In the quaint outskirts of Otukpo town, a remarkable family lived, bound by tradition and faith. Ochekawo, a devoted police officer, and his wife, Ihotu, a chef, who own and run a local restaurant, shared a profound love that transcended their christian faith.
Together, they honored the ancient oath of Oloche, a sacred promise that wove their destinies together.
Their union was blessed with two children: Ene, affectionately known as Queen, and Agaba Ngbede Emmanuel Achadu, named after the infamous traitor, Agaba of old.
Ochekawo family believed that the seal that holds the enemy bounded in hell would be broken, either during his lifetime or during Agaba's lifetime, sparking an epic battle between good and evil.
As Agaba grew, he began experiencing strange, recurring dreams - the same visions that had haunted Ochekawo since his youth.
It was then that Ochekawo realized Agaba was his chosen successor, destined to unravel the mysteries of their family's past.
As the years passed, the Achadu family remained a beacon of love and Unity. Ene, the elder sibling, graduated from high school and began working as a waitress, awaiting her admission letter.
Agaba, meanwhile, embarked on his own high school journey, surrounded by the unwavering support of his family. Little did they know, their lives were about to take a dramatic turn, one that would test the bonds of their love and the secrets of their ancestral oath.
Abaga stood at 5'11", with a rough exterior that hid a complex soul. He often came across as rude, desperate to prove his toughness to his peers and even the elders.
But beneath the bravado, Agaba was a vulnerable teenager struggling to find his place in the world.
His sister, Ene, was his polar opposite. At 6'1", she was a slender, gorgeous young woman with a quick wit and a playful smile.
Her hard work and dedication inspired Agaba, who often turned to her for emotional support. He considered her a blessing from God, and her presence in his life was a constant source of comfort.
As Agaba navigated the challenges of adolescence, his social circle began to shrink. But one friend remained loyal: Ahmed, an Igala Muslim who lived in the neighbourhood.
Ahmed was a quiet, reserved kid who transformed into a lively, noisy companion when he was with Agaba.
Despite their differences, the two boys shared a deep bond.
When Ahmed's family moved to a new location in Otukpo, the friends were forced to find new ways to spend time together.
They would meet at school, and occasionally, at Ochacho's park, a spawling green space on the west side of the city.
At 17, Agaba enrolled in the city's secondary school, where he and Ahmed joined the science department.
While Agaba was an average student, Ahmed's intelligence and shyness made him a target for bullies.
Agaba, determined to protect his friend, would often confront the bullies, even if it meant putting himself in harm's way.
Though he rarely won his fights, Agaba took pride in leaving his opponents with few bruises and a healthy dose of respect.
Agaba was a lightning rod for disdain in school, with classmates and seniors alike seemingly competing to outdo each other in their scorn.
Yet, like a fortress of solitude, Agaba's spirit remained unbroken, his smile a defiant rebuke to the naysayers.
Ahmed, his confidant, couldn't help but be fascinated by Agaba's Teflon-like resilience. What secrets lay behind his unwavering optimism?.
One fateful afternoon, as they strolled home from school, Ahmed posed the question that had been gnawing at him:
"Agaba, how do you do it? How do you stay so infuriatingly cheerful when the world seems hell-bent on bringing you down?"
Agaba response was characteristically straight forward,
"I've got the dream team in my corner - my mom, dad, sis, and you".
Ahmed's jaw dropped, his mind reeling with the implications. What had he done to earn a spot in Agaba's inner sanctum?
Beneath his tough exterior, Agaba harbored a secret passion - football. Since childhood, the beautiful game had been his sanctuary, his happy place. He had even joined the school's football club, but fate had other plans.
Despite his unwavering dedication, Agaba found himself relegated to the bench, a perpetual substitute for a defender. It was only when he took to the pitch with Ahmed or his dad that he truly came alive, his love for the game burning brighter than ever.
As the second year of secondary school unfolded, the social hierarchy began to take shape.
Idibia, the undisputed kingpin, held court over the year two students, his charisma and confidence inspiring awe in his peers.
Agaba, on the other hand, had carved out a niche for himself as the lovable football benchwarmer and school punching bag.
But everything changed with the arrival of the new students.
Among them was Nneka, a stunning beauty with porcelain skin, piercing beautiful eyes and a voice that could melt the coldest hearts. Her raven-haired twin sister, Nnenna, was her exact duplicate, yet she chose to fly under the radar, her beauty hidden behind a veil of introversion.
Nneka, however, was determined to shine. With her captivating smile and effortless charm, she quickly became the belle of the ball, her popularity soaring to dizzying heights.
Agaba, like many of his classmates, was hopelessly smitten, though he kept his feelings hidden. That was until Ahmed caught him gazing longingly at Nneka in the cafeteria, his emotions laid bare for all to see. Ahmed teased, "Agaba, don't tell me you've fallen for the new queen bee too?"Agaba shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of denial. "no way, I don't have a crush on her. Why would I?, she's just a year one student"Ahmed chuckled knowingly. "she may be a year one student now, but when we leave these school gates, we're all equals. I'm not trying to crush your spirits, but to win her heart, you'll have to navigate a battlefield of admirers. It seems like every guy in year two and three is smitten with her".
Agaba's retort died on his lips as he nodded reluctantly, his eyes never leaving Nneka's captivating form.
Their conversation was interrupted by a year three student's bold proposal to Nneka. But she rejected him flat-out, leaving him a humiliated spectacle in front of the entire cafeteria.
The student slunk away, his face burning with shame. The incident sparked a flurry of whispers among the students, and by nightfall, it had become the hottest topic on the school's chat website, further embarrassing the helpless student.
Nneka's popularity soared to new heights, and boys in school looked at her with a mixture of admiration and trepidation. She had proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with, and no one dared to underestimate her again.
Agaba decided to bide his time with Nneka, wary of becoming the school's laughingstock for a third time.
He had already earned the dubious distinction of being headline news twice before - once for being doused in trash from his locker, and again for his illustrious career as the school's most popular football benchwarmer and last-minute substitute.
Determined to keep a low profile, Agaba suppressed his feelings and went about his daily routine.
After school, he waited outside for Ahmed, only to be confronted with a disturbing scene: two year three art students were bullying his friend.
Without hesitation, Agaba charged into the fray, his bag flying through the air to smash into one of the bullies' faces.
The other student pounced on him, but Agaba refused to back down. In the heat of the battle, he managed to tear one student's trousers and ruin another's shirt.
As they watched the bullies disapear into the distance, Agaba yelled after them, his voice echoeing across the schoolyard: "why run? Come back and take some more beatings, you stupid, wretched, broke and ugly students!"
Agaba's day had been a rollercoaster of emotions. The pain on his left cheek throbbed as a harsh reminder of the bullying he had endured.
Ahmed's frantic screams had interrupted his thoughts, and they had walked home in silence, parting ways at the junction.
As he returned home, Agaba concocted a clever lie to explain the bruises to his mom. She treated his wounds with tender care, but Agaba's mind was already elsewhere.
Later that evening, he snuck out to meet Ahmed at the park, and they spent the evening playing football under the stars.
The next day, Friday, brought a new challenge. The school had organized a cleaning activity, and Agaba found himself paired with the enigmatic Nneka.
As they made their way to the football pitch, Nneka's complaints echoed through the air.
Agaba, determined to impress her, offered to help, but Nneka had other plans. She sat on the stands, claiming her "beautiful skin would burn off" if she joined in.
The team erupted into a chorus of complaints and jeers, but Agaba stood up for Nneka, defending her against the team's criticism.
The team, annoyed by his interference, dumped the entire task on him. Agaba accepted the challenge, and as the team finished and left, Nneka followed, thanking him hastily without even looking back.
She rushed off, leaving Agaba feeling disappointed and confused.Just as he was about to finish his task, Nnenna and her team passed by.
She had been watching the entire scene unfold from afar, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
As she approached Agaba, he smiled, telling her not to bother helping him. Nnenna smiled back, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
As she turned to leave, Agaba's curiosity got the better of him, "hey, I haven't seen you around before. Are you new?" he asked, his eyes locked on hers. "wait, are you related to Nneka?", the resemblance was uncanny, and Agaba's curiosity was piqued.
Nnenna 's smile faltered for a moment before she nodded in agreement. "I'm Nnenna, Nneka's twin sister. We're classmates."
Agaba's eyes widened in surprise. "how come I haven't seen you before?", he asked, his tone laced with embarrassment.
Nnenna's smile was tinged with a hint of sadness. "I don't know, but I've seen you before".
Agaba's face flushed with embarassment as he muttered a hasty goodbye, grabbing the trash and making a quick exit.
Nnenna's smile lingered, but her eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment.
As Agaba stepped into the classroom, a chorus of snickers and murmurs erupted. Igbe, the class clown, flashed him a sarcastic smile. "look who's here - the lover boy!", the class erupted into laughter, and Agaba's face became the target of mocking glances.
Undaunted, he strode to his seat, ready to face another day of torment.Just as he settled in, Idibia, his longtime adversary, sauntered over, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Agaba, I never knew you had a thing for the year one beauty. I could've helped you out, you know".
Agaba's instincts screamed warning - this was just another one of Idibia's mind games. He shot back,"idibia, if you've got something to say or do, just do it already. Don't waste my time."
Idibia grin never wavered, "must we always fight, Agaba? Can't you see that our battles have only brought us closer? I'm tired of fighting you. What's the point, anyway?" Idibia's gang stared him down, their intimidating gazes pressuring Agaba to accept the olive branch.
Agaba's skepticism lingered, but he decided to play along. "what do you want, Idibia?"Idibia smile turned enigmatic. "nothing, just your friendship".
The math teacher's arrival cut their conversation short, but not before Idibia whispered, "don't forget my offer, Agaba".
The break bell rang, and Agaba filed out of the classroom with Ahmed, bound for the cafeteria.
That's when he spotted Nneka - wrapped in a year three student's arms, accepting a gift from him. A pang of jealousy struck Agaba's heart, but he masked it with a wry smile."she's not mine yet", he told himself. "it's her choice who she wants to collect gifts from. What's wrong with a hug and some gifting anyway?" Ahmed shot Agaba a skeptical glance, as if warning him to abandon his pursuit of the school's beauty queen.
But before Ahmed could utter a word, Idibia emerged from the shadows, a sly grin spreading across his face."looks like we've got a competition brewing, Agaba! Time to join forces and take down the competition.
Accept my offer, and together we'll make you a star!"Agaba hesitated for a moment before nodding in agree.
Idibia and his gang swept in, enveloping Agaba and Ahmed in their midst. As they sat down to eat, Ahmed retreated to their usual table, his eyes narrowing in jealousy as he watched Agaba laughing with his former tormentors.
After school, Agaba regaled Ahmed with Idibia's plan. "there's a match between our set and year three this Friday. Idibia says he can get me on the starting lineup, and I can impress Nneka with my skills. He seems to think I've got some hidden talents up my sleeve…" Ahmed's eyes widened, but Agaba's monologue steamrolled on, leaving no room for comment. That evening, Agaba broke his routine, ditching his usual trip to the park to join Idibia's crew instead.
Idibia put Agaba through a series of ridiculous drills, dressing him up like a gangster and coaching him to adopt a careless swagger,"trust me, Agaba, girls like Nneka only go for bad boys", idibia whispered, his eyes glinting with mischef.
Friday arrived, and Agaba arrived at the field early, his nerves thrumming with anticipation.
But as the match began, he found himself relegated to the bench once more. The year three star player, the same boy who had gifted Nneka the necklace she wore, dominated the field.
Nneka herself sat atop the stands, her minions clustering around her like a protective entourage. The necklace glinted in the sunlight, fueling Agaba's determination to prove himself.