Chapter 3
The weeks leading up to my military service were filled with a whirlwind of emotions and events. Janeth and I tried to spend every possible moment together, knowing our time was limited.
One sunny afternoon, we decided to have a picnic in the park near the university. I had saved up to buy some special treats – suya, puff puff, and chilled zobo drink. As we spread out the blanket under a big mango tree, I couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful Janeth looked in her flowing blue dress.
“What are you staring at?” she asked, a smile playing on her lips.
I grinned, feeling a bit sheepish. “Just the most beautiful girl in Lagos.”
She laughed, throwing a puff puff at me. “Smooth talker. Now come on, let’s eat before the ants beat us to it.”
As we ate, we talked about our future. Janeth’s eyes sparkled as she described her dreams of becoming a doctor.
“I want to help people, David,” she said earnestly. “Make a real difference in their lives.”
I reached out and squeezed her hand. “You will. You’re the smartest person I know.”
Suddenly, a commotion erupted nearby. A group of young men were harassing an elderly woman, trying to snatch her bag. Without thinking, I jumped to my feet and ran towards them.
“Hey! Leave her alone!” I shouted, my heart pounding.
The men turned towards me, their eyes narrowing. The largest one stepped forward, towering over me.
“Mind your business, small boy,” he growled.
I stood my ground, even as fear coursed through me. “This is my business. Leave the woman alone.”
For a tense moment, I thought he was going to hit me. But then, to my surprise, he backed off.
“Not worth the trouble,” he muttered, gesturing to his friends. They slunk away, leaving the shaken woman clutching her bag.
As I helped the woman gather her scattered belongings, I could feel Janeth’s eyes on me. When I returned to our picnic spot, she threw her arms around me.
“That was so brave,” she whispered. “And so stupid. They could have hurt you!”
I hugged her back, my heart still racing. “I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.”
She pulled back, her eyes shining with a mixture of pride and worry. “Promise me you’ll be careful when you’re in the army. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
I nodded solemnly. “I promise. I’ll always come back to you, Janeth.”
Little did I know how that promise would be tested in the days to come.
The days flew by, and before I knew it, my final exams were upon me. I buried myself in books, determined to graduate with honors. Janeth was my rock, bringing me coffee during late-night study sessions and quizzing me on complex engineering concepts.
One evening, as we huddled in the reading room surrounded by textbooks, I felt overwhelmed. “I don’t know if I can do this, Janeth,” I confessed, rubbing my tired eyes.
She took my hand, her touch comforting. “You can, David. I believe in you.”
Her words gave me strength, and I dove back into my studies with renewed vigor.
The night before my toughest exam, disaster struck. A power outage plunged the entire campus into darkness. Panic set in as I realized I couldn’t review my notes.
“What am I going to do?” I groaned, pacing our dimly lit dorm room.
My roommate, Chidi, lit some candles. “Calm down, bros. We’ll figure something out.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Janeth, holding a small generator and grinning triumphantly.
“I borrowed this from my uncle,” she said, lugging it into the room. “Now you can study.”
I was speechless, overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness. With the generator humming, I was able to review my notes one last time before the exam.
The next day, I walked into the exam hall feeling prepared but nervous. As I sat down, I felt something in my pocket. It was a small note from Janeth: “You’ve got this. I love you.”
Those simple words calmed my nerves, and I tackled the exam with confidence.
Weeks later, the results were posted. I scanned the list anxiously, my heart pounding. When I saw my name near the top, I couldn’t believe it. I had graduated with first-class honors.
I ran to find Janeth, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around in joy. “I did it!” I shouted. “And it’s all thanks to you.”
She laughed, her eyes shining with pride. “You did the hard work, David. I just believed in you.”
As we celebrated that night with friends, I felt on top of the world. But a small part of me couldn’t help but worry about the future. My military service loomed ahead, threatening to separate us.
Looking at Janeth laughing with our friends, I made a silent vow. No matter what challenges lay ahead, I would face them head-on. For her, for us, for our future together.
Little did I know, the true test of our love was just beginning.
~
After celebrating my graduation, Janeth and I snuck away from the party. Hand in hand, we walked to our favorite spot on the beach. The moon hung low over the water, casting a silver path across the waves.
“I’m so proud of you,” Janeth whispered, her eyes shining in the moonlight.
I pulled her close, overwhelmed by the love I felt for her. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Our l!ps met in a passionate k#ss. All the stress of exams, all the worry about the future melted away. In that moment, there was only us.
“I love you, Janeth,” I murmured against her lips. “More than anything in this world.”
She looked up at me, her expression serious. “Show me, David. Show me how much you love me.”
My heart raced as I understood her meaning. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, taking my hand. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
We made our way back to my small apartment, the air charged with anticipation. That night, we expressed our love in the most intimate way possible. It was awkward and beautiful, tender and passionate. As we lay in each other’s arms afterward, I knew that no matter what happened in the future, this moment would stay with me forever.
“Promise me you’ll come back to me,” Janeth whispered, tracing patterns on my chest.
I k#ssed her forehead, holding her tight. “I promise. Nothing can keep me away from you.”
As dawn broke, casting a soft light through the window, we both knew that our lives had changed. We had given ourselves to each other completely, body and soul.
The coming days were filled with stolen moments and tender goodbyes. Each touch, each k#ss felt more precious knowing our time together was limited.
But even as my departure date loomed closer, I felt a sense of peace. Our love had been sealed, a promise made not just in words but in the most profound way possible.
Little did I know, that promise would soon be tested in ways we could never have imagined.
