IMADE AND JAMAL novel Chapter 1

JAMAL.

"You're leaving?" Imade asks as tears slowly start to stream down from her eyes.

"Don't cry Imade, you'll make me cry." Jamal whispers quietly, placing a hand on her cheek to wipe the tears. "I honestly wish I could stay here, with you like we've always planned but my parents are refusing to listen to me and my hands are tied. I'm so sorry." He tries to explain but Imade wasn't having it.

"We promised to always be there for each other. You know you're my best friend and besides you I have no one else. What am I supposed to do now?" She replies in frustration, still trying to understand why his parents suddenly want him to study abroad even after he has already started schooling in one of the best private universities in Nigeria.

"You'll be fine my little boo boo, you're a big girl now. Let me make you a promise, I'll make sure to call you and text you almost everyday if not everyday so you don't miss me too much, okay? I won't ever forget you as long as you never forget me too. You promise?" Jamal tells her and he could feel her relaxing a bit more. He knew it would take a while for her to get used to not seeing him everyday, coming over to his place, sleeping over and everything they'd do as their daily routine and he couldn't deny he'd miss her terribly.

Himself and Imade had always been inseparable and even if he was trying so hard not to break down in tears for her sake, his heart broke. He was leaving his best friend, sister, companion and the person that understood him the most. No one could ever replace her.

  Imade's heart hurt. She knew she was being selfish but she couldn't help it. Jamal was her life, her best friend and her love and he was leaving before she even got a chance to tell him how she really felt.

"Will you come back?" She asks.

"Surely, I'll come back and when I do, I'll make us official." He replies with a smile that melted Imade's heart. Her eyes lit up immediately after hearing his words. 'Us' the word made her heart jump for joy. She didn't want to ask further questions to stop her heart from exploding. It still hurt that he was leaving but at least now she had something to hold on to. He loved her just as much as she loved him and that was enough to reason to be patient with him.

  "Promise me you'll never forget me Jamal. You'll call as promised, text me goodnight before you sleep even if it's morning here, I don't mind. You must text me good morning and tell me you're safe and you're happy and most importantly, don't let any oyinbo girl take my place. You promise?" She asks, with a childish pout and Jamal couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips.

"I promise baby girl and you should do the same o. Don't replace me, ever!" He pouts and she giggles.