Episode 5: The Woman Before Me
I didn’t sleep properly that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, my mind replayed Amaka’s words.
“She even stayed with him for some time.”
That sentence bothered me more than it should have.
Not because Daniel had a past.
Everybody has one.
But because suddenly, I could picture another woman inside that apartment.
Sleeping in his bed.
Cooking in that kitchen.
Laughing with him on that same couch where we watched movies together.
And worst of all…
Maybe believing the exact same promises I was starting to believe.
By morning, my chest already felt heavy.
Chioma noticed immediately.
“You look like somebody that saw spiritual husband in dream.”
I ignored her and continued brushing my teeth.
“Ada.”
I sighed.
“Amaka told me Daniel almost got married before.”
Chioma paused.
Then slowly lowered the cream she was holding.
“Ooooh.”
That one “ooh” alone annoyed me.
“Can everybody stop reacting like I’m dating a criminal?”
“I didn’t say that,” she replied carefully. “But did he tell you himself?”
“No.”
“Hmmm.”
I hated that “hmmm” too.
“Why are you acting weird?”
Chioma sat on her bed.
“Because serious relationships leave serious scars. Sometimes people carry unfinished emotions longer than they admit.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You people want me to become paranoid.”
“No. We just don’t want you becoming another ‘he wasted my time’ testimony.”
I stayed quiet.
The truth was… I didn’t know what to think anymore.
Daniel had been honest about Vanessa being an ex.
But why didn’t he mention they once lived together?
Why leave out something that important?
That afternoon, he called me.
The moment I heard his voice, my emotions became confused again.
Because somehow, despite all the doubts in my head…
Talking to him still felt comforting.
“How’s my stubborn girlfriend?” he asked softly.
I smiled despite myself.
“I’m not stubborn.”
“You refused to answer my messages for three hours.”
“I was sleeping.”
“At noon?”
“Mind your business.”
He laughed quietly.
God.
That laugh alone could lower my blood pressure.
Then he asked:
“Are you free this evening?”
I hesitated briefly.
“Yes.”
“Come over.”
My chest tightened immediately at the thought of his apartment again.
Still…
I went.
—
When I arrived, Daniel opened the door looking unusually relaxed.
He wore simple grey joggers and a black T-shirt.
No effort.
No pressure.
Yet somehow still attractive enough to annoy me.
“You’re frowning already,” he said as I entered.
“I’m thinking.”
“Dangerous activity.”
I almost smiled.
Almost.
The apartment smelled like fried plantain and stew.
“You cooked again?”
“I’m trying to secure husband of the year award.”
That made me laugh properly for the first time in days.
But the laughter faded quickly once we sat down.
Because I knew I needed answers.
Daniel noticed the change immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
I looked at him carefully.
“You lived with your ex.”
Silence.
Not shock.
Not confusion.
Just silence.
Then he leaned back slowly.
“Amaka told you.”
It wasn’t a question.
I nodded.
For a few seconds, he rubbed his jaw quietly before speaking.
“Yes. We lived together.”
Hearing him confirm it directly made my chest tighten.
“How long?”
“Almost a year.”
I swallowed hard.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Daniel looked genuinely tired suddenly.
“Because I’m not proud of it.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He exhaled slowly.
“I didn’t want our relationship constantly compared to my past.”
I looked away.
Too late for that.
Then he spoke again.
“When Vanessa moved in, I thought marriage was next.”
Something painful crossed his face briefly.
“But life became complicated.”
“How?”
“My business problems started. Pressure increased. We began fighting constantly.”
He paused.
“Then eventually she left.”
I stared quietly at the floor.
“What if history repeats itself?” I asked softly before I could stop myself.
Daniel became still.
Then he moved closer.
“Ada… you’re not Vanessa.”
“You loved her too.”
“Yes,” he admitted calmly. “But not the way I love you.”
My heart reacted instantly, but my brain refused to melt completely this time.
“That’s easy to say now.”
“I know.”
He sounded frustratingly sincere.
Then he added:
“You know the biggest mistake I made with her?”
I looked up slowly.
“I built a relationship without structure.”
I frowned slightly.
“What does that mean?”
“We were acting like husband and wife without actually deciding where things were going.”
That sentence landed heavily between us.
Because wasn’t that exactly the fear everybody had been warning me about?
Daniel continued quietly:
“With you, I don’t want confusion.”
I studied his face carefully.
Then suddenly he said something that made my entire body tense.
“I want to marry you someday.”
The room became completely silent.
I genuinely forgot how to breathe.
“What?”
“I know it sounds fast.”
Fast?
This man was talking about marriage like he was discussing weather.
“I’m serious,” he said calmly. “Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not this year. But I’m not dating you casually.”
My heart started beating so loudly I could hear it.
Part of me wanted to believe him fully.
Another part became terrified.
Because promises are beautiful…
Until life changes them.
I looked down at my hands.
“Daniel… I’m scared.”
His voice softened immediately.
“Of me?”
“Of getting attached to something that may not last.”
That answer seemed to hit him deeply.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then finally:
“I can’t promise life will never become difficult.”
He held my hand gently.
“But I can promise you’ll never question my intentions.”
My eyes burned suddenly.
And that was when I realized the real danger.
Not the apartment.
Not Vanessa.
Not my friends’ opinions.
The real danger was that I was already falling deeply enough for this man to break my heart completely if things went wrong.
Then suddenly…
His phone buzzed on the table.
Daniel glanced at the screen.
And immediately, his expression changed.
Not panic this time.
Something else.
Stress.
He declined the call quickly.
But I had already seen the name.
Vanessa Calling…
Again.
