Chapter 17 — I won’t let go (Raph’s POV)

I have loved Ladi for as long as I can remember. The first time I saw Her was at the senate building when we were processing our registration as new students. I was asked to fill a form and but I didn’t have a pen on me and the lady who was attending to me seemed very mean so I couldn’t ask her for one, I rushed over to the nearest person I could find but he snubbed me, another girl who was beside him also complained that she needed it. The bookshop was miles away from the senate building, it hurt that I had to stop registration halfway and walk that distance, but I made up my mind to do so, because I didn’t have a choice. Just when I was about to leave for the bookshop, a voice called out to me, I looked over to see Ladi pointing a pen at me, apparently she had noticed how I was scared of asking the lady at the admin for a pen and how I got turned down by the people I asked.

I asked if she was sure she wanted to give me the pen and she assured me she had about two others in her bag and it was fine. Maybe that simple act of kindness wasn’t enough to have me fall in love with her, but I was captivated by that, and how she smiled at me and how she talked. Her soul was beautiful and it reeked of peace, something every human desired. After the long registration process I tried to find Ladi but she was gone. I looked out for her on Matriculation day but there wasn’t enough time to search through the crowd and my parents were present too. I didn’t even know her name so finding her was hopeless. That was what I thought till I saw her at the fresher’s party that held two weeks after our resumption.

She was wore a glitter like gold dress and was few sits away from me, I thank God for making me turned my gaze towards her direction. I stood up from where I was seated and sat on the empty sit beside her and started a conversation. I didn’t talk about the pen because she seemed to have forgotten about me and I didn’t want to seem like a stalker so I just had conversations about the party and asked how if she enjoyed it, then I proceeded to ask for her number because I wasn’t familiar with the school setting or have friends yet and she was kind enough to let me have it.

I didn’t ever think I had a shot at anything with her, but I liked her too much to care, so I always confessed my feelings to her. Now here we are, she said yes, which was a dream come through, but it didn’t last long. After I got off the phone with Ladi, I headed to a restaurant to get the take outs, on getting there was a long queue of people waiting to get what they had ordered, I thought to turn back but this was the closest restaurant that sold Ladi’s fav, so I decided to wait.

On my way back I put a call through to Ladi but she doesn’t answer, I concluded that she was probably sleeping and continued the drive to her house. I reached the house to see the door opened, Ladi would never leave her door carelessly open like this and her phone was also at home. The first thought that crossed my mind was that she had been kidnapped. She wasn’t the best of friends with her neighbors and they were hardly ever around so I couldn’t even knock on their door to ask them if they had seen Ladi, but all fingers pointed to her being kidnapped because she shared a compound with two other people and the gate was always opened because anybody could have a visitor at any time. So maybe some crazy weirdo broke in and attacked. I tried controlling my breath, I ran to her room but she wasn’t there, I checked the kitchen and bathroom as well but she wasn’t there.

It occurred to me that her neighbors might have an idea about what happened I rushed over to their flat and knocked on their door.

“Who is that” I hear a kid’s voice shout out “Your neighbor, please call your parents it’s urgent” I responded “Mummy, neighbor is at the door” I hear the kid’s voice call out to his mum After few minutes, I hear the sound of the lock turn as the door turned open “Good afternoon ma’am”

“Hi, good afternoon”

“Please, I have been to Ladi’s flat but the door was opened and her phone was at home which is something she would never do, I’d like to know if you heard any strange noise or saw her leave with anyone”

“Ah, didn’t she tell you anything” she exclaimed “No, she didn’t, I was supposed to come over and have lunch with her”

“Oh, well I don’t know but my kid saw her leave with some guy while he was playing outside and it didn’t seem like she was being kidnapped”

Just then everything clicked, Michael!, I felt my blood rise, and a sudden rage of anger, how could Ladi ever do this to me, what did Michael say to have her go with him, did she plan on never coming back to her house, what about her parents, was she really willing to leave everything behind all because of Michael.

I don’t know whatever’s going through her mind but I must find her and let her tell me what she’s doing, let her tell me to my face she doesn’t want me and would choose Michael over me. I would never let her go or let Mic have her.

“Okay, thanks, I think I know who she left with” I replied

It’s been 3 hours since I got to Ladi’s house and discovered that she’s gone. I went back to her apartment and sat down convincing myself that she’d be back but hours have passed and she still isn’t here. I picked her phone to search for every detail that could lead me to where she and Mic were. Thankfully the phone wasn’t passworded. I went through her Instagram account and checked the list of people she was following but he wasn’t there. I go to her search history and typed Mic and his handle popped up.

I clicked on his profile and went through his page, he had his number linked to his Instagram page so I copied to my phone immediately, now all I had to do was download the app for finding people’s location when you’re on the phone with them and dial Mic’s number to find out.

Ladi’s POV

Mic had an uber ride waiting outside my house and it seemed like he already had the destination planned with the driver, because immediately we entered the car, he drove straight up to a popular resort in the city which was miles away from where I stayed.

I didn’t know what I was doing, I loved Mic and I was glad he realized his mistake, but every part of screamed that I was doing something wrong and I couldn’t stop thinking about Raph and how he would be feeling, I let out a deep sigh and brushed my hair backwards with my hand.

“I’m sorry I didn’t act fast and all this had to happen” he said, looking at me with sober eyes I didn’t say anything I just nod. I had lots of questions to ask, like how he found out I and Raph were together or where I lived. I waited till he found the card to unlock his room door so we could sit down and talk.

“This is where I have been staying for a while now” he pointed to the room, as he unlocked the door.

“How come, I thought you lived at Lagos”

“Yeah, and that’s where I was posted for my service year but my PPA was a school so I ghosted it and travelled here two weeks ago to find you”

“Mic none of this is making sense. This is weird. How did you find out about where I was living?”

“I didn’t ever give up on you Ladi, right after graduation I realized my mistake but I didn’t have any access to you, even if I did, I felt too guilty and couldn’t get myself to talk to you again so I just stalked your page every day, hoping there would be a perfect chance to see you”

“So how did you discover where I live?” I asked again “You added your location to the last two pictures you posted on Instagram”

“It only said the city and area and not the particular address, why aren’t you telling me the truth Mic”

“Okay, I was desperate. I really wanted to see you so I got in touch with your friend Jackie and begged her. I told her I wanted to have a surprise gift delivered to you and she should help find out your address”

Just then I remembered I texted Jackie my address. She called saying she was coming over to Abuja and would love us to hang out, and she also needed a place to stay so I texted her, the address. Turns out it was because of Mic, what if he was crazy and wanted to turn up at my door to kill me but I couldn’t blame her she had no idea I and Raph were now together.

Now I started to understand what I was feeling when I saw Mic, at first it was obsession or maybe infatuation of the fact we were so close to dating and just like that we didn’t, but I had moved on for real, because all through the ride with Mic, I couldn’t stop thinking about Raph, I could feel my soul longing for him. I was so confused when I saw Mic and didn’t even think things through. I’d have to tell him I can’t push through with whatever it is he expected to happen between us and that I didn’t love him anymore.

“Mic, I’m sorry but I ju..” before I could complete the sentence, he raised his hand and asked that I wait as he received a call, he paused for a while and after few minutes the call ended.

“Who was that” I asked “I don’t know, some woman, she was saying all sorts of things but I couldn’t understand”

“Oh, okay”

“So what were you saying before the call” he asked He walked towards me “I’m sorry Ladi, I love you”

“I was saying that, I’m not sur..” I paused, he pressed me closer to him and locked his lips with mine, now I couldn’t even speak, I just felt my legs float, I didn’t even know what I was doing anymore, I loved Raph so much and it’s crazy I had to figure it out after making such a huge mistake like leaving with Mic.

I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him back “Mic stop”, “Hear me out”

“What’s wrong” he asked “This isn’t right, why are you even here, do you expect me to run off with you?, because if that’s the case you’ve really lost it”

“No I don’t expect you to run off with me, I just wanted to win your heart back because I still love you”

“All this is a joke and I can’t even believe I’m here doing this”

“Don’t you love me anymore?”

“I don’t, I’m sorry. I moved on, my heart now beats for Raph and it’s so crazy that it took running off with you to realize that”

“If you don’t you wouldn’t be here with me”

“I was confused Mic, seeing you again after a long while brought back so many emotions, but they were fleeting because I was only infatuated with the fact that we were close to having a relationship I looked forward too but it didn’t happen”

“So you don’t love me anymore? Just like that Ladi, it means you never even loved me?”

“I guess I didn’t, I mean I thought I loved you but all that love faded away after everything you did, and though I was even foolish enough to wait, I realize now that it was mere infatuation”

He scoffed, “so what now, you’re just going to leave?”

“Yes Mic, Goodbye” I said walking towards the door. I stopped and fidgeted at the loud sound that came from the bang on the door. I and Mic both freeze wondering what was happening, I walked towards the door and asked who it was “open the damn door” I heard Raph’s voice shout I could feel my heart pound, not just at the fact that he knew about Mic but at the disaster that was about to happen. I said no to Mic and it angered him, if he and Raph were to meet they would get into a big fight “Ladi, come outside let’s talk” Raph shouted I froze, as I stared at Mic wondering what was going to happen or how I could prevent it from happening.

“That bastard” Mic muttered with rage as he stormed towards the door slamming his shoulder against mine.

“Wait, stop, you guys should please don’t” Mic opened the door to receive a swift punch on his face, that flung him on the floor, he hurriedly stood up to catch up with Raph who was walking towards him to clench his fist with his jaw, they both started exchanging blows “Stop, please stop” I screamed as tears flowed from my eyes “Raph, please stop lets go home”

“What home Ladi, you left with him so why do you care about me now or you just don’t want me to hurt your lover?” he throws his fist into Mic’s face again “I already told him it’s you I want, let’s go please”

Raph paused after the statement now giving Mic enough chance to throw several punches at him, Raph fought back. At the rate they were going I had to do something or they could kill each other. I hated that this was happening and even dreaded myself more for ever letting this happen or ever leaving the house with Mic. I ran over to them, “stop”, I tried getting in their middle when I felt a strong force push me to the ground, and everything went blank.