Eighteen

Apeke sat up from her bed thinking about the splendid night she had. Compared to the previous day,it was amazing. Mostly because she dreamt of Michael. She dreamt of a life were everything was perfect. It was just the two of them and they were happy.

Why did she have to wake up to reality? She would rather keep dreaming.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her mother's yells. Why was she calling her so early,it was bearly dawn.

"Someone is here to see you."Fabumi said.

"Who is it?"She said coming out.

"It's me."She heard Michael say.

They walked outside with Apeke still in a daze. She couldn't believe he was actually there.

"What are you doing here? Not that I don't want you here, I'm just curious." Apeke was a nervous wreck and Michael was enjoying it. He laughed at her.

"Glad you can find me embarrassing myself amusing. Now what do you want?"

He straightened himself immediately feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry. Are you angry at me?"

Of course she was angry! She wanted to yell at him but she kept quiet instead.

"I'm sorry."He apologized again.

She sighed."It's fine." She said.

"I'm here to tell you something."

"What is it?" He looked nervous,Apeke didn't like him looking so nervous. It scared her.

"I have to leave for a while." He said.

He was leaving. She froze. She had a feeling this was going happen. Good things didn't last long in her life.

She couldn't be sure he would ever return. He could have been playing with her the whole time. What if she meant nothing to him? What if he was laughing at her as she dreamt of him? She wanted to scream because of the insecurities and number of unanswered questions in her heard but all she said was "Oh."

"I'm so sorry. I promise to be back as soon as I can. I really wish I could stay."

"I know." She smiled sadly.

It isn't always easy to tell if someone was going to hurt you. Sometimes it was though and other times it wasn't. You just have to hope it doesn't end up with you being hurt. That was all one could really do.

Michael felt guilty looking at Apeke like that. She was trying to act tough. She was trying to act like it didn't bother her but he could see right through her.

"Please let's spend the day together. Just the two of us. To say goodbye." Michael asked.

"Not goodbye,till we meet again." She didn't like the tone of his voice. He sounded like he was leaving her forever or maybe her imagination was getting the best of her.

He agreed with her. They would definitely meet again and then he would ask for her hand in marriage.

"Let's go."He said. He offered her his hand and she took it.

Somehow they both knew were they were headed;the lake. It didn't need to be said ,somehow they just knew. The place was special to Apeke mostly because she had found it with Wura and now Michael loved it too.

Their walk was pretty silent. Apeke wanted to say something, she didn't want her last moments with him for a while to be spent like this but she didn't know what to say.

They sat next together at the shore of the lake,still holding hands.

"Thank you." Apeke said finally breaking the silence.

"For what?"

"For being with me despite everything."

Apeke knew it couldn't be easy being with her. The whole kingdom was planning her wedding to the crown prince,any man would be jealous but he was different. He understood and he trusted her.

He nodded understanding her but he didn't quite agree."No, I'm the one who should be grateful." His time with her had been nothing but an adventure.

"Let's forget all that now." Apeke said and kissed him. The kiss was passionate. They were both pouring out their emotions into it. Apeke didn't want him to leave but she couldn't bring herself to stop him either ,so she kissed him with intensity of emotions she felt at the moment.

He kissed her back with the same amount of passion. "I'll miss you."He said breathing heavily when they finally pulled away.

'Then don't go.'Apeke wanted to say but instead she asked him another question about himself.

"Do you have any siblings?"

"Yes. I had an older brother." He said with a distant look on his face.

"Had?"

"Yeah,he is dead. "

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"If you don't mind me asking,how did he

die?"

"Of course I don't mind. He joined a war

he should have stayed away from. War is never good Apeke, it always brings so much death. " Michael said sadly.

He remembered the good times he had with his brother. He taught him everything he knew. He was the best brother one could ask for and he had lost him to the wicked clutches of war.