Chapter 17:One Last Parade.
Chapter Seventeen : One Last Parade
The parade ground buzzed with excitement as corpers lined up one last time, hearts thumping in anticipation. The Passing-Out Parade (POP) was a celebration of endurance, survival, and transformation. Celine stood tall in her pressed khaki uniform, a small Nigerian flag pinned to her chest, pride glimmering in her eyes.
The sun was hot, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were already soaring ahead—to Nathan, to home, to a future waiting for her just beyond the gates of the NYSC compound.
As the final anthem played and her name was called, tears welled up in her eyes. She had made it. Against all odds. Kebbe had become a part of her story—and though she was leaving it behind, the lessons it gave her would stay forever.
---
Later that afternoon, Celine boarded the first available flight back to Lagos. Her heart raced as the plane taxied and soared. She stared out the window, watching the familiar blue sky, imagining the moment she would see Nathan again.
As the wheels touched down, her chest tightened.
And then, there he was.
Waiting by the arrival gate, dressed in a sky-blue shirt and jeans, a single rose in hand and the brightest smile on his face.
The moment their eyes met, Celine dropped her bag and ran.
She leaped into his arms and Nathan caught her effortlessly, lifting her off the ground like a child. She wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing and crying at the same time.
"Congratulations, my love," he whispered, holding her tightly. "I'm so proud of you."
"I missed you," she whispered. "So much."
"You'll never have to be that far away again."
---
They walked hand in hand to the parking lot as Nathan pulled out his phone.
"Let me call a Bolt," he said. "We'll go straight home. You need rest."
Within minutes, a small Toyota Corolla pulled up in front of them.
Celine stepped toward the back door, but paused when she saw the driver.
Her breath caught.
"Ben?"
The man behind the wheel looked up slowly.
His eyes widened in recognition.
"Celine?"
Time froze.
Celine blinked, stunned. Ben—the man who once held her heart, who once whispered love into her ears—was now wearing a faded Bolt jacket, driving passengers around the city.
He smiled awkwardly, scratching his beard. "Yeah. It's me."
Nathan remained quiet, watching calmly.
"What… happened to you?" Celine asked, voice shaking slightly.
Ben glanced at the rearview mirror before answering.
"It's a long story. Ivy fell sick during final exams, and I… I helped her write one of her papers. I got caught. They rusticated me."
Celine stared, speechless.
"I lost everything. Ivy left. My parents were disappointed. This is my life now."
Silence settled inside the car. Not out of judgment—but a sobering realization that life can change in a blink.
Celine took a breath and replied softly, "I'm… sorry, Ben. I really am."
Ben nodded. "Thanks. I'm glad you're doing well."
The rest of the ride passed quietly. Nathan reached out and gently squeezed her hand, offering quiet strength. When they got to Nathan's apartment, Ben helped with her bag.
As they stood by the entrance, Celine looked at him once more.
"Take care of yourself, Ben."
He nodded. "You too, Celine."
And just like that, the past drove away in a white Corolla, leaving room for the future to walk in.
---
Inside, Nathan ordered dinner and set up a warm bath. But he didn't say much about Ben. He simply wrapped his arms around her and said,
"No one's past deserves the power to shake their present. You've come too far."
"I know," Celine whispered. "Thank you for waiting for me."
"Forever wouldn't have been long enough."
---
The next few days were filled with wedding preparations. Nathan didn't want to wait anymore. The moment she stepped off that plane, he knew: it was time.
Both families were involved. Celine's parents beamed with pride. Nathan's sisters were already choosing colors for their bridesmaids' dresses. There was joy, laughter, and excited tension in the air.
And then, came another surprise.
Nathan's senator uncle, who had taken a special liking to Celine, invited her for lunch. After a warm meal and pleasant conversation, he leaned forward with a smile.
"Celine, I like your spirit. I've seen how you carry yourself, how focused you are. I want you to manage something for me."
"Sir?" Celine blinked, surprised.
"Xtie Global Resources. It's one of my oil and gas firms. You'll be trained and guided. I believe you'll lead it well."
She gasped, hand on her chest.
"I don't even know what to say…"
"Just say yes," he smiled. "Let's get your wedding out of the way, then we'll talk office suits and boardrooms."
---
That night, as she lay beside Nathan in the quiet of their new beginning, she whispered:
"My disappointments really were blessings in disguise."
"I knew it," Nathan smiled, kissing her forehead. "Your story is just beginning."