1 GRADUAND
"Overall best student, Melvin Valeria"The middle aged woman on the stage announced, the audience cheered, a beautiful young girl in her eighteens walk out of the cheering audience majestically smiling from ear to ear, the happiness is clear in her eyes, she climb the podium and collected the award the middle aged woman was holding and a price. She smile to the photographer and a picture was captured.
Valeria, a middle class girl from a village close to Chicago, Skokie (a diverse village with many cultural events and attractions such as the Illinois Holocaust Museum), the fourth child and only daughter of Mr and Mrs Melvin.
"I'm so proud of you lil sis"James, the family first son and child said hugging his little sister who mouthed thank you with a smile
"I knew she was going to win the scholarship"Benedict the third child of the family added with a big smile.
"Valeria is one to bet on, she never disappoints"Albert the family's second child said and everyone laughed.
"Father and Mother would be so proud"Francis the last child and son of the family said happily.
"And disappointed they did not come"Valeria added and they all laugh.
The siblings walk out of the hall when someone shouted Valeria's name from behind.
"That's Dennis voice"Valeria said and turn around to see who it was surprisingly it was who she thought it was.
"Hi Dennis" Valeria greeted and he hugged her happily.
"Hey what's that for?"James asked separating the hug.
"I'm sorry, I was only happy for her"Dennis replied looking at his shoes
"Its fine James"Valeria said laughing, her brothers are overprotective of her.
"Didn't know you were here."Valeria said to Dennis who smiled.
"My mum was invited so I came as her date since my Dad is out of town"Dennis replied
"Oh that's great"Valeria said smiling
"Congratulations, that was amazing."Dennis said shaking her since he can't hug her.
"Thank you so much"Valeria replied blushing.
"I will go back to my mum now"Dennis said looking back at his mum who is smiling at the people that invited her
"Okay, thank you once again"Valeria said and they parted ways.
Dennis, a boy from the same village as Valeria, richer than Valeria's family, the only child of the Peyton and Valeria's secret boyfriend.
****
The relationship all started four months back when Valeria clocked eighteen. They've had eyes for each other since Dennis family packed to the small village. His parents went downhill after a failed business deal which made them leave Chicago and settle in the house they built in the village. Valeria's room window is opposite Dennis' sitting room window so they watch each other every day from the window. A day came when Dennis finally had the gut to talk to her.
"Hi" He greeted with a smile.
"Hello" She greeted back with a smile
"I'm Dennis" He said bringing out his hand to shake her
"I'm Valeria"She replied taking his hand
"That's my house over there"He said pointing to his house
"Yeah, I see you through the window everyday"She replied shyly
"Oh! So it's you I see everyday"He said pretending not to recognize her
"Do I look different?"Valeria asked feeling disappointed
"Just that you look more beautiful when you are closer"He replied after seeing the disappointment written all over her face
"Oh really? Thank you"Valeria replied blushing
"We should be of the same age range, can we be friends?"He asked smiling
"You look a bit older than I am but why not?"She replied with a smile
"Only a year older"Dennis said smiling.
That was how they started the friendship, Valeria was sixteen at that time and Dennis was a year older. The friendship moved into love after a year. Valeria was the first to notice what they share is no longer friendship.
"This feeling seems strange"Valeria said to herself.
"What feeling?"Dennis who was sitting next to her asked
"Did I say that loud?"Valeria asked not expecting to be heard by Dennis who was sitting next to her.
"Really loud"Dennis replied nodding
"Oh! Just that I'm feeling strange"Valeria said knowing she can't escape from him if she doesn't say a word.
"Are you sick? Are you fine? Did you hit your head?"Dennis asked checking her body.
"Yes this is it." Valeria said ignoring Dennis questions unknowingly
"Can you please tell me what's wrong? I'm worried!"Dennis asked with worry
"I'm in love Den"Valeria said hugging him
"In love? With who? You are just seventeen years old, your brother won't spare whoever you are in love with" Dennis replied holding her back
"Den, I'm in love with you"Valeria confessed without any care of rejection.
"Me? Ria, are you sure you know what you are talking about?"Dennis asked with confusion
"When you can feel what I just felt then you can come to me"Valeria replied without any disappointment. Her mother, Mrs Melvin told her about how long it took her father, Mr Melvin to realize he was in love with her.
"What if I don't feel that way for you and it is for someone else?"Dennis who is a lot matured and outgoing than her asked.
"It doesn't matter as long as you are in love"Valeria who had no idea about how love works replied smiling from ear to ear.
That was the first time Dennis will ever hear a girl confess to him, he's a hotcake in his new school but never let any girl approach him. He has overheard them talking about how handsome he is but didn't care. Their friendship continue even though it doesn't look normal to Dennis anymore after realizing he likes her back. April third came and it was Valeria's eighteenth birthday, being the only girl of the family, her brothers went out of their way to make it memorable. They planned a mini birthday party and invited her friends from school Alexis and Daisy, Dennis since they are close to each other and some of the villagers living on the same street with them. The party was unexpected and she received different gift from different people. Alexis and Daisy gave her a pink wristwatch she has been wishing to have and Dennis gave her two gifts she received with all her heart. The first gift was a customized book, it has the nickname he calls her on the front cover and every page on it 'Ria' which signifies she owns it. The second gift happened when everyone was dancing to the music played by Francis who offered to be the DJ of the day.
"My second gift for you which I hope you accept and cherish with all your heart"Dennis said looking serious
"Whatever gift it is as long as it is coming from you, I will accept it with all my existence"Valeria replied smiling
"Ria, I know you confessed your love to me a long time ago and I did not respond till this night, ever since then you've been waiting for me to respond to your love proposal"Dennis said looking into her eyes with love.
"And I'm still waiting till you know whether it is friendship or not"Valeria replied looking away shyly
"Thank you for waiting. Back then I knew it wasn't friendship and I could figure out what it was but I decided to make it special for you. I can't ask you to be my girl at seventeen but now that you are eighteen I want you to be mine"Dennis said looking at her shy eyes.
"You want me to be your girlfriend?"Valeria asked trying to be sure it wasn't the music effect.
"Yes Ria, I want you to be my girl"Dennis said finally having the gut to hold her
"You really don't know how happy I am, I feel like I'm on top of the world and my happiness can't contain the whole universe. I've waited so long for this and it was already looking like forever, you don't know how happy you've just made me. This is the best birthday gift ever, thank you for the most amazing gift ever. I love you with everything I have in the this world"Valeria replied with tears of joy flowing down her cheek.
"I'm glad you said yes and you accepted. I'm overjoyous you feel the same about me, I love you so much too baby girl"Dennis said holding himself back not to hug her but she hugged him herself and he hugged her back. He break the hug after seeing her elder brothers looking at them especially him like he had just committed a crime.
"Your brothers are staring"Dennis said ignoring their stare.
"Oh about that, we have to be private, I don't want them disturbing whatever I share with you. Staying friends public and being us in private"Valeria replied not looking at him hoping he won't reject.
"Anything for you baby girl"Dennis mouthed with smile
"Thank you"Valeria replied with a smile and walk back to her birthday party.
That was how their secret relationship started. They talk on the phone Valeria got on her birthday, she couldn't own a phone when she was considered a minor because of her father's strictness. He's always out of the village but still makes sure he runs his family with discipline which made Valeria and her brothers very scared of their father. They will rather talk to their mother instead of their father who comes home seven days a month.
****
Valeria's parents are out of the village, her mother sells unisex wears, she goes to the city of Chicago to get clothes from a factory and spends three days there. Today, which is Valeria's graduation, her mother had to go to out of the village to get clothes and won't be back until three days later. The school always gives the overall best student scholarship to any university in the city, Albert the second child of the family was close to getting the scholarship during his time in school, the student that collected it was 0.01% greater than him. Ever since, their father, Mr Melvin, makes all of them work their ass out so they can come home with the scholarship Albert lost. Francis the last child of the family is off the hook of who to collect the scholarship since his big sister already did.
"Thank you big sis"Francis said as they walk home
"Thank you? Why?"Valeria asked with surprise
"You finally let me off the hook of scholarship"Francis replied smiling happily
"Someone should tell him he's joking"Valeria said laughing at him.
"I'm not. Father finally has what he wants ever since Albert lost the scholarship"Francis replied
"More reason you have to come back with a scholarship"Albert said not waiting for Valeria to respond.
"Valeria did already"Francis replied fighting back.
"Francis, father will want more now and you are the only one that can give him"James explained
"He can't want more, Valeria already gave him one"Francis said fighting back again
"Do you want to study further?"James asked looking at the sad little boy
"Who doesn't? You?"Francis said with sarcasm
"Then get the scholarship"Benedict replied with annoyance in his voice.
Benedict could not study further because of a wrong decision. After Albert lost the scholarship, their father talked to Benedict who was in highschool then.
"Will you bring the scholarship home?"Mr Melvin asked feeling pissed. Everywhere was quiet for a moment before Mr Melvin cleared his throat.
"I'm asking you a question that requires yes or no. I'm not pressurizing you"Mr Melvin said calming his nerves
"I don't want to further my education after high school"Benedict replied after long silence
"What do you mean?"Mrs Melvin who heard his reply as she enter the room asked
"I don't want to go to university, I want to learn a trade"Benedict replied playing with his finger nervously
"Why don't you want to go to the university?"Mrs Melvin asked walking closer to her nervous son
"Nothing Mum, I don't want to waste another years in school when I can be feeding the family with anything I earn"Benedict replied nervously
"Did I tell you I'm tired of being the bread winner?"His father asked angrily
"You don't have to say that to him"His mother replied calmly
"Benedict, what did your father ask you that brought that response?"Mrs Melvin asked her son calmly
"He wants me to bring home the scholarship Albert lost"Benedict replied looking at the marble floor
"Really? Son please excuse I and your father"Mrs Melvin said with surprise and Benedict leave the room.
"What's the problem Mark?"Mrs Melvin asked calming her anger.
"Nothing. Is there anything wrong in asking my son to bring home a scholarship his elder brother lost?"Mr Melvin replied with annoyance.
"Oh really? Are you even Benedict's father?"Mrs Melvin asked angrily
"I should be asking you that"Mr Melvin replied angrily.
"If you were ever a father to your son then you would know Benedict is likely to make wrong decisions if he's forced to do what he doesn't want." Mrs Melvin said angrily
"I'm not forcing him to bring the scholarship home. I only asked a question but he decided to put pressure on himself"Mr Melvin replied angrily
"A yes or no question, a question that his answer can't be no. Mark Melvin, he won't be forced to bring the scholarship home. If he wants to be as intelligent as Albert then he will do it willingly and not with force."Mrs Melvin said and left the room angrily.
Ever since then it was not discussed anymore but Benedict already made up his mind to learn a trade instead of not bringing home the scholarship his father wanted so much.
