My Boyfriend’s Ex Wants Him Back

It was a night of torrential rain, and I was staying at my boyfriend Onyekachi's house. Feeling hungry, I was about to whip up a late-night snack when I turned and saw the living room door swing open. It was Onyekachi's ex-girlfriend—Devinne. At that moment, Onyekachi wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, and I could feel his grip tighten. "Onyekachi..." He ignored her, turned his head away, and continued to hold me, reaching into the fridge for our snack. "Onyekachi, can't you hear me?" Devinne stood there, soaked to the bone and looking like a mess, her anger radiating off her. Yet Onyekachi treated her as if she were invisible. "Babe, let's have this." His voice was calm, just loud enough for both of us to hear. It was the first time I heard him call me something so intimate, and Devinne's face turned a shade of embarrassment. Bang! The door slammed shut with a heavy thud. Onyekachi acted as if nothing had happened, casually holding me as he strolled into the kitchen. "How does she know the code to the house?" I had heard bits about Onyekachi's ex, not that I wanted to question him, but something about his demeanor made me uneasy. "I forgot to change it. I'll do it tomorrow." I didn't want to overthink it, nor did I ask further. Everyone knew about Devinne's knack for causing a scene. For a moment, I even felt a bit sorry for Onyekachi. "Babe, don't be mad. I'll change it tomorrow." "Hmm?" How did he know I was upset? A clap of thunder sounded outside, and I felt Onyekachi's body tense behind me. While cooking the noodles, I tried to read the expression on his unseen face. Was he worried? Or was I just imagining things? "Bring an egg over." I said it casually, but Onyekachi didn't move. I put down my chopsticks and turned around, and only then did he realize. "Huh?" I silently took an egg from the fridge, noticing his expression matched my suspicions exactly. Suddenly, I remembered the strange text I received a few days ago, not from a stranger, but from Devinne. "Onyekachi has only ever loved me. Just a little flutter in front of him, and his heart is mine. You can't compete with me." At first, I thought it was just jealousy from unrequited love, not even considering Onyekachi as a real person. But now, it seemed like everything she said was coming true. Including that "babe" Onyekachi just said—who was it really for? A cold breeze swept between us, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. Onyekachi stared out at the pouring rain, a brief frown crossing his face. Was he worried about Devinne? Or regretting the way he had acted in front of her just now? The noodles in the pot were nearly overcooked. I moved past Onyekachi, suppressing my nervous trembling, and cracked the egg into the pot. Can't let good food go to waste. Onyekachi wrapped his arms around me again, but I quickly pulled away. "The noodles are ready. You eat first, I'm going to change clothes." The torrential rain tonight had already washed away our plans for a date. I was left drenched and eager to change into dry clothes to ward off a cold. When I emerged, I found Onyekachi sitting at the dining table, his eyes glued to his phone, the noodles before him untouched. Suddenly, he sprang up, grabbed an umbrella from the storage room, and stood by the window, phone pressed to his ear. It was clear no one was picking up on the other end. His pacing back and forth betrayed his growing anxiety, sparking a fire of frustration within him. Quietly, I moved to the dining room, intending to eat the noodles. Onyekachi, hearing my approach, quickly came over. I served the noodles, now a clumpy mess from being overcooked and left untouched, looking quite unappetizing. "Her parents messaged me recently," he explained, "saying her mental state hasn't been good. Now she's run off, and I'm worried she might be in danger." I thought to myself, "What a convenient excuse." Onyekachi and Devinne's relationship had been the talk of the university, a real campus sensation. Everyone was convinced they were destined for the altar. But one day, out of the blue, Onyekachi broke up with her, and it wasn't a clean break. Later, I met Onyekachi through a company project, and our connection was intriguingly complex, filled with unexpected chemistry. As we spent more time together, we discovered many shared interests and naturally fell into a relationship. He never hid his past with Devinne from me, and tonight wasn't the first time she'd shown up unannounced. Often, she'd orchestrate "chance encounters" on the streets. "Her current mental state isn't really your responsibility, is it?" I challenged. "Bella, I'll be right back." As Onyekachi prepared to leave, I grabbed his hand, my emotions churning so violently that my stomach began to cramp painfully. "Can't you just stay?" "Bella, I'm sorry." Pain made my hand tremble, my brow furrowed, and I instinctively clutched my stomach, the discomfort forcing me to bend over. "Bella?" "Onyekachi, you can't just dismiss me with an apology like it's nothing. If you can't let her go, why did you get involved with me?" Tears of pain and frustration streamed down my cheeks, each drop a testament to my turmoil. This was one of the most humiliating and heart-wrenching moments of my life. Even when my stomach ached so badly that I rolled around in bed, I hadn't cried this much. Onyekachi's silence only fueled my anger. "Was it loneliness after breaking up with Devinne, or was it intentional?" "Is your stomach bothering you?" he asked, deftly changing the subject, setting the umbrella aside. I thought he had decided to stay. He hurried to pour me a cup of warm water, kneeling to gently massage my aching stomach. But the earlier agitation made it hard to calm down. "We don't have any stomach medicine at home. I'll go buy some." As he picked up the umbrella again, I grabbed his hand once more. He affectionately patted my head. "Be good. The pharmacy is just downstairs. I'll be back soon." Minutes ticked by. Onyekachi still hadn't returned. The water in the cup had lost its warmth, and the noodles were wasted. I leaned back in the chair, wanting to get up and pour myself some hot water, but the pain held me back.As the night grew colder, I felt the chill seep into my bones. I huddled up tighter as the pain in my stomach intensified. It was an old ailment I could never shake off, so I always carried stomach medicine with me, though Onyekachi had forgotten about my habit. Battling through the discomfort, I grasped the cup on the table and, with trembling hands, poured some hot water from the kettle. Slowly, I made my way to the living room, grabbed my bag, and fished out the medicine. After taking it, I collapsed onto the couch, still clutching my stomach. I glanced at my phone; he had been gone for hours. Should I wait a little longer? But in the next moment, I decided I couldn't. I dialed his number, but there was no answer. I tried again, repeatedly, but still nothing. My heart sank with each unanswered call. Suddenly, a message notification chimed. It was from Devinne. Attached was a photo of Onyekachi, caught in the act of making ginger tea. "I heard it's your first night staying over at his place?" the message read. "Hard to believe it took this long. We were already living together back then." Onyekachi finally returned after three in the morning. He rushed over with medicine and a serving of hot cereal. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his scent different, his hair more tousled than when he left. A wave of nausea washed over me. "I thought you said you'd be quick?" I challenged. "I was, but I thought you’d need something to eat with the medicine. This is from your favorite place, and you know how long the line can be," he explained, his tone as calm as still water. Noticing the medicine on the table, he paused. "I was in such a hurry, I forgot you always carry some with you." "Were you rushing to get me medicine, or to see her?" I shot back.