Grace trudged home, her steps heavy with defeat. Tears blurred her vision as she replayed the moment her job slipped away, each word of dismissal a dagger to her passion for teaching. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on her shoulders, casting a shadow over her once-bright dreams. Her eyes clouded as tears hung in the brim of her eyes. She tried hard to conceal her feelings a bit it was just impossible.  Drown in thoughts, she returned the school textbooks to the Creative Minds Academy library and handled the class register and lesson plan notes to Mrs. Tunmise, the school Principal.

Grace just resumed class that morning when she called her into her office with a stern face.

"Miss Grace, look. I care about my students so I won't let anything jeopardize my years of hard work and dedication.  I've done a lot to brand this school in the eyes of the public. What I'm trying to say is, a strange young nan visited yesterday asking of you. He introduced himself as Oreoluwa Clifford, and he said that he was your fiance. He talked about an incident that occurred in the primary school you previously worked with.  About the missing pupil and how the police found her. I know how nice and hard-working you are. Last night, I barely slept a wink because I had doubts, I had to reach out to Mrs. Njoku who you worked with. She confirmed that it was true. I don't think you can continue working with us anymore. If the parents find out, I'm afraid of what might happen.  I also discussed this with my husband, the proprietor this morning. He gave me the go-ahead."

"Did the guy mention his reason for visiting?" she summoned the courage to ask Mrs. Tunmise.

"Yes, the averagely tall guy wanted to see you. He introduced himself as Oreoluwa, and he begged me for your contact,  I was scared of causing you more trouble so I didn't give him."

Tears rolled down Grace's chin as she strolled to the bus stop. She wiped her eyes and sniffled repeatedly. Some passersby gave her awkward stares while others didn't care. Life was tough, everyone had their fair share.

Grace sighted a green taxi awaiting more passengers by the side of the road. Grace joined a seat and asked a lady to help get with her phone. She needed to call someone urgently. The lady was kind enough to lend it to her. Thanks. Grace bowed slightly and clicked Ore's contact on it.

It was closing time at Creative Minds Academy. Ore was at the school gate, awaiting Grace to emerge. He looked charming and eager, in his usual jean trousers and white long-sleeve. Keeping through the gates, his phone rang.

It was a strange number. Ore wondered whether to answer or not. Once the caller dialled his contact again, he picked it up with a clouded mind. "This is a wrong number! Please,  don't call me back." He fired, about to end the call when he heard the call's voice.

"Ore, it's me, Grace."

Listening to her calm voice, he recognized it to be hers.
"My love, is that you?" his eyes widened in disbelief, while his have brushed through his low haircut.   "Where have you been? I'm at your school gate waiting for you." his calm voice suddenly heightened amidst a withheld smile. "We could visit a restaurant and chat if you want."

"We've broken up, Ore. It seems you don't realize but it's over between us. Please, forget me as soon as I end this call because we'll never meet."

"No, grace... I'm not over you yet and I'm not letting go. Let's meet even if it's only once. Living is hard without you, I can't eat or sleep, Grace." His voice breaks over the phone. "My mind isn't settled. I know my dad convinced you to leave but we can solve this ourselves. How can you return the proposal ring like that? Do I mean nothing to you?"

Grace looked up and away, with tears pouring down her stormy eyes. She held her forehead to hide her face. Her legs felt weak, she sat under a nearby tree while the driver alerted "One more, one more!"

Ore went light-headed as if he was sick. His heart thudded at the back of his throat as he heard Grace choking back a sob over the phone.

"Grace, where are you now? I told you I'd be at your school gate!"

"How much do you want to make me miserable before you let go of me? The five years of being with you have been the worst years of my life! I finally found a decent job away from you, but you came on the third day and snatched it away! I was sacked today from that school and it's all your fault.  We would have met if you had come two hours earlier, but it seems we're not fated to meet after all. Who will employ me now?"

"Tell me where you are and I'll come."

"I left... Oreoluwa or whatever name you bear, please. I beg you in God's name, leave me alone and move on with your life! Return home and be a good son to your parents."

Grace's heart seized as she pressed the end call button. Something inside her wrenched and soured inside of her. Instead of breaking down in tears, she sniffled it away and handed the phone back to the owner.

"Thanks, ma."

"No, Grace, Hello! Hello!" he yelled back until he realized she cut the call. Ore redialed the contact, but it was not reachable.

Unable to hold back the tears, Grace grabbed her handbag. "I'll just take the public bus." She told the driver who was still waiting for his last passenger.

"What? We are almost ready!" He blurted at her but his attitude didn't move Grace. Her mind was flooded. The woman watched her confidently as she left. The public bus was usually slow, but cheaper. Just then, a couple joined the taxi and they were ready to move.

Once Grade boarded a moving public bus, the woman's phone was liberated as she picked up the call.
"Hello, who is this?" She raised a brow.

It puzzled Ore to hear a different voice. "I want to speak with Grace, the lady I just spoke to now."

"Oh, she already took a public bus. That lady lent my phone just now, sorry." With that, she ended the call and the taxi took off. Ore looked at his phone with a mask of blank terror, more pained than earlier. He entered his car to ponder on her words. He couldn't find sense in her decisions. Ore held onto his steering wheel and collapsed in ragged sobs.

Later that night, Cryst sat in a clubhouse, drunk to a spur. The bottles on her table were blurred as they multiplied in her dizzy eyes. She belched and emptied the content down her throat, it was the fifth bottle of champagne she had consumed in her spot.

The clubhouse was noisy and the dancers were having fun. Some were making out where Cryst sat, but she wasn't concerned. No one in her family truly loved her. Micheal who she paid a listening ear turned his back at her today. She lives with him due to her father's wish, but Micheal is blinded by his love for his gold-digging wife. She handy come for fun, but to forget about the mystery and heartbreak.

"Do you pay someone to spy on my wife, are you crazy?" the way Micheal gritted her teeth and almost landed her a slap played in her mind.

Crystal shook her head as if by doing so, the pain would fall off. "Why can't I forget?" Hot tears swelled behind her ears as she scrolled through her phone. No missed calls, no text messages. It was 11:00 p.m already. It's almost midnight and I can't take these thoughts off my mind.

Previously, some friends texted her to meet up at the club, but they never showed up. No one offered her a drink or dance, she was a ghost to herself. The more Cryst tried to forget, the harder it became. She grabbed another bottle and raised it to get her mouth when she realized that it was empty. Checking through her purse for cash, but nothing was there. Only her makeup equipment. Then, Cryst pulled from her chair but her butt slammed into her seat. She summoned up her strength again, gently this time. Her eyes narrowed as she visited the washroom. Splashing water over her face with the hope that her vision will clear up a bit. After that, she found her way out of the clubhouse. Her legs were heavy as if walking in a pool, and her knees wobbled. Just turning, she saw a tall figure walk in. Unsure of his face, she walked up to him and tripped. He was familiar. His stinky-scenting sweat.

"Gosh! Are you crazy?"

"Hello, handsome." She blushed at him, but he pushed her away and settled in a chair at the bartender. She followed suit and sat next to him. Her light head rested on the table. Ore avoided gaze with Cryst and ordered a bottle of beer.

Cryst watched him blankly, biting on her lower lip. "You seem sober, is everything alright?"

Ore tore her a glare and rolled his eyes at how wasted ate was. Although Cryst was the last person he expected to see at the club, she disgusted him.

"Buy me a drink, will you?"

"I don't owe you, young lady!"

"Of course, you do."

"Don't rip me off, it's my dad's car, not mine." Ore retorted. "You have no idea what he said to me for that scratch you made."

"Are you blaming me now?" She chuckled. "I don't care whose car it was. You owe me two outings! One drink and one date!" she yelled at him in persuasion due to the background noise.

"Okay, this is the first drink. We had a date the last time, haven't we?"

"You're funny." She nodded at him in laughter as if he cracked a joke. "You left angrily and barely ate and you call that a date? I accept if you'll buy me two bottles of drink now but, you'll have to take me out on a proper date on Friday."

"Agreed." Ore rolled his eyes and handed the bartender his ATM card. I need two bottles of beer. He made an order. Crystal couldn't help but admire his guts.

They drank all night.