"Naomi, marry him or else I will stab you!" Mia threatened and pointed a knife at me.

I frowned and yelled, "No! You can't force me".

She sighed and continued to peel her orange. "Gosh! You don't have sense. A guy says he loves you. Just marry him na!"

"Do I know him?" I asked her.

"You've met!"

"We have just met two times. How is that enough for him to suddenly fall in love with me? Ask yourself that question," I snapped and narrowed my eyes at her.

Mia was one of my friend in university. We had lodged a hotel close to the wedding venue of another friend of mine. This week would be the wedding.

"Johanna wants us to meet her at the spa. I can't believe that babe is about to get married," she squealed. "God when!" She looked heavenwards and shook her head.

I laughed and went to her. She had a white tray on her lap. There were two oranges on it. I leaned and picked one.

"Drop it back," she snarled and pointed the knife at me. "How dare you touch what's mine?"

"Calm down, Mia! Why you dey vex like this?"

"You yelled at me just minutes ago. I'm still angry"

"Mtchew! You can't force me to marry him"

"Fine! Don't marry him but at least, date a guy. Do you want to be a nun?"

"No!"

"Then why are you still single?"

"Why are you single?"

"My case is different. I dated a guy last month but we broke up. You, on the other hand, haven't even dated a guy since the first day I meet you. That's years ago!"

I shrugged. "So?"

She sighed. "I know the experience you had in your highschool hurt you but you need to move on"

"What if I say I can't?"

"You haven't even tried! Just date a guy and find out if you can or cannot move on"

"Mia, if you care about me, don't push me to do what I don't want to"

"Okay! Fine! I'm sorry"

My phone rang and I picked the call. Johanna's voice echoed and she said, "Come to the spa. I've sent the address. I want you guys to join me and beautify our skins. You all need to look lovely on my wedding day. Please, come! I'm waiting"

"You don't need to beg us. We are on our way"

"Thanks!"

The call ended. I turned to Mia. "We need to go!"

"Okay! Let me just enjoy my oranges first"

"I'm going to get dressed. If I'm ready and you aren't, I'll leave"

She gave me a thumbs up and continued to devour her orange.

"You know that sharing is good, right?"

"Yep!"

"So..."

"I'm not going to share"

I frowned. "No problem! Thank God I have money with me. I will just stop at a restaurant and buy pizza. In life, you don't have to share"

"Naomi, wait!"

I smirked, ran into the bathroom and had my shower. I got out and was clad in blue jeans and red T-shirt. Mia got dressed and we went to the spa. As the staff did our manicure and pedicure, my friends and I chatted.

I had five friends with me at that moment. They were Johanna, Mia, Chioma, Favour, Divine. Johanna was the lucky one who would be getting married.

"I can't wait to be his wife oo!" Johanna squealed and fanned herself with her hand that was now polished with red color. "I can't wait".

"I can't wait for the wedding. I got dance tire. And then, I will eat and eat," Divine, my chubby friend exclaimed.

Mia chuckled and teased, "You will now add weight, Divine".

"I need to enjoy the wedding. Food is the only form of true enjoyment for me"

"I know! You don't need to explain," Mia laughed.

"Ehen! Naomi, before you arrived, we were talking about me," Johanna said to me. Her natural black hair fell on her shoulder. She was yet to make the hairstyle for her wedding.

"Oh! Why?" I asked.

"We wanted to arrange a date for you with a guy," she added.

"Aargh! Not this topic again. You guys should free me"

"No way!"

With the way their sharp gaze were on me, I felt and wished that the ground could swallow me. 

"We care about you that's why we want to help you out. Naomi, you are not a girl anymore. You are a woman. A twenty-three year old woman!"

"Fine! Give me time to think. Maybe next year when I'm 24-years...Maybe I'll give a man a chance in my life," I said to be and did a half-shrug.

"Next year?" she scrunched her face.

"It's not far. This is December!"

"Hmmm....Alright! Next year! You will have to send a picture of your boyfriend. You must have a guy in your life. Deal!" Johanna stretched her hand to me for a handshake.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm serious. You have to make this deal with me. If you don't have any guy in your life, I will force you to date a guy of my choice. You know I can do that," Johanna sneered.

"Naomi, I told you. You need to move on!" Mia whispered.

I shrugged. "Deal!"

Maybe fate doesn't want me to meet Freddy again. It's hard time I move on.

After spending the whole day at the spa, I went back to the hotel and settled on my bed. I began to read  a romance novel on an app in my phone.

Gosh! Why am I torturing myself when I know I wasn't successful in my own love story. Chai! I want to cry but I can't.

I kept reading the book. When romantic scenes took place, I just had one guy in mind. Freddy, the guy I had fallen in love with in my highschool.

It's easy for Mia to tell me to move on but the fact is that I can't. I still love him.

I sighed and said aloud, "If fate doesn't give me a sign to know that he is alive or if fate doesn't allow me to meet him before the end of this year, then I will move on and give my heart to another person. As soon as New Year passes, I will start my life afresh".

I pursed my lips and nodded.

This is my decision.

              ++++++++

The sequel is out! 😊 I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I will do my best to make your experience in thiss book worth your time.

What do you think of Naomi's friends advise to her? Should she follow it?

Does her decision make sense?

Do you think she will ever meet Freddy again?

Let's go to the next chapter to find out. Wait! Don't be in a hurry 😉. Vote and Comment my angels. Thanks for reading. God bless ya.

From your 9ja Babe,
✌🏼🤞🏽✌🏼✌🏼