Adaeze did not sleep well that night.
She tossed from one side of the bed to the other, her mind replaying the warmth of the café, Tunde’s easy laughter… and then the cold words on her phone screen.
Stay away from him. You don’t know him.
She turned the phone face down like it might burn her if she looked at it again. Lagos traffic had introduced Tunde into her life, but Lagos secrets were already threatening to pull him away.
By morning, she had decided on one thing: she needed clarity.
A Friend Who Knows Too Much
At work, Adaeze barely settled into her seat when Chike appeared, leaning casually on her desk.
“You’re early,” he said. “That’s suspicious.”
She smiled faintly. “Good morning to you too.”
Chike was her closest friend in Lagos—smart, dependable, always available. Too available, some people said. He had helped her settle into the city when she first moved from Enugu, helped her get this job, helped her heal when life hit hard.
“What’s bothering you?” he asked, lowering his voice.
Adaeze hesitated, then handed him her phone. “Read this.”
Chike’s brows knitted together as he read the message. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“Did you reply?” he asked.
“No.”
“Good,” he said quickly. Too quickly. “Unknown numbers don’t deserve your attention.”
Adaeze studied his face. “Do you know who might have sent it?”
Chike shook his head. “Lagos is full of busybodies. Probably someone who knows him.”
That answer didn’t sit right with her—but before she could probe further, Chike’s phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen and stiffened.
“Everything okay?” Adaeze asked.
“Yeah,” he replied, forcing a smile. “Work stuff.”
But as he walked away, Chike’s hand trembled slightly.
On the Other Side of Lagos
Tunde’s phone was buzzing nonstop—and this time, it wasn’t romance.
“Bros!” his sister Folake yelled over the phone. “Is it true?”
“Is what true?” Tunde asked, confused.
“That you’re smiling at your phone like a teenage boy?”
Tunde laughed. “You people don’t rest.”
“So it’s true!” Folake squealed. “Who is she?”
“Relax,” he said. “Her name is Adaeze.”
Folake paused. “Adaeze?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm,” she hummed thoughtfully. “Better bring her home one day.”
“One day,” Tunde said quickly. “Not now.”
“Why?” Folake pressed. “Are you hiding her? Or are you hiding something from her?”
Tunde frowned. “You’re overthinking.”
“Am I?” Folake replied. “Just remember—Lagos relationships are not for the weak.”
Her words lingered long after the call ended.
Meddling Begins
Later that evening, Adaeze agreed to meet Chike for dinner at a small roadside spot.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked as they sat.
“I will be,” she replied. “I just want peace.”
Chike nodded, then cleared his throat. “About that guy… Tunde.”
Adaeze looked up. “What about him?”
“I think you should slow down,” Chike said carefully. “You just met him. You don’t know his background.”
Her expression hardened slightly. “Neither did I know yours when we met.”
“That’s different,” he said quickly.
“How?”
Chike opened his mouth—then closed it.
“I’m just looking out for you,” he said finally.
Adaeze sighed. “I appreciate it. But I need to make my own decisions.”
Chike smiled, but something dark flickered behind his eyes.
A Teasing Sister, A Curious Mind
That same night, Folake showed up unannounced at Tunde’s apartment.
“So this is where love is living now,” she said, inspecting the place.
“Get out,” Tunde laughed.
Folake plopped onto the couch. “Tell me everything.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Then why are you hiding your phone?”
Tunde froze. “I’m not hiding anything.”
Folake snatched the phone from his hand before he could react.
“Adaeze?” she read aloud. “Traffic Girl?”
Tunde groaned. “You’re impossible.”
She smiled mischievously. “I like her already.”
“Please don’t interfere,” he warned.
Folake raised her hands. “Me? Interfere? Never.”
But as she stood to leave, she whispered, “I’ll just test her small.”
Tunde didn’t hear her.
The Call That Changed Everything
Later that night, Chike sat alone in his apartment when his phone rang.
Unknown Number.
He hesitated… then picked up.
“You’re getting too close,” a deep voice said.
Chike’s blood ran cold. “Who is this?”
“Stay out of her life,” the voice continued. “Or you’ll regret it.”
The call ended.
Chike stared at his phone, heart pounding.
Across town, Adaeze’s phone buzzed with a new message—this time from Tunde.
Tunde: I had a really good time today. I’d like to see you again. No traffic involved 😊
She smiled despite herself.
But somewhere in Lagos, lines were being crossed, loyalties tested, and intentions questioned.
Because love rarely travels alone—
it always attracts interference.
To be continued…
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