Dedicated to thetoluakintunde ❤

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Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. --1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)

Love sure has a way of creeping up on you. One minute you're blushing strangers, tentative around each other. Then you discover you both have things in common or qualities you admire. The next minute you're calling the person up at the first bit of free time you have or talking late into the night.

And before you know it, you're planning a surprise birthday party.

Posi had spent the past three days trying to organize a mini-party for Tayo. The guy had said he didn't have anything planned for that day, so here she was with Funmi, Gerald and Toyin putting finishing touches to the party preparations. Even GP was in on it. She had somehow managed to get his number through Kazeem and he had been ecstatic about it.

"So, what did you tell Tayo he was coming for?" Funmi asked.

The venue was her house. He had never been to her apartment and of course, he had asked questions.

She adjusted the tray of small chops on the small centre table in her sitting room. "I told him to come to pick up his dad's frame. He protested saying I should still keep it till we travel for his birthday. But I told him he had to come to pick it up because I also had his birthday gift with me. That seemed to do the trick."

She smiled as she remembered the slight lilt in his tone when she mentioned a gift. He was so easy to please.

Funmi just laughed. "Well, this is a great gift."

"I know, right," Toyin concurred.

"Well, Kazeem will be coming earlier. And they will soon be here. I'll go bring him up when he arrives."

********

Tayo had woken up so filled with thanks to God that morning. Up till the previous night, he had just been feeling so-so. He felt there was nothing to celebrate as much as he had anticipated for the year. He had spent most of the year recuperating from the pain and guilt he had allowed to consume him.

But as he opened his eyes to the dawn of the new day, a sense of gratitude washed over him. It was largely because he had spoken at length with Posi the day before. She had asked him again about his plans to celebrate his birthday and he had replied with nothing.

He has always known that Posi was amazing, like really amazing. But when someone helps you to see correctly from a new perspective that you haven't considered before, that person wasn't just amazing but awesomely amazing.

She had listened to all the many reasons he had for not feeling like the new year was welcomed. And then, she shared about how grateful he should be about life, salvation, sound health, food, shelter, clothing and all that God had done for him.

From then on, his mind went on a thinking spree about how God had saved him from bitterness, made his business grow, his friendship with GP, his family's salvation, his new-found friendship with Posi, Funmi and Gerald and many other unfathomable things God had so lovingly blessed him with.

As he went about his day, he whispered words of thanksgiving to his Father. He had thought deeply and he could see many many things to be thankful for.

It was almost time to close from work and Posi had insisted he come to pick up his gift from her house.

Well, I'm curious to know what she bought for me.

His phone had been ringing non-stop since morning and everybody he knew had called him. Even people he hadn't spoken to in ages had called him.

Kazeem walked into his office after a knock. "Happy birthday once again, sir. I want to be on my way home. Is there anything you need before I leave?"

Tayo shook his head. "No, I don't. You can leave. And thank you for today, Kazeem."

"Yes, sir." Kazeem smiled before he turned to leave.

Tayo picked up his phone and dialled Posi's number.

"Yes. Hello, Tee."

He smiled. Hearing her voice was always like a ray of sunshine. She also seemed to have decided Tee was his new name.

"Hello, Posi. I'd have called you Pee but it just doesn't sound okay."

She laughed. "Don't even dare. Posi is very okay."

"So, I will soon leave my office. I'll call you once I arrive."

"Okay. Expecting you. See you in a bit."

He dropped his phone and smiled again. Posi just kept strolling further into his heart. Nope, she sure isn't wriggling her way in. She's walking in, majestically. Like she owned it.

He had spoken to GP about her and his friend was too enthusiastic to hear that he had a lady friend. Posi had even spoken to him one of those times she'd visited his office.

Since their hangout at the beach, he'd been waiting for the perfect moment to ask her for a relationship. Yes, he had asked his Daddy and he had the go-ahead to. He also spoke to his pastor and parents. All he was waiting for was the perfect time to speak up.

It had also been a while he had done this and he was nervous. He knew Posi and if she didn't feel the same as him, he wasn't sure how things will be between them. He had to trust that he'd pick the right time.

Maybe I should just go ahead and ask her tonight. But a rejection on his birthday would be monumental.

Tayo sighed as he picked up his leather bag to leave for her house. All things work together for my, our good.

*******

"Guys, he will be here soon," Posi announced to the small group lounging around in her living room. They were watching a movie but as soon as they heard that, they all moved to re-arrange themselves.

"Where is Kazeem?" Funmi asked.

"That's true. He hasn't called me. And he should have been here by now."

"Well, let's hope he arrives before Tayo. If he ruins the surprise, I'll crush his toes," Funmi said.

Gerald moved closer to her and held her shoulders. "Aunty, be calming down."

They all laughed as Posi's phone rang. She put her finger up, motioning for them to keep their voices down.

"You're here? Okay. I'll be down in a bit."

She dropped her phone and looked at everyone. "He's here. We all know what to do, yeah?"

They nodded in agreement. "Cool. I'll go bring him up."

Laughing to herself, she thought. He wouldn't suspect a thing.

*******

Tayo sat in his car, waiting for Posi to come down. He began tapping a beat on the steering wheel. All of a sudden, he saw a familiar face dart back into a corner.

Why does that person look so much like Kazeem?

"It can't be him," he muttered to himself. "He doesn't live in this area."

At that instant, he heard a tap on his window. Posi was there, smiling at him. She motioned for him to come out and he did. She stood there resplendent in a white tee-shirt and dark blue bootcut jeans.

She's the only one that can look resplendent in a top and jeans.

"Happy birthday!" she said as she hugged him. She released him after some seconds, looking into his eyes.

"Thank you." 

"So, I don't see the frame or my gift with you." He made a show of searching for the said items.

He watched as she narrowed her eyes at him. "I couldn't carry both. So, you will have to come to pick them yourself."

"Ah-ha. I see. You need Superman to come to carry them because you have scraggly arms. That's good." He winked.

"Yeah, right. Arrogance doesn't look good on you." She placed her hand in the crook of his arm and marched him forward. "Come and carry your load so that you can be going home."

"Yes, ma'am."

"So, how was your day?" She asked.

"It was good. Been receiving calls and gifts all day." They walked up the stairs.

"That's cool. We're here."

She opened the door and turned on the lights. A chorused shout of "surprise" rang out and he really was surprised.

Funmi, Gerald and Toyin rushed forward to give him hugs and wish him a happy birthday. He was too speechless to say anything.

Tayo turned to Posi who was beaming with pride. "You!"

"Yes. Me." He gave her another hug and whispered 'thank you'. He could feel the others' eyes on them, so he released her.

"Well, it's not over yet. Some people would like to greet you." She led him to a chair and placed a laptop on his lap.

"Happy birthday!" He saw GP, his parents and siblings as they beamed at him. They were on a Zoom call.

He turned to Posi again in question.

"Well, don't look at me. It was GP who called your family."

He turned back to the laptop and said amen to every prayer before they asked to see all those present with him. His family and GP exchanged pleasantries with Posi, Funmi, Gerald and Toyin before they ended the call.

Tayo was elated beyond words and as he tried to express his gratitude, a knock was heard on the door.

"Who could that be?" Toyin asked before she moved to open the door. There stood Kazeem with a goofy smile on his face.

"Ah-ha! So it was really you that I saw," Tayo said, laughing.

"You saw him? How did you know this was my apartment?" Posi asked him as they all turned their attention to him.

"Erm, I followed behind you two when you were coming up."

"But we didn't hear any sound behind us," Posi said, looking at Tayo. "Or did you?"

He shook his head 'no'.

"Well, I am stealthy."

With a look of apology in Posi's direction, he smiled exposing all his teeth in the process which just made everyone laugh.

Everyone had a gift for him and he was so grateful for them. They even had great things to say about him that he had tears in his eyes at some point.

I have a lot to be grateful for. Thank You, Lord. Thank You for life, family, friends. He looked at Posi. And thank You for Posi.

Today had gone better than he could have envisaged. And he was right where he was meant to be at this point of his life.

******

It was time for everyone to leave and Posi knew Tayo would have to leave too. It was too late in the evening for them to remain alone in her apartment. So, she packed him some leftover food, picked up his dad's frame and his gift before walking with the others towards the exit.

Kazeem and Toyin helped carry the gifts and food towards his car, while the two walked side-by-side as the others gisted loudly in front of them.

"So, did you enjoy this?" She asked tentatively.

He looked at her like she was saying something absurd. "Of course, I did. Who wouldn't?"

"I'm glad then." She smiled at him. Mission accomplished.

They got to his car and she looked at him again. He looked like he wanted to say something but was interrupted by everyone's loud greetings.

"We will talk later." He said.

About what? She thought.

"Okay."

"Thank you again, Posi. You didn't have to but you did do this. I l--appreciate you." There was more than gratitude and appreciation shining in his eyes. Even a blind man could see it.

"You're welcome, Tee. Just wanted to do something for you, just like you have." She winked at him.

He looked confused.

"I know you were the one who made that anonymous donation."

Tayo looked in Toyin's direction. "No, she didn't have to tell me. I just figured it out."

"Hmmmm."

She laughed. "Yes, hmmmm."

"Still, thank you for this," Tayo spoke. She wrinkled her nose at him and smiled.

"It's getting late. We should go." He looked in others' direction.

"Sure. Get some rest. And you know the drill, yeah?"

"Call you when I get home. Yes, ma'am." He saluted. She laughed again.

I sure am laughing too much today.

Posi waved goodbye to everyone as they got into their cars and went in their different directions. She stayed till they were out of sight before she turned to go into her compound. Or so she thought.

********

It had become a habit for him. Tayo drove a few feet away from her gate and waited till she walked in before he drove off.

It was settled. He loved her. But something didn't sit well with him.

"...just like you have."

Did she mean she threw the surprise as some form of payment or appreciation for his donation? Or was it something else?

He shook his head. He was probably reading too much into her statement because of his fear of her rejection.

Maybe I should take some more time to know what she thinks about us. I think so. I'll wait till we return from dad's birthday. That's enough time.

One thing remained though. He had enjoyed his birthday and he wasn't going to forget it in a long while.

As soon as Kazeem left the office, he went to go pick up the gift he had ordered for. It was good for him because the place was just on the way to Miss Faleye's house according to the address that had been sent to him.

He had picked up the wrapped gift and was about rounding the corner to the compound when he glimpsed his boss' car parked right in front of the gate.

Thank God for my quick reflexes. He hoped he hadn't seen him though. Or else he knew he would be the recipient of Miss Faleye's famous brutal glare. He waited till he saw her tap on his window and the look the two had exchanged.

They should do and send us wedding invitations now. My money for aso ebí is ready. He giggled.

They were so immersed in each other's company that they didn't notice the human sneaking around behind them. He just hoped he wouldn't be mistaken for a thief.