His eyes were the first things I noticed, and I was hooked.
A friend’s brother was throwing a party to celebrate his admission into the university, so, of course, all his friends were around. Although we were two years away from graduating from secondary school, we were accepted as suitable invitees for the party; thank goodness, it was just a lunch party.
As we mingled with the other guests, the thought on our minds, (at least, my mind) was when we would become undergraduates. It seemed like such a huge ambition at the time. Well, before we got to that stage, we could, at least, be friends with those who had crossed the Rubicon, like the celebrant.
Ade always fancied me, and his sister didn’t spare any moment to tease us about it. So when he asked for a dance, I wasn’t surprised. Ade is a good dancer anyway; I knew I was going to enjoy having him as a dance partner.
It must have been during the dance that he arrived at the party because I didn’t see him come in. With the way my friends and I scrutinized every guy at the party, we would have been certified blind to have missed him. After the dance, I went to get myself a drink and that was when I really saw the gorgeous boy. We bumped into each other: “I’m sorry”, he said, picking up my bag, “really sorry”.
“It is okay,” I said and walked away hurriedly like I was trying to escape my destiny. But that was a futile attempt because moments later, he asked for a dance. It was fate because from then on, we had eyes only for each other.
He was a first-year medical student, but he didn’t mind that I was still two years away from taking my ‘O’ levels. As we talked on, I didn’t want the day to end, particularly since he said he would be leaving for school the next day. Young as I was, I knew something strange was happening to me. I suddenly became shy and I could only stare when he said: “I’ll be in touch”.
True to his word, he wrote a couple of times. I replied to the letters, but as expected, the school took over my time and my thoughts. Two years went by faster than I thought, and I was lucky to gain admission into a university at first attempt.
I thought mine and Nnamdi’s story had come to an abrupt end until I saw him in my living room casually talking with my brother. He looked more handsome than ever, and I found myself thinking back to Ade’s party two years ago. I was grown now and about to become an undergraduate like him.
We had a beautiful relationship! It was like we were meant for each other. The two years apart were worth it. We were inseparable; he visited me every weekend. It went on like this until he started his housemanship, and the times spent together become fewer. We were now more concerned about making it through school.
One day, after lectures at Law School, (Yes, I had graduated), a schoolmate called my attention:
“Excuse me, are you Irene?” she asked.
“Yes”, I said, wondering what the matter was.
“There’s someone at the gate, waiting to see you. He says I should just tell you it is Nnamdi.” She went on.
There was a long pause, as I took in the message. Nnamdi?! My Nnamdi?! When I saw him, all the hurt about the way our relationship ended didn’t matter anymore. I was too happy to see him. Needless to say, we hit it off again.
This morning, seven years later, as I get Joshua and Ifeoma ready for school, he walks in: “Are you guys ready?” I look up and those eyes look back at me. My heart leaps. Seven years down the line, my heart still palpitates at the sight of him.
Yes, I married my first love, and I couldn’t have wished for anyone else.