I decided to expand the book by one more chapter. First of all, because I love ending my chapters at an even number and Graduation should be a stand alone as well as prom. I don't want to rush anything because I want to meet a certain word count limit. I want to be very detailed and you know how much I love details. So, we will have prom in this chapter and Graduation in chapter 48.

P. S. That's how the hall looks like for their prom up in the media.

****

❝𝑾𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓.❞
ˍ𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆

𝕁𝔸𝕄𝔸𝕃

𝕽𝖊𝖈𝖆𝖕

"Okay I get it, I'm not booed up," Khalil's voice shot through our tiny chemistry bubble and we all turned to look at him leaning against bonnet of that car, hands folded across his chest.

"But that doesn't mean y'all should oppress me at every chance you get na!" He added and we all laughed while he pouted at us. He sounded genuinely pained but I knew he wasn't.

Or was he?

Because if she was here...

I had to stop myself from continuing that thought because I didn't want to feel sad and if Khalil notices a change in my mood, he would know what up immediately. All I wanted to do was to make him feel like he was with his family tonight, with people that would always have his back. I wanted him to have fun tonight. And me feeling sad would spoil all of that.

"Sorry coz." I heard Skye say and Khalil rolled his eyes mockingly and muttered some inaudible words.

"Let's go take pictures by the red carpet. There is absolutely no way we are missing that part of tonight." Vanessa said and we hooted, all of us moving towards the red carpet. Thankfully, the crowd had dissipated, leaving room for us to shine on our own accord, no one rushing us.

This night would be the night of our lives.

_______________________________________

Khalil went over to lock the car, while the rest of us moved towards the red carpet. Elyon told me she wasn't going to wear her shoes until it was time for us to take our pictures so I held on to it for her with my right hand, had one of her hands in mine while she used the other to pack the train of her dress off the floor, even though I was pretty sure it wouldn't get stained because most of what was on the ground was carpet grass.

"Guys, it will soon be our turn to take picture. How do we do it?" Somadina asked.

"Couples picture first, definitely." Skye chipped. "Then the guys will take together, the girls will also take together and at the end, we have a joint group picture." She added and the guys nodded. That's sounded about fine.

Somadina and Vanessa were the first to take, and boy did they do a lot of crazy poses. Khalil had gone to stay with the guy taking our pictures, who was also our set mate. They were in the media together. Skye and Mateo went next, taking as many pictures as possible. I turned to Elyon who was standing beside me, hands looped with mine.

"You should probably wear your shoe now since it will soon be our turn." I told her and she nodded.

"Can you help me with that?" She asked, pouting and I chuckled. "I don't think I'd be able to bend comfortably in this cloth." Was what she said and I quirked my eyebrow in question.

"Just say you want me to help you wear your shoe. You ladies like all those mushy grand gestures thingys." I answered and she smiled rolling her eyes.

"Just wear the shoe for me jhoor." She said and I threw my head back, laughing. Smiling, she hoisted her cloth up, revealing her bare feet. I crouched down and helped her put her shoes on. Honestly, I think I like the shoe better than her dress.

"I love your shoes." I said when I stood up straight again and she smirked.

"Thank you. Too bad you can't wear them, so I'm not giving you." She sassed and my mouth hung open at her unexpected jab. I couldn't even say anything because Skye and Mateo were already done and we were the next to take pictures. Elyon dragged me to the floor and we began to take our own pictures.

We moved to group pictures immediately after, the girls starting first and then the guys. I noticed that Khalil didn't come with us, still maintaining his position behind the camera guy, changing lens and batteries. I wasn't going to let him do that, at least not all night. He needed to have a little bit of fun.

And I was glad when I saw that I wasn't the only one that felt that way

"Khalil, come and join us." Mateo called to him and I watched as Khalil stopped what he was doing to look at us. His eyes met mine and before I could decipher the emotions behind it, he looked away from me, flashing a grin at Mateo.

"Nah, you guys should go ahead without me." He declined.

"Not by a long shot, bro." Somadina countered, shaking his head. "You are our guy, you have to take shot with us too." He maintained. Khalil looked at me again, as if to know if I was okay with it.

"Come on, coz. Don't you want to send your mum pictures? You know she'll ask for it." I taunted teasingly and he laughed, a deep genuine laughter because he knew I was right. Aunt Aisha will definitely ask for pictures.

"Okay, I'm coming." He dropped the things he was holding and came to join us.

We took several pictures together, striking crazy comical poses and with Khalil's occasionally laughter, I knew he was having fun and I was happy. After we guys took pictures, I made sure Khalil and I took person ones, then Skye came to join us. We each took personal pictures, before finishing up with a group picture of all of us, Khalil included.

Before we walked in, Khalil told me that he had to stay with the media group again today because the social media pages of the school would be very active tonight and they needed all hands on deck, which I understood. As he left, I watched him knowing fully well that he'd be okay. Elyon came beside me and looped her arm with mine, causing me to look at her.

"You did good." She told me, looking at me right in the eye. "Including him like that was so perfect. He wouldn't forget it." She added and I sighed.

"I just wanted him to know that he has us. That we are his family and we'll always have his back. I didn't want him to feel isolated." I stated and she nodded.

"Khalil is lucky to have you." She said and I scoffed out a laugh.

"I think it's the other way around because I would probably not be alive if not for him." I chipped and Elyon chuckled, pressing a small kiss to my cheek.

"Either way, you are lucky to have each other." She whispered, her lips brushing my ear and I involuntarily shivered. Before I could dwell on the feeling much longer, she pulled me along towards the entrance of the hall.

"Come on, let go." And I followed her, catching up to the other that were about to go in.

As soon as we stepped into the hall, we stopped short.

Oh Wow!

The hall look nothing short of magnificent.

"Oh my God." I heard Vanessa gasp out breathlessly.

"This. Is. Amazing!" Skye choked out her words or after the other.

"This decorations would have cost a lot! Look at these place! It's like we are not in Nigeria any more!" Mateo said, the awe in his voice could not be missed. Soma was saying something too but I wasn't listening, my gaze feeding on the room.

The room looked outstanding, the decorations top notch. Ushers claded in white and black moved around, setting this up. There was a large buffet at the end of the hall, so many dishes arranged on it and servers standing behind the large table. Everything was just on fleek.

"Esosa went all out on this one. I gotta hand it to her." Elyon said beside me and I nodded like someone in a daze.

"Hell yeah." I answered.

"I didn't really do anything." Someone said and we looked to see Esosa making her way towards us, already dressed up in a flaming attire, clip board in hand. "You'd be shocked at the amount some parents are willing to spend to give their children a magical night." She stated, a smile spreading across her lips. I took another long look at the hall.

"They really put a lot of money into this!" Somadina commented, his mouth hanging open and his eyes holding fascination. Our mates had already begun to walk in, marvelling at the decorations, just like we were.

"You guys should go and have your seat. We are about to start." Esosa said.

"Weldon babe." Skye told her, going over to give her a hug. Yup, Esosa did really well.

Soon after, we were seated at a table for six people that was close to the front so that we won't miss any of the fun. I noticed a table on the podium, with so many award plaques arranged on them very neatly.

"Are those plaques made of glass?" Elyon asked, whispering to me. I took a second look at the award plaques and noticed that they were indeed made of glass. Clear crystal glass. The light shining on them made it some sort of prism because faint colour of the rainbows reflected on the wall behind the table.

"Those plaques would cost nothing less than fifteen thousand naira each." Vanessa said from the other side of the table and we all turned to her, surprised.

"Wawu! There are about fifty of them on that table." Mateo chimed, his blue orbs widening in astonishment.

Wow! That's a lot of money though, if it's just for award plaques.

"Some people are stinkingly, roll in mud rich!" I blurted out and we all laughed.

My phone started to chime continuously and I opened to see who was blowing up my phone. Apparently, it was Khalil sending me the pictures from the red carpet in document format. I downloaded everything and then went to my gallery to view them.

The pictures were dope. Extremely dope.

"El, look at this." She hummed, leaning closer to me to take a look at the pictures. She gasped, reaching out to collect my phone so that she would have a better look at the pictures. I watched as her face lit up more and more as she kept looking at the pictures.

"I've finally gotten a screensaver." She stated as she handed the phone back to me, her lips stretching in a big smile and her eyes twinkling with so many emotions. I smiled, letting out a breath I didn't even know I was holding as my eyes scanned through a particular picture that just did things to me.

A picture of the both of us.

"Me too..." I muttered, more to myself than to her but when her hand went around mine, holding on to my biceps while leaning her chin against my shoulder, I knew she heard me.

It made this, what this was, to hold more meaning.

☆☆☆☆

Prom started a while ago, with TJ and Esosa playing the hosts. Some of the teachers were present because we were going to give some awards to them as well. There were performances, presentation and so on. Everything was going well, going perfectly.

Let's not even get started on the feeding.

For the night, we had a three course meal; Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Some sort of paper was placed in front of each of us, with choices under the three course meals. We could big pepper soup or small chops for the Appetizer, a selected number of foods for the main course and Cake or Ice cream for the dessert.

The fact that they were able to pull this off, having everything we wanted at the top of our fingers was just beyond me.

"I'm picking pounded yam for my main course o." Somadina began, holding his pen and ticking the box for pounded yam, while the rest of us looked at him on awe. "What? I didn't come here to dull myself abeg." He waved our surprised look away with nonchalancy, leaning back against his chair.

"Well if Somadina is taking pounded yam, who am I not to take pounded yam." It was the least person I expected that said that. My sister.

Well, that is new.

"Skye!" Elyon hollered, bursting into laughter immediately after. Skye flashed her a mock disdainful look.

"What? So, Soma can eat pounded yam and I can't? Don't even face me o!" Then suddenly, she shouted to no one on particular.

"Please get me two wraps of pounded yam, with Efo riro and Bokoto, thank you! Also, can you get me a bo of water, please? I'd be using my hand to eat." She finished, leaning back against her chair and flipping her hair like she didn't just to something so...

I didn't even know the word to use.

Everyone on our table and even the table that had overheard her looked at her, mortified and shocked it our wits. My mouth hung open, my eyes on my sister, or whoever this person was because she wasn't Skye Iyinoluwa Bamidele.

They haff clone my sister.

"Oh wow!" Mateo breathed out, his arm propped on the table with his elbow, leaning his head against his fist, looking at Skye in utter fascination.

"That happened." Elyon muttered, a short laugh escaping her lips. My eyes had not left Skye, still trying to figure out if she was really my sister or an alien.

"Skye, are you okay?" I had to ask. The girl in question turned to me, her eyebrows quirked in question.

"Dear baby bro, I'm eating two wraps of Pounded yam, Efo riro and Bokoto. I am perfectly fine." She punctuated her reply by flashing me a grin.

"I'm going to get all of that on camera." Mateo muttered but I heard him and leaned closer to him.

"Please send to me on Whatsapp when you make the video." I told him and he nodded, the both of us trading chop knuckles.

New ways to blackmail my sister.

"Jollof and Fried rice for me, biko." Vanessa announced of, ticking the dish she wanted. I chuckled and turned to Elyon who seemed pretty indecisive about her meal.

"What are you going to have?" I asked and she shrugged.

"I'm not sure." She answered, peering at my own choice. "I don't know which to pick between Jollof and Fried rice or Ofada Rice. What are you picking?" She asked and I slid my paper to her.

"Ofada Rice. I want to have something light." I answered and she nodded.

"Ofada rice for me too then." She muttered to herself, though loud enough for me to hear and ticked the box. I laughed softly and whispered the words "copy-copy" to her ears. She chuckled and pushed against my chest slightly, telling me to "go away jhoor".

Soon, the server assigned to our table came to take our orders and we sat back, enjoying the performance by a dance group from another school. I didn't miss the kisses Mateo and Skye were stealing beside me, trying to be subtle so that I wouldn't notice. Well, they weren't subtle enough.

These children. I rolled my eyes, enjoying the performance on stage.

The award segment of the night began. It started with the Teachers' Category because we actually wanted them to leave us. For the student category, there were so many awards to give.

Best Dressed for the night; Male and Female.

Gold Letter Athletes; Male and Female.

Academic Scholastic Award.

Most Social; Male and Female.

Most Influential; Male and Female.

Couple Goals and etc. Some of my set mates were paired up, male and female, to present the awards to the winners after which, the award segment will round up with crowning the prom king and queen.

That was the highlight of the night.

"Now, it's time for the presentation of awards for the set!" Tejiri announced and the hall erupted in cheers and screams of excitement.

"Before we commence the presentation of awards, the ushers will pass sheet of papers around for each table." Esosa stated and on cue, an usher came to our table and dropped six printed sheets on the table. I reached over and took one just as Esosa continued to speak.

"Each sheet of paper contains the nominees for Prom king and queen. You can tick who you want your king or queen to be and then drop it back on the plate." She explained and everyone got to work. I looked through the female nominees.

Skye Bamidele. Esosa Abieyuwa. Tobi Maxwell. Elyon Damije. Sonia Adams.

It was a tough choice but I knew my pick no matter what. So I ticked on her box and moved to the male nominees.

Mateo Craig. Chike William-Williams. Denola Da'silva. Khalil Gobir. Jamal Bamidele.

Immediately I saw his name, I didn't have to read the remaining names. I chose him immediately because he was worth it. It was so worth it. I dropped the paper back on the plate and smiled on satisfaction. Elyon and everyone else dropped their paper as well and the usher too it away.

"Who did you pick?" Elyon asked, her voice inquisitive and her eyes twinkling with curiosity like they always do. I chuckled and playfully flicked the tip of her nose with my finger.

"When the winner is called, I'll tell you." I answered and she pouted in return, obviously not satisfied with the answer I gave. I laughed again, shaking my head at her.

Elyon and curiosity are like Five and Six. Never far away from each other.

The presentation of the award started. Vanessa and Somadina were asked to present the awards for most Social; Male and Female. At the end of the day, it was Esosa and Tejiri that won the award, both of them getting a plaque each. The next was best dressed and it was another set of couple that presented it.

"The best dressed male and female are..." They opened the fancy envelope containing the winner. "Khalil Gobir and Vanessa Lawanson."

Vanessa stopped eating, her eyes widening in shock as she didn't expect the award. Everyone gave a thunderous clap, accompanied with cat calls from every corner, especially from my table. Vanessa and Khalil really deserved it. They were both unique and stylish. Khalil came to our table and took Vanessa's hand, both of them making their way to the stage to receive their plaques.

"The academic scholastic award goes to..." Denola drawled, not making a move to even open the envelope. "I don't need to open an envelope for everyone to know who the Einstein is. Somadina Charles Dike!" He roared and everyone began to clap. Some of the guys around began to hail Soma who began to laugh. He stood up to get his award, Vanessa accompanying him as his date.

"Now," Esosa said to the microphone, pausing a little bit to get everyone's attention. "Two of the next set of awards were won by the same people and you'll agree when we mention their names that they definitely deserve it." She explained and everyone was on their toes, wanting to know who these set of people were.

"The Awards for Most Influential Male and Female as well as Gold Letter Athletes are..."

People has started clapping by this time, screaming on top of their lungs. Everyone on our table was already on their feet, jamming hands together and making catcalls. We all knew who these couple was and as Esosa had said, they did deserve that award. Those two were practically the movers and shakers of the set, power couple 101.

"Mateo Craig and Skye Bamidele!" Was all we heard over the loud ovation. Mateo stood up all smiles, grinning from ear to ear as he helped Skye, who wouldn't stop blushing, up. They looped arms together, using the walk away in-between the chairs and tables. Cameras were flashing, all the attention was on them and they were not even the Prom king and queen.

"Social media will be buzzing tonight." Elyon told me and I chuckled.

"You have absolutely no idea." I answered and she let out a soft laugh.

The award presentation went on. The last award before the announcement of Prom King and Queen was Couple Goals. Chike and his date, a girl in the commercial class were the ones presenting the award. I honestly felt that Mateo and Skye would take this one away again because there was nothing that said couple goals like Skye and Mateo's relationship. I'm going to give them this one.

"This award is an award we made sure to do research on, so that we'd get the right couple and trust me when I saw no other couple deserves this more than them. They literally give you God when vibes." Chike said and everyone cooed. I on the other hand began to second guess my pick.

Maybe it's Soma and Vanessa...

"The award for Couple Goals of the set is..." Chike drawled, creating suspense.

Maybe it's Esosa and TJ...

"Jamal Bamidele and Elyon Damije."

Ehn?

My eyes went huge as soon as I heard that. I turned to Elyon who mirrored my look, just a shocked as I was. Neither of us made a move to stand up as we were beyond shocked at the turn of events. Mateo and Somadina moved to my seat to drag me up, Skye and Vanessa doing the same to Elyon as everyone kept clapping, kept cheering.

"Did you know we'll win?" Elyon asked, whispering and I shook my head.

"Not by a long shot." I answered.

It was a surprise. A good surprise. I was actually prepared to leave prom without being awarded anything.

The presentation of awards ended and it was time for the moment we had all been waiting for. The announcement of Prom King and Queen. And I knew, I just knew my picks will be the winners.

"This is the moment we've all been waiting for. Do you guys want to hear who your Prom King and Queen are?!" Esosa asked and everyone chorused a yes.

"Let's not waste any further time now. Ladies and Gentleboys!! Your Prom King is..." She tore the envelope, eyes skimming through it. Esosa was taking her sweet time, gathering momentum, putting everyone on their toes. Anxiety filled the air. I wasn't anxious because I knew who had won it.

In 3...

2...

1...

"KHALIL OLUMIDE GOBIR!" At that announcement, the entire room exploded in cheers and applause. Booming voices and shouts of excitement came from the back as the Media guys practically carried Khalil down the walk way to his throne on the podium, hailing and shouting while everyone clapped and cheered on. I smirked as I kept clapping.

I talk am...

"He deserves it." Elyon said from behind me and I nodded.

"Yes. He does." I answered, watching as Esosa placed the big golden crown on Khalil's head. The wide genuine grin spread against Khalil's lips was just the highlight of my day. When the cheers died down, Tejiri took the microphone.

"Now, to our Queen." He started and everyone paid  attention. "This girl is a real life queen. Very supportive, ready to help everyone and she holds the people she loves in high esteem..." The entire hall.was quiet as everyone digested what TJ had just said.

"Without any further adieu, Ladies and Gentleguys..." He trailed off again as he opened the envelope.

"Your Prom Queen is...ELYON TIWATOPE DAMIJE!"

My lips stretched in a full smile as I turned to the awestruck queen beside me.

"What?!" Elyon screamed, the shock on her face not dissipating. All the girls around, including Skye and Vanessa suddenly camped around her, holding her up from her chair and pulling her towards the walk way to the podium. Elyon looked at me, the shock still evident.

"Go on. Claim your throne and your crown." I told her and she smiled at me, her expression now relaxed. I leaned back on my chair and smile.

I knew they would win. I just knew it.

☆☆☆☆

I had left the hall when it was time for the Queen and King dance, telling the guys to take as many pictures as they could. They wanted to know where I was so I told them I wanted to get fresh air. It wasn't totally a lie, I wanted to get fresh air...and also think. That was why I was in the school area, senior's block top floor, leaning against railings and staring at the hall that was still buzzing.

I needed to think. Reflecting on everything that has happened throughout high school to my final year, up until this moment, I knew I had a lot of things to be thankful for, a lot for people to be thankful for. I didn't deserve any of them; My family, my friends, Khalil...Elyon.

Not everyone was lucky to have the right family, the right friends, the right people around them. Yet, I had and still have them in my life.

For that I was grateful.

"Your cousin will get me a new pair of heels." Elyon's voice jerked through my reverie and I looked behind me to see her making her way up the stairs and towards me, limping.

"What happened to your leg?" I asked, meeting her halfway and holding both her hands to steady her, leaning her entire weight on my body.

"Khalil cannot dance to save his life!" Elyon lamented and I roared in laughter. "He just kept stepping on my feet." She kept complaining and I couldn't stop the laughter from rolling off my lips.

"You want me to massage your feet? Kiss them?" I asked teasingly and she sighed, pouting as she looked at me.

"Yes please." She answered in a child like voice that had me bursting in laughter again. I pulled her closer to me, giving her back soothing rubs and pressed a kiss to the top of hair.

"You'll be okay, baby." I whispered and she grumbled out incoherent words as a response.

"Why did you leave the hall?" She inquired, pulling away slightly from me to have a better look at me. I sighed and looked away from her gaze, her stare that made me want to bare all my heart and soul at her feet.

"I just needed to think, is all. Reflect." I replied, looking at the hall again, loud music still booming from inside. I felt Elyon's palm on my face, turning my face so that I could look at her and I did. She was searching my eyes, giving me that look again. That look that made me feel so vulnerable with her, not that I was complaining. Elyon has seen me at my worst.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her voice coming out hushed and soft, like velvet. I nodded and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm okay. I just..." I trailed off, looking away from her to the ground. I took her hand away from her face and clasped unto it, mustering up the balls to look at her again. Her eyes were still trained on mine, looking at me intently. Like she could see right through me.

"I haven't had the chance to properly apologize," I started, pausing when she began to shake her head, a mode of dissuading me from going further.

"Jamal, don't wor..."

"Please, let me do this properly." I said, cutting her off. She looked at me, stared at me then gave a small nod. I took a deep breath. "I did you wrong, Elyon. I did you so wrong. I don't deserve you for whatever reason, yet you keep choosing me..."

"And I'll keep choosing you over and over again." She affirmed, interrupting me from going further. I wanted to speak, to tell her how sorry I was for everything. To tell her that she deserves better than me. I wanted to tell her but before I could, she pressed her finger to my lips, stopping me from saying anything.

"You don't have to keep apologizing, please." She stated, gaze unwavering from mine. "Jamal, I'll keep choosing you over and over again. It seems far fetched because we are still kid, yes. But, I mean it with everything in me." She stopped talking, pulling her hands from my grasp and taking it to cup my face.

"You are not getting rid of me that easily, you know." She said with a smirk and I chuckled, nodding. That statement might have come off as teasing but I knew she was serious. It was a good thing anyway, because she wasn't getting rid of me as well.

I pulled her closer to me, flushing her body against mine and pressing my forehead against hers.

"I want to kiss you so bad." I told her, hardly recognizing my voice as mine. Elyon chuckled, her hand moving to the back of my neck, pulling my face closer to hers.

"Are you asking or you are telling?" She requested, her voice teasing and I chuckled, before tilting my head down, pressing my lips to hers, and she opened up for me immediately, capturing my lips between hers.

Her soft moan and occasionally gasps as I alternated between tugging and biting gently against her lower lips did things to me. My left hand tightened around her middle, my right going to hold her face in place as I kept kissing her, transferring all my emotions, all my love, everything I could ever offer into that kiss. In a way, I was trying to tell her thank you.

Thank you, Elyon.

Thank you for coming into my life.

"I'm honestly not surprised to meet this scene." Somadina's annoying voice had me pulling away from Elyon. I glared at him.

"What is your issue with bad timing? You have to tell me because I really want to know." I fired at him and He chuckled at my expense. Even Elyon joined him.

"Better calm down." He said, his playful tone replaced with a serious one. "We need the both of you in the courtyard." He asked. I exchanged a look with Elyon before I looked at Somadina.

"Why?" I asked and this time he smiled.

"You'll see." He beckoned to us and began to walk away. Elyon and I followed him behind.

Somadina led us to the courtyard behind the hall. From a clear distance, we could see figures then flashed of light, like a very bright candle. When we got there, I saw Skye and Vanessa standing in a circle. I got sorta confused because they were supposed to be inside the hall, having fun with the rest of our mates.

"What's going on?" Elyon asked before I could. Before any of them could answer, I heard foot steps from behind and I looked to see Mateo bringing Khalil with him. Khalil looked just as confused as Elyon and I.

"What are we doing here?" He asked, searching our faces for answers. Skye cleared her throat, getting ready to speak and we all looked at her.

"We...decided to do something, Khalil. Something for Tolani." She answered, picking her words carefully. I watched the smile on Khalil's face dissipate, turning into confusion.

"I don't understand." He muttered.

"It was a last minute thought, but we felt - no, we know she deserves a kind of send off by us, by you." Mateo chipped, also picking his words carefully. I watched, waited for Khalil to do something, to say something. But he just stood there, staring at all of us.

God please don't let this be a bad idea.

"If we are being honest, this night wouldn't have happened without her. She has done a lot for this school, for the entire set, for us and it was already too late before we realized. If at all the school wouldn't do anything for her, we should. That's why we are here." Skye explained further.

I held my breath, feeling Elyon clutch unto my hand like she was doing the same thing. I honestly thought Khalil would walk away and never speak to us ever again. But I wasn't expecting what came after.

Khalil broke down. Right there, he bursted into tears and my heart clenched for him.

Elyon left my side and went to him, hugging him and so did Skye. The rest of us went and it ended in a group hug. Khalil kept crying and it just showed how much emotion he had bottled inside of him. I was thankful for this outlet, a way to let it all flow. A way to let it all out.

"I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean to b-break down like that." He stuttered between tears, trying to laugh and clean his tears away. Elyon whispered something like it's okay to cry and I nodded in agreement.

"I'm happy." He confessed, looking at all of us with blood shot eyes. "I'm happy we are doing this for her. She's going to be very happy." He whispered, looking straight at me and I smiled, nodding as well.

Few seconds to midnight, we each lit our sky later. How the guys got it, I didn't know but I didn't care to ask. The most important thing was that we were doing this, for Tolani. And at the stroke of midnight, we released the lanterns to the air, watching them fly in the sky.

"This is For you, My Queen." Khalil muttered, more to himself than to the rest of us. But I heard him, and right there, I felt a gust of wind. An unnatural, yet soothing a peaceful gust of wind. And I knew, I just knew.

She was happy.

She was at peace.

And I felt my lips stretch in a big smile at that confirmation.

A/N

Tolani 😭😭😭.

I don't even have much to say other than this is getting so emotional for me. This book is finishing and it is breaking my spinal chest, Heuwww 🥺🥺. Someone should come and buy me ice cream biko, preferably a bucket of chocolate ice cream. Thank you.

Now lemme ask. What awards did you get during your prom? I didn't get anyone o, and I didn't have date so prom was like breeze to me 😪. But share your prom experience in the comment session. Those that didn't have prom, let's know what you did before your graduation. I want gist!

This book is coming to an end 😭💔. Lemme go and cry. Biko, don't forget to VOTE! COMMENT!! SHARE!!! Don't also forget to check out WattNaija on wattpad. Reviews have started and if you want a review, you should go grab your chance now. Don't miss this opportunity.

I'll see you when I see you babes.