Ara was excited to have someone keeping her company. That way, she was not lost, looking like a zombie in the mist of unknown people. She laughed the whole time Ayoola talked because naturally, things Ayoola said were funny. It might be a lot sugar quoted, but Ara couldn't blame him because She realized while they were having a conversation that Ayoola was a poet who used his poem in conversing with people, using it in between his talks to have fun, remind himself who he was, and let people know what he was into.
He told Ara part of his dreams of releasing a book full of his poems and thoughts about everything in the world soon. And how he couldn't wait for it to be bought by everyone all over the world. He gushed about being an international poet who would be able to publish his works not just in English or French but some other languages by himself. Ara finally understood why he was a persistent speaker of French and somehow, she was so proud of him. No woman out there would not be proud of a man with dreams, goals, pushing everyday to become a better version of himself. Likewise a man. Beauty isn't everything. She reminds herself that all the time.
"Whao!" Ara smiled. "I'm totally impressed."
"Well, thanks. I'm an architect by the day, and a poet by night. You can say I'm a poet by every fucking day."
Ara laughed. "Lol... I love that. You are a poet by every fucking day. That must be a line from one of your poems."
Ayoola laughed. "May be I should tell her something, that without her flaunting, she gat me wanting.  Craving more from her smiling mall."
"Oh my!" Ara laughed. "I must do my own. That's so beautiful." She said without knowing how much that boosted Ayoola's confidence, getting him to smile silly. Ara must have taken it as Ayoola having fun with his words, but no. He was telling Ara how he truly felt with her pretty smiles. They were beautiful. From one shade to another shade he never knew Ara could express with her face. He really didn't expect himself sharing his dreams with any woman, but a statement from his mom struck him... When your heart finds her, you will be ready to share your world with her, because all you will ever want is to include her in your dreams. Having her will now be your biggest dream.
Ayoola smiled and encouraged her. "Okay try. There is always room to get better."
"Hmm..." Ara cleared her voice, acting like she was serious about creating some lines too, but she bursted out laughing when words weren't coming. "Sorry, sorry," she apologized and laughed. Cleared her voice again. "Okay. I'm gonna do this. Yes! I'm gonna gonna kill this." She boasted, causing Ayoola to laugh.
"Please go ahead miss. This boasting is getting too much." Ayoola told her.
"Okay." Ara looked a bit serious, but still managed to smile as the lines finally came. Then she started. "I told you to climb the stage, you said you are not ready for the fame. I wonder how climbing a stage can actually give you a fame if your talent is a total fade. I mean is just to sharpen your courage, so your talent can come out with a rage, and you can end up flying in a plane. Stage does not equals to fame, because only your consistency will give you your hypothesis. And only a much of smart work with hard work will make you own the stage and get you the fame. Now get on the fucking stage."
"Oh my Gawd!" Ayoola hit his hands together laughing so hard and staring at Ara unbelievably. "That sounded much like a rap mhen! You really killed it. You've got it in you."
Ara laughed. "Thank you. I have a thing for rap songs though. I sing, but that's not a dream I want to pursue."
"Please you need to set the world on fire with that voice." Ayoola said, smiling. He couldn't believe he was standing with a bundle of talent. "That's gonna make a hit if we drop that." He teased, getting Ara really excited about that, but she didn't take it serious.
Ara was indeed glad she was getting along with Ayoola well. She was glad she gave herself a chance to know him better. He was carefree, jovial, encouraging and of course good looking. He wasn't an arrogant guy like some rich guys she had met. Though, she thought that was the kind of person he was when he first proposed sex to her. But, taking that out of her head, she noticed Ayoola listened carefully and really gave her his attention. He was totally different from Prince Ire. She knew Ayoola liked her, but slowly, Ara's mind drifted to Prince Ire. While Ayoola was really keeping her company, she would give the hall a quick glance and Ayoola had caught her many times without her knowing.
Ayoola cleared his throat. "I guess the Prince is not coming back anytime soon."
Ara forced a smile this time but Ayoola didn't really notice. "He said he will be back in some minutes. I'm sure he will be back soon." Ara lied with confidence and silently prayed Prince Ire was fine wherever he was.
Ayoola's cell phone beeped, showing his wallpaper that caught Ara's eyes. "Wait..." She quickly picked up the cell phone with an amusing smile on her lips. "Is this not not Prince Ire?" She stared at the guy in blue short swimsuit, sitting next to Ayoola near a beach. He had a ear magnet on his left ear with black shades covering his face and his hair dyed to a blonde colour. Ara could imagine how the sky must have been smiling down at the hot chocolate under her. His hands were resting under his head, giving the blue sky a chance to watch how strong his biceps were. Ara couldn't help admiring the bad boy look. Except that, he wasn't smiling in the pic. "This guy has always been a bad boy."
Ayoola smiled. "Forget the look. Have never seen someone as serious as Ire in my life. We just went there to relax. That pic is long though." Ayoola said, and saw the familiar figure Ara had been glancing around the hall for walked into the hall with his eyes moving round the hall. Ayoola knew Ara was the one Prince Ire must be searching for with his eyes. Ayoola looked away and finally noticed the drink before him sipping out of it. He raised his brow at Ara for her to look behind her. "Your boss is back."
Ayoola couldn't tell if Ara was happy or not, but he saw her smiled, excusing herself immediately.
••••••
Prince Ire was back. The moment he drove in, he picked up his black jacket, put it on and buttoned up the two buttons he left opened earlier. He came down and walked into the hall looking straight down for Ara. Looking back to where he had checked for Ara earlier, he saw her appeared from the same direction and immediately started walking up to meet her, but then, he was stopped on the way.
"Ire!" He heard his name being called and slowly turned around with eyes searching for his caller.
"Caroline." Prince Ire stopped, surprised to see the dark talkative melanin who was fond of disturbing him standing before him in the hall. "When did you get into town?"
Caroline made a quick laugh, unable to hide how happy she was. "I've missed you Ire." She walked forward and hugged him tight instead, releasing him immediately because she was shy of everyone in the room. "It's been three months now. I couldn't reach you but I promise to check on you at the palace. How come you are enjoying Nigeria more than I expected."
Prince Ire smiled lightly, putting his two hands in his pocket. "Well, let's say all the fine fine ladies are holding me down."
Caroline laughed because she didn't believe that. She knew Prince Ire wasn't the kind of guy into many ladies. He knew how reserved, quiet, cool and respectful Prince Ire was. She looked straight at him. "If I finally meet your girlfriend, I need to tell her how lucky she is. Can't I just be the one?" Caroline laughed shooting a quick shot.
Prince Ire shook his head at Caroline. "Baby don't. You are entering a wrong bus."
Caroline smiled, finally noticed Ara who was approaching them slowed down. "Hey, you are with him right? Please I mean no harm." Caroline raised her two hands up smiling at Ara and urging her to move closer. "I'm Caroline. I'm a Neurosurgeon. And this sexy, gorgeous, cool dangerous guy is my co--"
"Hey, that's fine already."
"Oh!" Caroline immediately obeyed with a smile still on her lips. "Nice meeting you anyways."
Ara shook hands with her. "I'm Aramade. Hoping to be a French translator."
"That's good." Caroline encouraged her. "I don't think I know French at all." She then laughed. "That's a wrong sentence actually. I don't know French at all."
Ara chuckled at her response. She suddenly felt at peace with Caroline and was no longer feeling intimidated by the level of her education or how bossy she was looking in her black pant with a black inner, showing little of her cleavage and a red blazer on top, giving her a hot sexy look entirely. Ara couldn't deny the wavy blonde hair gave Caroline the best look that could make ladies envy her in the room, and also with the way she stood on her black heels, it brought life to her legs. She chatted with Ara freely with respect without bragging about what she had accomplished or making Ara feel less by being in the same room with her. She admired Ara and told her how jealous she was of her beauty making Ara smiled constantly at her without knowing how Ara envy her personality.
All the people Prince Ire greeted thought Ara was his girlfriend and he didn't bother to tell them she wasn't. Ara wondered if something was wrong with the way Prince Ire positioned her and introduced her to everyone who was also greeting him.
Prince Ire didn't want Ara to feel left behind, so he introduced Ara to everyone who greeted him. He allowed her to freely say few words with everyone meeting him except the ones he knew he could not trust. Somehow, Ara finally notice another thing about Prince Ire. He was protective.
Prince Ire was proud with how outspoken Ara was despite haven't been to university yet. The whole time she was talking with Caroline, Prince Ire couldn't keep his eyes off her. Her smiles were everything. But he couldn't allow himself. He had to let their relationship stay as Boss and worker. By the time he returned back to the States, she would be out of her mind. He was sure of that. He had controlled his feelings many time.
They finally settle down. Drinks, wines, food and other junks were served filling the whole table. Prince Ire and Ara took their seats alone at the side of the hall. After few minutes of settling down, Prince Ire cleared his throat, speaking quietly. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting that long. Something came up and I had to be there. It was when I left I realized I actually didn't tell you I was leaving."
Ara finally looked up at Prince Ire. "It's okay sir. I hope it was successful?"
"Seriously." Ara saw Prince Ire smiled so happily, leaning closer to the table which gave him the ability to stretch the material with his strong arms popping up. He smiled again. "You don't know how happy I am." Then he winked at her.
Oh my Gwad!
Ara melt.
He's just different when he's happy.
Ara wish she could tell him to smile more, but she didn't know Prince Ire was watching her smile that remain unerased. "Hey are you okay?"
"Hmm...yea, I'm fine." Ara mistakenly poured the wine in her hand, but told Prince Ire who wanted to stand and help that she was fine. She quickly cleaned herself. "I'm just wondering how you allowed people to leave with the thoughts of me being your girlfriend?" She covered up with something she had wanted to ask him, but eventually did.
Prince Ire gave a side smile looking at her. "You expect me to waste my energy on what people will still not believe. I would rather tell them thank you at once than repeating myself forever."
Ara laughed. She knew what Prince Ire said wasn't that funny, but she couldn't help the laughter and it ended up escalating when she imagined the kind of view Prince Ire had about people already. She found him funny and that got Prince Ire wondering what was funny about what he said. "Don't tell me that was funny to you."
Ara nodded, her plump lips widened more, showing Prince Ire her white set of teeth before speaking up. "Sorry, but my hormones will not let me stop laughing."
Prince Ire rolled his eye balls at Ara on hearing what she said, laughing a bit before speaking."Ara, hormones does not make you laugh. It's the right frontal lobe of your brain that does that."
Did he just say my name?
Ara's smile widened instead, getting Prince Ire laughing but he hid it looking down at his food. Ara got herself back in few seconds remembering what Prince Ire said... Wait, abeg what's frontal lobe?