Chapter Eight: Magic in the Air
She held his gaze and said boldly, "Yes, I do. I love you with all my heart."
James's face broke into a joyful smile. He stood and walked to his room, returning moments later with a small box. Dropping to one knee, he opened it to reveal a sparkling ring.
"Clara, will you marry me?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion.
Tears filled Clara's eyes. "Yes, I will!" she exclaimed.
James slipped the ring onto her finger before pulling her into a tight embrace. They held each other, their hearts overflowing with happiness and hope for the future.
*******
James sat in his office, an unshakable urge to spend time with Clara tugging at him. After some thought, he decided the Pacific Restaurant would be the perfect place. Without hesitation, he picked up his phone and called her.
"Hello, Clara. Where are you right now?" he asked, his tone casual.
"I'm at the school compound," she replied, her voice bright.
"Perfect. Let's meet at the Pacific Restaurant this afternoon."
"That sounds great! I'm glad you called," she said, her smile evident in her tone.
James chuckled. "I'll make sure I get there first."
"Let's see about that," Clara teased. "We'll find out who's faster."
"Alright then," James replied, grinning as he ended the call.
By exactly 2:00 PM, Clara had already arrived at the restaurant. She chose a table near the window, settled in, and called James.
"I'm here already," she said when he picked up. "Looks like I beat you!"
James laughed lightly. "Alright, you win this time. I'm on my way now."
Minutes later, James pulled into the restaurant's crowded parking lot. After scanning the area, he parked beside a sleek blue sedan, straightened his tie, and stepped out. As he entered the restaurant, Clara decided to have a bit of fun. Slipping her magic ring onto her finger, she whispered a command and vanished into thin air.
James walked in, his gaze sweeping the room. A frown crept onto his face. "She said she was here," he muttered under his breath. Picking up his phone, he called her again.
From a secluded corner, Clara watched him with amusement. Silencing her phone, she answered in a playful tone. "I'm in the restaurant, James. Look around—you'll find me."
James sighed. "Alright," he said, hanging up and resuming his search. Yet, no matter where he looked, she was nowhere to be seen.
Frustrated, he called her again. "Clara, enough with the games. I've searched everywhere, and you're not here. Are you even in this restaurant?"
Her voice remained calm and teasing. "I told you, I'm here. Watch closely—I'll prove it."
Before James could respond, a table in the middle of the restaurant began to rise slowly into the air. Gasps rippled through the diners as they turned to watch in astonishment. The table hovered briefly before gently descending back to the floor. Moments later, a chair at another table lifted off the ground, spun mid-air, and returned to its place.
A chorus of startled whispers spread through the room. "What's happening?" someone murmured.
James stood rooted to the spot, his eyes wide. As he tried to process the bizarre events, a plate of food vanished from one man's table and reappeared on another. The second man reached for the plate, but before he could touch it, the food disappeared again, returning to its original spot.
A flustered diner stood abruptly, only for Clara—still invisible—to slide his chair away. When he tried to sit back down, he missed the seat entirely and fell to the floor with a loud thud.
Laughter erupted from some patrons, while others exchanged uneasy glances. Feeling a pang of guilt, Clara made herself visible again and hurried to the man's side.
"I'm so sorry, sir," she said earnestly, pulling the chair back into place and helping him up. "Please, sit down."
Now able to see her, James approached, his face a mix of amazement and amusement. "Clara, that was… unbelievable. Let's sit," he said, gesturing toward an empty table.
They sat across from each other, a small table between them. James leaned forward, his expression still one of wonder.
"Clara, your magic is incredible. The way you controlled all those objects—it was like something out of a movie. Is there any way I can get a ring like yours?"
Clara shook her head, smiling knowingly. "I'm afraid not. This ring isn't something you can buy. It's been passed down through generations in my family, and now it's my turn to use it."
James nodded, clearly intrigued. "I see. Well, I won't push further. Let's focus on something more practical—food. I'm starving. What would you like?"
"I'll have the same as you," Clara replied.
"Great," James said, flagging down a waiter. "Two plates of fried rice and Jollof, please."
The waiter nodded and walked away to place their order. As James leaned back in his chair, still marveling at Clara's abilities, she smiled. Her secret power was no longer hidden, but it remained as enchanting as ever.
---
James' friends organized a grand birthday party for him at the beach, inviting a large number of guests. Among the invitees were Clara and James himself, both eagerly looking forward to the celebration.
Lively music filled the air as the DJ played popular tunes. Some guests danced with enthusiasm, while others relaxed in their plastic chairs, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. Rows of tables and chairs had been neatly arranged to accommodate everyone. By the time James and Clara arrived, most of the seats were already occupied. Fortunately, they managed to find a spot near the center.
As they settled in, one of James' friends approached them with a warm smile. "Hey, James, Clara! What would you like to drink?"
"I'll have Fanta. It's my favorite," James replied without hesitation.
The friend turned to Clara. "And you?"
"I'll also take Fanta," Clara said with a polite smile.
"Alright, I'll be back shortly," the friend said before hurrying off.
A few moments later, a young woman in a server's uniform appeared, balancing a tray with two bottles of Fanta. "Here are your drinks," she said, carefully placing them on the table. "We also have two food options—rice and pounded yam. Which would you prefer?"
"Pounded yam for me, please," James said with a smile.
"And for me as well," Clara added.
The server nodded and walked off to prepare their order.
A few minutes later, Clara noticed the server returning with their meals. She carried a tray with two steaming plates of pounded yam, but her high heels made her steps unsteady. As she approached their table, she stumbled and lost her balance.