IN THE WHEEL I FELL AGAIN chapter 4

ON THE WHEEL I FELL AGAIN

Chapter 4

Ifeoluwa’s POV

The next morning came faster than I expected.

I barely slept.

Part of me was excited. The other part… was nervous.

I woke up early, packed a few of my clothes into a small bag, and looked around our tiny room. The cracked wall, the old mattress, the small table everything suddenly felt different.

Like I was leaving a chapter of my life behind.

“Be careful, okay?” Eniola said as she hugged me tightly.

“I will,” I replied, forcing a smile.

“This is our breakthrough,” she added.

I nodded.

“I won’t mess it up.”

I stepped out of the house and took a deep breath.

This job had to work.

It had to.

—

When I arrived at the house, the gate opened almost immediately.

The same security man from yesterday nodded at me.

“You’re here again.”

“Yes,” I said. “I resumed today.”

He let me in.

The compound still amazed me. Everything looked clean, quiet, and… expensive.

I adjusted my bag nervously as I walked inside.

Moments later, his mother came to meet me.

“You’re welcome, Ifeoluwa,” she said warmly.

“Good morning ma.”

“Come, let me show you to my son.”

My heart skipped.

This was it.

We walked through a long hallway until we got to a large room.

She opened the door.

And there he was.

A young man sitting in a wheelchair.

His back was slightly turned, but I could see his broad shoulders, his posture, the quiet stillness around him.

He looked… strong.

But also distant.

“Femi,” his mother called gently.

He didn’t respond.

She stepped closer.

“Femi, this is Ifeoluwa. She will be taking care of you.”

Slowly, he turned.

Our eyes met.

For a moment, everything felt still.

His eyes were sharp.

Cold.

Like someone who had built walls so high, nobody could climb them.

“This is Femi, my son,” she said, smiling softly at me.

I managed to nod.

“Good morning, sir.”

No response.

Just silence.

Then she looked at both of us.

“I’ll leave you two to get to know each other.”

And just like that… she left.

The door closed.

Leaving just the two of us.

Me…

And him.

The silence became heavy.

I swallowed.

“My name is Ifeoluwa,” I said softly. “I will be

“I don’t need you.”

His voice cut through my words like a blade.

I froze.

“I’m fine on my own,” he continued coldly. “So you can leave.”

My heart sank.

“I… I was asked to take care of you—”

“I said leave.”

His voice was louder now.

Angrier.

I gripped my bag tighter.

“I need this job,” I said quietly.

That was the truth.

Not pride.

Not ego.

Just survival.

He stared at me.

Long and hard.

Like he was trying to figure me out.

But his face didn’t soften.

Not even a little.

Femi’s POV

The moment I saw her…

I was already annoyed.

Another one.

Another maid my mother had brought to “help” me.

Like I was some kind of helpless person.

I hate it.

I hate the pity.

I hate the way people look at me like I’m broken.

And now… her.

Standing there, looking nervous.

Soft.

Like she didn’t belong here.

“I don’t need you,” I said.

She didn’t leave.

That alone irritated me more.

“I’m fine on my own. So you can go.”

Still, she stood there.

Why wasn’t she leaving?

“I said leave!” I snapped.

But then she said something that made me pause.

“I need this job.”

Her voice was low.

Not proud.

Not challenging.

Just… honest.

I looked at her again.

Really looked this time.

She looked tired.

Like life had already dealt with her before she even walked into my house.

But I didn’t care.

Or at least… I told myself I didn’t.

“I don’t care what you need,” I said coldly. “You won’t last here.”

Her eyes didn’t leave mine.

“I will,” she said quietly.

That answer…

I didn’t expect it.

Something about her tone irritated me.

But also…

It did something else I didn’t understand.

I turned my chair away from her.

“Do whatever you want,” I muttered. “But don’t get in my way.”

Silence filled the room again.

And for the first time in a long time…

Someone didn’t run away from me.