Five years ago…
Dan stood in front of the small mirror in his hostel room, adjusting the plain white T-shirt he had carefully bought. It wasn’t expensive, but to him, it meant everything. In his hand was a neatly folded identical shirt—the one he had gotten for Shola.
He smiled faintly.
“Today go make sense…” he muttered.
It was their signing-out day. While others planned parties and expensive outings, Dan had only this small gesture—a simple “couple outfit” so they could at least share a moment together.
Clutching the shirt and a tiny wrapped gift, he made his way to Shola’s apartment early that morning, hoping to surprise her.
The door was slightly open.
Dan paused.
“Shola?” he called softly, stepping inside.
What he saw made him freeze.
Balloons were scattered across the floor. Fresh flowers decorated the room. At the center table sat a beautifully iced cake with “Congratulations” written boldly on it. Beside it stood an expensive bottle of wine.
Dan’s eyes widened in amazement.
“Ah… she plan surprise for me?” he whispered, a smile spreading across his face.
Heart racing with excitement, he took a step toward her room—
—and then she walked out.
Shola.
She held two cups in her hands, her face glowing with happiness. She wore a crisp, expensive white outfit that hugged her figure perfectly. For a second, Dan’s heart melted.
“That must be the shirt…” he thought.
But the moment her eyes met his, everything changed.
Her smile faded.
Completely.
“Babe… you planned all this?” Dan said, his voice filled with joy. “I had no idea. This is beautiful—”
A voice cut in from behind him.
“Babe, who is this?”
Dan turned.
A tall, muscular man stood there—shirtless, confident, and completely at home.
Silence fell.
Shola’s fingers tightened around the cups. Her eyes flickered with panic.
“Eh… babe, he…” she stuttered. “He’s just my… course mate.”
The words hit Dan like a slap.
Course mate?
His mind went blank.
“He came to give me a shirt I ordered,” she continued quickly. “But… you already got me something better.”
She lifted the edge of what she was wearing, smiling at the man.
The man walked past Dan and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Well, young man,” he said calmly, “I already got her a better shirt. You can keep yours.”
Dan swallowed hard.
A thousand words filled his chest—anger, betrayal, pain—but none came out.
Instead, he lowered his gaze.
“I’ll… take my leave,” he said quietly.
And he walked out.
He didn’t attend the signing-out ceremony.
He didn’t celebrate.
He went home… and cried.
The next morning, a knock came at his door.
Dan opened it.
Sunlight hit his tired face—and there she was.
Shola.
They stood in silence for a few seconds.
Then she spoke.
“I came to apologize,” she said. “I treated you unfairly. I’m sorry.”
Dan let out a dry, hollow laugh.
“What did I do wrong, Shola?” he asked.
“A lot!” she snapped immediately, her brows tightening. “You did a lot!”
Shola was breathtaking—tall, slender, with smooth dark skin that glowed like polished bronze. Her eyes were sharp and expressive, her features perfectly sculpted, the kind of beauty that turned heads without effort.
She looked at him like he was nothing.
“You don’t have money,” she continued. “You don’t have a job. You don’t even have a proper background. And you expect me to spend my life with you?”
Her voice hardened.
“That means you hate me. Because not even my enemy would wish that kind of life for me.”
Each word pierced deeper than the last.
Dan gripped the edge of the door for support. His vision blurred. His eyes turned red.
“Get out…” he whispered.
But she kept talking.
“I’ve been suffering with you—”
“GET OUT!” he roared.
She stepped back, startled.
With trembling hands, Dan pointed at her, tears streaming down his face.
“You will regret this,” he said, his voice shaking. “You will come begging… and I will never forgive you.”
Present day…
Those were the exact words echoing in his mind as he stood before the black SUV.
Dan took a deep breath and stepped closer.
The tinted window rolled down.
Shola.
Even more beautiful than before.
Her skin looked flawless, her presence radiating luxury. A soft, expensive fragrance lingered in the air.
She smiled—slow, knowing.
A man sat behind the wheel, wearing dark shades.
“Babe, who is he?” he asked.
“Just someone I knew from school,” she replied casually.
Then she looked at Dan.
“Long time, Dan.”
Dan hesitated.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“I’m doing very well,” she said smoothly. “Can’t say the same for you… but it’s okay.”
He forced a faint smile.
“Good afternoon, sir,” Dan said, turning to the man. “Would you like to buy a newspaper?”
The man stared at him… but said nothing.
Shola let out a soft laugh.
“My husband doesn’t deal with street stuff,” she said. “So no, he won’t be buying.”
She waved lightly.
“Nice seeing you again, Dan.”
The window rolled up.
The SUV drove off.
Dan stood there, still smiling—
until the smile slowly disappeared.
Back in his room, he dropped the newspapers on the dusty locker and fell onto the bed.
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
“I can’t do this anymore…” he whispered.
With shaky hands, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
His heartbeat echoed in his ears.
Who was on the other end?
Someone who could change his life forever…
—or end it completely.
To be continued… 🔥