WE ARE HERE!!

I was doing my own personal count down to Today (10th of October) which was when I personally decided to officially start updates.

I am so excited and I know you are too. I can't create a schedule for updates so basically, I'd be updating as the spirit leads. If you haven't watched the trailer yet, its in the previous update. Check it out.

Now...

Are you ready for an adventure? 🌚

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𝔼𝕃𝕐𝕆ℕ

"Wake up!" Someone suddenly screamed in my ear and I screamed, jumping up from my sleeping position and almost fell off the bed. I began to hear laughter and I needed no soothsayer to tell Venus had started her shenanigans.

"How the hell do you keep gaining access into my room, you rodent?" I snapped at her, angrily tossing on of my pillows at her which she skillfully dodged.

"You were too tired last night, you forgot to lock your room." She replied, plopping down on my bed while I groaned and fell back to my bed, pulling a pillow over my face.

"We had a long day yesterday, Venus and it's very early in the morning. I'm not ready for your trouble." I told her calmly, too tired to even shout at her.

"I'm bored!" She groaned and fell to my bed.

"Will you stand up and leave my room for me!" I snapped at her. She stood up from the bed and stuck her tongue out to me before walking out of my room. I sighed and tried to fall back asleep but I wasn't feeling drowsy anymore.

Well if I'm up now, then I'm up. Besides, I have a surprise planned for Jamal. An automatic grin spread across my lips at the sudden thought of him.

Jamal and I were basically apart for major parts of the long vacation after Third term. My family went on a vacation to The Maldives while his went to visit his paternal grandparents in London. They didn't spend so much time there so they got back pretty early. We kept in touch every single day, even though with the major time difference, it was pretty difficult.

The best part of all these was that, my family and I weren't meant to come back till next week but we had to move it a week earlier. We arrived back to Nigeria last night and Jamal doesn't know anything. I don't know how he hasn't found out but I'm glad he hasn't. And I was planning on surprising him this morning. Aunt Zaria and Skye were so in on it.

I really can't wait to see him.

I picked up my phone and put on the mobile data. Notifications began to come in from different social media platforms but as usual, I opened Instagram first and began to surf through the posts. I saw one that Skye had posted. It was a picture of her and Jamal.

I smiled and kept surfing through until I saw one that Jamal had posted early this morning. I found myself biting against my bottom lip as I stared at the picture. It was a picture of both of us which I had no idea when it was taken. It was an "unaware" picture since we were both asleep but it was beautiful nonetheless, bagging a lot of likes and comments.

I saw that he had sent a message on the Instagram message board. Because my phone didn't have international coverage we resulted to chatting on Instagram for the time I was away. I opened it to check. He said he was waiting for my surprise.

I couldn't stop myself from grinning.

You don't know the kind of surprise that you see in for, love.

I had a good feeling about this year in general. It's starting so well, definitely it will remain that way.

****

"Elyon, slow down. The food is not running away from you, is it." Mum chided me teasingly as I stuffed another morsel of slice bread into my mouth.

"She's trying to be fast enough so that her surprise for Jamal won't be ruined." Venus blabbered and I shot her a glare, telling her to keep her mouth shut.

"Oh! So that's what all the rushing is about." Dad smirked knowingly at me. I swallowed my food.

"He doesn't know we are back yet. He still thinks we are coming next week. I want to surprise him at home and Aunt Zaria has been stalling him to stay in his room for the past hour. I want to get there on time." I explained to them.

"Gosh, you children of nowadays." Mum lamented and I rolled my eyes before exchanging a look with Venus.

3...2...1

"In my days, I was so focused on my studies, I didn't think of having a boyfriend then. Not to talk of throwing surprises and whatnot." She stated her usual mantra causing me to roll my eyes again.

"But Dad told us you two started dating in SS2." I smirked when Mum with a shocked expression turned to look at Dad who had a goofy grin on his face.

"You told them about us?" She asked him and he shrugged.

"Am I not supposed to?" He questioned her back, causing Venus and I to burst out in laughter at my mum's mortified expression.

"We are just following your footsteps, mum." I said between laughter and Venus nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Like mother like daughter." She chipped in jokingly and we cackled again, dad also joining in.

"Well done, all of you. Be making jest of me." She started when our laughter subsided and looked at Dad with a knowing smirk. "Shebi, it's you and me tonight." She said, causing Dad laughter to turn upside down and immediately I had an idea of what she said.

"Ewww! TMI!" I let out in an exaggerated scream and covered my ears like it would it would do anything to stop my imagination from running wild. Dad began to beg mum subtly like Venus and I didn't have an idea what was going on, causing the both of us to laugh at their antics.

Parents tho...

"I'm not saying you guys shouldn't be in a relationship or something," Mum began when the ruckus went down a bit. "I'm very glad that you are with Jamal, I sincerely wouldn't have wanted it any other way." She added approvingly and I nodded, a smile of appreciation spreading across my lips.

"Like you father rightly told you, we started dating in SS2." She stretched over the table and clasped dad's hands in hers. "We were able to make it work because we knew what we wanted and we didn't allow anything distract us from the main goal at that time. Our studies." She stated matter-of-factly and I nodded.

"You both are going to be in SS3 in the next two weeks or there about. This class comes with a lot of responsibilities and no form of distraction should be entertained. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not asking you to stop seeing each other for the time being. I'm asking you to help each other through this class, we there for each other. Make it work." She advised.

"Mum, you know I don't joke with my studies. It comes first no matter what. Have I ever disappointed you?" I asked and she shook her head in response.

"You haven't." Her words followed and I nodded.

"Exactly. Trust me on this one. Jamal and I are going to make it work." I told her affirmatively and she nodded.

"Okay baby girl. I trust you."

"Wait, does that mean I can have a boyfriend too?" Venus asked out of nowhere.

"Ti mo ba fo e leti." (If I slap you) Mum threatened and we all doubled up in laughter. I saw Dad whisper something to Mum's ear before she nodded, her face lighting up like she remembered something.

"Oh Yes, Elyon." Mum called as I finished up my meal and I looked at her. "You should invite Jamal over one of these days. We need to have the talk with both of you." Immediately she said that, alarm bells went off in my ear.

The wetin?

"The what?" I asked, hoping I didn't hear well.

"The talk na." Dad butted in and I looked at me incredulously. "The talk about abstinence, sex..." He began to list and my eyes went huge. Venus began to laugh at my expense.

"Condoms..." Mum chipped in casually and I became mortified.

"Oh No! No, No, No! I'm definitely not having that talk." I stood up from the table, picking up my phone.

"Wait na." Dad called after me but I rushed out of the house, screaming over my shoulder.

"I love you, mi familia!"

****

"It's about time you showed up. I am seriously tired of stalling him. He probably suspects something now." Aunt Zaria said as she made way for me to come in before closing the door. I chuckled and turned around to hug her.

"I'm so sorry, Aunty. My parents were  really on my case this morning. It wasn't even funny." I told her and she rolled her eyes playfully.

"It's quite understandable. Now I can leave the house in peace." She let out a dramatic smile of relief before picking her bag which I had not noticed when I came in from the chair before looking back at me.

"He's in his room." She told me and I nodded, suddenly feeling bubbled of excitement fill my chest. Aunt Zaria seemed to have noticed this because she suddenly let out a light laugh and muttered something like children of nowadays.

Now I see why She and my Mum are best friends.

I bade her good bye as she made her way out of the house while I raced up the stairs, finding myself in front of Jamal's room in a nano second. I exhaled deeply and knocked on the door softly. I didn't hear anything at first so I knocked again.

"Mummy! This is the fifteenth time you are coming to my room to check up on me! And yes, I've been counting!" I heard his voice yell from inside the room. I had to cover my mouth to suppress the giggle that was going to escape from my lips.

I knocked again and heard him groan before I began to hear shuffled and murmurs. Keys began to turn and the door was getting unlocked. I held my breath went I saw the doorknob turn and when the door opened abruptly.

Revealing the love of my life in all his glory.

He was shocked.

Apart from the fact that the expression was very much expected, It was also written all over his face. His hands dropped to his sides and his mouth hung open as he stared at me in awe. While I stood there as well, biting against my lower lip to keep the smile from tearing up my face. By the way, that wasn't working.

My eyes moved to notice details in his body. He looked taller, at least two inches taller that before. His hair was still in their normal buzz cut which I really loved. He also looked more buffed, an obvious aftermath of continuous visit to the gym. He also has beards!

Beards!

My fingers suddenly began to itch to stroke them.

All in all, he looked more handsome than when I last saw him. Instagram posts didn't do him any justice whatsoever.

"Elyon..." He muttered and I found myself giggling.

"Hi Stranger." I whispered back. One minute I was on the floor, the next minute my feet were dangling mid air and I was laughing heartily, my hands wrapped around a certain someone who was carrying me. His hands were around my waist and he kept screaming happily.

"Okay. I'm getting really dizzy with you carrying me in circles." I told him, gently patting him on his shoulder so that he would drop me.

"No. Let me hold you like this for one more minute." His voice was pleading, his head nuzzled in the crook of my neck. I allowed him, my hand wrapping tighter around his neck. I missed him too, so much.

He finally let me down but he didn't release his hold on me. His hands went from my waist t cup my face, leaning in a bit closer to press his lips against mine. I sighed in satisfaction, my hands going to wrap around his mid section, kissing him back. I felt him smile against my lips as he skillfully parted my lips and slipped his tongue in, earning a moan from me.

Being away from this, from him, past one month wasn't easy, trust me.

"I missed you." He whispered, when he pulled away slightly to look at me. I giggled like a love sick puppy.

Gosh, I have it bad!

"I missed you too." I told him and he grinned wildly, pulling away from me before taking my and and pulling me along with him to the bed. Not before closing the door though.

"I must say, you definitely got me. You blew my mind." He was quoting my words from our chat last night and I let out a laugh.

"I did say I was going to blow your mind, didn't I." I stated and he chuckled.

"How are you here so early. You told me you weren't coming back till next week. Most importantly, how did I not know you were back? My room is directly opposite yours!" He rapped out the questions so fast, I couldn't keep up.

"Whoa! Slow down there, big guy." I teased him and he stopped rambling, taking a deep breath.

"See the kind of effect you are having on me and you have just being here from five minutes." He wiggled his eyebrows and I laughed.

"About is coming back early, mum had a bit of food poisoning. I think something she took didn't agree with her system so, Dad just said we should come back. And for your second question, I had a bit of help from your mum and Skye." I smirked knowingly, inducing Jamal to groan as he figured out what that meant.

"I knew it." He exclaimed. "I knew there was something fishy about her not wanting me to come down stairs. I just couldn't place her sudden change in attitude." He looked at me with a sly smile and I giggled again. Suddenly, he descended on me and began to tickle me, eliciting a loud laughter from me.

"Stop na." I begged him but he didn't.

"That's for scheming against me." He growled playfully, still tickling me till I fell back to the bed and he was flitting above me. I tried to stop him with my hands but he succeeded in trapping my hands above my head, rendering me a powerless laughing mess.

"Okay! I'm sorry, I won't surprise you again." I said between laughter and he scrunched his face teasingly at me in return.

"Oh please, I need you to keep surprising me like that every day." He replied, his tongue coming out to sweep over his lips slowly, my eyes following the movement.

"Did you voice get deeper?" I whispered to him. He let out a deep rumbling chuckle and released my hand from his grasp but still maintain his position over me. Not that I was complaining anyway. I wanted him right there.

"What do you think, babe?" He asked me and I feigned a thoughtful expression for moment before shaking my head.

"Nah, still the same tiny voice." I teased and he let out a laughter, burying his face in the hollow of my neck, his breath tickling my skin.

"I do like the beards though." I mentioned when the laughter subsided.

"I almost thought you didn't notice it."

He scrunched his face playfully again and I giggled, reaching my hands out to run my fingers through the scarce mass of facial hair. I watched as his eyes fluttered close and a hume escaped his lips, an approving sound that he liked what I was doing. But I rather he used his words.

"You like that?" I asked him.

"Yeah... It feels good." He whispered, leaning into my touch. "I'm so glad you are around now." He muttered, and I smiled in response, no words needed to be said.

"Whee is Skye, isn't she home?" I asked him a moment after.

"She's probably asleep." He started but then his face lit up like he remembered something.

"Fuck! I almost forgot!" He picked his phone and checked something on it. I didn't know what it was that he checked. I was about to ask him about it bit then he spoke. "It's like this whole surprise thing is preordained." He stated but I got confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked but he placed his index on his lips, asking me to keep my voice down as he took my hand and led me out of his room and towards Skye's room. He opened the door slightly and we peeped in. Truly she was asleep.

"What's going on?" I asked Jamal again as he led me down the stairs and he grinned at me, urging me to follow him to the door till we were standing right in front of it.

"Today is about to turn out even better." He said and I became even more confused.

"Why do you say that?" I asked him. He checked his phone again and a wide grin spread across his lips.

"Because someone is about to knock that door," he pointed to the door. "In three...two...one."

On Cue, a knock came to the door. I looked at Jamal in awe, wondering how he knew someone would knock. He same my expression and laughed heartily before going over to the open the door, revealing the very last person I had expected to see.

MATEO SEYIFUNMI CRAIG.

My eyes went huge and I was getting ready to scream when Jamal quickly clasped his hands over my mouth.

"Don't scream." He told me and I nodded before he removed his hands from my mouth.

I looked at Mateo who was certainly standing right there, a grin gracing his face. My mouth hung open and my eyes were wide like saucers. Mateo was standing right before us, looking as sharp as ever, his messy curls still in tact and blue contacts in place of his glasses.

Damn!!

"I know you are shocked to see me, but at least give me a hug na." He chirped teasingly. I jumped into his stretched arms and gave him a bear hug. It was so good to see him, hale and healthy.

When Mateo left, he could barely keep in touch with anyone because of his therapy sessions. Everyone felt it but Skye felt it the most. She tried to be her normal cheerful self but it was obvious she was struggling with it, especially without knowing when he was going to come back. It took a huge toll on her but we were all there to help.

But now, he's here!

"What are you doing here?" I asked him when I pulled away from the hug. He began to answer but Jamal cut him off.

"Let's talk about this later. Right now, we need to catch her by surprise." Jamal said, rubbing his palms together in excitement. I got the memo immediately and chuckled.

"Now, I am dying to see the look on her face." I chipped in as we made our way upstairs to Skye's room.

I noticed Mateo continuously cleaning his hands on his pants and flicking them as well. It was no new that he was nervous. It's been almost five months and Skye definitely wouldn't see this coming. It's not possible to predict what her reaction would be. I took my hand to his shoulder and he turned to look at me.

"I'm sure she'll be very happy to see you." I assured him and he smiled in appreciation. We came to a stop in front of Skye's door and I heard Mateo exhale before Jamal knocked loudly on the door.

"Skye." He called, loud enough to wake her up.

"Go away!" Her grouchy sleepy voice snapped back. I didn't miss how Mateo's lips spread in a smile.

"Skye na! You need to see something. Wake up!" Jamal yelled back.

"Oh oh!!! Must I see it? Stop disturbing my life!" She snapped back. I chuckled, watching Jamal roll his eyes.

"Elyon is here and she needs to see you!" Jamal yelled and I gave him a thumbs up. That will give her second thoughts. There was silence at the other side for a moment, I almost thought Skye had gone back to sleep.

"She's here?" Skye finally spoke up and I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Yes she is. Come and open the door." Jamal replied.

"Okay, okay. I'm coming. Sheesh!" Skye lamented and I smiled, getting more and more excited to see her expression. I watched as Mateo bit down against his lips nervously, moving closer to the door.

We began to hear shuffles, grumbling and murmuring before the lock began to turn. Our heart rate began to increase in pace. The door knob turned and the door began to open.

"Jamal, I swear to God! If you..." Skye started to ramble as she opened the door but when she completely opened it, her voice got caught in her throat, literarily.

She was face to face with Mateo.

She was blinking rapidly, like she was trying to be sure if she was seeing correctly on she was only dreaming. Just like when Jamal had seen me, her hands dropped to her side and her mouth hung open like someone about to catch a fly. Mateo on the other hand nervously moved closer, minding his steps. Jamal moved back and came to stand beside me, intertwining out hands together as we watched the both of them stare at each other.

Someone should say something na!

"Skye..." Mateo muttered, his voice raspy and filled with so much emotion.

We waited for Skye to say something back at least.

But she didn't.

I expected her to move out of her room completely, closer to Mateo.

But she didn't.

Instead, she moved back a bit...

...and slammed the door in his face.

Wawu!

A/N

And we are kicking off this book with it's first official cliffhanger!! Yippy! Someone people will definitely murder me one day because of all these cliffhangers I usually drop upandan 🤣. But y'all love me like that na. Abi?

Some med stuffs! I'm so excited Mehn. I really hope this first chapter was so worth it. I tried my best to make it come out well, but I don't know sha 🤧. Let me know your thoughts about this chapter plix.

So Mateo is back! As expected anyway, the trailer basically dropped that as a spoiler. He surprised Skye who I turn slammed the door in his face.

Ouch!

What do you think that means tho? You know, Skye slamming the door in Mateo's face could mean anything sha. What are your theories? Let me know in the inline comments.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share with your friends. Let them know that the sequel has finally kicked off.

Till next time!

Stay Safe!