Let's Elope
955 Words
The reception was slowly coming to an end.
Guests were beginning to leave.
Older relatives offered one final prayer.
Children slept on chairs while their parents searched for forgotten handbags and gift boxes.
Ada smiled as another aunt hugged her.
"Take good care of my son," Tobi's mother joked.
"I will, Mum."
"And Tobi..."
"Yes, Mum?"
"Don't disturb her too much tonight."
The room erupted into laughter.
Tobi placed a hand over his heart dramatically.
"I've been publicly accused."
"You deserve it," Femi replied.
---
Outside, a beautifully decorated black SUV waited.
The driver stood patiently beside it.
Someone admired the ribbons tied around the mirrors.
"The bridal suite is ready."
Another guest nodded.
"They'll finally get some rest."
Ada smiled.
"That sounds wonderful."
Tobi looked at his watch.
Almost time.
---
As relatives gathered outside to wave them goodbye, Femi quietly caught Tobi's attention.
He gave the smallest nod.
Everything was ready.
Dara noticed and subtly moved closer to Ada.
"Auntie wants one last picture with you."
"Oh."
Ada turned back toward the crowd.
"Of course."
While everyone rearranged themselves for "just one more photo," Tobi slipped away for barely thirty seconds.
When he returned...
Nothing about him looked different.
Except...
There was a mischievous smile on his face.
---
The final photograph ended with loud applause.
Guests lined both sides of the driveway.
Flower petals filled the air.
The newlyweds hugged their parents.
Grandma whispered a blessing into Ada's ear.
Chika hugged his sister longer than usual.
"I'm going to miss you."
"You'll see me soon."
"I know."
"It's still not the same."
Ada kissed his forehead.
"Behave yourself."
"No promises."
---
Finally...
The driver opened the rear door.
Ada gathered her dress carefully and climbed inside.
Tobi followed.
The door closed.
Outside...
Everyone cheered as the car slowly pulled away.
Hands waved.
Phones recorded.
Voices called after them.
"Congratulations!"
"Safe journey!"
"Enjoy your first night!"
Ada rested her head against the seat and smiled.
"We survived."
"Barely."
"I don't think I've smiled this much in one day."
Tobi reached for her hand.
"I have one more surprise."
She turned.
"What surprise?"
He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and placed a small cream envelope in her lap.
She frowned.
"Tobi..."
"What is this?"
"Open it."
She untied the ribbon.
Inside...
Two boarding passes.
She blinked.
Then blinked again.
"...Maldives?"
She looked up so quickly she almost dropped the envelope.
Inside the envelope was also a photo.
A luxurious villa floated above crystal-clear water. Below it, an underwater bedroom surrounded entirely by glass.
Fish drifted peacefully past the windows. A sea turtle glided silently overhead.
Ada covered her mouth.
"No..."
Tobi laughed.
"Yes."
"The underwater hotel? The Muraka?"
He nodded proudly.
"We're not staying in the bridal suite tonight. Femi already hid our bags there. We change, then we go straight to the airport."
Ada stared at him.
"You planned this?"
"For weeks."
"Dara and Femi helped me."
Ada's mouth fell open.
"They knew?"
"They've known for nearly a month."
"I can't believe they kept this from me."
"They almost didn't. They're terrible at keeping secrets."
Ada laughed until tears filled her eyes.
Then she looked back at the tickets.
"We're really leaving tonight?"
"If you'll come with me."
She looked at him as if he had just proposed all over again.
"You've already married me. You don't have to ask."
"I know. I just wanted to."
She leaned over... kissed him gently... and whispered against his lips,
"Let's elope."
Tobi smiled.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Outside, the city lights stretched endlessly ahead.
Behind them... Their families believed they were on their way to a luxurious bridal suite.
Only four people knew the truth.
The bride.
The groom.
Dara.
And Femi.
The city lights blurred past the windows as the car glided through the quiet streets.
For the first time all day... there was silence.
Not the awkward kind.
The peaceful kind.
Ada slipped off her shoes and curled her feet beneath her, letting out a long sigh.
"I think this is the first time we've been alone since... forever."
Tobi smiled.
"I've been counting down to this moment."
She leaned her head gently against his shoulder.
"So have I."
For a while, they simply watched the city pass by.
No photographers.
No relatives.
No one calling their names.
Just the soft hum of the engine and the comforting warmth of each other's presence.
Ada looked at him with a playful smile.
"So... Mr. Husband."
He laughed.
"That sounds strange."
"It does."
"Try it again."
"Mr. Husband."
"I like it."
She nudged him gently.
"Don't get used to it."
"Oh?"
"I'll probably just call you Tobi."
"That's slightly less romantic."
She smiled mischievously.
"I could call you 'My Husband.'"
He pretended to think about it.
"I'll allow it."
They both laughed.
After a moment, Ada grew quiet again.
"Thank you."
Tobi turned to her.
"For what?"
"For this."
She held up the boarding passes.
"I thought today couldn't surprise me anymore."
He took her hand and kissed it softly.
"I wanted to give you one memory that belonged only to us."
She smiled, her eyes glistening.
"You already have."
Just then, the driver slowed at a lonely junction.
A red traffic light glowed ahead.
The road around them was unusually quiet.
Tobi glanced through the rear window.
A dark SUV had stopped a few cars behind them.
He frowned for a second but quickly looked away.
"It must be heading the same direction," he thought.
The traffic light turned green.
Both vehicles pulled away together...
Unaware that the journey they had so carefully planned had already begun to drift in a direction neither of them could have imagined.
- Writer
