A Connection beyond Coincidence

mind racing with memories of the past. "I know her,"

iola asked, her

ed on the girl. "Her name is... was... Nneoma

"The girl who used to come to sch

fter our Mathematics exam... I was on my way to the to

eyebrow. "Cryin

ched her. She told me she was going through a tough time, and I listened. Befor

arrowed. "And t

aying it was a 'thank you' for listening. I was annoyed,

rprise. "And you couldn't t

I didn't want to break our relations

ecalled how Nneoma had smiled up at him, how she had leaned

, to his birthday party? And

a's expression remained mystery, her secrets

ty, Iyiola's attention was diverted to a new arrival. Annabel, her friend from secondary

ou doing here?" Iyio

d nervously before leaning in close. "Iyiola, I need to

nd she followed Annabel outside,

picture. Iyiola's eyes widened as she took in the image: a girl kissi

nd?" Annabel asked, her

nk as she nodded.

ory about Nneoma forcefully planting a kiss on his ch

n, and hurt. Why hadn't Enoch told her the whole truth

to Annabel. "Where did you get this

"I'll tell you everything, but first

d on Annabel's. "Wh

noch about this... at least, not yet. What I want is for you to break up with him. He's

processed Annabel's words. Break up

I don't know, Annabel. I've known Enoch for a whil

. "Iyiola, I'm telling you, he's not w

sted Enoch, and she wasn't about to let An

her hand, leading her back inside. "Come on, let's go he

neoma. And then she heard the sound of laughter and cameras clicking. She turne

sy and doubt. Why was Enoch taking pictures with

Iyiola started to believe her. She felt a wave of anger wash over

ked on hers. "I'm sorry," she whisp

Iyiola stormed out of the party, her bag clutched tightly in her hand. She was crying, but

an after her. "Iyiola, what's wrong?" A

w. Amaka tried to keep up with her, but Iyiola's pace was too fast. Even

usy snapping pictures with Nneoma to notice Iyiola's departure. But as he turned to look for her,

over to Chris, who was still playing music. "Hey, have

ticed her leave. But I've been busy pla

Enoch's eyes locked onto hers. "Where's Iyi

stormed out of the party. And I went

g was wrong, and he had no idea what. He felt a wave of f

suggested, noticing Eno

's number. But it went straight to voicemail. Enoch'

fix it? Enoch's mind was racing with ques

Annabel walking out of the party together, laughing. Enoch's instincts told him so

was still unreachable. Enoch's anxiety grew a

number too. But it wasn't going through. Amaka and the

c stopped, and the guests started to leave. Enoch's birthday celebrati

iends whispering to each other. They were all wondering wh

idea what he had done wrong, or how to fix it. All he k

calling her, texting her, and even sending her messages on social media,

s own hands. He couldn't just sit around waiting for Iyiola to respond.

alked to Amaka's place to pick her up. Together, they

ars were not outside. He felt a surge of relief, thinking that he wo

opened it, recognizing Enoch and Amaka. They exch

she's been locked up in her room since morning. This

s words. Locked up in her room? That didn't sound like th

both knew that Iyiola was not the type to lock herself up in

ain. "You guys want to come in and wait for her

nd racing with possibilities. He nodded, a pla

oom, trying to make small talk with Iyiola's brother. But Enoch's mind was elsewhere,

. "Don't worry, Enoch. I'm sure Iyiola is just going

like this before. She was always so bubbly and en

It was as if she was trying to shut out the world, to escape from her problems. But Enoch

get a snack from the kitchen. As he left the room, Enoch tu

noch, I don't think that's a good id

s room. He knocked softly on the door, but there was no response. He kn

. He tried the door handle, and to his surprise, it was unlocked. H

sound of soft sobbing. Enoch's eyes adjusted to the dim light,

d as he did, he saw something on Iyiola's bedside table that made his blood run cold. A piece of paper on Iyiola's bedside table,

s: Enoch's infidelity, lack of trust,

mind reeling with the implications. Iyiola was planning to b

had no idea what was going on. Had Iyiola seen something th

other clues. But there was nothing. Just the no

s. What was going on? Why was Iyiola planning to b

ing sound coming from the bed. Iyiola was stirring, and En

yiola's voice, weak but determined. "

he turned back to face her. What

was about to respond,

contin

CONTIN

Y STORY, MAKE SURE YOU

YOU