Nicole, now a graduate of media studies, met Cleo, who was also studying a related course, at a church function. Both were second year students at Moi University, and anyone who has been through campus can tell you that a relationship that survives there breaks the highest of records.
Sam Oduor caught up with Nicole, who now works in Nairobi, on how she has managed to pull through with Cleo, who works with Royal Media Group’s Ramogi TV, until they graduate together in December 2020. Their seventh anniversary is on March 25th.
Nicole, how did you meet Cleo?
We met at a church function. I loved the fact that he valued God and prayers. Despite the fact that I was not a regular churchgoer, he made sure I never missed a service. Sam, in short, our relationship sprouted and has grown through God’s power.
Alright, for how long has this been?
Our relationship is turning seven years old next month. Our anniversary is on 25th March.
And how did you determine that Cleo is your favorite and nobody else?
I can’t mention all his qualities, I won’t finish any soon. But to make it brief, he is this kind of an understanding and gentle guy. For the past years, we have had our ups and downs, I have messed up along the way, but there is no single day he has raised his voice against me, leave alone his hands (in fact he can’t beat up a woman, he really respects women). And above all he is God fearing, and that makes him this kind of a calm dude anyone would wish to hung around with.
He is also intelligent, who wouldn’t like having such a person for a partner?
He must be smart too, managing a woman for four years ain’t a joke. Is there a time in the four years that you felt that you were going to lose him?
Yes! In our first year, with him being a leader in many associations, he had lots of friends. As an outgoing individual, he made friends with both men and women. As a jealous woman, I thought I couldn’t stand seeing other women around him and being nice to him. We used to have lots of issues at the beginning, but as time went by, when people realized he was serious with me, the ladies kept their distance, and we pushed on.
Wow. That’s so amazing. You two were at the same level in your education and career, would you say it persists as a challenge to deal with in your relationship?
I haven’t witnessed any challenge with age or the level of education, it is respect for each other that keeps us going.
But there have been challenges anyhow…
Yes, and especially in our first year, waah… We used to frown at each other a lot. Both of us being lastborn in our families, we never knew how to handle issues, but we grew out of it.
How did you learn to deal with the shortcomings?
Okay that’s life. Cleo is a great guy and mature too, he can’t allow me to sleep mad. Neither can I. Whenever we get angry at each other, it doesn’t last two hours.
I’d like hear about something funny from your relationship you would like to share…
Wouldn’t you? Hehee whenever I feel like putting on his sweatpants, I do, then I do take lots of his sweaters; funny isn’t it?
And a little playful of you. Okay, you say you met in church, and you loved that he was so Godfearing. Nicole, what if he changes, would you still love him?
That would be a very challenging moment for me, but I wouldn’t break up with him, hapo ndio (that’s where) for better for worse inaingilia (comes in). Hahaha.
But obviously, before he becomes an addict I would have sought some counselling for him.
You two graduated together so fashionably, it was a great coincidence for your relationship.
It was really great, it felt good, we got out with same grades, so love never distracted us from studies. We loved, we studied and we got out successful. By the way, for those couples still in school, they should learn on how they use their time, first things first– whatever took you to school. Love might be there but one shouldn’t focus much on it and forget studies.
My graduation party was held in Nairobi, he came and met almost all my siblings (we are a very big family). His was held in Kisumu but I didn’t show up because I had other commitments.
And I also know that you share careers. Fantastic, now about Valentine’s, is it going to be a unique one for you two?
Yeah, it is surely going to be a unique one because it comes on a Sunday. We will have the whole day for ourselves, you know; unlike the others that fall on weekdays and people have to meet at night, then with curfew– it could have just passed that way.
It might also be the last Valentine’s we are celebrating when we are still both under our parents…
You people are going to marry each other!
No, we are just moving in.
I envy you. Cleo, will will be expecting flowers from you, right?
A flower and more than that. I’ll be giving him a gift of something he has been longing for.
He is a blessed guy. Any advice to us young couples?
You should be patient with each other and trust in God for everything else.
By the way, which sex would you like for your first child with Cleo?
Wow, we both long for a girl. If it happens to be a boy, God is great.
Okay okay, and don’t forget to pray for a girl too.
I wouldn’t mind.
Sam Oduor is the founder and one of the editors at WKT. With a strong background in Communication and Journalism, Sam is an experienced digital media expert currently building a team of young professionals dedicated to telling the story of our community in a unique, authentic way.
