As We Were Meant To Be.

The Beginning. chapter 1

Five Years Earlier.

Danielle Ijioma has completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Akwa-Ibom state. Today was the ceremonial POP(passing out parade) were the corp members who are through would collect their discharge certificate. This takes place after they have passed out in a march pass.

She was super excited because she was free to travel, no more weekly CDS(community development Service) on Fridays. No more monthly biometric clearance,no more complusory attendance to meetings.

Above all she will be with her family who have been states away from her. The last time she saw her family was after she had left the orientation camp almost twelve months ago.
And had spent just two weeks with them in Lagos and returned back.

As the youngest child and only daughter she will be welcomed warmly with so much love.

She wasn't expecting anyone that's why she was surprised when her friend,Nancy had interupted her photo session with her platoon members and friends she hasn't seen since their last days in camp.

Nancy had informed her that their former Local Government Inspector wanted to see her. Her friends teased her that maybe he didn't want to let her go yet as he could have some interest in her. Rebuking them firmly but taking the statement as a mere joke. Danielle laughs as she leaves with Nancy to answer her call.

To her greatest shock she sees her big brother,Dustin standing close to her LGI. He was her closest companion and sibling. She loved her family,her other older siblings so so much but with Dustin it was different.

Dustin was quite older than her with eight solid years. Their older siblings as God willed were in various places . Doing great in all of their endeavors, they are from a very reputable and wealthy family so Danielle never lacked anything good.

But Dustin wasn't alone,he was with his long time friend and companion, Gideon.

Danielle blushed deeply when he called her fondly "Dani". Danielle hasn't grown out of those feelings she has always had for Gideon. He was her brother's very good friend,they had meet way back in secondary school. Danielle was still in the wee days of her growth when their friendship began.

Danielle has always known Gideon to be a height unattainable. A height and territory she wouldn't have access to.

It all started as a crush. Admiring his and everything he does,he had helped her with there assignment back then when she had entered secondary school especially in mathematics.

And because of consistent tutorial she excelled brilliantly in mathematics and other science subjects before she made her decision to study arts in her senior secondary. These feelings began in her late teens shortly before she went to the university.

She would always anticipate his arrival from any trip because Dustin would definitely be the one to go pick him up from the airport.

Wherever Dustin was, Danielle will be also.

She would always look clean and neat whenever he was paying her brother a visit. The friendship he shared with her brother was indeed an envious one.

Gideon eventually got married two years ago just as she was rounding off her B.sc program in visual and fine arts. She was really hurt and broken, her expectations of him probably asking her out on a date and subsequently marriage were dashed.

His wife Mirabel was indeed a beauty to behold. She could remember when her brother had told her to dress up and get ready during one of the forced holidays caused by a nationwide strike of the universities.

She thought it would be another chance to charm her way into his heart perhaps.

Unknown to her that it was his surprise engagement party. He was going to propose to Mirabel. When they had gotten to the venue that night she began to feel excited in her spirit wondering if this was her opportunity to finally warm her way into his heart. In thanksgiving she tells her God how grateful she was and how well she was going to love and cherish Gideon.