WHEN WE MET AGAIN
Chapter One – The Night Everything Ended
The last night of secondary school was supposed to be perfect.
The hall was decorated with gold and white streamers. Music played loudly as students laughed, danced, and took pictures. It was graduation night — the night everyone promised to remember forever.
Aisha stood near the balcony, her blue dress flowing softly in the night breeze. She wasn't looking at the crowd.
She was looking for him.
Daniel.
They had been best friends since their first year. Same class. Same dreams. Same secret smiles. Everyone knew they were more than friends — even if they had never officially said it.
"Have you seen Daniel?" she asked her friend, Amaka.
Amaka hesitated. "He's… outside. With some people."
Aisha didn't like the sound of that.
She walked toward the school gate and then she saw him.
Daniel was standing close to a girl from another school — Vanessa. They were laughing. Too close. Too comfortable.
Her heart tightened.
She didn't wait to ask questions.
She didn't wait to hear explanations.
She turned around.
Daniel saw her just as she was walking away.
"Aisha!" he called.
But she didn't stop.
That night, pride spoke louder than love.
She deleted his number.
He sent messages.
She never replied.
The next morning, Daniel left for the UK to continue his studies.
And just like that… they ended.
Without closure.
Without truth.
Without goodbye.
Chapter Two – Six Years Later
Lagos had changed.
And so had Aisha.
Now 24, she worked at a growing media company. She was confident, beautiful, and independent — but love? She avoided it.
Because first love leaves scars.
One Friday evening, her friend Amaka dragged her to an engagement party.
"You need to stop working and live small," Amaka insisted.
Aisha rolled her eyes but agreed.
The event was beautiful — fairy lights, live band, soft laughter filling the air.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
"Aisha?"
Her heart stopped before her body did.
She turned slowly.
Daniel.
Older. Broader shoulders. Cleaner haircut. But the same eyes.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"You look… different," he finally said.
"So do you," she replied calmly, even though her heart was racing.
"I didn't know you'd be here."
"I didn't know you were back in Nigeria."
Silence.
Then Amaka came running.
"You two finally met again," she said nervously.
Aisha frowned. "Finally?"
Daniel looked at Amaka sharply.
But it was too late.
"What do you mean finally?" Aisha asked.
Amaka swallowed. "Daniel has been back for almost a year."
Aisha's eyes snapped to him.
"You've been here… for a year?"
He exhaled slowly. "Yes."
"And you didn't think to reach out?"
"You blocked me, Aisha."
The past wasn't as dead as she thought.
Chapter Three – The Truth She Never Knew
A few days later, Daniel asked to meet her.
She almost said no.
But curiosity is stronger than pride.
They met at a quiet café.
"You deserve the truth," Daniel said.
"About Vanessa?" she asked coldly.
He shook his head. "Vanessa was asking me about studying abroad. That's it."
Aisha blinked.
"I saw you two. You looked close."
"I was telling her goodbye. That night was my last night in Nigeria."
Aisha's chest tightened.
"You could have explained."
"I tried," he said quietly. "You wouldn't answer. You blocked me everywhere."
Silence fell between them.
Then he added something that changed everything.
Chapter Four – The Ring He Couldn't Hide
Aisha forced herself to breathe normally.
"I never stopped loving you."
Those words stayed in the air between them.
Dangerous.
Powerful.
Too late.
She looked back at him — and that's when she saw it.
The ring.
Her eyes froze on his hand resting on the table.
Silver.
Simple.
Permanent.
Her chest tightened instantly.
"You're engaged."
It wasn't a question.
Daniel didn't move.
Didn't hide it.
Didn't deny it.
"Yes."
That one word shattered something fragile inside her.
She let out a quiet laugh, but there was no humor in it.
"Of course you are."
"Aisha—"
"No," she said, standing up. "Don't explain. You've done enough."
"It's not what you think."
"It never is."
She grabbed her bag.
He stood quickly. "I don't love her."
That stopped her.
Just for a second.
But she didn't turn back.
"Then that's even worse," she said softly.
And she walked away.
This time, her heart wasn't confused.
It was breaking all over again.
Chapter Five – The Night He Came Back
It was past midnight when she heard the knock.
Aisha froze on her bed.
Another knock.
She already knew who it was.
She opened the door slowly.
Daniel stood there.
No suit jacket. No perfect composure. Just him.
Raw.
Real.
"I know I don't deserve your time," he said.
His voice was lower. Rougher.
"But I needed to see you."
Her heart pounded painfully.
"You shouldn't be here."
"I know."
But he didn't leave.
Neither did she close the door.
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Loaded.
"I tried to forget you," he admitted.
Her throat tightened.
"I dated other people."
That hurt more than she expected.
"But none of them were you."
Her defenses weakened.
Dangerously.
"I hate what you do to me," she whispered.
He stepped closer.
Close enough that she could feel his warmth.
Close enough that one more step would erase the space between them.
"Aisha…"
Her name in his voice wasn't just sound.
It was memory.
It was longing.
It was unfinished love.
Chapter Six – The Kiss That Changed Everything
She should have stepped back.
She didn't.
He should have walked away.
He couldn't.
Six years of distance collapsed into inches.
His hand lifted slowly, brushing lightly against her arm.
Her skin reacted instantly.
Electric.
Alive.
Her breath caught.
His eyes dropped to her lips.
Then back to her eyes.
Giving her time to stop him.
She didn't.
So he kissed her.
Soft.
Slow.
Careful.
Like he was afraid she might disappear.
Her fingers grabbed his shirt without thinking.
Pulling him closer.
The kiss deepened.
Years of suppressed emotion pouring out at once.
Pain.
Love.
Anger.
Desire.
Everything.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily.
"This is wrong," she whispered.
But she didn't let go.
Chapter Seven – The Night They Forgot the World
He stepped inside.
She closed the door behind him.
That small sound felt like crossing a line neither of them could uncross.
They stood there.
Looking at each other.
Seeing not who they were.
But who they had always been to each other.
He touched her face gently.
"I missed you."
Her eyes closed.
She leaned into his hand.
That was all it took.
The walls she built for six years collapsed completely.
She kissed him again.
This time, there was nothing careful about it.
Nothing hesitant.
Only truth.
Only need.
Only them.
Chapter Eight – The Morning Reality
Sunlight filled the room.
Aisha woke slowly.
Then memory hit.
Daniel.
He was still there.
Watching her quietly.
His fingers brushed her arm.
Soft.
Familiar.
Dangerous.
Reality returned.
The ring was still on his finger.
And suddenly, nothing felt simple anymore.
Chapter Nine – The Woman He Was Supposed to Marry
Clara knew.
She saw the distance in his eyes.
"You saw her."
Daniel didn't lie.
"Yes."
Clara nodded slowly.
"And you're still in love with her."
Silence confirmed everything.
Clara smiled sadly.
"I was never the one."
Chapter Ten – The Choice He Couldn't Avoid
Daniel stood in his family's living room.
"I'm ending the engagement."
His mother's face hardened.
"You will not destroy this family for a girl."
"She's not just a girl."
"She's nothing."
Daniel's voice turned cold.
"She's everything."
Chapter Eleven – The Price of Love
Aisha's career began to suffer.
Projects reassigned.
Cold looks.
Whispers.
She knew why.
Daniel's world was punishing her existence.
And it was only the beginning.
Chapter Twelve – The Distance Returns
"I can't do this," she told him.
His heart dropped.
"I won't lose myself loving you again."
He stepped closer.
"You won't."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
But fear was stronger than promises.
Chapter Thirteen – Losing Her Again
She stopped answering his calls.
Stopped replying his messages.
History repeating itself.
But this time…
He refused to let her go.
Chapter Fourteen – The Fight
He showed up at her office.
In front of everyone.
"I'm not leaving."
Her heart raced.
"You don't get to decide that."
"No," he said quietly.
"You do."
Chapter Fifteen – The Truth She Couldn't Escape
"I still love you," he said.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Because she still loved him too.
And that was the problem.
Chapter Sixteen – The Breaking Point
His mother gave him an ultimatum.
"Choose her, and you lose everything."
Daniel didn't hesitate.
"I choose her."
Chapter Seventeen – The Fall and Rise
He lost business deals.
Lost family support.
Lost security.
But he didn't lose her.
And for the first time…
He was free.
Chapter Eighteen – The Moment She Believed Him
"I gave up everything," he said.
She shook her head.
"No."
He touched her hand.
"I gained everything."
Her heart surrendered completely.
Chapter Nineteen – No More Running
She kissed him first this time.
No fear.
No hesitation.
No pride.
Just love.
Pure.
Certain.
Unbreakable.
Chapter Twenty – When We Met Again
Standing together.
Heart to heart.
No secrets.
No distance.
No lies.
Just two people who lost each other once…
And found their way back.
For good.