LOVE BEYOND BLOOD Episode 2

For a long time, Kola and I existed in the same space without truly seeing each other. He came to our amala shop almost every evening, always neat, always quiet. I still remembered how he looked at me that first day with irritation and impatience and that memory kept my guard high. I told myself I didn’t care anymore, but deep down, I did.

One evening, everything changed.

My mother was busy with another customer when Kola walked in. As usual, he looked around, probably searching for her. When he didn’t find her, his eyes landed on me. I was ready for his usual request, ready to feel small again. But instead of turning away, he sighed.

“Okay… what do you have today?” he asked.

I froze. I answered, carefully choosing my words, my voice low. To my surprise, he didn’t interrupt or frown. He listened. When I served him, our fingers brushed briefly, and for the first time, he said, “Thank you.”

That simple word softened something between us.

From that day, small conversations began. Nothing serious just greetings, comments about the food, questions about my mother. Slowly, the sharp edge between us faded. Two months passed, and without noticing when it happened, we became friends.

Kola started trusting me with deliveries. Sometimes he would send me to bring food to his house. The first time, I was nervous. His house was big and quiet, nothing like our noisy roadside shop. He treated me kindly, offered me water, and talked to me like I mattered. I noticed he no longer corrected my English or made me feel uncomfortable when I struggled to express myself.

One evening, while waiting for him to finish a phone call, I realized I was smiling without knowing why.

That was how I knew something was changing.

Our friendship deepened, and one night, after I delivered food late, he walked me halfway home. The streetlights glowed softly, and our shadows stretched on the road. He told me about his work, his struggles, his loneliness. I told him about my dreams how I wanted to speak good English, how I wanted more from life than selling food forever.

When he held my hand for the first time, my heart raced.

Soon, we started dating.

But happiness came with confusion. Kola never took me out where people could see us. We met in quiet places. He never introduced me to his friends. When I asked why, he said we should keep our relationship “private.” At first, I agreed, afraid of losing him.

But deep inside, a familiar pain returned the feeling of being hidden, of not being enough.

Continue reading Episode 3