Too Little, Too Late

01

Aomi, Atlantica.

August, 2020.

In the middle of the hundreds who wore black robes, twenty year old Ayra Leilani Abdulaziz stood with a smile on her face while excitement rolled off her in huge waves; excitement that made it hard for her to stand still in her white heels.

"U of A's Class of 2020, are we ready?!"

The response was a thunderous, unified "yes". The sports arena of the University of Atlantica was full and each person was on their feet, thousands of cameras held up to capture the moment they'd all been waiting for, some more than others.

"Alright!" The event's officiator, the ever friendly Dean of Students, stepped back with a smile on her face. "Let's begin!"

Like the hundreds around her, Ayra reached up to lightly hold the cap on her head. On her left side, her best friend – Ibtihaj Oluwatosin Adeola – did the same. Both their smiles were wide and while Ayra had deep dimples on each cheek, Ibtihaj didn't.

"Ladies and gentlemen, 10! 9! 8!"

Most people in the arena – graduating students and family members alike alongside other students enrolled in the university – counted down with the Dean. Smiles got wider, excitement levels rose, some people began clapping with each digit that was called.

"7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2!"

It was as though the area held its breath as the countdown reached its end. "1! Congratulations!"

The black graduation caps hit the air at the same time and every invited guest in the arena applauded heartily while the sea of balloons held above the ground were released and sparklers went off. Those who'd just officially become graduates hugged each other and squeezed into the reels and shots that captured the beautiful moment.

In the middle of it all, Ayra and Ibtihaj smiled widely at the phone held up by one of those who had become their "former course mate". Once the selfie was captured, Ayra and Ibtihaj bent to pick up their fallen caps. When they straightened, they smiled at each other and proceeded to hug themselves with excited screams.

"We did it!" Ibtihaj said, pulling back. "Their papa!"

Unable to help herself, Ayra laughed. "God, Ibty, you're never going to change."

"Fi mi silę, abeg." She linked her arm with Ayra's. "The day I change is the day I bend."

Among the friend groups the university walls had seen over the years, Ayra and Ibtihaj's was one of the very best. They were different in more ways than one but they complimented each other well and both ladies were beautiful inside and out.

With a mischievous smile, Ibtihaj leaned in and wiggled her brows. "Is our fiancé here?"

Ayra acted as though her heart didn't do a little jump. Her smile turned bashful while little colour stained both cheeks that had her dimples on full display. "Weren't you the same person who told me to let go of my feelings back then because men like Ibrahim Fahad didn't usually end up with women like us?"

Ibtihaj nodded without any hesitation. "I did, because I wanted you to face reality. I didn't want you to get hurt because I didn't think both of you were actually going to get together." Her smile widened. "Thankfully, everything's paying off now. Is he here though?"

Ayra sighed. "I really don't know. We both saw the news that he was in Nohea earlier this morning for the opening of the branch there so I doubt he'd be back by now." She then smiled and it was so beautiful. "Besides, I will certainly see him later. We do have the engagement party after all and no groom-to-be in his right mind is going to miss his engagement party, especially when his fiancé planned it from scratch."