Love and Ambition

Tiwa and Dapo walked home after the show, laughter and excitement in the air. Dapo had just finished his set, and his performance had left Tiwa deeply moved. As they strolled through the quiet streets of Berlin, Dapo looked at her, his eyes filled with affection.

"Tiwa, you are amazing. Do you know that?" Dapo said softly.

Tiwa blushed, looking down at her feet. "You're the one who's amazing, Dapo. Your music is incredible."

Dapo smiled, stopping to face her. "I've been working on something special, just for you. Can I sing it to you?"

Tiwa nodded, her heart racing. Dapo took a deep breath and began to sing in a soft, melodic voice:

"My woman, my everything, you dey make my heart sing Your beauty na the sunshine, you be my queen, I be your king For this life, no be lie, you be the one wey dey my mind My woman, my Tiwa, I go love you till the end of time."

Tiwa's cheeks flushed as she listened, her heart pounding with every word. She couldn't help but smile, her eyes sparkling with emotion.

"Dapo, that was beautiful," Tiwa whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Dapo grinned, taking her hand. "I'm glad you liked it. You're my muse, Tiwa."

As they continued walking, Tiwa couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. She liked Dapo a lot, but she was hesitant to admit her feelings.

"Dapo, why did you choose medicine if you're so passionate about music?" Tiwa asked, trying to change the subject.

Dapo chuckled. "My parents wanted me to have a stable career. They think music is just a hobby. But I love both, and I want to see where music takes me."

Tiwa laughed. "Well, you're really good at it. Maybe you can be a singing doctor."

Dapo laughed along with her. "Maybe. But for now, I'm just happy to have you in my life, Tiwa."

They reached Tiwa's accommodation, and she felt a pang of sadness at the thought of saying goodbye.

"Goodnight, Dapo. Thank you for tonight," Tiwa said, giving him a warm hug.

"Goodnight, Tiwa. Sweet dreams," Dapo replied, his voice gentle.

As Tiwa lay in bed that night, she couldn't get Dapo out of her head. She was already falling for him, but she knew she needed to stay focused on her studies. Dapo could be a distraction, she concluded, and she needed to stay on track.

She tried calling her parents, but couldn't reach them. Instead, she called her friend Vou, hoping for some advice.

"Vou, I need to talk to you," Tiwa said as soon as Vou answered.

"Tiwa! What's up? How's Germany?" Vou asked excitedly.

"It's amazing, but I have a problem. I think I've fallen for Dapo," Tiwa confessed.

Vou squealed with delight. "That's wonderful! You should totally go for it."

"But my education is my priority, Vou. I can't let anything distract me," Tiwa argued.

"Tiwa, sometimes you need to follow your heart. If you really like him, you should give it a chance," Vou insisted.

Tiwa sighed. "I'll think about it. But for now, I need to focus on my studies."

The next semester began, and Tiwa had already spent three years in Germany. She had grown accustomed to the food, but she still missed Nigerian jollof rice and pap with akara.

During one of her lectures, Professor Müller made an exciting announcement.

"There will be a science competition between students, and the best project will be awarded $10,000," Professor Müller declared, causing a buzz of excitement in the room.

Dapo leaned over to Tiwa and whispered, "You've already won."

Tiwa smiled but felt the pressure mounting. She knew she had to work hard to win the competition. She spent countless nights working on her project, barely taking breaks, while Dapo was busy in the studio, recording new afrobeat hits.

On the day of the presentation, the tension was palpable. Each student took turns presenting their projects, and Tiwa watched nervously as her turn approached. Carla and her friends, still bitter about Tiwa's success, tried to sabotage her presentation by spreading rumors and creating distractions. But Tiwa remained focused, determined to succeed.

When it was finally her turn, Tiwa took a deep breath and began her presentation on a revolutionary new method for treating brain tumors using nanotechnology. Her research was groundbreaking, and she explained it with confidence and clarity.

"As you can see, this method not only targets tumors with precision but also minimizes damage to surrounding tissues, increasing the survival rate of patients significantly," Tiwa concluded.

The room erupted in applause, and Professor Müller looked visibly impressed.

"Excellent work, Tiwa. This is truly extraordinary," he praised.

Dapo beamed with pride, and Carla's jealousy was evident. Despite their attempts to undermine her, Tiwa's presentation was flawless.

When the results were announced, Tiwa was declared the winner. She was awarded the $10,000 prize and the opportunity to represent Germany in the world science project competition.

As Tiwa accepted her award, she felt a surge of emotions. She had worked so hard for this moment, and it had finally paid off. But amidst the celebration, she couldn't help but think about Dapo.

Backstage, Dapo hugged her tightly. "I knew you would win. You're amazing, Tiwa."

"Thank you, Dapo. I couldn't have done it without your support," Tiwa replied, her heart full.

That night, as Tiwa lay in bed, she couldn't stop thinking about Dapo. She knew she had to make a decision about her feelings for him. But for now, she was content to focus on her studies and prepare for the world competition.

The next morning, Tiwa's phone rang, and she saw that it was her parents calling. She answered with a mixture of excitement and relief.

"Tiwa, my dear, we're so sorry for not calling you these past few days," her father, Ade, said, his voice filled with concern.

"It's okay, Dad. I've been busy too," Tiwa replied, feeling a wave of emotion wash over her.

"How have you been, Tiwa? We miss you so much," her mother, Simi, chimed in, her voice trembling.

"I miss you both too. But guess what? I won the science competition! I was awarded $10,000," Tiwa announced, her voice filled with pride.

Her parents gasped in unison. "Tiwa, that's incredible! We're so proud of you," Ade exclaimed.

"And I want to send the money to you. I know you can use it more than I can," Tiwa said, feeling a lump in her throat.

"No, Tiwa. You keep that money. You've earned it. We're fine," Ade insisted firmly.

"But, Dad, I want to help. It's the least I can do," Tiwa argued, her voice breaking.

"Tiwa, you've already made us so proud. That's more than enough. Use the money for your future," Simi said gently.

Tears filled Tiwa's eyes. "I love you both so much. I wouldn't be here without your support."

"We love you too, Tiwa. Keep following your dreams and make the most of every opportunity," Ade said, his voice choked with emotion.

They ended the call with heartfelt words, and Tiwa felt a renewed sense of determination. She knew she had their unwavering support, and that meant the world to her.

Tiwa also informed Vou and Patrick about her win, and they couldn't have been happier for her.

"Einstein strikes again!" Patrick teased in his usual playful manner.

"Tiwa, this is amazing! I'm so proud of you," Vou said, her voice brimming with excitement.

Tiwa laughed, feeling overwhelmed by their love and support. "Thank you, guys. I couldn't have done it without you."