The two gates of the Egba household swung open gently and a car passed through moments later.
It was a black Nissan.
The car came out gently before parking on the side opposite the gate which was near someone's house.
The driver's side door opened and a tall dark man stepped out.
Chikodi walked back to the opened gates and started closing them before locking them securely.
A few minutes later the car left the street.
The car moved through intersections, weaving past cars steadily for some time before finally entering a street and stopping just opposite a large dark brown gate with tall yellow fence.
Kelechi's body hummed with visible excitement as he immediately opened the door of the car the moment his father turned off the ignition and admits the laughter of his parents came down.
He carefully looked at both sides of the road before crossing over and knocking heavily on the gate.
He hit the gate heavily for a few time before he heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Who's there?!" Came a soft female voice that he knew all too well. There was a soft clang and a small section of the gate used to look outside from inside opened.
A pair of beautiful eyes looked at Kelechi and the moment they saw him try instantly lit up with unconcealed happiness.
There was then loud unlocking sounds and before Kelechi could react the smaller gate swung open and a small female figure rushed out and embraced him.
He was nearly thrown off balance but managed to hold on before hugging the figure back.
"Good morning to you too Soso."
"Ahem!" The sound of a cough interrupted their sweet moment and they then separated and looked inward to see the older Kelechi standing at the now opened gate with faint displeasure and a twitching mouth.
"Oh, Uncle Kelechi good morning." He said with a warm smile completely oblivious to the strange atmosphere.
"Hmm...?" Kelechi made a small sound in his throat but before he could say anything else he was interrupted by loud laughter that was coming from the lowered windows of the parked Nissan.
Chikodi was laughing loudly while tapping the steering wheel while Chioma laughed as well but more subtly with her shoulders visibly shaking.
Kelechi face darkened further and his eye twitched in symphony with his mouth.
Minutes later,the Nissan was now parked in the driveway of the Umudike household which was spacious and stone tiled.
The house was a standard duplex with white walls,a black roof and tinted blue windows that glinted under the morning sun.
The Egbas carried the gifts they brought with them inside and insisted on give it to you Umudike couple dispite their initial refusal.
Though they later relented.
The two women-after the gifts were kept aside by Nneka's mother- both went to the kitchen which already had some dishes on fire in preparation for their arrival.
The two men say down in the sitting room discussing with two chilled Amstel malt bottles that were later opened by Nneka's father.
Chibuike was in his room doing God knows what.
Nneka immediately took Kelechi's hand excitedly as she lead him upstairs her room completely ignoring her father's strange gaze.
"Honestly..." Chikodi began after a little drink of his malt ,"I think you're worrying too much. They're just children right now, what thoughts could they possibly have?" He said, giving his friend a helpless look as he asked the last question.
"When you get a daughter,then you'll understand my greviences." Kelechi said through gritted teeth as he then took a heavy swing of his drink.
Seeing this Chikodi didn't comment further but just shook his head at his friend's antics before taking another drink.
Nneka took Kelechi to her room and closed the door behind them.
Her room was big for a child her age but well put together with a hanging shelf by the side that held various trophies and medals from different spelling competitions with a big bouncy bed that had cartoon characters on the bedsheet that covered it.
She even had her own dresser though mini sized for her age.
The two chatted and laughed while eating cookies that she had been saving up since when they came back.
Some time later they both came down after being called by her brother who was directed reluctantly by their mother.
The meal together was amazing.
Fried rice that was well garnished with added little sliced pieces of liver with fried chicken and salad.
They also had refreshments as well.
Chilled malt for the adults and hollandia yogurt for the children.
After the meal,Nneka helped her mom who was followed by Kelechi's mom to pack the many plates but was waved off by them after she wanted to help wash them.
It was soon early evening the sky was already turning dark.
Kelechi sat on a chair underneath the open shade that was build near where the cars were parked.
Nneka soon joined him there and they both talked to each other softly before clasping hands in a promise.
As for what it was?
It will come out in due time.
7:38 pm
It was finally time to go.
The Umudike family with Nneka standing in front watched the Egba family enter their car,do a U-turn before finally waving them goodbye.
Nneka waved the hardest.
That evening a promise was made.
A harmless yet full of pure childish expectations for the future promise made by two bright children who had no idea of the future.
The road was long and the future uncertain.
Will the childish promise of two pure hearts conquer the obstacles that might and will certainly show up in this rollercoaster that we call life.
No need to dwell much on it because like always,time will tell and with the way life works a saying shall always continue to remain true.
What was meant to be shall be and what wasn't....?
Once again time shall tell.