CHAPTER SEVEN

Rachel POV

I didn't sleep well over the night, I woke up to pee around 2 a.m and couldn't sleep again, I know it was because I couldn't stop thinking about our date all through the night. I kept on imagining what it would be like to go out on a date with someone I like. There was this part of me that was against the whole idea and that part of me couldn't stop asking me if I was ready to get married at the early age of 21.

      I know there are places in the north where the girls get married at the age of 15 but to my parents, I'm still too young and my education is a priority. Though the least of my worries is my education because I believe he would want me to further my studies and he's rich enough to pay my school fees, pending the time we will be together. what was going through my mind is how I am going to tell my parents. I know their belief about upholding a person's integrity.

I couldn't help but wonder how they will take it if I tell them the real reason I'm getting married. I just couldn't help but feel a dreadful chill all over my body.

"Are you okay" I must have been deep in thought that I didn't realize my friend was awake beside me.

"Of course, I'm kinda okay" she looked at me like she wasn't sure I was okay

"You don't look okay to me" she was observing me like a hawk who was ready to feast on her prey.

"I'm just thinking about everything. What my parents will say and what I'm getting myself into" I told her all because I was not so sure of myself anymore.

"What will you do? Do you want to quit?" She asked like she wanted confirmations from my mouth.

"You still don't know me, right? After 3years of us being together? You know I never back off from challenges. I just want to know what the outcome will be" I looked at her dreamily.

"What if his girlfriend comes back before you two get together?" That question almost made me choke on my saliva

"It won't happen" I almost shouted "She doesn't deserve him. You saw the way she embarrassed him that day"

I stood up from the bed and walked towards the closet to get my clothes ready for my date" if she comes back, I will have to let him go since he loves her, they met first and I'm just a second option" I added sadly.

"What of Femi? You can just..."

"Can just what? Can we just stop talking about all this?" I cut her off "Let's talk about the present instead of rushing to the future that is yet to come"

I picked up an ankle-length off-shoulder dinner gown cut from the middle thigh to the end and black stilettos and tossed the cloth on the bed

"So, what about this? Is this good for my date?" I pointed to the clothes I dropped on the bed. She looked at me like she wasn't ready to give me answers but didn't have any choice

"It's nice, but I prefer block heels to the stilettos" she said. "You know I love you and I want you to be happy, if this is what you want then I will support you and hope you don't get hurt". I didn't even know when she got behind me until I felt her hands wrapped around my waist like a back hug.

I playfully swat her hands off me "Come on, let's get your mouth washed and eat breakfast before Tommy barges in thinking something bad is going on here" she laughed as we both went straight to the bathroom to get cleaned up

         *****************************

"I think you look beautiful even without the makeup" Mary told me. We have been trying to make me look beautiful and presentable since I started dressing up around 5 pm. It's almost 7 pm and Aderemi called about thirty minutes ago that he will come to pick me up by 7 pm.

"Let's get your face done before he gets here, you know it won't be a good idea you meet him with a bare face. Though I'm not saying you are not beautiful like this but at least you should apply powder and even a lip gloss"

We started the makeup like there was no tomorrow. Mary kept on adjusting and redressing as if my face was a salad dressing. It felt like forever when we heard the doorbell ring.

"I guess your date is here already" as much as I would have liked to run out to him, I felt nervous like there was a heavyweight on my chest.

"Who is there?" I heard Mary call from distance "She will be here soon"

"You must be Mary" I couldn't hear anything apart from that until I got to the living room. It was as if Mary and Aderemi knew each other from Adam because they were chatting like they were friends.

"And here she is" even though I was there with them, it felt like she was talking from another side of the world. He looked so handsome wearing navy blue trousers which hugged his legs like he was born with them. The white shirt was tucked into the trouser and the black belt complimented the shirt and made it look too perfect.

The blue blazer was smart and hugged his body that I felt like rubbing my hands on his clothed chest. The black bow tie around his neck made him too masculine. I couldn't help but notice the stud on his left ear.

"You look beautiful" I had to blink twice before what he said could register in my cerebrum.

"You are not looking bad yourself" I just couldn't tell him what I was thinking because he might run out of the door if he does.

"Let's go" he held my left hand and placed it between his waist and his inner elbow while my heart was beating very fast as I had just run a marathon race. "Have fun guys" I heard Mary say before we walked out of the door. I couldn't help but give her a nervous smile as we walked through the door.

He led me to his latest model Bugatti, opened the passenger door for me, and helped me into the car. I watched him cross to the driver's side and slide into his seat, he started the car and zoomed to our destination. We didn't say much to each other through our little drive to the nearest but fancy restaurant.

We only shared little glances and I made sure our eyes never met during our short drive. Our almost-silent drive gave me time to think about things and I mean things I shouldn't even think about.

He helped me out of the car and led me into the restaurant. We were ushered to our seats as if they knew we were coming. "I called beforehand and told them we will need a space" it was as if he read my mind. He helped me into my seat and took the seat in front of me.

"So, how have you been?"

"I have been good, what about you?. We have been hearing news about your training and I can't wait to watch the matches" I said enthusiastically.

"I didn't know that you are a lover of sport or football for that matter" it sounded funny and I couldn't help but smile.

"I love football so much and if it wasn't for my parents who chastised me when I was little, maybe I would have been a football player like Martha".

"Oh really, I know of few ladies that love football, even Mia doesn't really like football" He said amused "of course, I know a lesser percentage of girls love football, I guess I'm one of those girls. I play football for my school and presently I'm the captain for the school team" I said happily.

"So tell me everything about it" I lunged into details enthusiastically. I told him how I started playing when I was little and how I was able to make the school female even though my parents never approved. I also told him how I play center-forward and if the coach wants me at the wings, I play 7 and sometimes 11. He looked at me like he was genuinely interested and this gave me some goosebumps.

The waitress brought our orders and I couldn't help but notice the way she kept blushing like red tomatoes around him. It made me mad that I wasn't the only one he had this effect on. It's either she has watched him on TV or maybe she was just blushing because my date is a handsome man.

She left us to our meals and I dug into my food immediately. I hadn't put the spoon in my mouth when I heard the words that shocked me out of my skin "You know the world cup is a couple of weeks away, so when can we get married?