Chapter 17
1083 Words
Ray’s POV
The moment the plane touched down at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, a heavy sigh escaped Ray’s chest. It was the kind of exhale that carried with it months of buried exhaustion, longing, and deep-rooted memories. The familiar humidity of Lagos greeted him like an old friend as he stepped out of the airport, rolling his luggage behind him and adjusting his backpack.
He waved down a cab, told the driver his destination, and leaned back into the worn seat, watching the city pass by in blurs of yellow danfos, hawkers yelling about gala and soft drinks, and the occasional loud burst of Fuji music from roadside stalls.
As the cab navigated through the chaos of the Lagos roads, nostalgia hit him like a punch to the chest.
He remembered walking these same streets—only then, it was on foot. With a worn out slipper, sometimes hungry, always determined. He had worked night shifts in factories, hauling bags, cleaning floors, sorting parts in loud, dusty spaces. Then he would wipe his face, change shirts, and head straight to school.
He had nothing… but he had dreams. Dreams of becoming someone, of building a better life.
And somewhere in the midst of all that struggle, he had found her.
Tracy.
She was this soft-spoken, sweet-eyed girl who helped her mother run a small provision store in Surulere. He used to make excuses just to buy things he didn’t need—sweets, chewing gum, even sachet water—just to catch a glimpse of her smile. It wasn’t long before her mother, Mama Ejiro, noticed. But instead of shutting him out like most people did when they saw a poor boy eyeing their daughter, she welcomed him.
She gave them advice, kept things pure and respectful, and told them, “If this love is real, you’ll both wait. Something you’ll both spend the rest of your life eating it’s not advisable to rush into it. What’s meant to be will be, in time.”
Ray never forgot that. And he kept his word. Even when he moved to South Africa and life started changing—when he got the job in one of the biggest tech companies on the continent—he remained faithful. Because he already had the greatest treasure.
Tracy.
She believed in him when he had nothing. And now, he had something to offer. He couldn’t wait to make her his wife.
The cab pulled up in front of Eko Hotel. The marble-and-glass exterior gleamed in the sun as palm trees swayed gently in the breeze.
“Boss, we don reach,” the driver said.
Ray smiled, reaching for his wallet. “Thanks, my brother.” He paid, grabbed his bags, and walked through the revolving glass doors into the cool, scented air of the hotel’s reception.
He checked in, took the elevator to the 7th floor, and entered his room. It was elegant, with a view of the sea in the distance, but his thoughts were already elsewhere.
He pulled out his phone and dialed the number his fingers had memorized for years.
She picked up on the third ring.
“Baby…” her voice was soft, like music.
Ray grinned, dropping onto the bed. “Hey, angel. I’m home. Just checked into Eko Hotel.”
“You’re here already?” she squealed with excitement, and his heart flipped just hearing her joy.
“Yes oh. And I can’t wait to see you.”
Tracy laughed. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you more,” he replied with a smirk. “I want to see you tomorrow. Can we spend the day together? Just you and me.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I close by 6pm, but I can meet you earlier if I get permission.”
“I’ll be counting every second,” Ray whispered. “I love you, Tracy.”
She paused for a beat. “I love you too, Ray.”
And for that moment, everything felt perfect.
⸻
Tracy’s POV
She ended the call with a giddy smile spreading across her face like sunlight breaking through clouds. Her heart was fluttering—nervous, excited, warm. It was like she could already feel Ray’s arms around her, smell his cologne, hear his laugh in person rather than through the screen of her phone.
She hugged her pillow, rolling on her bed like a schoolgirl with a crush. But this wasn’t just a crush. This was her person. The man who had been there before the glitz, before the complications.
She had tried to convince herself that what she felt for Richard was nothing. That it would fade. And now, with Ray finally back in Nigeria, she was more determined than ever to make things right.
She walked into the living room to help Nana arrange a few flowers in vases when she heard the familiar clicking of heels. Mrs. Regina was coming down the stairs, elegance in every step as always.
“Good morning, ma,” Tracy greeted warmly.
Mrs. Regina studied her for a second, then a knowing smile tugged at her lips. “Someone is glowing this morning. Did you win the lottery or something.”
Tracy chuckled shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s Ray, ma. He’s back in Nigeria. He arrived this morning.”
Mrs. Regina gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock excitement. “Aww, how wonderful! That’s the boyfriend you always talk about, yes?”
Tracy nodded, still grinning. “Yes, ma. We’ve been together for years.”
“Well, no wonder you’ve been smiling since sunrise,” the older woman teased. “Love looks good on you, Tracy.”
“Thank you, ma,” Tracy said softly, touched by the compliment.
“I hope I get to meet him someday,” Mrs. Regina added thoughtfully. “He must be special to have held your heart this long.”
“He really is,” Tracy replied with a small nod. “He’s always been there for me.”
Mrs. Regina smiled warmly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Then don’t lose something that valuable, dear. In a world like this, love that stays is hard to find.”
Tracy nodded, feeling both reassured and anxious. Because deep inside, she knew love wasn’t just about who had been there the longest.
Sometimes, it was about who made your heart skip… even when it shouldn’t.
- Writer
