It was so painful and heartbreaking, the manner that Rita embarrassed me in front of the class, my friends laughed at me because they warned me not to make that move but my love for Rita wouldn't let me
That was the first and only time I ever made advances on a lady. A lot of girls would have quickly accepted my hands in friendship without even having to think twice about it, but I had this special feeling for Rita, my Rita. She was the only girl that mattered to me in the class
On that fateful day, we had returned to the class from break, so I walked straight to Rita who had never stopped staring at me since I entered the class. We always stir at each other, I remember the day I turned to look at Rita and caught Rita looking at me, the moment our eyes met we both burst into laughter, that day my friends nicknamed me "laughing has" because they couldn't figure out why I was laughing
So when I offered her the pack of chocolates I bought for her, she was all smiles until Chike her half-brother appeared from nowhere and kicked them out of her hands. It was a very embarrassing moment for both of us, I became the talk of the class from that day
Everyone knows Chike to be a bully even without being provoked, seeing me with his half-sister gave him all the morale to slap me in front of everybody in the class, I wanted to retaliate but for the same of my love for Rita, I couldn't even move a finger
Chike kept bullying and victimizing me and each time I try to be friends with him he would end up collecting money from me promising to allow me to have my way with Rita but he never did, Chike was the only obstacle between me and my Rita
The only time I enjoyed with Rita was on Saturdays, she always lied to her parents that she was having weekend lessons in school but the lesson was only for science students but Rita was an art student; we always sat under the mango tree behind the principal's office. We vowed to be together forever and get married
Here I am today, soon to witness the marriage between Chike and my Rita, I never knew that Rita was betrothed to Chike from childhood without her consent. Rita is the first daughter of Chike's father's friend and business partner, both men agreed that their children would marry
On the night that Rita sneaked into my house and handed over a piece of paper for me, I thought it was a love letter. I never knew that the letter would make my life miserable
The letter read:
My hero, I hope this letter finds you well. I write this with sorrow in my heart as my father is giving me out in marriage to Chike, because of the business relationship that has existed for many years between Chike's father and my father. They agreed that is getting married to him after school so I had to move into their house, that's why Chike never liked you because he sees you as an enemy, his rival. I was severely punished each time I was seen with you
Sorry, I didn't tell you all this while, I didn't want to tell you then so it wouldn't affect our love. You're invited, come and take me on my wedding day, my heart belongs to you. Please, my hero, don't let him take me, please do something
Yours forever, Rita
I've been sitting here for two hours thinking of how to win back my love, I must not let another man take her away from me, she's the only reason why I've been strong and keeping on
My reply:
I made you a promise, that I will never leave your side nor let another take you away from me. That promise will soon be fulfilled, be rest assured that I'll be there to get you. Nothing can take you away from me, only death can separate us and I'm prepared to die than live without you. Here I come...
Yours forever... Chinedu