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Synopsis of "Echoes of Us"

Tobi thought he had his life figured out—a stable long-distance relationship with Dayo, a fresh start at university, and a roommate, Chike, who was more of a nuisance than a friend. But when a single mistake shatters the boundaries between him and Chike, Tobi is forced to confront feelings he never wanted to acknowledge.

Caught between the love he knows and the passion he can't escape, Tobi embarks on a journey that takes him from the bustling streets of Ibadan to the chaotic heartbeat of Lagos. Secrets unravel, desires ignite, and betrayal lurks in unexpected places. And just when he thinks he has control, a mysterious stranger enters his life—one who knows more about him than they should.

As emotions clash and truths are exposed, Tobi must make an impossible choice: follow the echoes of his past, or embrace a future that terrifies him.

A gripping Nigerian LGBTQ+ romance filled with love, heartbreak, and the dangerous pull of desire.

The Forbidden tides

Chapter 3: New Beginnings, Old Shadows

Tobi stepped off the bus, stretching his stiff limbs as the reality of his new life settled over him. The air in Ibadan was different—less suffocating than Lagos, quieter in a way that made him feel both free and exposed.

The university campus loomed in the distance, a sprawling mix of old brick buildings and modern structures. Students moved in clusters, laughter and conversation filling the air. A fresh start. That was what he had wanted, right?

He adjusted his backpack and followed the crowd towards the registration hall. He had barely taken three steps before a voice called out behind him.

Tobi turned to see a tall guy, probably a few years older, grinning at him. His dark skin gleamed under the midday sun, and his confidence was the kind that came from knowing exactly who he was.

"I'm Chike," the guy said, slinging an arm around Tobi's shoulders like they had known each other for years. "You must be a fresher."

Tobi stiffened at the sudden contact but forced a smile. "Yeah. First year."

"Welcome to university life, my guy. First rule—avoid the registration hall right now unless you enjoy suffering. The queue is mad."

Tobi glanced at the long line ahead, filled with frustrated students waving papers in the air. Chike wasn't wrong.

"Where are you staying?" Chike asked.

"Ah, me too! Let's go. I'll show you around."

Tobi hesitated for a moment before nodding. Chike's energy was overwhelming, but there was something about him—an ease that Tobi envied. He followed as Chike led him across campus, pointing out buildings and cracking jokes about the lecturers.

For the first time that day, Tobi almost forgot the weight pressing against his chest.

Tobi's fingers tightened around the device. He could almost hear Dayo's voice, warm and familiar. He hesitated before responding.

Tobi: Just got to my hostel. It's… different.

Dayo: Different good or different bad?

Tobi stared at the message. How could he explain that nothing felt right without him?

Before he could reply, Chike snatched the phone from his hand, glancing at the screen with a raised brow.

Tobi's stomach twisted. "Just a friend," he said quickly, grabbing the phone back.

Chike smirked. "Ah. The way you were looking at the message, e be like say e pass 'just friend.'"

Tobi forced a laugh, shoving his phone into his pocket. "It's not like that."

Chike gave him a knowing look but didn't push. Instead, he clapped him on the back.

"No wahala. Come, let's go find something to eat. You'll need strength for all the wahala this school will give you."

Tobi exhaled, following him. But even as he walked, his mind remained somewhere else—stuck between the life he wanted to build and the one he had left behind.

New Beginnings,Old Shadows