ON THE WHEEL I FELL AGAIN Chapter 1

ON THE WHEEL I FELL AGAIN

Chapter 1

Ifeoluwa’s POV

Life has been hard for me and my younger sister, Eniola, ever since our parents died. The world suddenly became cold and heavy, like a burden placed on my shoulders overnight. I became everything to her — a sister, a mother, a father, and a protector.

Every morning I wake up before the sun rises, not because I want to, but because life demands it. Bills wait for no one. My sister’s university fees need to be paid. Food has to be on the table. And of course, the house rent that keeps threatening to swallow us whole.

I work as a waiter in a small local bar. The place is always noisy, filled with the smell of alcohol and loud music that vibrates through the walls. It’s not the kind of job I imagined for myself when I was younger, but when life pushes you, you either stand or you fall.

My salary is only fifty thousand naira. Fifty thousand to feed two people, pay transportation, contribute to my sister’s education, and still somehow survive. Most months, I barely make it through.

And now, another problem had landed on my head.

Our landlord came to the house yesterday evening. I can still remember the way he knocked on the door like he wanted to break it down.

“Where is my rent?” he asked the moment I opened the door.

I tried to explain. I begged him for more time. I told him things had been difficult.

But he didn’t want to hear any of it.

“You have one week,” he said coldly. “If you don’t pay the four hundred and fifty thousand naira rent, both of you should pack your things and leave my house.”

Four hundred and fifty thousand.

That number kept ringing in my head all night like a curse.

I barely slept.

This morning, I went to work with one plan in mind. I needed help, even if it meant swallowing my pride.

As soon as I arrived at the bar, I went straight to the manager’s office. My heart was beating fast as I knocked on the door.

“Come in,” his voice came from inside.

I opened the door slowly.

“Good morning, sir,” I said politely.

He looked up from his desk. “Morning. What do you want?”

I hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Sir… I need your help. I’m in a difficult situation.”

He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “What kind of situation?”

“My landlord gave me one week to pay my house rent. It’s four hundred and fifty thousand naira. I know it’s a lot, but I was hoping you could help me with a loan. I promise I’ll repay it little by little from my salary.”

For a few seconds, he didn’t say anything. He just stared at me.

Then suddenly, he smiled.

But it wasn’t the kind smile of someone willing to help.

It was something else.

“You want me to give you that kind of money?” he said slowly.

“Yes sir,” I replied quietly. “Please.”

He stood up from his chair and walked closer to me.

“You know,” he said, lowering his voice, “there are ways you can make me help you.”

I felt uncomfortable immediately.

“What do you mean, sir?” I asked.

Instead of answering, he reached out and touched my arm.

I quickly moved back.

“Sir, please…”

He stepped closer again, this time placing his hand on my waist.

“If you make me happy,” he said with a grin, “I can give you the money you want.”

For a moment, I was too shocked to speak.

Then anger rushed through me.

I pushed his hand away.

“Don’t touch me!”

But he tried again, reaching for me like I was some kind of object he could buy.

Before I even realized what I was doing, my hand flew across his face.

The sound of the slap echoed in the office.

He froze.

His expression changed instantly.

The smile disappeared and was replaced by pure anger.

“You slapped me?” he shouted.

I stood there, breathing heavily.

“Yes. And I’ll do it again if you touch me.”

His face turned red with rage.

“Get out!” he yelled.

I didn’t move.

“You’re fired!” he shouted again. “From this moment, you no longer work here!”

The words hit me like a heavy stone.

Fired.

Just like that.

One moment I had a job, the next moment I had nothing.

I slowly picked up my bag and walked out of the office.

My legs felt weak.

Outside the bar, the morning sun was shining, people were moving around, cars were passing on the road.

But inside me, everything felt dark.

Double trouble.

I had just lost my job.

And in one week, my sister and I could become homeless.

I stood by the roadside, staring at nothing.

For the first time in a long while, I felt something I had been trying hard to avoid.

Fear.

But what I didn’t know was that this was only the beginning.

Because very soon, my life was about to change in a way I never imagined.