He loved the smell of rain.
From time, Binyelum associated rain with the happiest and most blissful moments in his life. The pitter-patter sounds of raindrops on the reddish aluminium roofs reminded him of happy times. The nostalgia came rushing back of games played in the rain with friends on the streets of Somolu while growing up. The mix of genders and tribes running after the rubber ball fondly called “Felele” in a bid to score a goal for their team in the monkey post that consisted of stones lined up within six feet of each other.
“Final results are out!”, Yomi posted on the class Whatsapp group chat. Such days were usually filled with anxiety for him. This time around, it marked the end of his fate in this school. So many thoughts were swimming in his head – Did he make it? Could he really even look at it online? What if he saw rubbish? It was best to just go to the faculty and check. He dashed out under the heavy rain from Mareire Boys Hostel to his faculty located deep within the Main campus. It did not matter if he got wet or caught a cold, he just needed to see with his own eyes what his fate was.
He got to the board and pushed through the swarm of people hovering around the notice board like bees drawn to honey. He squinted and traced until he saw it. He could not believe his eyes. Binyelum ran out into the road screaming joyously until he broke into tears of joy that were washed away by the rain.
He made a Second-Class Upper Division. In this faculty, one could say he struck gold. He could not remember ever being so happy.
It was also a rainy day when he saw her for the first time. Rapu walked into the restaurant with that cocky smile and ethereal glow about her person. Her caramel skin looked so smooth and supple that it mesmerised him at first glance. She laughed in a sweet melodious tone and she moved towards her table, her confidence and grace evident in every step she took. As she approached him, his heart beat so fast that he thought it was going to burst out of his chest. He broke into a sweat and was not sure of his next move when she walked right past him. All he was left with was her scent, it was soft and layered. He was not sure what it was but he felt entranced by it, by her.
They had just gotten back to his apartment after their date night. It had been eight months since they started dating when she told him she was in love with him. He knew right at that moment that Rapuanyinudo was exactly the kind of woman he would want to ruin his life in a heartbeat and it would be worth it. She was his forever.
He laughed as he pulled her in for a passionate kiss. He had been waiting for her feelings to catch up to his for months on end and here she was. The most beautiful woman in his universe was in love with him.
His heart was beating so fast, it felt like he was dreaming. She pulled back and laughed softly as she watched his emotions fleet across his face. He had never been able to keep a poker face where she was involved. She pushed him onto the couch and straddled him while repeatedly whispering her love for him over and over between light pecks which eventually turned to heavy kisses. Their moans and sighs were drowned out by the pitter-patter of raindrops hitting various surfaces outside.
He smiled and he took a sip of his coffee as he came back from his trip down memory lane and put the final touches on his designs.
“DA-DA!”
He turned in surprise as he laughed at the rather loud and excited cooing from his daughter approaching him in her mother’s arms. He dropped his coffee and carried his baby girl as she giggled. He gazed lovingly at his wife and he could swear that Rapu was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Binyelum watched on as the sky darkened with the threat of a heavy downpour looming. He held his family in a warm embrace and took a deep breath. He had never felt more at peace and complete in all his years.
He loved the smell of rain.
