February 14 💌

Episode 2a: what happens when love leads to danger?

Feb 11, 2026

Fikayo smiled throughout her ride back to her hostel. Ada would be so jealous when she told her how she made up with Dapo after about a month without communicating. She wished things could be simpler, but when a hot-looking dude liked you, it was in your hands to protect or destroy such a relationship.

He was the definition of TDH, (tall, dark and handsome) and he knew God too — or at least that’s what he said. Afterall, he never objected to the times she invited him to her local church, even if he wasn’t a “serious Christian.”

Her mind flashed to how things went down. She didn’t exactly like the way they reconciled, but she didn’t have a choice. (Or maybe, she did.) She had marched down to his apartment outside campus with the intention to break up, but on arrival, she met him shirtless instead, wearing that smile of his that made all her senses fade away.

He said he wanted to talk too, but the only communication that happened was the harmony of their breathing as he put his lips on hers. It was less talk, heck! no talking at all - just touching. It was very intense, and she knew she was gradually slipping away. It would only be a matter of time before she surrendered her virginity too. He had touched her in so many places, and there was this tingling sensation she felt. She knew it was wrong, but she was too far gone to help herself. She heaved a sigh of almost relief as she tried to convince herself it was worth it.

She was only a short distance away when she noticed a small crowd outside her room. Her chest tightened, and her heartbeat quickened as her steps increased, curiosity mingling with dread. She eventually got to the door, and the screams became louder. Pushing in, she saw Halima - her bunkmate, crying her eyes out as people sighed in “eya” and “what a pity.” Halima’s eyes were puffy from crying, and her face was swollen.

“Did Hakeem break up with you?” she asked. It was tradition for some guys to end things with their girlfriends, especially when they didn’t have money and Valentine’s was fast approaching. She knew the drill — pretend the girl did something wrong, ghost or outrightly break up, then reconcile after Valentine’s to avoid buying gifts. Most especially now that it was seven days away.

“Even worse,” Halima spat, snapping Fikayo back to reality. “Hakeem has HIV, Fikayo. HIV. And we’ve been having unprotected sex for the past three months. Oh, what have I done to myself? My late father would be rolling in his grave right now.” Fikayo was dumbfounded, to say the least. So many thoughts raced through her mind, but her mouth couldn’t find the words. “H… H… HIV?” Who still has HIV in 2026? she thought to herself.

Halima’s words intruded again. “No wonder. No wonder I had constant headaches, and then the fever came with fatigue. At first, I thought it was malaria, but after self-medicating twice, it worsened. I thought I was pregnant, I was so sure since I missed my period. It was only when I went to the hospital to find out how far gone I was that the doctor broke the sad news: I’ve been infected with HIV. And you know - you know Hakeem is the only guy I’ve ever been with.” By now, more people had crowded not just the room and the entrance, but the corridor as well - almost fighting for a chance to listen.

Seeing how sensitive the situation was, Fikayo figured it was better if everyone left. If she couldn’t help Halima feel better, she could at least prevent her from narrating her life’s woe in front of the entire hostel. “Thank you all for your concern, but I suggest you leave now. As you can see, she’s not in the best emotional space. Goodnight,” she said, leading the way out. Some hissed, murmured, and shouted “why?” and “ahan,” but she didn’t care. Halima was not going to take on the identity of an HIV victim in front of them.

“Oh, Halima,” Fikayo said, kneeling and taking her hands in her palms. “I’m really sorry about this. Is there a way to manage the condition?” “Yes, there is,” Halima replied. “The doctor mentioned ART - Antiretroviral Therapy. He said it would stop the virus from multiplying and protect my immune system so it doesn’t progress into AIDS.” “But… but that’s good news, right?” Fikayo asked, hopeful.

“Well, that’s if I don’t kill myself first.” Halima let out a hollow laugh. “Who would marry me, Fikayo? My life is over, OVER! I’m just 23 and look at the path I’ve chosen for myself. To think that I mocked you for abstaining. I laughed at you, now see where my foolishness has led me. And to think that the idiot was not even remorseful - the nerve of him to have cheated on me and still have the guts to infect me. Ah, men are scum! Aye mi ti parí! My mother sent me to school to read, and this is how I repay her? Ah, Halima, you are wicked…”

Hours Later.

Fikayo had successfully put Halima to sleep. It had been a hassle getting her to stop crying and even to clean up, so she didn’t push her to eat anything.

Halima’s words kept echoing in her mind. But was her life really over? It wasn’t - not if she accepted Jesus.

Then again, Fikayo was no saint herself. She had gradually blurred the lines between right and wrong, especially when it came to her convictions about physical boundaries with Dapo. Her mind drifted back to earlier that day - the way Dapo ran his fingers across her body, as though he had mastered the art of exploration. He was more experienced, anyway. If not for her ovulation, she wouldn’t have resisted when he tried to undo her zipper. She had been ready to do anything to keep him, even if it meant throwing away her convictions. She once thought of Valentine’s Day — of giving herself to him like a sacrifice laid on an altar, proof of devotion, proof of love. And now that Valentine’s was just around the corner, she found herself considering it again.

She remembered Ada, and how petty she had been to even conceive such a thought - rubbing it in her face that she had made up with Dapo, when in fact what happened was a “make-up sex” without the sex. All because Ada never failed to call out her wrongdoings. She was annoyed because she felt Ada was acting holier-than-thou, and at some point, Fikayo had even thought she was jealous of her and Dapo.

She was wrong.

Ada had always been there for her. From the very first day she resumed JSS1, when her mates made fun of how oversized her skirt was, Ada defended her, and she was never bullied again. That was, in fact, how they started talking. Ada led her to Christ on a Friday evening, 2 years ago, when she tried to end her life after losing her mum and was gradually slipping into depression. Ada had always been there — correcting her in love, yet she kept pushing her away.

What if Halima knew she wasn’t as innocent?

Oh, she wanted so badly to help her, but she was filthy herself. How could she go to God? What would she even say? She had disappointed Him time and time again. Just eight months with Dapo, and she had gone down a very dark path. How did her convictions shift from “marriage with the bed undefiled” to “doing anything possible to keep her relationship?” The first time they kissed, she wept and fasted for three days in repentance, swearing it would never happen again. But it did - again, and again, and again until her conscience no longer pricked her the way it used to.

“Oh Lord, what do I do? I’ve come to the end of myself, and I need Your help,” she finally said, lying on her bed and hoping sleep would come. Her phone buzzed and lit up. It was a text from Ada. She quickly opened it and saw an invitation to a programme for ladies. The message read: “I know it’s last minute, but I sense the Lord would have you be here. Please attend if you can.”

Fikayo felt goosebumps all over her. It hadn’t even been up to a minute after she said the prayer that Ada reached out. Was this God reaching out to her? There was no time for guessing, she would have to attend and see for herself.

Early the next morning, Fikayo got ready, prepared breakfast for Halima, and wrote her a short note, informing her that she would be away for the most part of the day. She had called her sister in the early hours of the morning, explaining that Halima needed her. She figured Halima could use a familiar face, since she would most likely be indoors all day, given the situation. She said a short prayer for Halima and told God she needed just a word - proof that He saw her and was with her; and then she left.

She arrived and scanned the hall, searching for any sign of Ada at the program, but she was nowhere to be found. Fikayo sighed. How could she have invited me and not be here? she thought to herself. She was ready to apologize for her foolishness and ask that their friendship be restored, but now she felt disappointed. The worship was powerful, and it was evident that the presence of God was manifest there. The lead singer sang a song Fikayo had never heard before, yet it struck a chord deep in her heart:

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down, fights till I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine.
And I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still You gave Yourself away. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.

She typed out a line of the chorus in her notes app, making a mental note to listen to it again after the program. As the lyrics were projected on the screen, she followed along, trying to sing.

But why does God leave the 99 for 1? she wondered. Isn’t that risky? Can’t the 1 be let go, since 99 is greater? These thoughts plagued her mind. But little did she know…

Author’s Note: Hello reader, I know today’s episode ended a little abruptly; but don’t worry, the final part drops same time tomorrow.

For now, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you think about Fikayo and Halima? What about Fikayo and Ada’s friendship - does it feel solid to you? And her relationship with Dapo… do you think love, in this sense, can lead to danger? Let’s talk in the comments.

Growth & Vulnerability 🌱💜

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