CHAPTER TWO
Six years could change a lot of things.
It could turn a careless girl into a confident woman, transform dreams into reality, and teach a broken heart how to survive without the person it once wanted most.
For Aisha Nwosu, six years had done all three.
At twenty-four, she had built a life she was proud of. She worked as a content strategist at a fast-growing media company in Victoria Island, Lagos. She had her own apartment, a growing career, and friends who admired her independence.
From the outside, her life looked perfect.
But there were certain memories she never discussed, certain songs she skipped whenever they played, and one name she refused to mention.
Daniel.
She had not seen him since their graduation night. After that evening, she stopped answering his calls and ignored every message he sent. Eventually, his calls stopped coming.
At first, she had cried herself to sleep, wondering why he had allowed her to walk away without fighting harder for her.
Later, the sadness became anger.
Eventually, she buried everything beneath work, ambition, and the determination never to let another person have that much power over her heart.
Or so she believed.
On a Friday evening, Aisha sat on her sofa, scrolling through emails on her phone when someone began knocking loudly on her door.
She frowned.
"Who is that?"
"It's your worst nightmare!" a familiar voice shouted from outside.
Aisha sighed before opening the door.
"Amaka, what are you doing here?"
Amaka walked straight into the apartment as though she owned it.
"Is that how you welcome your best friend?"
"My best friend doesn't arrive without calling first."
"Details!" Amaka dropped her handbag on the sofa. "Get dressed. We're going out."
Aisha returned to her seat. "I'm tired."
"You haven't even heard where we're going."
"I don't need to. My answer is no."
Amaka folded her arms. "It's an engagement party."
"Congratulations to them."
"Aisha!"
"What?"
"You cannot spend every weekend inside this apartment, working and pretending that happiness is something you can schedule on your calendar."
Aisha raised an eyebrow. "I go out."
"To work. To meetings. To buy groceries. That doesn't count."
Despite herself, Aisha laughed.
Amaka smiled triumphantly. "There she is! I knew you were still alive beneath all this seriousness."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"You're coming with me, and that's final."
After nearly thirty minutes of arguing, Aisha finally surrendered.
"Fine. But I'm not staying long."
"Of course," Amaka replied, already smiling. "Whatever you say."
Two hours later, Aisha stood before her bedroom mirror in a champagne-coloured dress. She wore simple earrings, matching heels, and a little perfume. Her hair fell neatly around her shoulders.
She looked beautiful, although she would never admit how much effort she had put into her appearance.
Amaka appeared at the bedroom door.
"Wow. Somebody is trying to steal the attention of the engaged couple."
"Please, let's go before I change my mind."
The party was being held at a beautiful garden venue in Lekki. Fairy lights hung between the trees, soft music floated through the air, and guests gathered around tables decorated with flowers and candles.
Aisha stepped out of the car and admired the setting.
"Okay," she admitted. "This place is beautiful."
"I told you."
They walked into the venue, greeting a few familiar faces as they went. Amaka soon became distracted by someone she knew, leaving Aisha near the drinks table.
For the first time that evening, Aisha relaxed.
She took a glass of juice and looked around at the smiling couples and cheerful guests.
She wondered what it would feel like to love someone without constantly preparing herself for disappointment.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
A voice she had not heard in six years.
A voice her heart recognized before her mind could make sense of it.
"Aisha?"
Her fingers tightened around the glass.
No.
It couldn't be.
Slowly, she turned.
And there he stood.
Daniel.
He was taller than she remembered, with broader shoulders, a neatly tailored black suit, and a confidence that had not been there when they were teenagers.
But his eyes were the same.
Those familiar eyes stared at her with disbelief, as though he had spent years imagining this moment without ever expecting it to happen.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Aisha's heart pounded painfully against her chest. She hated that one look from him could disturb the peace she had worked so hard to build.
Daniel took a cautious step forward.
"Aisha," he repeated softly.
She recovered first.
"Daniel."
His eyes searched her face. "You look..."
"Older?" she supplied coldly.
He shook his head. "Beautiful."
She looked away immediately.
"Thank you. Excuse me."
She attempted to walk past him, but his voice stopped her.
"Please. Can we talk?"
Aisha turned back, her expression guarded.
"About what, Daniel? We haven't spoken in six years. I think we've said everything we needed to say."
"No," he replied, his voice suddenly serious. "We haven't."
Before she could answer, a woman approached them and slipped her hand into Daniel's arm.
"Daniel, darling, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."
Aisha's eyes dropped to their joined hands.
The woman smiled at her politely before turning to Daniel.
"Your father is asking for you."
Daniel looked uncomfortable. "I'll be there in a minute."
The woman nodded, then glanced at Aisha again.
"I'm Vanessa, by the way."
Aisha forced a small smile. "Aisha."
"Nice to meet you."
Vanessa turned back to Daniel. "Don't keep everyone waiting."
She walked away.
Aisha stared at Daniel, feeling a familiar ache begin to form inside her chest.
"Your girlfriend?" she asked, trying to sound indifferent.
Daniel looked at her sharply.
"No. Vanessa isn't my girlfriend."
"That's nice."
"Aisha, don't do this."
"Do what? Ask a simple question?"
He rubbed his forehead, clearly frustrated.
"I see you haven't changed."
Aisha laughed without humour.
"And I see you still think you know me."
She turned and walked away before he could respond.
This time, Daniel didn't follow immediately.
He stood still, watching her disappear into the crowd, with the painful realization that six years had not erased what he felt for her.
But it had given her enough time to learn how to live without him.
And winning her back would be far more difficult than he had imagined.