The Mysterious Rose III

The door opened to reveal a smiling face—the face of Mama Chibu, the village florist. Ayo’s eyes widened in surprise. Mama Chibu had lost her family in an auto crash many years ago. Years later, she opened her home to orphaned children in the village. She was always kind to everyone and the villagers loved her. 

He had never stopped by her shop but when the roses became persistent, he had thought of asking her for the identity of her customers. Ayo dropped the idea because almost all the villagers patronized her on Valentine’s Day.

Was she the one behind the roses and the notes? How was this possible?

Mama Chibu welcomed them inside and motioned for him to sit. “I’m sorry, Ayo,” she said softly, “I am sure you were expecting to find a mysterious lover right? I never meant to confuse you."

Ayo’s mind was racing. His palms became sweaty. “But why me? Why the roses, the notes all these years?”

Mama Chibu smiled gently. “Because I see and know how you have closed yourself off, ignoring and never returning even the most simple gesture of love from anybody. I wanted to show you that no matter what you have been through in life, the rays of love can pierce through your heart if only you would open up and set aside all the emotional barriers you have built around yourself."

Ayo sat quietly, processing her words. Zara, standing by the door, nodded as if she understood the journey Ayo had been on.

Mama Chibu continued, “Zara was part of this. She’s always been so quiet, but she has such a big heart. She’s the messenger of love, and I asked her to deliver the roses because I knew you’d see them as something more if they came from someone whose actions speak louder than words. Only then would you understand that love doesn’t need to be loud, sometimes, it whispers."

Ayo finally understood. He looked at Zara, then at Mama Chibu, his heart softening. The walls he had built around himself began to crumble. For the first time, he felt something warm spreading inside him.

“You’ve been patient with me,” Ayo said, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t realize I was worthy of being loved by anyone or needed love until now.”

Mama Chibu smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You are still a youngman and love is never something we need to force. It’s always there, waiting for us to open our hearts. Open your heart Ayo and let love shine through.”

And so, with that, Ayo learned what he had been too afraid to accept for so long. Love wasn’t loud or overwhelming. It didn’t always come with grand gestures. Sometimes, it was quiet, humble, and patient. And for Ayo, it had always been there, waiting for him to notice.

As the days passed, Ayo began to see the world—and love—differently. He wasn’t afraid of it anymore. The next Valentine’s Day, he left a single rose for Zara on her doorstep with a simple note:

"Thank you for showing me the way to love."

And this time, he didn’t just send the roses. He gave his heart, too.

The End.