FRED
I could still feel the rush of joy that had washed over me earlier that morning when Tolu called.
"Bro... she said yes. Tracy agreed to meet you. She picked the restaurant and time. I'll text it to you asap."
For a moment, I had been unable to speak. Tracy—my long-lost lover, the woman I had thought about endlessly for the last three years—had finally agreed to see me. It felt unreal.
I told my mother almost immediately, pacing around the living room with a grin I couldn't hide. She listened quietly, then gave me a soft smile and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Go, my son. Pursue what brings you peace. Life is too short to ignore what your heart wants."
That was all the blessing I needed.
I dressed with careful thought—not for show, but out of respect for the moment. A designer blue shirt that fit me perfectly, crisp white trousers, sleek black shoes, my favorite sunglasses, and a light touch of expensive Oud perfume. I didn't want to impress Tracy. I wanted her to see me, the real me, just as I had always hoped she would.
I stepped into my G-Wagon and drove alone toward Lekki. No bodyguards. Not today. I wanted stillness... privacy... something intimate and human between us.
"788 On The Sea" sat beautifully by the water, shimmering in the late afternoon glow. I arrived early, as I expected I would—I couldn't sit still at home anyway. I chose one of the finest tables with a perfect view of the ocean, the kind of view that settled the mind. A chilled bottle of champagne arrived shortly after, and I poured myself a gentle sip, letting the bubbles calm my nerves.
As I waited, thoughts tumbled through my mind.
What do I tell her first? How do I say what I've carried for this past year?
I remembered that day—my last day on campus. The day I signed out.
I had stood by my window for nearly four hours, waiting... hoping Tracy would appear at hers. She never did. I didn't know her name then, didn't know her department or college. If I had, I would have sent a message... something... anything. Instead, she slipped away from my reach.
But I never forgot her.
Not for a day.
I prayed—literally prayed—to meet her again. To understand why fate had teased me with her smile only to take her away. And now, I felt the weight of a divine answer settling into my chest.
An hour passed before she walked in.
Tracy stepped through the entrance with quiet grace, scanning the restaurant. She spotted me almost immediately—a tall, dark, handsome man in his early thirties, broad-shouldered, elegant, yet somehow familiar. She paused at the entrance, observing me, trying to confirm if I was truly the man she had come to see.
I looked up. Our eyes met.
I rose from my seat the moment I saw her approaching—the sway of her hips, the familiar softness in her eyes. Tracy slowed down as she neared the table, her lips parting slightly as if she couldn't believe who she was seeing.
"Fred?" she said gently.
I breathed out a shaky smile. "Tracy... wow. You look... you look unbelievable."
Tracy laughed lightly, brushing a strand of hair back. "That's so sweet, thank you."
She stepped closer, taking in my face. "You look different. Still very handsome but a bit Older. But... good. Very good."
I let out a nervous chuckle. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should," she teased.
For a second, we just stood there, caught in a soft silence neither knew how to break. Then I found myself saying quietly, "Can I... can I hug you?"
Tracy's eyes softened. "Please."
I wrapped my arms around her carefully at first, then with full emotion, pulling her close. She held me too—longer than either expected. When we separated, She blinked rapidly and wiped a tiny tear from the corner of her eye.
"I told myself I wouldn't cry," she whispered.
"Then I'm already failing," I said, rubbing the back of my neck with a small laugh. "Because I'm trying not to."
I guided her to her seat and pulled the chair out for her. She smiled at the gesture.
"You've become a gentleman," she said.
"I've always been one," I replied. "You just didn't stay long enough to see it."
We exchanged a soft laugh, the kind that warms the chest.
I sat opposite her, exhaling slowly. "I can't believe you're really here. I've imagined this moment too many times."
Tracy tilted her head. "Fred... I didn't think you still remembered me. I wasn't even sure you'd recognize me."
I scoffed lightly. "Recognize you? Tracy, I could have recognized you in a crowd of a thousand."
My voice dropped. "I never forgot you. Not for one day."
Her eyes glistened again. "Why?"
"Because you were... you were the one person I never got to understand," I said honestly. "I never got closure. You just disappeared from my life."
She looked down at her hands. "I didn't mean to."
Then she raised her eyes. "So tell me... what happened? Three years, Fred. Three whole years."
I sighed deeply, leaning forward. "The day I signed out from school... I waited for you. I stood by my window for almost four hours. Just hoping you'd show up at yours. I didn't know your name. I didn't know your department. If I did, I swear I would have dropped a message for you. Or done anything you know?"
Tracy's breath hitched. "Fred..."
"For years," I continued, voice soft but steady, "I prayed I'd see you again. Prayed God wouldn't let your memory fade. I carried you with me everywhere."
A quiet tear rolled down Tracy's cheek. She didn't wipe it immediately.
"I didn't know you cared that much," she whispered.
I smiled sadly. "How could I not?"
A soft laugh escaped her lips in between the emotion. "Fred, you're going to make me cry like a baby in this expensive restaurant."
"Well... I didn't bring tissues," I joked gently. "But I have a big shirt."
She laughed fully this time, wiping her face. "You're ridiculous."
"I try," I said with a grin.
"Actually," Tracy began. "That day, I went to see a friend. When I came home, I stood over my window waiting to see you. But you never showed up either. I was worried, frustrated and sad."
I narrowed my eyes because I didn't know she cared too. I studied her for a bit and said, "it's okay Tracy. Finally, we're here now."
We sat with our champagne glasses for a moment, letting the ocean breeze slip through the open space.
Tracy suddenly asked, "But tell me... that night at Quilox. You recognized me?"
"I did," I said with a small nod.
"And you didn't say anything? Why?"
I chuckled. "You were with Eli. You greeted me so casually. Shook my hand and walked off without a single sign you knew who I was. I thought... maybe you'd forgotten me."
"Fred, I swear I didn't recognize you."
"Clearly," I said, pretending to be offended.
She reached across the table and touched my hand lightly. "No... I truly didn't. If I did, I would never have walked away."
Her touch lingered. I looked down at our hands, then back at her.
"I'm glad you didn't run today," I whispered.
"I never did. I just didn't know. Tracy said softly. "Honestly, I can't run from you."
We had just finished talking about the night at Quilox when I leaned back slightly, studying her with a gentleness that made her shift in her seat.
"So..." I said quietly, swirling the champagne in my glass. "Maldives. How was it?"
Tracy blinked in surprise. "Maldives? How did you know I traveled?"
I gave a small, innocent shrug. "Tolu told me."
"Ah," Tracy said, shaking her head with a smile. "That boy talks too much."
I chuckled, but there was something underneath my tone—something Tracy caught immediately.
"And Eli?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "How's he doing?"
The question hung in the air.
Tracy stared at me for a moment, reading me. "Fred... why do I feel like there's something behind that question?"
I looked away briefly, then returned my eyes to hers with honesty.
"I won't lie," I said softly. "I was jealous. Not angry... not bitter... just... jealous."
I swallowed. "I just needed to know if you two were still together. That's all."
Tracy's lips parted slightly. She looked down at her fingers, then back up at me. "We're... it's kinda complicated."
I nodded slowly, as if bracing myself.
Then I took a breath—one that seemed to come from somewhere deep inside me.
"Tracy," I said, leaning slightly forward. "I can't hide it anymore. I still love you."
Her breath caught.
"I've loved you since the very first time I saw you three years ago," I continued. "Nothing changed. Not time. Not distance. Not losing you. You've lived in my mind like a prayer I kept whispering, hoping one day God would answer."
My voice softened even more.
"And now you're here. And I'm ready... if you ever give me the chance... I'm ready to be with you. Completely. No doubts. No looking back."
Tracy looked up at me with wet eyes—beautiful, vulnerable, overwhelmed.
"Fred..." she whispered, voice trembling. "I missed you too. I've thought about you so many times."
She sniffed lightly. "Sometimes I wish I had met you before Eli. I really do."
My face tightened with emotion, but I didn't interrupt.
Tracy continued, "I'm in a tight corner right now. You and Eli... you're both good men. I don't want to hurt him. And I don't want to hurt you either."
For a moment, the only sound between us was the ocean's gentle rhythm.
Then I exhaled quietly and reached across the table, touching her hand with a soft, steady thumb.
"Tracy... listen to me," I said gently. "I'm not going to force you to choose me. I'm not going to push you or pressure you. You deserve peace. You deserve clarity."
I squeezed her hand lightly. "Just follow your heart. Wherever it leads... I'll accept it."
Tracy stared at me, stunned.
"You're... you're not angry?"
"How could I be?" I said with a faint smile. "You're being honest. And love shouldn't feel like a cage."
A tiny tear slipped down her cheek. I reached out—hesitating for a moment—then brushed it away with the back of my knuckle.
We sat like that for a moment—eyes locked, hearts exposed.
Tracy finally cleared her throat and tried to lighten the heaviness. "Tell me about you. Your life. Your job. Where you live now. Everything. I want to know."
I chuckled softly and sat back. "If I tell you everything tonight, we'll still be here at sunrise."
Tracy laughed gently through her lingering tears. "Fred, be serious."
"I am," I said, smiling with warmth. "And I promise to tell you everything... every detail of my life. But on one condition."
She raised a brow. "What's that?"
"That I get another chance to meet you again. One more day. One more moment like this."
My eyes softened. "If you'll give me that... I'll open every chapter."
Tracy stared at me—long enough for me to feel her heartbeat through her gaze.
"I'll think about it," she whispered.
And I smiled, because that was enough. More than enough.
*******
SONIA
I stretched across my bed, one leg dangling lazily off the edge, when the low hum of an engine pulled my attention to the window. The day was cool, the kind that made everything feel sharper, clearer, and fresher. I pushed the curtain aside and my breath hitched.
Eli.
His car rolled into the apartment and I just stared. It parked right beside my car and the ignition went off.
My heart kicked hard against my ribs. In seconds, I was on my feet, smoothing my hair, glancing at my reflection once—twice—before hurrying out of my room and down the stairs, excitement buzzing through my veins.
When I opened the door, time slowed.
Eli stood there, tall, broad-shouldered, effortlessly masculine. The cool air clung to him, outlining the strength in his arms, the confidence in the way he stood. I forgot, briefly, how to breathe.
"Oh," I said, voice softer than I intended. "So this is what trouble looks like today."
Eli smirked, eyes sweeping over me in a way that made me feel seen. "You look like you were waiting for me."
I bit my lip, stepping aside but not too far—close enough to tease. "Maybe I was. Maybe I just like surprises."
My gaze dropped then, and that's when I saw them.
Gift boxes.
Chanel. Hermès. Dior. Perfectly wrapped. And a single rose resting on top, red and accusing.
My smile tightened.
"Well," I said lightly, reaching out to brush my fingers over the rose, "someone's been busy."
Eli chuckled. "You jealous already?"
I tilted my head, eyes glittering, playful but sharp. "Jealous? No. Curious? Very." I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "Who's the lucky girl?"
A beat passed. Something flickered across my face—sweetness giving way to calculation.
"You know," I said casually, "it's funny you're here."
Eli raised a brow. "Funny how?"
I shrugged, feigning innocence. "Tracy is on a date with Fred, her lost lover as we speak."
Silence.
Eli's smile faded, shock flashing across his face, quickly followed by something darker—thrill, disbelief, anger all tangled together. "What?"
"I didn't want to say anything," I continued, placing a hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat jump. "But I thought you deserved to know." I pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. "I can give you the address. You could... see for yourself."
For a moment, Eli just stared at me. Then he laughed—short, sharp, almost breathless. "Damn."
He looked down at the gifts in his hands, then back at me. Without another word, he pushed them into my arms. "Keep them. All of them."
My eyes widened. "Eli—"
"I'm serious." His gaze lingered on my face. "You earned them."
I smiled slowly, triumph curling in my chest. I leaned up and pressed a soft peck to his cheek. "Be careful," I murmured. "And don't forget who told you the truth and never disclose it was me.
Eli didn't respond. He was already turning away, adrenaline pulling him toward answers he couldn't ignore.
When he got to the restaurant, he stayed back, unseen. And there they were—Tracy and Fred close, comfortable, laughing like nothing in the world could touch them.
Eli lifted his phone, took a photo, and walked away without a sound.