At ease

 

  I stared at his face as he went on his knees, I stole glances at his white t-shirt and blue Jean. I smirked. 

     I like your sandal, I said as I laughed out loud. It was just the both of us in my living room. I recognized what it was. I wasn’t finding hard to accept. This was my best expression. 

      I took another glance at the ring in the box, I laughed and turned around. Yeh, I exclaimed. I didn’t know what to say, I wanted to keep laughing.

     You are asking me to spend the rest of my life with you, I asked again. 

     Babe, you are very annoying, he said as he let his tongue go. I was doing so good. I was serious as heck. Say yes first, I’d have your time later. 

  This time, I laughed harder. Oga, I cannot say yes with your face as serious as that. Okay, sorry, I said as I glanced again. Ask again, please, I said as I made my face bolder. 

    Julia,  I am your best friend, and this is mutual and I don’t have all the words, but I like the part of my heart that is yours. I want you, I want us. I want the songs, the movies, I want forever and this words are not my best. I just want forever with you. 

     All these while he spoke, I realized it takes more courage to be in love, to know it’s love and to want to be with love. I watched as his mouth moved. In most cases, he took a deep breath and continued. 

     Will you marry me? He asked. 

This time, I couldn’t laugh. I looked into his eyes and my world felt like a start. It was a new beginning. I could feel it. I cou.... 

   Yes, yes, I will marry you. Yes Fope. I, I would.  

     The way his hands lifted me halfway into the ceiling reminded me that this wasn’t my world. I knew and I could tell it would fade.  

    Thank you. Thank you, his voice ran into my ears. 

       You’ve done well, I whispered as he began lifting me down. She would be happy. She would definitely say yes.  This is like a great proposal. Can I get back to work now? I asked as I planted myself into the couch. 

      She would say yes right? Mofopefoluwa asked me again. Yes, yes, she would so much love it. I said as I hurried towards the dinning space to continue working on my laptop. 

      If I hadn’t been single for so long, I wouldn’t have to let you run me through a proposal trial. You are the worse best friend ever. I hissed as I inputted my password on the laptop. 

      Fope Mehn, this people with the contract are troubling me. I can’t deal with them. Look at the freaking terms, I said as I pointed to my screen. Sounds like keeping up with your friendship for 4 years, I hissed slightly as he began walking up to me. 

   You know, you hiss a lot, he said as he dropped the ring box on my table. I ignored him. He opened up the ring box. Do you like it? He asked. Fope, yes I do. Can I get work now ? You are annoying, I spoke at once. This Shantel girl, I haven’t seen her in how many months? And you are looking to propose? Even after that issue? I asked him. 

  I desire to have a forgiven boyfriend like yourself, I said as I laughed at him. 

  Get out, he said to me. Eh eh eh, okay nau. You were crying like a baby, don’t forget, I reminded him. 

     Okay bye, he said as he tapped my shoulder and began heading out. 

   So I watched my best friend whom I love walk out with something I once desired. But a friend of mine once said that love shouldn’t be changed in functions so if Fope was mine or not, I’d still love him anyway. 

  Dude, don’t forget my ice cream, I cried as he shut the door. I heard him hissed, I don’t care, it didn’t matter. 

    It was 5 hours later when I checked my phone. What flavor would you like; message from Fopefoluwa❤️. The usual, I texted back. They don’t have your usual that’s why I texted, he responded almost immediately. 

    Well, why didn’t you note that at first, I groaned as I replied. It took a while before he typed that he would get his flavor. Your flavor? Ehw, anything to avoid strawberry. 

    I’d rather take plain vanilla, I texted back. Vanilla? Okay. He replied with the emoji I like to call stop pissing me off. I sent him a thank you with a heart emoji and continued with work. 

     

   ******  He slammed the door loud enough to let me know he is back. Could you stop being a village fish and take it easy with the arrival announcement, I snapped at him as I stood up and watch my laptop go off.  

     I didn’t close the screen. I walked toward him. Are we doing movie night ? I got shawarma and caramel popcorn to go with, he declared. Didn’t we see like all the new movies, I yawned. Are you tired, he asked as he almost looked into my eye balls. Exhausted, I just need rest, I responded. 

    Are you hungry? He asked again. I just want junks, I declared. Feeling is mutual, he said as he placed the nylon on table. He walked back towards me and hit the couch with his palm. Sit, he said to me. I obeyed with a smile.  I want to watch coco again, I said as I looked at him. Let me rinse my hand, he whispered. See, I pointed beneath the screen, sanitizer.

   Uh uh, he said as he took and used some of it. He opened it and I could tell it was my turn. I smiled as I whispered thank you. Let’s see coco again, I said. Just what was on my mind, he answered. Okay, okay, I knew it, you have my mind. I jumped on his back. Madam, sit back, I don’t have your mind or strength, you mentioned it earlier, he said to me. I muffled words as I returned back to the couch while he held the remote. 

   It’s your turn to pay for the subscription, right? He turned to me. It is expiring in two days, he validated. I nodded, I was tired. Are you okay? He asked. Yeah, just tired. Hungry? He questioned. You asked earlier, I said yes, for junks, I replied. Okay, judge making sure you are fine. Gracias senor, I replied as I start to open the nylon. 

           

         Did you buy brownies? I asked him. For myself, yes, he replied. I stole glances at the Betty brownies, nah, this belongs to us. He didn’t need to know I said that in my mind, he could tell from my face. Save me some, I can’t even drag with you, he stated as the movie finally began playing.  I flipped the ice cream cover and took a scoop. Great choice of toppings? He asked. Just perfect. Just perfect. I looked up, it was 4:33pm. This is the longest weekend ever, I said as he sat on the couch. I agree, he nodded as we shifted focus to the junks on the table. 

      

   It was half way into the movie when I fell asleep. Fope’s company is never boring, I was just too tired. I had thought I was lost in dreamland when a part of my eyes opened and Fope was messing. I struggled to get up and the first thing I stepped on was a ballon. I was trying to figure where he was because I knew he won’t dare to throw a party in my house without asking. 

 The table was cleared, I knew i didn’t finish my shawarma and I so much wanted it right now. After I find an answer to what was going on. For every step I took, a tiny globe would come on showing me petals and the heart symbol on the floor. 

    The further I went from the living room, I began seeing balloons.  I needed to get to the dinning room. My phone was there. When I got there, the light came on. But I didn’t see my laptop or my phone. It was the remote control with a tip paper that said press me.  

     Fope, I yelled before I finally pressed the button. And when the image came on, it was an image of myself and Fope. I was going to keep walking and look for my phone so Fope can explain all the drama, but the the image was picture slide. 

      After the first three pictures, there was a song by Tatiana Manios, kiss me into the new year. I was starting to understand everything. The next picture slide was titled best friend to wifey? I smiled as tears rolled off my eyes.

   I didn’t have to guess, it was Fope. 

      I have fought with you. I have asked you to be mine. I know if I was a choice you’d pick me. I asked so I am sure. Perhaps, you didn’t see this coming, but did you really think I’d let go of us? Three days at the park when I asked if you’d marry me if I asked, you said yes and that was it for me. 

     Your words? I love you and I am wreck less with you and I don’t mind. And I know that it’s supposed to have a title, but I want the title to be forever and if it’s not, it doesn’t matter, I’d love you the same. But yes, I’d say yes. 

  So I am picking you. Your shoulders to lean. Your smartness to keep. Your selflessness to me, everything. Julia, will you marry me?