chapter 51

Ewo gele yaya lori

She sang as I watched they danced till they got tired. The three women laughed at after dancing tirelessly and urged us to be fast because they've started the ceremony already. So they quickly went back to wait for us.

The first stage in a Yoruba traditional wedding ceremony was to make the groom prostrate for the bride's parent. He and his friends, they'd do that till the bride's parent feel it's okay.

It wasn't that hard  to get my paternal extended family and that of Blake's together because our two fathers were from Akure. But it was our mother's family that gave us a bit stress.

Blake's mum was from Los Angeles while my mum's family were from Anambra. People from different countries came as well. But the gele geng stood out of all attires.

Our dads had concluded that our traditional wedding must be held in Akure but we can do whatsoever pleases us with our white wedding. We can go to Jupiter if we want to- our dads.

"Oya oh. I hope everybody's ready?" Moyin announced to the ladies and they all rushed to get whatever they might need at the venue.  We said a little prayer before setting to go.

"Where's my phone?" I asked  them before Sade veiled my face with the bride's veil.

"It's with me" Blaire answered.

I got up and one of them held my hand and walked me.

"Won't I fall?" I complained out of fear because I could vaguely see because the veil was a bit transparent and I was on heels. I kept looking down where I could see where I was going but not completely.

"You can't, just follow me" Sade assured and I knew it was her that was holding my hand.

We got into the car and the driver drove out of the compound. I unveiled my face because of uneasiness but Sade screamed and veiled me back.

"But we aren't at the venue yet.. Let me free myself joor" I protested but she never let me do that.

"Don't you know that it's husband that'll unveil you?" She explained and I blushed at thought of Blake uncovering the veil to see me.

"Blake would have been prostrating along side with friends" Blaire laughed and others including me joined.

"Especially those wicked MC, they'll make him prostrate till he's tired to look at his bride" Moyin joked again.

"Well... Nothing goes for nothing. If he wants our friend, he must pay for it" I could feel Sade smirking and the ladies agreed to what she said.

Where we were coming wasn't that far from the venue. The driver stopped the car and I already knew that we're already at my wedding. My heart skipped a beat in joy,excitement and nervousness feeling of getting married traditionally.

The ladies dropped down firstly and led my hand from the car. Some men came with Yoruba's popular entertaining drums like ìlù gongo and ìlù dundun to the car. They hit the drum excellently and the ladies swayed their hips to the rhythm.

I chuckled in my mind when I imagined how Blaire would be dancing to the talking drums.

I was led to the ceremony with the drums straight to the my parent's seat. They prayed for me and wished me a successful married life. Faith and I cried when we realized that I'd be away from them to my "husband's house".

I went to Blake's parent as well. Blake's mum was looking funny and beautiful at the same time in her attire. She prayed in English while he prayed in Yoruba; a mixture of languages my head.

I was now led to my groom and he unveiled my face. I could help  but grin at the sight of Blake in traditional attire. He was still looking handsome in the attire. I'd make sure he wears it often after the wedding.

"We are getting married!" I exclaimed with a hush voice. We were so close that we could hear each other's heartbeat. Camera flashlights never allowed me to see clearly though. Different channels with their presenter and cameramen had flooded the whole venue.

The rest of the ceremony continued with a heavy energy. The part that was funny and dramatic to me was the part that they took Blake's fila from him and they gave me to wear it to any man of my choice. The man I'd give  it to, will be my husband. That was what the mama told me.

They  sang a song as I was checking who I'd give it to. I'd give to Blake at last  though, but I'd have to pretend as if I'm looking for who it perfectly fit.

E ma tori mi re ja ija iku (2×)

The song would last till I've found the man I'd like to give it to. I had wanted to give it to Blake straight without wasting anytime but the mama warned to dance around for sometime before wearing the fila for him.

When I felt that I've used enough time to play around, I went to him to wear the fila on his head. At first I didn't know how to do it, the mama scolded and I got the idea quickly.

The MC was a woman. A woman I guess she'd be in her late forties. She was fat and tall. Her voice alone would catch every hint and bit of the hall though the hall was extraordinary big and colourful.

Before they could allow me to sit, we did a lot things that didn't matter to me. What matters to me now was him. My heart would skip a beat and raced aggressively after I remember I'd be somebody's wife few hours to come.

After I finally had my seat. It was hard to take for me that I was shy to look at Blake. Especially to ask him how kneeling was. VIPs began to visit us from our little chamber. People I was  happy to see was Tolu, Justin, Cynthia and some of our classmates as well.

"I told to let is celebrate your relationship then, I guess it was my prayer that turned to marriage" Justin joked and we all laughed, saying he never changed.

The person that shocked me most was Tinashe. She had changed a lot... Her facial expression though. She came with her a boy that she said to be her son. I had always said there is life after Stockfield.

My eye caught the banner that was hung somewhere around the place .

Mojisola

"Look at that!" I called Blake's attention to the banner and he obeyed.

"I've seen that since. But what's Mojisayo?" He frowned confusingly.

"It's the combination of our names! Mojisola and Ayodeji" I explained and he nodded in comprehension.

"That means we are now one. Two personalities, one heart" he concluded and I nodded with tears.

"I can't believe we started as friends with benefits at first. Our story from Stockfield is so.. So.. "

"So Nice" he completed and pulled me for a hug.

THE END.