XII

Segun had not changed one bit in the past three years. He'd understood that she didn't want any emotional distractions during the last few months and had remained supportive, giving her the extra push she needed and being her shoulder to lean on when she felt down.

Now she was free to love Segun, she was positive now that she did. He'd gained alot of maturity in the last two years. Bimbo admired him alot for of his quiet gentleness.

She was aware that his characteristic good looks made him an obvious target for the droves of girls that populated his department at Uni but was confident that he would be able to handle himself in any situation.

Bimbo had to wait an extra year because her JAMB results were not released. She resat the exams and gained admission to study her desired course, Architecture in the same university as Segun was. This meant that they were always seen together, by now he was in his final year.

They had their fair share of fights and arguments sometimes over the silliest things in retrospect if she had to admit it. They had been bugged*(featured by the campus reporters in the campus magazine) a couple of times, but that hadn't deterred their relationship.

Bimbo was now a shapely woman. She'd lost all her 'baby fat'. Her cocoa brown skin tone and her dazzling smile endeared her to many. She was just the right height at 5 ft 8 inches and her slender form was the envy and hope of many girls. She got appreciative looks wherever she went, this she handled graciously. 'Bims' as she was fondly called was envied for both her physique and the fact that she was dating one of the sexiest guys on campus. Theirs was the ideal match.

She was 18 years old now, which put Segun at 20 years. She was a bit apprehensive because it seemed that was the unspoken age when they would finally do 'it'. Now that the time had come she wasn't sure she wanted to. She loved Segun dearly, she wanted to wait for marriage but what if this wasn't his expectation? Surely she'd lose him?

Thinking these thoughts, she was startled by a kiss in her ear. Snapping out of her thoughts she looked up and saw him. He looked so handsome. She could get lost in his gaze, those eyes held so many truths and that perfect mouth, the sweetness of his kisses. She shifted on the bench so he could slip in beside her.

"Bimby darling." Segun refused to call her anything else. "How's your day going? Are you through with your last paper?" It was the end of her first year, "I hope you knocked them dead. I have just been to see my project advisor and he's approved the final chapter of my project. I can't believe it's time already. So I'm free to celebrate this weekend. Have you any plans for how you want to spend the weekend? I was thinking maybe we could chill at my place."

'Uh oh.. here it is, I'm going to have to either come up with the goods or have the talk this weekend', Bimbo thought. "I'm sorry I can't. I promised I'll be home. Dad and mom planned a weekend away and I said I'd look after the twins. George and Gia miss their big sister."

"Cool, I could spend the weekend at yours then. We could play 'daddy & mommy' it'll be fun!" Segun joked.

"You know that's not happening, right. You know no boys over when the parents are away. Still full of mischief. I thought I'd beaten that out of you. Well you could visit if you liked. No sleepovers unfortunately. You know the twins and their mouths, 'Daddy.. do you know Segun and Bimbo...' I don't want wahala."

"So are you ready to go? I could drop you off home."

XI

Bimbo dropped her exam answer script on the invigilator's desk and walked out of the hall. That was her last paper for the SSCE and she sure was glad to be free at last!.

The last two years had been pretty eventful, she was made acting prefect just returning from holidays the previous year and at the same time she had been representing the school at different events from the Lagos State 'Eko Day' essay writing competition held at Igbobi College, to the Inter-School Conference held at the National Theatre, Iganmu. She'd also had to organise the Open Week for her school which was still being talked about a year later.

Her private life had been just as eventful, her dad had a health scare and for a while there, they all feared the worst. Chris had graduated from Uni, and had proceeded to the United Kingdom to do his Masters. Deola was studying in the London College of Fashion. She was studying Fashion Photography and had big dreams of working freelance with the 'Big-Time' fashion magazines like Elle, Voque, Vanity Fair, Bazaar and on International catwalks.

Bimbo was lonely, Deola was the only one she could confide in, calling was expensive enough and Deola always seemed to be in the middle of something whenever they spoke.

This year also she had been hitting the books hard, she had written JAMB earlier that year and was hoping she would score high enough to be admitted to study Architecture. Her relationship with Segun was going steady, no drama there.

Just outside, she spotted a group of her friends chatting under the shade of the Almond tree. This tree had been the centrepiece of most of their meetings in the last year or so, many study sessions, lunch breaks and gossip/story exchanges. It was referred to as the '3A tree.' They'd even carved their initials into the bark for posterity.

Bimbo walked up to them, "Am I glad to be through with exams," Kemi chimed. "My dear girl, not as happy as I am," Lanre seconded. "This is just the beginning for me oh! Serious jacking if I get in for archi, I don't know why I'm doing this to myself," Bimbo laughed. "Well it's in the bag for all of us!" "Amen!" they all chorused.

After the last bell was rung, it was like a funfare. Signing uniforms, taking pictures, making promises of calls, exchanging numbers and addresses. Teachers imparting their wisdom, speeches and finally a notice that the date for the all important valedictory service had been chosen and could all outgoing students report to school in 5 weeks to pick up their graduation gowns and pay up for the dinner afterwards.

She saw the car, it was his Toyota Celica. "I'll see you later guys, I've got to run." Amid hoots, cheers, kisses and promises of visits, she flew into his open arms.

"How's my favourite girl doing?" He was grinning from ear to ear. "Before you say a word, here's something for you! It was a custom 15" by 25" card with the words 'Conquer the World' right across it. "I got this made for you by one of my friends in the Graphic Arts Department. In anticipation of your good grades when your results are released." "Thanks, that's very thoughtful of you, I appreciate it." Bimbo replied.

X

She could still recall that first kiss, it tasted like lemons. It had been at the end of exams, the final day of school. Segun had written his SSCE (Senior School Certificate Examinations) a few weeks earlier but they were still obliged to turn up in the last week of term for some preparatory course for University, also it marked the beginning of holidays for Bimbo. They had sat for a meal in the 'Food Court' during lunch break and when no one was looking he grabbed her and planted a sloppy kiss on her lips.

Apparently flustered, she hit out at him. "Stop it you devil, what the hell was that?" Glaring at him and rubbing vigorously at her lips. Apologetic he said, "I'm sorry I was caught up in the excitement of it all."

"Well there's nothing exciting about that kiss or the fact that we're in the full view of everyone, what if a teacher chose to pass by at that paricular moment or even my elder sister? Are you trying to get me in trouble?" "Okay, point taken, I'm sorry. Jeez, someone who think I had leprosy that way you jumped away." Segun said, a hurt note in his voice. Bimbo sighed, "Look, I just didn't imagine my first kiss to be that way, maybe after school you could walk me home and maybe try again?." She smiled and he smiled back.

She wasn't disappointed, it was the most beautiful kiss ever. It must have gone on forever, she couldn't remember being that out of breath before, even after running the 400m at the last athletics meet her school had been invited to two months ago.

The 'sticking in the tongue' was quite a shock to her but after a few false starts she was confident enough to allow him and when she did, he tasted like lemons. She thought to herself, so this is what kissing about, wow! Segun's such a fantastic kisser...snap out of it and stop thinking, enjoy the moment. Hmmmn...

Needless to say that whenever they were alone after that first encounter, it became her favourite pastime.

They had such great times together and that holiday was the best by Bimbo's standards. They were inseperable, he was ever so thoughtful and caring towards her. They'd never had sex and he didn't pressure her either.

Bimbo was happy, when Segun's JAMB(Joint Admissions and Matriculation Exams) results were released he got enough points to be admitted into his 1st choice University to study Banking & Finance. On the plus side it was the same State University that Chris and Toto attended so she wouldn't need any excuse to visit whenever she wanted to.

To celebrate his success, Bimbo bought him a monogrammed palm pilot in his favorite colour. On the inside cover a note scribbled in her distinct writing 'I'm so proud of your achievements, go and do what you were born to do! Succeed. I love you always, my forever friend. Bimbo'.