Chapter Thirteen

Olatunde decided not to press Angella for Kunle's picture again, at least for now. Instead, he

resolved to watch her closely, studying her behavior and trying to discern if something was

truly amiss.

As he sat in his room, his mind drifted back to his ex-girlfriend. The pang of regret hit him

hard, as it always did. He missed her terribly—the way she smiled, the way she spoke, even

the little quirks that used to annoy him. Where could she be now? Was she still in Nigeria?

He had searched for her, reached out to mutual friends, but she had vanished without a

trace.

He sighed deeply, knowing he had been foolish. His jealousy had driven a wedge between

them. He often replayed their last argument in his head, cringing at the words he had said.

Now, he was left with the ache of her absence and the lingering hope that she wasn't married or raising children with someone else. What if she has moved on completely? The

thought was unbearable. He whispered a prayer, asking God to reconnect them if there was

still a chance, vowing to treat her better this time.

Meanwhile, Angella's phone rang, jolting her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen

and saw Kunle's name flashing. Her heart skipped a beat.

Kunle had called her last night to check on her, and now he was calling again. She hesitated

briefly before answering.

"Sunshine," Kunle's warm voice came through.

Angella blushed at the nickname but managed to respond calmly, "Babe."

"How are you doing today?" he asked. "You didn't come online. Are you feeling pain?"

"No, Kunle," she said softly. "But to be honest, I'm scared. I don't want to get pregnant."

Kunle chuckled lightly. "I've told you, you don't need to worry. I'm perfect, remember? Calm

down."

"Hmmm. Okay."

"Cheer up, jor. I don't like this vibe. Where's my happy Angella?"

She sighed. "I've heard you."

"Relax, okay?"

"Alright."

A pause hung in the air before Kunle broke the silence. "So, when is your birthday?"

Angella's lips curled into a small smile. "It's still far—six months away. June 18."

"Hmm, June baby. Okay. Mine is next month."

"Wow," Angella said, her excitement rising. "I can't wait to celebrate with you!"

Kunle's voice softened. "Me too. But... let me ask you something. Didn't you like what we

did?"

Angella hesitated. "You know it was my first time. It hurt, but... it was great."Kunle laughed gently. "Trust me, next time, you'll scream."

Angella covered her face, blushing furiously. "Hmmm. Let's see my period first," she

muttered.

Kunle's tone turned reassuring. "You'll see it, babe. I promise. I just can't wait to see you

again. I want to take you out, somewhere special."

"Not now," she said quickly. "We need to take it slow."

Kunle's patience was evident in his response. "I understand, babe. I'll wait for you."

Their conversation shifted to lighter topics, and they laughed together as Kunle shared a

funny childhood story. When they finally ended the call, Angella stared at her phone, her

emotions a mix of warmth and unease. She hoped Kunle was right—that everything would

be fine. But deep down, a part of her is still worried about the consequences of her actions.

When Opeyemi left Temilade's shop, she boarded a bus and headed back to her shop at

Oshodi. Her mind was partially at ease knowing Temilade had everything under control with

her dress, but the weight of her responsibilities lingered. As she approached her shop, she

noticed customers at the counter and her husband, David, attending to them with his usual

calm demeanor.

Opeyemi greeted him with a warm smile as she stepped inside and joined in selling to the

remaining customers. They worked seamlessly, passing items to each other and calculating

bills until the shop was momentarily empty.

David turned to her with concern in his eyes.

David: "Babe, I hope you're not too stressed. Why don't you take a break? Lie down for a bit

in the back while I handle things here."

Opeyemi: "I'm okay, baby. Thank you, but I can't just sit while you're here working. You're

already doing so much."

David shook his head, his tone gentle.

David: "No, it's me who should be thanking you. You've carried us through everything. God

will not put you to shame."

Opeyemi: "Ameen, my love."

They shared a brief moment of silence, their eyes meeting in mutual understanding of their

struggles.

David leaned against the counter, his voice softer now.

David: "So, when did your friend say she'll finish your dress?"

Opeyemi: "I didn't even ask. She's attending the wedding too, so I trust she'll deliver it at the

best time."

David: "That's true. She seems reliable."

After a while, David shifted in his seat as though trying to bring up something on his mind.

David: "One of my friends called me about a joint job opportunity. It's for three days, and I

think I'll go tomorrow."

Opeyemi: "What kind of work is it?"

David: "Catering. I'll help serve or clean dishes. He said the pay is ₦5,000 per day, and

there's a chance to bring back some food, so I think it's worth it."

Opeyemi sighed, her expression softening.

Opeyemi: "God will not put us to shame. Your struggles won't be in vain, and God will provide you with a better job soon."

David: "Ameen, ife."

Opeyemi: "Where's the location?"

David: "It's around Shomolu, so not far from here."

Opeyemi: "Alright, baby. God will guide you and keep you safe."David: "Ameen."

Later in the evening, their children returned from school—two energetic little ones who

brought a whirlwind of chaos and joy into the house. David immediately took charge, helping

them out of their uniforms and washing their hands while Opeyemi attended to the influx of

evening customers.

Their first child, Timi, tugged at David's shirt, asking for help with his homework.

Timi: "Daddy, my teacher gave us a new assignment! Can you show me how to write this?"

David knelt beside him with patience, guiding his small hand across the paper. Meanwhile,

the younger one, Tolu, clung to his father's leg, demanding attention.

David: "Tolu, wait for your turn, okay? Daddy is helping Timi right now."

Tolu pouted but eventually settled in David's lap. Despite the chaos, David managed to

juggle the two kids while keeping an eye on the shop.

Opeyemi watched from the counter, a small smile on her face. For all the challenges they

faced, moments like these reminded her why she kept pushing forward.