Two Days, Ten Years...
This is the first out of a collection of short stories I'm working on...
Lola adjusted his tie in the cracked mirror of the male hostel at the University of Lagos, muttering about how ₦2,500 was all he had left for the week. His roommate, Tunde, tossed a sardine-smeared bread crust at him. "Omo, if you don’t want to starve, go and beg Mama Nkechi for credit."
Lola ignored him. He was a scholarship student—pride intact, pockets empty.
That evening, after service at the campus’ Redeemed Church, Sister Adunni—a round-faced, always-smiling chorister—cornered him near the rusty generator shed.
"Brother Lola, ehen… I sabi you no dey like trouble," she began, twisting her headtie. "But this my sister for hospital, dem say make we bring deposit of “two-five.” I will pay back abeg, just two days! God go bless you."
Lola hesitated. Adunni’s eyes pooled with tears (or was it sweat from the Lagos heat?). He handed over the money, trusting her words.
Two days passed. Then three. By day five, Lola was surviving on "see-food" (if he saw anyone eating, he’d hover until they offered). Tunde nicknamed him "Oliver Twist."
At church, Adunni vanished before benediction. When he called, her line spat "The number you have dialed is switched off," like a broken record. He decided to “rough it” like a regular uni guy, getting by until he was reimbursed again the next week. That moment, however, stayed with him as he couldn't believe he was finessed just like that.
Fast forward ten years, and Lola, now a sharp-suited auditor, froze mid-sip of his overpriced chapman at a conference at the Eko Hotel. There she was—Adunni—in a fitted blazer, tapping Louboutins against the marble floor. Their eyes met.
She bolted!
As Adunni click-clacked away, Lola felt a surge of adrenaline. He wasn't just chasing her; he was chasing a decade of unresolved feelings, of pride wounded and faith misplaced.
"Wait!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the polished hall. She paused, turning just enough for him to catch a glimpse of her expression—a mix of surprise and something else, perhaps remorse.
Taking a deep breath, he summoned the courage he had mustered countless times during presentations. "Let’s talk! Just for a minute."
Adunni hesitated, her phone buzzing insistently in her hand. She glanced at the screen, then back at Lola, torn between duty and the weight of their past.
"Fine," she said finally, her voice low. "But just for a second."
They stepped aside, away from the bustling conference crowd. The soft hum of conversations faded, replaced by the distant thrum of music from a nearby event. Lola leaned against a wall, his heart racing, not just from the chase but from memories flooding back.
"Ten years, Adunni," he began, locking eyes with her. "And all I can think about is how you vanished with my money. I was just a student trying to make it, and you… you were supposed to be my friend."
Adunni shifted uncomfortably, her gaze drifting to the floor. "I know, Lola. I was desperate. My sister… she needed help. I thought—"
"You thought what? That I was just another ATM?" He interrupted, frustration creeping into his voice. "I believed in you. I trusted you!"
Her eyes glistened, reflecting a flicker of vulnerability. "I didn’t mean for it to happen like that. I was overwhelmed. I thought I could pay you back before you noticed. But then… life happened."
Lola studied her, the polished facade of her blazer contrasting sharply with the girl he once knew. "Life? Is that what you call it? Running away and pretending it never happened?"
Adunni took a step closer, her voice softer. "I made mistakes. I’ve carried that guilt for years. But it was easier to forget than to face you."
For a moment, the air between them crackled with tension—the past colliding with the present. "So, what now?" he asked, the question hanging heavy.
"I want to make it right," she replied, her resolve suddenly fierce. "Let me pay you back. Not just the money, but for all the times I’ve let you down. How about we start fresh?"
Lola raised an eyebrow, skepticism mingling with curiosity. "Fresh? After ten years?"
"Yes! Let’s grab a drink. My treat this time." She smiled, a genuine warmth breaking through the tension.
He considered it, the memory of sardines and empty pockets clashing with the promise of a new beginning. "Alright, but you better not ghost me again."
Adunni laughed, a sound that felt both familiar and foreign. "I promise, no ghosts. Just a new chapter."
As they walked side by side, the past lingering like a shadow, Lola felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe it wasn't just about the money after all. Maybe it was about forgiveness and reclaiming pieces of himself he thought were lost.
"By the way," he said, a playful glint in his eye, "this better not turn into a 'two-five' story again."
Adunni chuckled, her laughter echoing against the marble. "I swear, I’ve learned my lesson. No more running!"
And with that, they stepped into the vibrant chaos of the conference, ready to face whatever was next—together.
Was the story interesting?
Has this happened to you before?
Have you been scammed before?
Let me know in the comments…Take Care.