam had started few minutes before his arrival. For up to forty five minutes, Prince Ire sat in the car waiting, watching, and rehearsing all he planned to say. His only prayer was for Ara to be kind enough to hear him out. He wanted her to be fine, but sincerely, he had not been fine not talking to her. He had not been in his right senses not getting to chat or see her. Those tears had not been able to get out of his mind. Her face, the disappointment in her eyes had put him in so much worry.

Forgetting the fact that he wanted he flier, deep down, he wanted to see her, feel her, touch her, get a chance to kiss her and tell her how beautiful she was. How her smile moved hearts. How she drove him crazy. How she took the whole of his mind, heart with her. He kept watching, and watching. He had never loved a girl the way he loved Ara. He had never wanted to protect a girl the way he wanted to protect Ara. Ire you are crazy about this girl mhen! What has she done to you guy! You want her safe right? So leave. You could always find another way to get to Moyin okay! He said, trying to convince himself, but his heart was too occupied with thoughts of seeing her. 

You are here, so cut the crap and see her! Isn't that what you want? Prince Ire said to himself again and closed his eyes for some seconds thinking about those times they fought for food. The day she fell from the bed, pretending to be down with cough. Those days she lied and he knew but kept quiet and just enjoyed watching her. He smiled. Her craziness had been way too much that he was crazy with all of her. Her smiles, her jokes, her unnecessary laughter, the way she called him mumu... The thought made him chuckle. He agreed Ara was naughty. The way she comfortably whined him... The day he joined her to wash her clothes. That thoughts made Prince Ire stared at his two hands that never did something like that since his birth. Things we do for love, or may be things we put ourselves through for love. He chuckled at the thought as well. It was too full of emotions for him to keep thinking about their moments together. Prince Ire instantly stopped himself from getting too distracted.

Twenty more minutes, the quiet compound was starting to become noisy.

'It was as if I knew that question would come out.' A young girl said and laughed.

'Na only two I answer I swear. The rest were just stories by baba God.' A matured guy said to a lady beside him. The lady laughed, snatched his question paper and checked it.

'You!" The girl said as if she didn't believe him. 'I know you Niyi. Those stories by baba God simply means you didn't write enough to collect another answer script ba."

The guy laughed, accepting the lady beside him knew him well enough. The scene managed to catch the eyes of Prince Ire and he totally forgot his eyes were to be fixed at the entrance of the exam hall. While Prince Ire was watching the examiners ranting to one another, Aramade walked out of the hall. As if she was also expecting someone, she scanned the whole place but found nothing. Looked around again, but eventually, she gave up. She continued walking, a bit tired for sitting another one and the half hours writing. Since she had promised herself she didn't want to make any friend or friends than good morning and goodnight greetings to people who greeted her first. She decided to head home instead.

"How come she looks so much like her?" Prince Ire mumbled to himself the moment a body walked past his car. Shit! The entrance. Prince Ire quickly turned towards the entrance, but looked back to stare at the same lady he thought looked so much like Ara. Almost reaching the gate of the building, Prince was convinced. "Wait! That's really her." Prince Ire said, unlocking his car door as quickly as he could, running to the tall, extremely fair lady in a large gown. Prince Ire grabbed her hand and instantly, she turned to him. "Ara." He whispered, staring down at the long, large gown she was putting on. The scarf worsen it, making her look older than her age, but damn pretty as always. Could her beauty ever fade away?

Aramade snatched her hand away from him, staring at him. Not trying to deceive herself. She had missed him too. He looked so tired, and she knew why. The only reason she tried not to make things hard for him. She knew he was going through a lot. Today, he was framed, tomorrow, someone is after his life. She regained consciousness and rolled her eyes. "Do you have an exam here as well?"

Prince Ire couldn't help it. He had to smile. "Actually, I'm here for you Ara."

"Well, I did my mathematics first, so I don't think there is anything for us to discuss again."

Prince Ire was quiet for few seconds. He stared at her. He knew she wasn't going to listen to him easily as he thought. He eventually gave up trying to play her game. He moved closer, trying his best not to touch her. "Babe." His voice was sexy to the core. Just the way he would call her if he wanted a kiss or when trying to be soft on her.

That voice made Ara look away to avoid been seen how much she was affected by the way he called her. As much as she didn't want to look so weak, her heart was failing her. Her brain was saying something else. Her body was comfortable with him. She looked back at him. "Ire, we can't just stand here."

"Yes babe," he quickly replied. "My car is over there."

"How come I didn't see it earlier."

He smiled. "Were you expecting me to be here?"

She rolled her eyes at him instead. "My time is going."

"Yea. Sorry babe." He quickly apologized. "I brought Damola's car instead. My cars are fine. I just didn't want you to notice I'm around." He told her still. He knew she wanted to know even though she acted like she didn't care. Together they walked towards the black venza and got in at the same time. When  Ara got in, she looked through the tinted window instead, not looking at anything in particular. Just waiting for Prince Ire to talk.

After some seconds they've settled in, Prince Ire moved closer to her. Her cologne made him moved even more closer. Aramade felt his presence but did nothing. He got it and slowly he kissed her neck. "I miss you." His breath fanned her. "I miss you Ara." He said again, resting his head on her shoulder. "Ever since I turned to drugs, even my years in the states, and a month before I met you, I've never been scared of death. I've never been scared of leaving this world so soon. Cause, I didn't have much reasons to live. I became a doctor cause of mom and she was my reason for wanting to live well but despite, having done some bad things, I wasn't scared of death so soon, until I met you."

At that junction, Ara turned her head towards him. Slowly, he lifted his head and his mouth met hers. It was slow. It was magnificent. It was as if both of them had never kissed before. At a point, Prince Ire could feel Ara's hot tears. Instead of telling her to stop, he kissed them and suddenly, he dragged her onto his laps so quickly,  getting Ara to laugh through her tears. 

She didn't resist, but began saying something else after she was balanced and comfortably enjoying the fun. She wiped her tears away and looked at him. "Why would you carry a girl who isn't your girlfriend?"

Prince Ire scratched the back of his neck. "Who told you I broke up with you?"

That made the two lovers stared at each other, and they did that for about three seconds. "But you did Ire." Ara said quietly.

Prince Ire touched her left cheek. "Yesterday, I discovered Adewale could be a suspect and needed to make him believe we are not together to make sure you are safe. But after I had a chat with Dad I realised I don't even have to suspect him, but still I can't afford to lose my guard Ara. I want you safe." He kissed her lightly on the lips. "I want you out of all these drama. I regret doing what I did the other day, but now I feel better seeing you smile. You are my babe. Don't even think about to saying yes to that guy."

Ara smiled even more.

Prince Ire removed the scarf Ara tied on her head. "What's with the scarf."

She laughed. "Do I look like a married woman with it?"

Prince Ire smiled. "Very soon," he said quietly. "But I actually did not recognise you at first. This gown is kinda funny as well. I've never seen you in it. You look different."

Ara looked a bit sober. "Actually, we rushed mom to the hospital this morning. She's diabetic. I always monitor what she takes but I stopped when I had a fight with her before I started working for you. When I came back, my mind wasn't there and I just discovered she has not been taking her drugs well. The work became too much when I left, and that affected her Bp which is too high now. This morning we noticed she was very weak that she couldn't move her body. So, I was in a hurry and this was very easy to put on. My hair was too rough so I had to tie a scarf. I didn't get to go back home. Came here instead." 

Prince Ire touched her cheek again. "I'm sorry about that. Can I visit mom?"

"Sure." Ara said. "I was scared seeing her so weak this morning. Not that I haven't seen her in her weakest moments, but today, I was so scared of losing her. I realised how much I love her. How much I cherish and want her to forever be my mom even in my next life. I'm not sure I told you, but I discovered she was saving for my school. She saved up to six hundred thousand for me and last week, she gave me another four hundred thousand naira. Recently, I discovered she's working on my passport and I felt like the ground should open up and swallow me."

Prince Ire stared at his drama Queen. "Why?"

"Ire, this is the same woman I thought was just using me. I thought she never  cared about our education because she didn't attend any university." Ara was almost crying. "What did I not call her. I failed to see this the same woman who has been carrying the whole responsibilities in that house. With her work, she could afford her personal car, but she chose not to, and bought a land with it just for us to have our home. She could have abandoned Dad with the situation of things in that house, but yet, she stayed for us." At this point Ara was crying. "I love her so much. God has blessed me with the best mom in the world. I've learnt my lesson that children should understand that our parents can't always provide us everything. Many homes, parents can provide enough attention to their children and enough care but the little money these parents are making is not enough to satisfy the wants of their children. Can we just say thank you for the little they still manage to give us?"

At this point, Prince Ire broke down and let out those tears, holding Ara's hand so tight. He looked away with tears streaming down. First time Ara would ever see him in tears. Like he would have done, she kissed them so lightly and allowed him to talk. He looked at her and smiled. "I'm glad I met you Ara. I've learnt my lesson as well, because many homes as well, these parents are doing so much to work just to provide us everything money can buy. What is it I can't buy with money? If I want a new car right this moment, I can own it. If I want to fly out of the country right this minute, I just need my phone and I'm done booking my flight..."

Ara stared at him. "Mr. Man, what you are doing right now is called bragging."

He smiled. "Don't mind me. Most of this money few years ago, I didn't work for it because my parents did all they could for me to have this life. But I wanted more. I wanted enough care, attention, love, which I didn't realise on time that, that was his way of loving me, and no matter how he tried, he couldn't give me all these things. Instead of trying to get back at him, blame him, curse him, spoil him in front of my friends, make him feel bad, make him feel like he has not been doing anything at all, I should have been appreciative for having a father who is not even stingy and could shoulder all my needs. Not blame him because he wants the best for me as well, and he was trying his best. Which child will ask his father for bread and get a stone in return?"

Ara stared at Prince Ire. "That last statement sounds like a bible verse?"

"Well I don't know cause I can't remember when last I read Bible itself." He confessed. "That was actually the only statement mom said to me before I left home eight years ago and those words have been with me since then. Now I understand. And instead of harbouring bitterness against him, I should grow to become a better father he couldn't be to me. Thank you Ara. Knowing you has given me reasons to live and become a better person."

Ara smiled. "I'm glad I met you. Cause with you, I don't just want to live out my dreams, I want to be more. More of a woman who can stand next to an intelligent man and everyone will say, if one day I will also be in a relationship, I want to be with a man who will add values to my life, who will support my dreams, who will push me, encourage me, who is dedicated to our future, who knows my worth, take my hand no matter where he's coming from because the future is always better if work now. I love you Adedamire. My one and only finest mumu. Ever handsome Henry." Ara smiled. "You've grown to become a better version of yourself, and I'm so proud of you. I know before the end of this month, everything will come to an end and you can live again."

Prince Ire sealed it with a light kiss. "Since the day I saw you, I knew you are irreplaceable Ara. Now let's visit mom. We have a church programme to attend tomorrow."

Aramade chuckled and returned back to her seat. She used her seat belt and turned her head to him. "Ready."

"Yes madam." He smiled at her and started his car. Slowly, he drove his car out of the compound, heading to check Ara's mom.

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My loves thank you so much for waiting and rushing here to read DL 🙏 I wanted to update yesterday, but I had a music performance and I didn't just want to update one chapter that will make no meaning since I was in a rush.

I hope you really enjoyed today's chapter? It's very important that whoever we are dating or want to date is adding values to our lives. Men, not just a woman who wants to spend your money and offer you sex in return. If you are not growing, with no ideas that could help you use your money in the right places, one day, you will realise there is nothing to show for the relationship. There is nothing to point at that this woman has done in your life. Because of these reasons, choose well, and he the man you also want your woman to be. Because you only attract your kind of person. 

Ladies😊 we love sugar coated guys. Cute, tall, handsome, full of fun, rich, with six packs and broad shoulders. But these things will not feed you or add anything to your life if a man in this body is as dry as a skeleton and all he wants is just to have fun, have sex, go to club, and do fine boy around. Relationship is not just eating chicken about. Ordering pizza or going on vacation to have great sex. You should set up together, plan together, invest, help each other, encourage, push each other, learn things, read books to better your relationship.

If you as a man is intelligent and you are doing well, help your woman get better too. Don't let them say, she does not deserve you. If you as a woman knows this man is lacking somewhere, talk to him and let him know you have a book he can read, or you know a business he can try, or a seminar or webinar he can attend. Grow together.

😄 There is more to talk about guys. As children, we should always appreciate our parents no matter what. We should know they can't always provide us with everything and because of that, we shouldn't hate them for it or try to get back at them. We will only end up hurting ourselves in return.

😊 I know I have lots of intelligent readers reading DL. Please tell me what you've learnt so far. I see everyone's comment and I'm grateful for the time you take typing to tell me how much you love DL🙏

TILL TOMORROW 😄🤩😘
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THANK YOU MY LOVES 🙏 You don get am like that😁 your support means a lot to me.