Chapter One – Tangled in My Own Heart
They say love is sweet. But what happens when you find yourself falling for more than one person — when your heart is split in three directions, each one pulling you deeper?
My name is Temi, and I'm just 18. I'm in school, I'm still learning life, still learning what love even means. But somehow, I've ended up here — in a messy triangle, or maybe even a square, of feelings I can't fully explain. And no matter how I try to make sense of it all, my heart continues to beat for the wrong people… or maybe all the right ones, just at the wrong time.
It started with Mahrez. My Mahrez. He was the first to chase me like I was something rare — not a girl to play with, but a queen he wanted to keep. For months, he was patient, calling, texting, checking up on me. I didn't agree at first. I kept turning him down, holding on to fear, maybe waiting for something better. But he didn't stop trying.
Mahrez is a footballer — talented, serious, and very focused on his career. He doesn't even live close; he stays in the players' quarters, far away. But the connection was real. When we finally started dating, it felt like a dream. The butterflies, the giggles, the way my heart skipped when he called me babe. We shared sweet moments — cuddles, kisses, secrets. But then he disappeared. His phone got stolen, and for weeks, I heard nothing. Not even a message through a friend. My heart broke quietly. I cried silently. I waited... but he never came.
That's when Justice walked in.
Justice is 30. Way older. Experienced. Mature. And honestly, very bold. He knew I was still healing from Mahrez, yet he came with confidence, asking me out. I didn't plan it, but I said yes. I guess I needed a distraction. He gave me a different kind of attention. Physical. Wild. Passionate. He introduced me to things I didn't know — about my body, about pleasure. But something was always missing. No aftercare. No "how are you?" after everything. Not even a ₦1,000 gift. I gave him my body, but never truly gave him my heart.
Then came Ade — soft, sweet, and stable.
Ade is the kind of guy that makes you feel seen. If I'm hungry, he sends money. If I'm tired, he tells me to rest. If I rant, he listens. He doesn't talk too much, but his actions speak love. He invites me over to his place, makes me laugh, lets me be myself without pretending. He doesn't judge me. He makes me feel safe. Sometimes I wonder — maybe he's the one. Maybe he's what I've been looking for.
But then... why does my heart still ache for Mahrez?
Why do I still think about what we could have been?
Now, I'm lost in this sea of love and confusion. My feelings are scattered like puzzle pieces. I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to be loved — the way I love others.
Maybe… I was loved by mistake. Or maybe… I'm the mistake.