Chapter 1: Election Day
LOVE BETRAYAL
Chapter One — Election Day
The sun was already high when Cynthia stepped out of the house.
She adjusted the strap of her handbag and looked back at her mother, who was standing by the doorway.
“Cynthia, don't stay out too late,” Mrs. Agbo called.
Cynthia smiled.
“I won't, Mummy.”
“Go and vote, then come straight home.”
“I will.”
She waved and walked away.
It was election day, and the whole neighborhood seemed unusually busy. Cars moved slowly along the road, people gathered around polling stations, and campaign posters covered almost every available wall.
Cynthia wasn't alone.
Her best friend, Loveth, was walking beside her, while Loveth's younger sister, Michelle, followed behind them.
Michelle suddenly laughed.
“Why are you both walking so fast? Are you trying to leave me behind?”
Loveth turned.
“Then increase your legs!”
“See this girl!” Michelle laughed.
Cynthia shook her head.
“You two will never change.”
They eventually reached the polling station.
After voting, the three girls stood outside for a while, discussing the election and everything else that had happened around them.
By the time they were ready to leave, Michelle remembered something.
“Our van!”
“Oh!” Loveth exclaimed. “I almost forgot.”
They walked toward the building where Michelle had parked her father's van.
Michelle unlocked it, and the three girls climbed inside.
Cynthia sat at the back.
Loveth turned around immediately.
“So, Cynthia...”
Cynthia raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“You've been unusually quiet today.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
Michelle joined in.
“She has been staring at her phone since we left the polling station.”
Cynthia laughed.
“Can I not check my phone again?”
Loveth smiled mischievously.
“Hmm. Something is definitely wrong with you.”
Cynthia was about to answer when she noticed someone standing a short distance away.
A young man.
He was looking directly at her.
Cynthia looked away.
Then looked again.
He was still there.
Loveth noticed.
“Who is that?”
“I don't know.”
The young man started walking toward them.
Michelle lowered the window slightly.
The stranger stopped beside the van.
“Excuse me.”
Cynthia looked at him.
“Yes?”
“I'm sorry to disturb you. I just wanted to ask for your number.”
Loveth immediately looked at Cynthia.
Michelle covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Cynthia was embarrassed.
“My number?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated.
There was something strangely confident about him.
“What is your name?”
“Michael.”
Cynthia smiled slightly.
“Michael?”
“Yes.”
Loveth leaned toward Cynthia.
“Give him your number now.”
Cynthia elbowed her.
“Keep quiet.”
Michael laughed.
“Please.”
Cynthia eventually gave him her number.
He saved it immediately.
“Thank you.”
He smiled.
“I'll call you.”
Cynthia nodded.
Michael walked away.
The moment he was out of earshot, Loveth screamed.
“CYNTHIA!”
Cynthia burst out laughing.
“What?”
“You actually gave him your number!”
Michelle joined her.
“I knew something was going to happen today!”
Cynthia rolled her eyes.
“You both are crazy.”
Loveth grinned.
“So, Cynthia... do you like him already?”
“No!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
“Then why are you smiling?”
Cynthia quickly stopped smiling.
“I wasn't smiling.”
They all burst into laughter.
None of them knew that the young man Cynthia had just given her number to would soon become one of the most important—and painful—people in her life.
By the time they finished playing and talking at Richard's house later that evening, darkness had already fallen.
Cynthia checked the time.
8:47 p.m.
Her smile disappeared.
“Oh my God.”
Loveth looked at her.
“What?”
“I have to go home.”
Michelle laughed.
“Your parents will finish you.”
Cynthia sighed.
“My mother must be worried already.”
She quickly said goodbye and left.
When she finally arrived home, she opened the door quietly.
But the moment she stepped inside—
“Cynthia!”
She froze.
Her father was sitting in the sitting room.
Her mother was beside him.
Both looked worried.
“Where have you been since morning?” Mr. Agbo asked.
Cynthia lowered her head.
“Daddy, I'm sorry. I went to—”
“You went to where?”
“I went to vote with Loveth and Michelle.”
“And you couldn't come home?”
Cynthia remained silent.
Mr. Agbo stood up.
“Do you remember that you are my only child?”
“Daddy…”
“You left this house in the morning and returned almost nine o'clock at night!”
His voice became louder.
Mrs. Agbo tried to calm him.
“Please, she's home now.”
But Mr. Agbo wasn't finished.
“You must learn responsibility, Cynthia!”
Cynthia's eyes became watery.
“I'm sorry.”
Her phone suddenly rang.
Michael.
She quickly silenced it.
A few seconds later, it rang again.
Her father looked at the phone.
“Who is calling you this late?”
“Nobody.”
The phone rang again.
Cynthia quickly picked it up.
“Hello?”
Michael's voice came through.
“Hi.”
Cynthia glanced at her father.
“Can I call you later?”
“Sure.”
She ended the call.
Mr. Agbo stared at her suspiciously.
“Who was that?”
“A friend.”
“What friend?”
“Daddy, I'm tired. Can I go to my room?”
He stared at her for a moment.
Then he waved his hand.
“Go.”
Cynthia quietly walked to her room.
She closed the door.
Then leaned against it.
She released a deep breath.
Her phone vibrated.
Michael: Goodnight, Cynthia. It was nice meeting you today.
She smiled.
For some reason, her heart fluttered.
She typed:
Cynthia: Goodnight, Michael.
She placed the phone beside her.
But just before she turned off the light, another message arrived.
Michael: I hope we get to know each other better.
Cynthia smiled again.
She had no idea that those simple words were the beginning of a story that would change her life forever.
And somewhere in the darkness of the night, a secret was already waiting for her.
