Yellow 

         "Ro ra arakunrin" (Be be careful young man). Nike heard her Uncle shout in fury.

         With a glance at him and then on the road, she expected to find a cause for his outburst, cause she'd startled when she heard his voice in her sleep.

         "Uncle, is there a problem!" She asked mopping her eyes with the back of her hands.

         "Oh Nike; sorry o, it's that useless danfo driver that cannot keep to his lane".

 "Alakoba ofe ba motor je fun mi" (he wants to wreck my car).

         She bothered about the recklessness of some motorist, not to talk of the okada riders (motorcyclists) who wouldn't mind flying through the road. She wondered how many road accidents had been caused by such nonchalance, was sure her uncle couldn't have helped but express roadrage as he shouted at the reckless driver who had just cut him off the highway.

         "Sorry Uncle, probably he wasn't looking well enough. They should know better to concentrate on the road".

        "Abi o. Peele jare, I hope I didn't disturb your sleep". He said while trying to take a bend.

        "No uncle. I didn't even realize how much I slept."

        Ijebu Ode is approximately a hunderd and seven kilometers from Ikeja; the heart of Lagos. An estimated journey of supposedly one and a half hours. She'd expected to be pretty much awake all through the journey and had been unaware of her trailing of into a slumber.

         'Aimasiko' by Sir Ebenezer Obey played gently. The song was prolly her Uncle's favorite as he sang along joyfully. As she gazed out the window of the Peugeot 308, there her eyes met with a constantly changing tapestry of sights, sounds and sensations. The volume of the speaker fell into the background and she could hear her Uncle say on the phone that they were now in the heart of Ibadan.

         She returned her gaze from her Uncle Bode to the surrounding. Looking even more closely, she was now struck by the vibrant atmosphere compared with the tranquility of the village and hill sides. There were bustling markets with so many people trooping the busy streets.

        'Ibadan is home to several notable landmarks'. She could recall those words in Akin's tone and the usual euphoric way he was fond of ending a talk on the subject by saying; ' Ibadan is renowned for it's excellence, home of the University of Ibadan, one of the most prestigious universities in Nigeria; My alma matter'. He would always boast.

        She stiffed a laugh at the thought of him, with even more thoughts surging she wondered what and where he would be at that moment. He might probably be nursing a wistful pang in his heart, missing her already or he could rather be having chats with his fellow corp members. 

      She could right there in the car, with her eyes closed against the wind recapture memories of their meeting, the previous night when they'd said their final goodbyes. The wind rolling from the streams that evening reminded her she won't be there for the times to come.

       She'd been quite emotionally beaten there under the Oak tree, she'd promised herself not to shed a tear, but thanks to being betrayed by her rebellious tear glands. But for despite how she felt, Akin had risen to the occasion by promising to visit while she is in Uni; after his service year. And now that she was more than a hundred kilometers away from her lover; though she was comforted by his words, she was rather clueless now and could only hope the ensuing distance drawn between them wouldn't result in a fall out in their romance.

       Akin was a corp member from Lagos. He'd been posted to the village some six months ago and they'd been together only four months. Akin was a kind and gentle man, he'd professed his love for her many a times. He'd even mentioned getting married to her at a later future. This she thought came too early but why holding back from your dreams. Akin was worth a life journey she thought. Of course she wouldn't deny the attraction to his dark caramel complexion, six foot height and chiseled frame. 

       That morning he'd sent her a letter by one of his students at the village primary school. She'd been most excited and had immediately kept the note away safely in her bag. She loved him too and just as he's promised to wait till she was done with Uni; she'd decided to be his bride, a perfect ending to a perfect love story.

      As the old trusty Peugeot rolled it's way unto Uncle Bode's front yard. She heaved a sigh of jubilant triumph, been quite a journey and she'd appreciate an end to the long trip, but for all she knew; in a couple of hours she would be left to her own fate of devouring the endearing words of her beloved Corper Akin.

My dearest Adenike.

      From the moment I met you, I knew that you were someone special and everyday since then has only re-affirmed that truth.

      My love, you are the sunshine that brightens my day and the stars that light up my night. Your beauty captivates me, your heart inspires me, and your love 

completes me.

      Forever with you is where I want to be, I'll cherish every moment we share and every laugh we share together. I'll be waiting only for you my rose. You 

are my darling and I love you more than words can say.

                                                                      

Yours loving,

                                                                        Akinwale.

    

She read the note to herself, her face glowed with happiness as she read the heartfelt words, a gentle smile splashed across her cheeks and a soft sigh of delight escaping her throat. It was as though she'd newly fallen in love. 

         She placed the letters close to her heart and held the daffodils he'd placed in the envelope, those brightly yellow trumpet shaped flowers. The flowers still had a freshly but now dried scent, a primitive 

symbol of hope, renewal and optimism. 

         All her fears were gone and she could see nothing but a wonderful love journey between them regardless of the distance, so she needed to respond with a letter to reassure him of her unfailing love  also. She got her pen and notepad. She was going to write her own letter. 

My Lovely Akin..............