Chapter 1

  Everlasting Love

CHAPTER 1

Rose was a very pretty girl, she was born in a very poor family and her mother was a bean cake (Akara) seller while her

father was a bicycle repairer. They lived in Lagos in a one-room apartment, in a very big compound, she was the only child of her a parent who doted on her, they took good care of her and always

made sure they provided her needs even though they were poor they made sure she was comfortable.

Rose grew up to be a very beautiful young girl, many guys admired her because of her beauty, apart from the fact that she was beautiful she was also very intelligent, she took the first position throughout her primary school education, her parent was so proud

of her, whenever she comes back home with her report card her father would always buy something special for her, this always makes Rose happy and work harder the next term, her mother

would always advise her to focus on her academics and dreams so she would be successful in life and take them out of poverty.

Whenever Rose comes back from school she goes to her mum's shade and helps her sell her bean cake, she was a good girl and her parent was proud of her. 

When Rose started secondary school she was admired for her beauty by both the teachers and students especially the males, but she didn't let that enter into her head instead she was focused on

her studies as she wanted to take her parent out of poverty. As she was promoted into the senior class, the number of male admirers increased, many of the boys in her class want to be her boyfriend but she would always turn them down. As a result of this many

of her female classmates envied her.

One break time, as Rose was strolling around the school garden with her three friends, Ruth, Angela, and Amanda, she

heard someone call her name, she looked back and saw the school

head boy Emeka, calling her, she was scared at first and wondered

what she might have done wrong for the school head boy to be calling her, she summoned up courage, excused herself from her friends, and went to answer him.

"Good Afternoon, Headboy this

one you called me to hope I have not committed any offense?” Rose

asked curiously as she approached Emeka.

"good afternoon Rose, not at all, you didn't commit any offense, it’s just that there is

something I have wanted to tell you” Emeka said "Ok am all ears”

Rose replied,

"it's very confidential and I wouldn't like us to discuss it here, let’s go to the classroom,m," Emeka said.

Rose followed Emeka as they went to the junior class which was almost scanty as many of the students had gone out for a breakRose'sse heart was beating fast as she was scared that she might have committed an offense unknowingly to make the school head boo call her."So what is it you want to tell me? "Rose asked in a ten voice., the reason why I called you is that I ...I just want to express my feelings to you, I have been trying to hold my feelings but I just can't stop myself from falling for a beauty Queen like you, please I want you to be my girlfriend and I promise to give you anything you want once you accept my proposal promises to take care of you," Ebuka said.

Rose was so angry that Ebuka disrupted the nice time she was having with her friends and brought her here to tell her

nonsense. "So this is the reason why you called me? To tell me rubbish, now let this be the last time you will ever tell me such

none, use or else you will regret yourself in this school, "Rose hissed and walked out angrily leaving Emeka embarrassed.

Emeka stood speechless, he never thought that Rose could insult him that way; he felt so ashamed of himself but resolved never to give up.

When Rose returned to her friends they were so curious to know the outcome of her meeting with the school head

boy.

"Can you imagine that fool of a head boy, called me just to ask me to be his girlfriend?" Rose said, still fuming

"What good news ooo,... but this one you are sounding this way, hope you

didn't do anything stupid? "Amanda asked as the other girls waited

to hear her response.

"Of course, I refused, why should I accept to be his girlfriend?"Rose asked.

"Oh my God, tell me you are joking?

Rose this is an opportunity many girls in this school are looking looking for, here it comes to you on a platter of gold and you throwing it away" Angela said in disappointment.

"Rose why will you do such a thing, do you know how I have longed for Ebuka to ask me out? no girl in this school will refuse to be Ebuka’s girlfriend, I mean he is all that a girl wants in a guy,

I will advise you to accept him", Ruth advised.

"I can't believe that the girls I call my friends would give me such advice, it shows the kind of friends you are," Rose said in disgust.

"Rose, you are just being naïve, for goodness sake, when will you grow up? You are acting like a baby, you are seventeen (17) for God's sake, and you are a woman, one day you will get

married, if you don't start preparing for it now, how will you cope when the time comes?"Angela asked.

"Many girls in this school have boyfriends, including us.

Having a boyfriend or being in a relationship does not mean you

should be fornicating or doing anything bad, it's more about

studying and knowing each other better", Amanda explained.

"You have to stop avoiding guys like plague or else I don't know

how you will get married if you continue like this, moreover you are a very beautiful girl which is to your advantage, you need to

change this attitude of yours if you want to get married in

future" Angela said.

"I don't think I need all these marriage and relationship

counseling because am not ready for any relationship I

don't have any plans for marriage, I don't want to have anything to

do with any man, I just want to focus on my academics and my

dreams and take care of my parent, I don't see any reason why I

should accept Ebuka’s proposal, but if you girls are interested in

him, you can go and make your feelings known to him as for me

am, am not interested, "Rose said as she walked away in anger.

"This girl does not know what she is saying, she better change

her mind before it becomes too late for her, and how will she say

such a thing? Doesn’t she know that a husband is the crown of a

woman's head, no matter what a woman achieves in life or the

the level she attains, she won't have fulfillment or respect without a

husband."Angela said to the other girls as they went to the school

cafeteria to have their lunch.

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

Ebuka was bent on getting Rose but whenever he has an opportunity to talk to her, she would always hurl insults at him, so he decided to send some of his friends to her, he sent her gifts but

Rose would always reject the gifts.

Ebuka was the only Son of his parent who was very rich, as the only son, his parent made sure he lacked nothing good, they always provided him with everything he needed, Ebuka was very intelligent which was one of the reasons why he was made the school head boy. He didn't allow the fact that he came from a wealthy family, get into his head, instead, he was very disciplined and well behaved, this endeared him to the teachers and students, he was always focused on his studies, many students were attracted to him because of his brilliance and also because of what they

would get from him, while the female students wanted to be seen around him for popularity sake and for the fact that he was very good looking, but Ebuka never allowed himself to be distracted by them, not until the day he saw Rose.

It was on a sunny Thursday afternoon, after school hours, Ebuka was waiting for the family driver to come and pick him up, he sat on a chair under a big tree which acted as shade for the

students, few students were remaining in the school as most of the student had gone home including his friends, so he sat under the tree waiting for the driver, his attention drifted to four girls playing "Suwe" under another tree that was some distance away from where he was, it was then that he saw Rose, she was so

beautiful, he had never seen such a beauty, he wondered why he had not seen her before, he couldn't stop staring at her, just then the driver arrived.

The next day at school, Ebuka could not stop thinking about Rose, he wanted to know who this girl is which was disturbing his mind, and he just wanted to get close to her even if it's just to

be her friend. He decided to tell his friend Nnamdi about this girl that has captured his heart. Ebuka could not wait for class to be over so he could talk to Nnamdi, soon the mathematics teacher left the class and Ebuka rushed to meet Nnamdi. He told him about the girl he saw if he knew anything about her, Nnamdi was surprised to hear that, he couldn't believe that his friend who never showed interest in any girl was now in love, he told him everything he

needed to know about Rose, as he was in the same class with her, Ebuka was so happy that his friend knows Rose, he quickly wrote a letter which he gave to Nnamdi and begged him to deliver it to

Rose in class, Nnamdi agreed to help him.

Just then the bell rang for the next class, Ebuka, and Nnamdi went to their different classes. Soon the English teacher, Mrs. Jane entered the class and started teaching an interesting topic, Rose was so focused on what the teacher taught, as the English language was her best subject, suddenly a white folded paper hit her head, she picked it up and opened it, wondering who might have thrown it at her, there were lots of love drawn round thee letter which was

neatly written.

The letter went thus:

"I feel something in my heart,

it’s like a lit flame, every time I see you, this flame lights up, this

flame is special for you because I love you", lots of love from

Ebuka.

After reading the letter, Rose was so furious and felt like

slapping him, she wondered who might have thrown the paper at

her, she looked back but didn't suspect anybody, then she averted

her eyes back to the teacher still fuming. The teacher noticed her sudden angry face and called her up. "Rose, what is the matter? Why are you looking that way? Did anybody offend you?" Mrs. Jane asked

Jane asked "Nothing Ma, fine", Rose replied with a fake smile as she folded the white paper under her desk secretly for Mrs. Jane not to notice.

"Are you sure?"Mrs. Jane asked."Yes Ma", Rose replied. Mrs. Jane continued her teaching while Rose sat down,

trying to control her anger.

During break time Rose did not hesitate to go to Ebuka’s  class where he was arranging his books, preparing to go and play football, she insulted him and warned him never to send her such

the letter or come near her again.

"But Rose we are not fighting, why

are you treating me like this knowing full well that I love you what else do you want me to do to prove my love for you",

Ebuka pleaded.

"I don't need anything from you the only thing I want you to do is for you to leave me alone, I can't date you, "Rose said furiously.

"But I love you I want you to be my girlfriend", Ebuka said but this only infuriated Rose who slapped him hard across his face, Ebuka could not believe what happened, he caressed the cheek where Rose slapped him, many students gathered around watching the unfolding drama.

"You are an idiot, a big fool if you think I will be your girlfriend, just thank your stars am in a good mood, or else I would

have done more than this, "Rose spat angrily and walked out of the

class to the canteen where her friends were already waiting for her.

"Wonders shall never end", Rose said as she placed her tray on the

table and sat down beside Angela.

" What happened?"Angela asked curiously.

"It's that idiot that calls himself Ebuka, can you believe that he sent me a love letter in my class during the lesson, that boy is stupid, what other way does he want me to make him understand

that I cannot be his girlfriend", Rose complained.

"But Rose that Guy is really in love with you why don't you just give him a chance, you have no idea of how many girls wish to be his girlfriend, and here you are you don't even appreciate it", Angela  said sipping her drink

"Angela if you want him,

no problem, just go ahead and say so and stop disturbing me I don't like him, I detest him, do you think everything is all about good looks?", Rose asked

"We know that you like him you are just pretending to be hard to get but it will not do you any good neither will it get you anywhere because there are a lot of girls on the queue waiting to get him", Angela said.

"So what did you do when he sent you the letter?" Amanda asked curiously".

"I went to his class after the lesson and I gave him a serious

warning never to try such nonsense with me but the fool was still

telling me that he loves me, I was annoyed and I slapped him, I

think the embarrassment I gave him today will make him change

his mind towards me", Rose said.

"Haba! Rose, you went too far, why will you do such a thing?

It’s so callous of you, have you forgotten he is the school head

boy? He has the power to punish you?" said Ruth.

"I don't care I will do it over and over again if he doesn't stop disturbing me I will report him to the school the authority so they will know how irresponsible he is,” Rose said.

"May God have mercy on you, but you need to take things easy, this is not the best way to go about this," Angela said

They continued their meal in silence as they thought about what Rose said.