“My heart is locked, and I have thrown the key away in the Atlantic Ocean.”
This was my mantra whenever the idea of a relationship surfaced. I was just out of a complicated situationship and was nowhere near ready for another.
I had known of Ovie from a distance; anyone who attends David’s Christian Centre would recognize him. The Ovie Agbani—Star boy, drummer, and vocalist extraordinaire. Despite knowing of him, our paths never crossed.
In September 2019, I joined the Transformed Nation and decided to become a part of the music team, ENSIGN. Let me be clear: I joined to serve God, not to get close to Ovie.
As per tradition, new crew members must attend “Crew Meeting.” One random weekday, my phone rang—it was my Music Director, Ovie, reminding me to attend the crew meeting. I saved his contact as “OVIE TN” and thought nothing of it.
On November 15th, 2019, while at my CDS in Agbara, I posted some pictures on WhatsApp. Out of nowhere, Ovie slid into my DMs, asking me if I was a corper and where I was serving. The information I gave him made him start calling me a “village corper.”
And just like that, we began talking.
We exchanged banter, and suddenly, I realized I was talking to him every day.
What was going on?
Our friendship blossomed. I knew when he fell for me, but I wasn’t ready yet.
In December 2019, I decided to give him space because “things were moving quite fast” and he was giving mixed signals.
I must mention here that this young man was snubbing me in church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How!?
Somehow, we found our way back to talking and talking…
Even when I got to the point of actually having feelings for him, I didn’t realize it immediately.
On May 1, 2020, I visited him, and he read 1 Corinthians 13 to me before asking me out.
How cute and spiritual!
I froze and left him there without an answer (Do not judge me; you don’t know what I’ve been through, don’t judge me).
I had been praying for clarity and needed to get this right. But deep down, I knew this was it. I called the next day and the rest is…
“I am numb and not ready for love.”
This was my mantra after a terrible heartbreak. I saw Chiamaka for the first time at the Crew Meeting. It was not love at first sight; it was simply an “Oh, this is the girl I called for the meeting,” and I continued with my life.
On November 15th, 2019, I was scrolling through my WhatsApp to check on my team members. I saw a post of Chiamaka in her NYSC uniform; that was shocking because I did not know she was serving. I engaged her to get more information. I inquired where she was serving and she replied with “Agbara.”
I mean, is that not a village?
So, I started calling her a “village corper.”
From that day, we started talking every day; I should add on the phone/chat only because I was snubbing her in church (before you judge me, I am shy, that’s why).
In December 2019, she started ghosting me for reasons I don’t know, but that was when it hit me that “I really enjoyed her company.”
Covid came and that period intensified our connection; I knew I was falling deep for this girl, but to avoid making another mistake, I went to my Father to pray.
Being the loving Father that He is, He gave me a word (Nope, I am not telling you) and I knew she was the one.
I came out despite the lockdown restrictions and got arrested for breaking the rules, just to see her and express my feelings.
Can you imagine this girl ghosted me after asking her out!? After all my ordeal!?
I was confused because I knew she liked me.
Anyway, on May 2nd, 2020, she called me and said,
“I am sorry for leaving you like that, I was scared of commitment but I am ready.”
It has been four long years of talking, love, friendship, and commitment. Two years of long distance, seasonal changes, personality adjustments, highs, lows, broken bones, and unbroken promises. But here we are, telling you this story.