Fourteen Letters and Kisses

by Adurakoya Aremu

  We walked back to the car just to become stunned. Lo and behold, there is a single yellow rose and a letter with red ribbon on it safely tucked beneath the windshield on the bonnet of the car. I knew what it was but mom doesn't and I am not ready to let her know what it is.

  I quickly rushed forward and collected them before entering the car. Mom entered the driver's side before looking at me. Ok, I think I know where this leads.

  "Start spilling." She said simply and firmly.

  "Nooooooo.." I whined.

  "I'm having none of that, okay? Just this morning, you were dreamily kissing whoever it was in your dream and now you're receiving a rose and a letter which is love letter obviously. So you better start spilling."

  "Urghhh...." I rolled my eyes. Then I sighed and told her everything from the first letter.

  "So you've been receiving a letter from a secret admirer and you didn't bother to tell me about it? You didn’t know I would be interested?"

  "Mooooom..." I whined again and it was her turn to roll her eyes.

  "Okay. Sha makes sure you fall for the right person." She said and started the engine.

  While driving she said, "We are going to have to start your eighteenth birthday party preparation after church service tomorrow. We can't afford to waste any more time."

  Twelve

  February 8, 2020. 8:19pm

  When we got home, I rushed to my room and sat on my bed. Mom came up moments later to pick up my church outfit and I waited patiently until she left. Then I removed the letter and quickly opened it. I couldn’t wait.

  Dear Samira,

  I see that you're finally breaking outta your shell. Your Instagram page @MiraWilson-Jones is now my favourite thing to look at. You're really beautiful and though I'm trying to be patient, it seems like forever before I can finally call you mine. You are the light in the dark place. You are the water in my drought. You are everything I've ever wanted. And while I'm far, I am near. Six more days and you will decide whether you'll be mine or not. I hope it's the former. I love you.

  R.J.

  Your Secret Admirer

  I hugged the letter so deeply it felt as if I was hugging R.J. Whoever this R.J is definitely knows how to steal a girl's innocent heart.

  But you're not so innocent. My subconscious told me and I am reminded of what I did with Raymond Joe before he left. I felt my heart break again at the thought it. Can I trust this R.J. guy? He can also break my heart just like Raymond did and I'm not sure I want to go through that again.

  I am seriously falling for this guy but can I really trust him to take care of my heart?

  I slept off thinking about it.

  ____________________________

  February 9, 2020.

  I woke up as early as seven in the morning and took my bath. If there is anything I am serious about it's God. I don't joke with him at all. There is this peace that settles in my heart whenever I'm with him and I'm about to feel it again. Don't get me wrong, you don’t only feel the peace when you're in church. You feel him everywhere and everyday. But being a christian does not guarantee you not facing any life issues. There are challenges. But going to church and being in the midst of Christians like you worshipping God from the deepness of their heart just gives you this extraordinary peace in your heart coupled with happiness and joy. And you most certainly feel his love - you just can't deny it.

  I did my normal morning skin care routine and applied little make up before dressing up. My mom already picked a royal blue gown that is really beautiful. I wore a silver coloured heels to match before stepping out to meet mom downstairs.

  I met mom at the dining table dishing out our food.

  "Good morning, mum." I greeted.

  "Good morning, my sweetheart." She replied with a smile and continued dishing food.

  Mom was dressed in a wine reddish stony gown that would make her pass for a twenty-five year old girl. She is the fashionista.

  "I thought the cook was to return to tomorrow."

  "Yes. I made this myself." She replied and I said okay before sitting.

  We don't really eat this early even on Sundays but sometimes we do. This is one of those times. Our breakfast is a neatly chopped yam and fried egg with a glass of fruit juice. I love this food. It's one of my best. Mum started praying.

  "Heavenly Father, thank you for providing this food. We pray that as you bless us you bless those who are also in need and you help us to bless them in Jesus' name, Amen." I also replied with my Amen.

  We chatted throughout our meal and went to church after.

  The praises was glorifying and the worship was spirit-filled. I will never get tired worshipping and praising God. The pastor came and preached on overcoming challenges with Christmas and honestly, it was really enlightening. As Christians, we should always be prepared for any challenges that comes our way so we can overcome them. We should train ourselves not to fall prey of those challenges and instead fight them and win them. That way, we can inspire others into overcoming their own challenges.

  Only that I didn’t know that a challenge was about to hit us, really hard.

  Thirteen

  February 9, 2020. 2pm

  The letter came again and this time it arrived in our mail box. Our door bell rang and I opened it but no one was there. Then I saw a paper placed in front of our door saying that I should check the mail box and I did. I retrieved the letter and a red rose before looking around to check if there might be an R.J lurking around, but there was none.

  I brought the letter back to my room and opened it. It reads:

  Dear Samira,

  I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I even had a dream about you last night - we were enjoying a picnic date at the beach. I really hope it would be real one day. And just so you know, I followed you to church today - not to sound creepy at all - but I realized there is something I love more than you - Christ. He visited me and to cut the long story short, he owns me now..lol. We have five days more, sweetheart. Are you ready?

  R.J

  Your Secret Admirer

  Wow! So he gave his life to Christ. What a beautiful thing. This is really amazing. I really wish I could see him right now so I can hug him and tell him that other than choosing to love me, he has made another great decision in his life.

  Then, five days to go. Five days until I see him and funny enough, five days until my eighteenth birthday. My luckiest day ever.

  Mom had already started the preparation with her personal assistant. I don't really need a big party and so everything is settled. The venue has been booked like a month ago at the Eleko Beach and it's going to be an evening party from 6pm to whenever we get tired.

  The Eleko beach has really beautiful sceneries and I am glad that Mom chose the place.

  February 10, 2020.

  I received another letter today. In my school locker.

  Dear Samira,

  You look more beautiful each day. You're such a perfect creation perfectly made for me....lol. One day, you'll walk down the aisle in your beautiful white flowing gown and say 'I do' at the altar. You know, the moment I laid my eyes on you I knew from that moment that there is something about you. I wouldn't stop thinking about you since then and now I have come to the realization that you're not and will never be a plaything. You are my forever and no matter what I'll stand by you. I love you.

  P.S. Four more days until we meet (winks)

  Love from R.J.

  Your Secret Admirer

  I think this is the best letter I have received so far. Is it just me or did R.J just hinted that he'd marry me? This is getting a lot more interesting. Hmmm, four more days. I needed to calm my throbbing heart because it felt like it will burst from excitement so I quickly rushed to my secret place only known to my secret admirer to calm down.

  I went back to class moments later to witness the most horrifying and interesting thing ever.

  Alvin and Tacha.

  Fourteen

  Alvin stood in
front of the class with a bouquet in his hand and called the class attention. At first, I thought he was going to beg Idara to go back to him but no, he had other plans.

  "I met her on a sunny day," Alvin started. "She stood out among the rest and lifted my spirit. I was out of faith, thinking I would never heal but she was there so I could lean on her. She is always there." Alvin looked down for a moment and looked back up again. The class was silent. No one knew who he was referring to between Idara and Tacha. He continued. "I have fallen for her." Everyone screamed.

  Alvin walked over to Tacha who is at her seat smiling sweetly at Alvin as he knelt down before her.

  "Tacha Nelson, will you be my girlfriend?" Everyone screamed again including me, well I only screamed a little because I don't want to miss anything.

  It's being long since I observed these people and I have certainly missed out a lot.

  Tacha replied with a yes earning another scream and applause from the class. Oh. My. GOD! I quickly looked around for Idara and saw her all red in the face. She looked like she was going to lose her shit right then and there but she quickly ran out of class.

  But something didn't add up. Alvin was secretly glancing at Idara before she ran out. Well, that will be a story for another day.

  ____________________________________

  I entered the house after the driver dropped me off to find my mom sobbing quietly at the dining. I knew it, something is wrong.

  "Mom?" I called out to her as I walked over. She quickly wiped her tears and faked a smile but I wasn't going to fall for that.

  "What's wrong, mom?" I asked.

  "What do you mean what's wrong? Everything's okay, sweetheart." Mom replied, still trying to fake it.

  "It's either you spill it now or I call dad. Your choice." I told her.

  She couldn’t fake it anymore. She cried really hard and I had to hug her and pat her back until she was okay.

  "Y-Your dad is seeing another woman." She told me.

  WHAT?

  I had to keep myself calm after hearing that because it wouldn't do us any good if we are both not calm.

  "Why do you think so?" I asked her.

  "He told me that he was going to surprise you on your birthday party but now he called and said that he is not coming home again. He said something came up and I kept on pestering him to tell me. That was when I saw her in his room. She. Came. Out. With. Only. A. Towel." She explained and broke into tears again.

  Oh No!

  This is not happening. I just couldn't believe that my dad will do such a thing. But I had to be calm for mom. I patted her and gave her some juice to drink until she got tired from the stress and decided to sleep. I decided to sleep with her on their bed so she wouldn't feel lonely.

  I think I'm starting to hate dad.

  Fifteen

  I woke up and stretched my body. I checked the time and it was already 9pm. I think I know what to do now. I patted mom and she also stood up.

  "What's wrong, sweetheart?" She asked stretching.

  "I figured out that we have to do the right thing." I replied

  "What do you mean the right thing?" She asked again.

  "Mom, has dad ever acted this way before?" I asked her

  "What are you sa...." She started but I cut her off.

  "Mom, please just answer me."

  "No, he hasn..." I cut her off again.

  "When you saw the woman, how did he act?"

  "He certainly didn't show any remorse." She replied.

  "Mom, dad has always loved you and you have always loved him too. He has never, not once acted this way before. Dad hates leaving us before he travels and you know it. He was even jealous that we were hanging out without him. Mom, all these are signs that Dad wouldn't have done what he did ordinarily. There is something else, some power maybe or influence trying to make him loose his greatest asset - us, his family. He loves you, mum. He loves me too. He would never do that normally. This is a challenge. Remember what the pastor preached on Sunday, mom - Overcoming challenges. We are Christians and we don't fall prey to challenges."I waited until I was sure that my point is well understood. Then I continued, "Mom, we have to do the right thing. We have to pray. We are Christians and we have the authority to bind anything. It's time to make use of it, mom. Only When you're ready."

  I watched as tears flows down my mom's cheeks.

  "You have to get yourself together and tell the devil that he is only a mere liar. Dad is coming home. Are you ready, mom."

  It took mom two minutes to cry her heart out before she wiped her tears and stood up.

  "I am ready!"

  "Then, we pray. The weapons of our spiritual warfare are not carnal. Let's do this mom. The devil is a liar."

  We prayed that night. We prayed in the morning. Mom prayed on her own in the night. She told me not to join her as it was her battle to fight. I love my warrior mom.

  Sixteen

  February 11, 2020.

  I received my eleventh letter today. Mom was surprisingly calm this morning before I left home and she even filled me in on how my party’s preparations are going.

  Dear Samira,

  My love for you is right. My love for you is strong. And even if you think you ain't worth it, always remember that you deserve the best. I will always love you, Samira.

  P.S. There are only three letters left. I'm excited. What about you?

  R.J

  Your Secret Admirer

  Dang, I'm more than excited. Only now did I realise that the fourteenth of February is more special than I thought.

  That day is my birthday. That day is when I get to meet R.J. And that day is valentine's day. How could I not have realized this sooner. The letters all started coming in on the first day of February - not before and not after. R.J definitely planned everything. And to think that all these special events will take place in only three days.

  I'm blessed. What more could I ask for?

  What I certainly didn’t expect happened again today in school.

  I was on my seat thinking of my blessings and imagining how the fourteenth of February will be like when Idara walked over to Alvin who was sitting and chatting with Tacha. The next thing she did surprised me.

  The whole queen bee knelt down before the king bee. Wow.

  Everyone in class went quiet. A soap opera is about to unfold. I sat comfortably so I would enjoy this moment.

  "Alvin, I'm sorry." Idara sobbed.

  Alvin paid her no attention but Tacha was staring at her. I was wondering if Tacha would try to stop this but funny enough, she seemed to pity Idara. When Alvin still wouldn't pay Idara any attention, Idara decided to touch him on his thigh.

  Alvin tensed from the action. There was certainly no doubt that Alvin still likes Idara. I was so sure that he was only putting up a front.

  "Alvin, I sweat you're the only guy I have ever loved. And I still do." Idara confessed amidst sobs.

  I couldn’t help but pity Idara at that point but at the same time it was funny. How can you only realise that you love Alvin now that he is with Tacha.

  "See, me I cannot do this anymore o. Alvin na." Tacha begged Alvin and everyone started wondering what she meant by that.

  Alvin grudgingly replied yes to Tacha and finally faced Idara who was still on her knees.

  "You love me?" Alvin asked Idara.

  Idara quickly nodded, tears still flowing down her beautiful cheeks.

  "Then what about Leo?"

  Seventeen

  "Then what about Leo?"

  Everyone's attention transferred to Leo who looked really confused at the words coming out of Idara's mouth.

  "I never loved him. He is cool and all but I never did. I couldn’t. Alvin, I have only loved you, no one else." Idara answered earning a few gasps from other classmates.

  I really pitied Leo at this point. Alvin looked over at Leo with a smirk on his face before turning back to face Idara.

  "Why don't you go ahead and tell him that yo
urself? Right now, right here." Alvin told Idara.

  Idara quickly scrambled up and walked to Leo's seat. Leo looked at her with thus longing eyes.

  "Leo, I'm sorry if you misunderstood our relationship but I never loved you. We never established that. I'm sorry if I hurt you." Idara said and quickly turned only to be met with Alvin who was already behind her.

  He grabbed her closely to his chest and kissed her on the lips. Everyone screamed in joy.

  After a few minutes, Alvin detached from the kiss and they both stared at each other.

  "I missed you, babe. Took you long enough." Alvin breathed.

  Idara smiled and pecked Alvin. "I missed you too." And they hugged.

  Everyone screamed again. The school's most favorite couple are back together. We missed them.

  I watched as Leo humbly stood up and walked out of class. Tacha trailed behind him.

  And I followed.

  "I'm so sorry, Leo. You don't deserve that." Tacha told Leo.

  Leo's eyes released tears immediately. No one shouldn't have to go through what Leo did but Leo chose his fate. He only wanted to hurt Alvin but had fallen in love instead and it ended up biting him back in the face.

  Sorry Leo, but what will never be yours will never be yours. You just gotta find what is right for you.

  "I gave her everything. Everything, Tacha." Leo broke down

  "Well, so did Alvin. You just have to accept that Idara isn't yours." Idara told him.

  Alvin snapped, "whose side are you even on? For goodness' sake, she just took your boyfriend."

  "Uhmm... that's what I wanted to tell you. Technically, Alvin isn't my boyfriend." Tacha said.

  "Wait, what?" Yes, what? "What do you mean? You said yes to him in front of the whole class."