"A Blast from the Past"

Chapter 21

Oghene's doorbell rang, and he hesitated for a moment before answering it. He wasn't expecting anyone, and he hoped it wasn't Shelly causing more trouble. But to his surprise, it was Adaobi, his ex-girlfriend, standing at his doorstep, looking pale and worried.

"Adaobi, what are you doing here?" Oghene asked, his tone neutral.

"I need to see you, Oghene," she replied, her voice weak. "I'm not feeling well."

Oghene's instincts told him to turn her away, but his compassionate nature won over. "Come in," he said finally.

Adaobi stepped inside, looking frail and vulnerable. Oghene led her to the living room and asked, "What's wrong? Have you taken any medication?"

"No, I haven't," she replied, her eyes welling up with tears. "I've been feeling terrible since yesterday."

Oghene's concern deepened. "Have you eaten anything?" he asked, his voice softening.

Adaobi shook her head, and Oghene quickly went to the kitchen to prepare a meal for her. As they ate together, Adaobi's eyes lingered on Oghene, filled with longing.

"I miss you, Oghene," she said softly. "I miss us."

Oghene pretended not to hear, focusing on his food instead. He didn't want to acknowledge the nostalgia that was creeping up on him.

After they finished eating, Adaobi thanked him and rose to leave. But as she reached the door, she turned back and embraced Oghene tightly. "Take care of yourself," she whispered.

Oghene's heart raced as he slowly pushed her away. "You too, Adaobi. Take care."

As soon as Adaobi left, Oghene couldn't shake off the memories of their past. He missed the good times they shared, the laughter, and the adventures. He remembered the way Adaobi used to make him feel, the way she used to challenge him, and the way she used to support him. But he knew he had moved on, and Stephanie was now the love of his life.

Oghene walked over to the window and stared out at the city, lost in thought. He thought about the way Stephanie made him feel, the way she smiled at him, and the way she cared for him. He knew he had made the right choice in leaving Adaobi, but a part of him still longed for the past.

As he stood there, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a text message from an unknown number: "Oghene, I know you're trying to move on, but you can't deny the past. Adaobi will always be a part of you."

Oghene's heart skipped a beat. Who was this? And how did they know about Adaobi's visit? He tried to brush it off as a prank, but the message lingered in his mind, fueling his anxiety.

He decided to distract himself by watching a movie, but his mind kept wandering back to Adaobi and the memories they shared. He couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if they had stayed together.

As the night wore on, Oghene couldn't shake off the feeling that his past was coming back to haunt him. He knew he had to confront his feelings head-on if he wanted to move on with his life.

Just then, his phone buzzed again. He hesitated for a moment before answering it.

"Hello?" he said, his voice cautious.

"Oghene, my old friend!" a familiar voice exclaimed. "Long time no talk!"

Oghene's mind raced as he tried to place the voice. And then, it hit him.

"Angel! How did you get my number?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Angel laughed. "I have my ways, Oghene. I'm a detective, remember?"

Oghene chuckled. "I remember. But how did you know I was in Jos?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Let's just say I have my sources," Angel said finally.

Oghene's mind raced with possibilities. How did Angel find him? And what did she want?

"Listen, Angel, what's going on?" he asked, his patience wearing thin.

"I just wanted to check in on you, Oghene," Angel said, her voice softening. "I heard about Adaobi's visit and I thought I'd play a little prank on you."

Oghene's eyes narrowed. "You sent that text message, didn't you?"

Angel laughed. "Guilty as charged. But I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I just wanted to stir up some old memories."

Oghene sighed, his anxiety easing slightly. "Well, you certainly did that."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Oghene, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Do you ever think about the past? About Adaobi and what could have been?"

Oghene hesitated, unsure of how to answer. Did he think about the past? Yes, he did. But did he want to admit it to Angel? That was a different story altogether.