ONE YEAR LATER
Standing right in front of my reflection, my eyes fell on my gorgeous self. Dressed in a sleeveless white gown, today was the day I’ve waited all my life for.
I’d finally be a graduate, nothing can stop that from happening now. From the mirror I could see my graduation robe lying clean and ironed on my bed. It was like a dream come true.
For months my relationship with Branden has been nothing but rosy and peaceful, ever since he forced me into sleeping with him a year ago he has been nothing but calm and quiet.
He mended his relationship with his father and brother, although there is still a visible gap between three of them but they aren’t enemies anymore.
My final year days were pleasant although I didn’t have much to spend with Branden, he always made the most of the times we spent together.
We resumed our outings, we made beautiful memories despite our busy schedules. I turned into a celebrity after a while, I came across paparazzi anything I left early for lectures. My social life grew immensely and my life was no longer private. I couldn’t go out to shopping or clubbing peacefully.
I became the headline of every celebrity gossip channel, all these were because Branden and I were together and our relationship became a public figure.
We no longer hid it from the world, there was obviously no use of keeping it private. I certainly believe that our relationship has the tendency to lead us to marriage.
Who else would I want to spend my forever with if not Branden Smith; the hot devil that stole my heart from the very first day I laid my eyes on him.
I remember it like it was yesterday, asides seeing him on television I was stunned to see him with my naked eyes.
He was 10 times handsome and 100 times hot, I had myself suffocating under his air conditioning unit, I was short of breath and my palms were all sweaty. I never knew I’d be here in his house, in a one year relationship with the hottest man alive.
I remember how excited I was when I got the news that he summoned me to his office, since then my love for him never went down.
He still drives me as crazy as he used to back then, I still get the butterflies in my tummy when he comes around. I’ve never fallen so hard for another man.
It’s disheartening to wake up early and see no one else but myself, he woke up so early and rushed to work. He knows how important today is for me and he chose to work instead.
It’s almost like he doesn’t regard me as much as he did back then. For an event as important as this, Branden would wake me up and get me dressed so I wouldn’t be late to my own graduation.
My eyes held back the tears that threatened to roll down my cheeks, I must be strong. Today is my big day and if no one else is going to stand by me today, I’ll stand for myself.
Would it hurt to sideline work for one day? After all he was the CEO so would get him sacked for taking a leave for his girlfriend? It’s not the first time he had stayed away from work so what was so important today that he couldn’t stay back and support me?
The thoughts continued to hurl up inside me, causing the tears I once held back to flow like a rushing river.
He doesn’t go out of his way to help and support me anymore, he only does that at his leisure time. There was this gap between us that I couldn’t understand neither could terminate it.
This past few years we’ve grown apart, he has his mind more fixed at work than at me. It’s good that he is more consistent with work but there’s just something more that’s making us deviate so much.
Is our relationship growing sour? Is he loosing his love for me? Am I doing something wrong? Is he still trying to battle the trauma he once had?
I sighed at the disheartening thoughts, I shouldn’t be sad on my big day but it was just too much to overlook.
I’ll have to table this with him when next he comes back home, we have to talk about what’s really bothering us on the inside.
I picked up my graduation robe, my hand bag and my graduation hat. No one must see me hurting, I have to mask up the hurt and put on a beaming smile
The press was going to be present at the graduation ceremony and i must not be seen with a worn out makeup. They’d detect something.
“Good morning ma’am” Braden’s driver held the car’s door knob and pulled it open for me to get in.
I morphed out a smile as my reply to his greeting and ambled my way into the car, everyone is waiting for me at the graduation ceremony. Jeremy, Micheal, Jane, Evelyn and others.
After few minutes on the road we finally arrived at the outdoor graduation ceremony, the atmosphere was lively and engaging. I took a deep breathe in and exhaled. I tried so hard to exhale out the pain I was feeling, I’d rather cover up my hurt than answer disturbing questions on why I look so pale and sad.
Branden’s bodyguard or rather my now known bodyguard opened up the door for me to come out. As usual, the nosy paparazzi rushed over to me with large microphones and flashing cameras.
“Miss Diana would Mr Branden be presenting your award to you?”
“Would Mr Branden be present?”
“What inspired you to study medicine in Clifield university?”
The questions were thrown out to me right in front my car, my bodyguards guided me out of the loud paparazzi and towards my friends.
“Diana!!!” a familiar voice screamed out. I threw my gaze sideways and saw the likes of Evelyn and Jane. Evelyn was dressed in black sleeveless, a carbon copy of what I wore but it was black.
I was so ecstatic to finally see Evelyn it’s been few months since I set my eyes on her, after the semester was over she ghosted everyone including me.
I didn’t hear from her for a while.
“OMG girl!!! Is this you?! You look absolutely beautiful” I praised her.
“Talk about beauty, you’re an epitome of beauty Diana, I mean look at you! You are looking so gorgeous” She reciprocated the praises with a spark of energy.
Her eyes sparking like glitter.
Jane rushed over to me and jumped on me, she planted series of kisses on my cheeks whilst hugging me.
“I missed you so much Diana, it’s so lonely with you” she said.
“I missed you too my love” I continued to embrace her.
“Where is Branden?” Evelyn asked. She scanned the area as though there was someone missing.
“He isn’t around but he’ll be here… I hope” I murmured.
“You hope? Are you guys good?” Evelyn glares at me suspiciously.
I knew better than anyone that Evelyn would stop at nothing until she draws the truth out of me.
“Yeah we are, he just has some pending work to take care of” I morphed out a smile.
“Okay then let’s go sit” She prompted and lead me to where all graduates were to be sited.
The atmosphere was bubbly and lively, it was 30 minutes before the ceremony, I still couldn’t get my mind off Branden. If he doesn’t come today then I’ll make sure to fish out what’s making him so distant.
I wouldn’t want to involve myself in his business, the last time I did, we almost separated so I’d be extra cautious this. I just want him to be there for me because I’ve always been there for him.