He stroked his fingers from her neck to her collarbone, his other hand holding her waist, he stroked with his fingers again this time reaching her chest and repeating.
she called out his name in whisper and tears "Calvin"
He cracked his throat "Hmm" he replied "Are you leaving" she asked still in denial
"I will be back, it's just five years" he replied
"But you are leaving, can't you forfeit my dad's offer to stay with me" she cried out
"Diamond you know I had always wished to study law it has always been my dream" he replied
"But why do you have to go all the way to Calabar there are lots of good universities here in Benin" She pulled herself out of his arms staring into his dark brown eyeballs he stared back at her dark eyeballs.
"But that's what your dad offers, don't you think this is best for us? How do you intend to introduce me to your father as a suitor? I am the son of his driver. Look, Diamond, if I accept the offer, I will be back in five years as a lawyer. It will be easier for your dad to accept me"
"But" Diamond's voice breaks, tears rolling down her eyes. "Five years is too much."
Calvin put his hand around her waist. "I will be back, I will come back for you, I promise" He pecked her forehead.
"Calvin" a voice from the inside called.
"I have to leave now", Calvin said Pulling away from Diamond
"I have to go today," he said looking into her eyes. He gave her a small, reassuring smile, though his heart ached. "I'll write to you. Every day if I have to. Five years will fly by."
Diamonds pulled Calvin back to herself. She put her arms around his neck and before he could process what was happening, her lips were on his the kiss was urgent, filled with the words she couldn't bring herself to say, the emotions she couldn't hold back any longer.
Calvin froze for a heartbeat, Then he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as he kissed her back, losing himself in the warmth and the bittersweet taste of goodbye.
When they finally broke apart, their breaths mingled, and Diamond's hands clung to his shirt as if afraid he'd disappear if she let go.
"Don't forget me," she whispered, her voice shaking
Calvin brushed her hair with his palm "I could never forget you, Diamond. You're everything to me."
She nodded, tears rolling down her eyes. Calvin pecked her again on her forehead before stepping back.
As he walked away, Diamond stayed rooted in place, watching him until he disappeared into the house her heart aching but full of memories of the past romance she and Calvin had been having in the backyard of his father's house. she remembered the first day she meant Calvin her father had asked Mr. Daniel, Calvin's father, to drop her off at school for carol practice. Her school was having carol lessons and Diamond was part of the choristers. Mr. Daniel begged Diamond to allow him to pick something up at his house and when they got there Calvin asked for a ride to the junction, Diamond agreed, they had a little chat in the car and Diamond invited him to her school carol. His father was not pleased with the idea at first but after much hesitation, he agreed.
Throughout the ride, Diamond stole some glances at Calvin and he did the same. After Calvin attended the carol, he and Diamond became friends they chatted online late in the night and when Diamond failed Government twice in school even with the help of her lesson teachers. she had to tell her father that Calvin the son of his driver was good at Government and he had promised to help her after convincing him for Months he finally agreed but if she failed again he would stop Calvin from teaching her so Calvin had to come to the Mansion to teach her Government every Saturday, they became so close and it was during one of the Saturdays after learning Government that they shared their first kiss.
Diamond has always found solace in Calvin; he understands all her pain whenever she has trouble understanding why her parents and sister can't love her the way other family love their own. Calvin was always there for her, and seeing him leave broke her heart.
* * * * * * * *
Diamond quietly pushes open the door to her room to avoid making noise, her legs are weak and her eyes are swollen after the tears she had shared for Calvin. As she steps inside, putting on the light and closes the door behind her, she freezes. Sitting in the chair by her dressing mirror is her father, his hands folded on his chest he raises his head and stares at Diamond with a snarl.
Diamond startled "Father…"
"Where have you been", he asked standing up
Diamond avoided his gaze " I went to the garden, I needed some ... air". She stammered
"I asked Kiki to find you. She didn't see you in the garden, so you needed air for three hours? I mean, I have been here for three hours. Dia, I am not a fool" he said walking closer to her
" Father…" Diamond replied shaking she bent her head so she couldn't look at him, the father she knew had never been in her room and they had never had a conversation as serious as this.
Her father Edward exhaled deeply and cleared his throat, he walked up to her raising her head and stared right into her eyes "he left today didn't he,you went to pay him a goodbye visit"
She narrowed her eyes thinking.
" Calvin…" she asked confused
"Yes Calvin I knew about your little stupid romance with him that's why I sent him away I gave him something he wouldn't reject and he took it, he didn't think for a second. if he loves you don't you think he would have stayed." he grin
"You knew, how?"Diamond asked confused
" Enough of the chit chat, you can't marry him, you can't even be with him no one can know that you dated him, I have protected you from a lowlife before and I have done it again and I will do it again," he said as he paced slowly, his hands clasped behind his back.
" What do you mean?" She asked tears rolling down her cheeks
Ignoring her questions he turns to face her, his voice firm and loud "Get ready! Your engagement ceremony is next month, you will be marrying Simone's son Nelson, the union will merge the two companies to stop it from failing to meet up in the labor market and secure our family legacy and future."
Shaking her head in tears, her voice rising "No! No! I won't marry someone I don't know I won't"
With anger "There is no need for this, it has been decided and concluded you will marry Nelson" he's about to leave the room Diamond catches hold of his nightwear and falls on her knees.
"Father, please I have never asked for much in my life I can't marry him, I love Calvin and I want to be with him, Pearl is the eldest why didn't you choose her." Tears rolled down her face.
"Pearl is a girl of class she is better than you, she can find herself a good man but you after all I did you still don't know the meaning of class and class you still choose to love from the poor class, don't take this as a punishment it is an opportunity for you." he removed her hands from his clothes.
" Father please, you are ruining my life." she said crying heavily.
"No I am fixing it, I am protecting you." he said walking out.
"Father, I can't," she said slowly as she lay flat on the cold floor burying her face in tears.