TOLU
The streets were unusually quiet that Saturday morning. The city still yawned and stretched beneath a soft orange sky as my white Benz hummed down the road, headlights slicing through the early mist. My eyes were heavy, the faint throb of exhaustion still pulsing from the night before.
I yawned, tapping the steering wheel to keep myself awake. "Never again," I muttered. "Next time, I'm leaving that DJ to manage his own mess."
The night had been chaos — unaligned music, impatient guests, and a celebrity guest who wanted his drink served in a golden cup. By the time the last customer staggered out of the club, it was nearly dawn.
But there was no time to rest. I had promised Kelvin I'd come early. I had something important to discuss with him— something that couldn't wait.
The tires crunched lightly against the gravel as I pulled into Kelvin's driveway. Birds were already chirping somewhere nearby, and the faint smell of wet grass filled the air. I sat in the car for a moment, rubbing my face, trying to look alive.
"Okay, Tolu," I muttered. "You can do this. Just don't fall down when you step out of this car."
I grabbed my phone, stuffed it into my pocket, and stepped out of the car gently. The cool air brushed against my skin, making me shiver slightly. I stretched, yawned again, then walked up the short pathway to Kelvin's front door.
The house looked peaceful — too peaceful. Curtains drawn, no sign of movement. Typical Kelvin, he thought. Still snoring while other people were chasing responsibilities.
I pressed the doorbell once.
Ding-dong.
No answer.
I pressed again, holding it this time, a small mischievous grin appearing on my face.
"Kelvin! I know you're in there!" I called out. "Don't make me sing!"
From inside, I heard faint movement — footsteps shuffling, something falling over, followed by a muffled, sleepy voice.
"Tolu? What— bro, it's seven in the morning!"
I chuckled under my breath. "Exactly! The day has started. Wake up, man."
A few seconds later, the sliding door clicked open, and Kelvin appeared — hair messy, eyes half-shut, wearing a loose pajamas set. He looked like someone who had been at war with his alarm clock.
When his eyes focused on me, he frowned. "You look terrible."
"Good morning to you too," I said dryly. "Nice welcome."
Kelvin yawned and stepped aside. "Come in before the neighbors think we're arguing."
I walked in, still shaking my head. The warmth of the house hit me immediately — and so did the smell of something delicious. My stomach rumbled.
"Wait," I said, sniffing. "Is that— jollof rice?"
Kelvin smirked sleepily. "Sonia's in the kitchen. She woke up early. Don't tell me you came here for food."
I grinned. "Well, maybe half for food... and half for business."
Kelvin closed the door behind me. "Knowing you, the 'business' part is just an excuse."
I dropped onto the couch, exhaling loudly. "Man, you don't even know what I went through last night."
Kelvin raised a brow. "You mean apart from looking like a survivor of club warfare?"
"Exactly that," I said, laughing weakly. "I came straight from work — didn't even nap. The club nearly ate me alive."
Kelvin blinked, "Guy! What happened to you? You look like you fought a lion — and the lion won."
I sighed dramatically. "Guy that club nearly burned down last night — not literally, but emotionally. The DJ went offbeat, the bartender cried, and a celebrity who wanted to drink from golden cup."
Kelvin laughed, "Omo you really went through hell."
"Honestly." I said, scanning the new art frames on the wall. "By 2 a.m., I was managing tears, tantrums, and tequila. I need therapy."
From the kitchen, Sonia's cheerful voice chimed in, "And here I thought you'd finally matured in the game Tolu! You should sanction your DJ, it's bad for business."
"Soniaaa!" I called, grinning despite myself. "It's very necessary. I'll have a word with him later today."
She peeked from the kitchen doorway, a spatula in hand and a playful smirk on her face. "If you'd just stick to selling water, your life would be peaceful."
Kelvin snorted. "Selling water? At his club? He'd probably call it 'Hydration Lounge' and charge ten thousand for a bottle."
"Exactly!" Sonia laughed. "And it'll come with a slice of cucumber for 'premium taste'."
I held up my hands. "Okay, okay — I admit I'm a hardworking capitalist. Can we not mock the businessman this early?"
"You look like you need a hospital bed, not a chair. Breakfast will fix your mood. And Kelvin—" she turned to her boyfriend, "—don't stress him too much, allow him rest".
Kelvin gasped. "As you can see, I've got no strength at all. Last night was magical and I still need enough sleep."
"Ahh, ahh. Guy you no Dey dull o." I teased.
Kelvin sank deeper into the couch and said, "My brother, I have the best woman ever. Anytime and anyday I want it, she's always ready. She matches my vibes."
The laughter filled the living room, and for a moment, the exhaustion on my face melted away.
When Sonia called us to eat, the smell hit us like a warm hug — jollof rice, scrambled eggs, crispy chicken, and sweet, golden plantain.
"Oh Lord," I said, inhaling deeply. "If heaven had a kitchen, it would smell like this."
Sonia smiled proudly. "Then you better behave in my heaven."
We gathered around the table, eating with the kind of energy that required no talking. For a few minutes, the only sounds were forks clinking and satisfied hums.
Halfway through, Sonia gave me a knowing look. "So... Mr. Urgent Visitor. What's the big news? You made it sound like national security."
Kelvin nodded, his mouth full. "Yeah, talk, man. You've been acting mysterious since you walked in. Has someone offered to buy your club?"
I smirked, chewing slowly. "We'll talk after breakfast. Trust me, you'll need the food strength."
Sonia rolled her eyes. "You and your drama. Just say you like suspense."
I raised my hands innocently. "What can I say? I'm a storyteller."
By the time the plates were empty, the morning sun had warmed the living room. The TV played a random toothpaste commercial, and Sonia leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
Kelvin wiped his mouth. "Alright, Mr. Storyteller, the floor is yours. Spill it."
I stretched, looked at both of them, then said casually, "It's about Tracy."
Sonia perked up. "Tracy? My Tracy? What happened? Don't tell me Eli didn't pay their bills the last time he took her to your club!"
I chuckled. "Nope. It's about her love life."
Kelvin raised an eyebrow. "Oho! Now it's getting interesting."
I leaned forward like a movie narrator. "Remember Fred my billionaire friend? The one you met at my club last week?"
Sonia nodded. "Yeah. The tall one with the dimple and the mysterious smile? Tracy didn't even pay him much attention that night."
"Exactly," Tolu said, smiling. "Well, guess what? He invited me to his penthouse yesterday's evening and told me he's found his long-lost lover."
Kelvin leaned in. "Don't tell me it's—"
"It's Tracy," I said simply.
Sonia froze mid-blink. "What?"
I nodded. "Yup. Tracy is his Juliet. Or as he said, his Romeo story in reverse."
For a second, Sonia just stared — then suddenly she jumped up. "Wait! Wait! Tracy's Romeo? The one she has always talked to me about? The guy she saw from her hostel window and had captured her heart? That Fred?!"
Kelvin's jaw dropped. "You're kidding!"
"I'm not!" I said, laughing. "Fred told me everything. He's been searching for her for years. He didn't know her name — just her face, her laugh, her eyes. Then he saw her at the club last week and almost fainted."
Sonia gasped, pacing around. "Oh my goodness! She didn't even recognize him! She only shook his hand, smiled, and walked away with Eli like she just met a random guy!"
Kelvin shook his head in disbelief. "Plot twist of the year."
Sonia plopped back on the chair, half laughing, half groaning. "This is insane! My girl has been carrying this mystery love story for ages, and the man was right under her nose! But now she's with Eli..."
Kelvin whistled softly. "Complications. I smell drama."
"Oh, there will be drama," Sonia said, pointing a spoon at him. "Real-life romantic wahala."
I readjusted slowly. "That's why I came straight here. I knew if I told her directly, she'd probably faint or call me a liar."
Sonia sighed, shaking her head. "She's flying back tomorrow's evening. I'll wait till then. I'll tell her everything and just... see what she says. This could be good or very messy."
Kelvin stood up, clapping his hands once. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are officially entering Season 2 of Tracy's Love Life Chronicles."
I groaned. "Can you not?"
Sonia burst out laughing. "Oh please, Kelvin's right. We might need popcorn for this one."
I leaned back, grinning. "Just make sure it's jollof-flavored popcorn."
After plates were cleared and the laughter finally calmed, we sat comfortably on the couch — full stomachs, satisfied smiles, and that post-breakfast calm that made everything feel right.
I cleared my voice, leaned forward, elbows on my knees, face suddenly serious. "Alright, let's conclude before I head out. So, here's the deal. Fred really wants to reconnect with Tracy. He's been carrying that girl in his heart like an unpaid bill for years. He asked me to talk to you guys, since Sonia's closest to her."
Sonia exchanged a quick glance with Kelvin. "Hmm. So we're officially messengers of love now?"
I grinned. "Exactly! The Love Ambassadors. I'll print badges later."
Kelvin shook his head. "You're crazy, man."
"I'm serious!" I said, readjusting. "Fred's been through a lot. I could tell last night he wasn't just talking out of nostalgia. He's really hoping to meet her. But of course, I can't just tell Tracy directly — that might mess things up. You both know her better."
Sonia nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. I'll talk to her when she comes home tomorrow. I don't want to rush it — this kind of news needs soft landing."
I exhaled with relief. "Thank you. That's all I need. Just talk to her, see how she feels about the whole thing. If it's a no, I'll tell Fred to move on. If it's a yes—" I grinned, "then maybe love's about to make a grand comeback."
Kelvin leaned back, teasing. "Look at you, the romantic businessman."
"Hey," I said, standing up and brushing imaginary crumbs from my jeans. "I run a club, not a heartbreak clinic. I like seeing people fall in love — it's good for business!"
We all laughed again.
I stretched, grabbed my car keys from the table, and said warmly, "Thanks for the breakfast, Sonia. You're officially my Saturday morning savior."
Sonia waved me off. "Just don't make it a habit! Next time, call before showing up looking half-dead."
Kelvin added, "And maybe sleep first before driving. You look like a zombie with good manners."
I saluted dramatically. "Yes, sir. Commander Kelvin. Madam Chef Sonia. I'm off!"
I started toward the door, then paused. "Seriously though, I'll be waiting for your feedback. Positive or negative, Fred deserves to know."
Sonia nodded. "You'll get it. Don't worry."
"Good," I said with a satisfied smile. "Then my mission here is complete."
With that, I slipped on my sunglasses — despite the sun barely being out — and swaggered toward the door.
"Drive safe!" Sonia called after me.
"Always do!" I shouted back.
The door closed behind me, and moments later, the low hum of my car faded down the street.
The house fell quiet again. Kelvin turned toward Sonia, his expression softening.
"So... what do you think she'll say?"
Sonia sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "Honestly? I don't know. Tracy's heart has always been a mystery. Finding out that Fred is her long-lost Romeo will shake her — especially now that Eli's in the picture."
Kelvin nodded slowly. "Yeah. Either way, tomorrow's going to be... interesting."
Sonia smiled faintly. "That's one word for it."
They sat in silence for a while, the soft hum of the TV filling the background. The smell of jollof and fried plantain still lingered in the air — familiar, comforting, but now mixed with the quiet tension of what was coming.
Sonia glanced toward the window, the morning sun streaming in gently. "Whatever happens," she said softly, "I just hope she finds peace — whether it's with Fred or not."
Kelvin reached for her hand, giving it a light squeeze. "She will. She always does."
And as they sat there, thinking about their friend and the twist her story was about to take, the calm Saturday morning seemed to hum with a quiet, waiting energy — like life was holding its breath, ready for the next chapter to unfold.