Olaide _ _ ♯shortstory
(Part 1)
Laide was baffled. She had trudged all the way to the spot where she and Irede had agreed to meet—Oke Ajuwon, the place they visited just two weeks ago—but there was no sign of him. No footprints. No familiar scent. Nothing.
She dropped her heavy bags and heaved a deep sigh. Her limbs ached, her spirit more so. She looked around desperately, but there was no trace of his arrival. Slowly, she sank onto her bags and began to fondle her twisted pigtails, her heart thudding painfully beneath her chest.
Laide wasn’t just beautiful—she was radiant, a young woman filled with grace and quiet strength. But now, tears streamed down her striking face as the events of the past three days flooded her memory.
Her father, Biyi, was a revered hunter and warlord—known for his courage and unwavering loyalty to his land. But three days ago, a gut-wrenching message reached Yayegbe: their warriors had been defeated in battle. And Laide knew what that meant.
There were only two possibilities: either her father had died on the battlefield, or worse—he had fled and banished himself from his homeland out of shame. In both cases, she feared she would never see him again.
The very next day, her mother, Kemi, was ordered to become the wife of another influential man. Kemi had been given to Biyi years ago as a gift of honor after he defeated the Akanrans. Their love had been genuine, and together they had raised their only child—Laide.
But Kemi’s love for Biyi was immovable. She refused to belong to another man, even under pressure. Knowing she had no say in the matter and that her parents would never support her decision, Kemi disguised herself at night and fled—out of Ebunlomo’s house and out of Yayegbe entirely.
Laide and her grandparents received the news shortly after. Her grandparents were furious. Laide wasn’t. But when the full reality set in, fear gripped her. She would never see her mother again. Worse still, she was to be given to Ebunlomo in her mother's place.
She had been sobbing in her room when she heard a familiar whistle by the window. It was Irede.
"I'm scared, Ire," she said through trembling lips.
Irede, the boy once taken captive and only freed two years ago, had earned her family's deep trust. Her parents had always seen him as the son they never had. Even now—with her parents gone—Laide clung to that trust.
"Let’s disappear from Yayegbe," he suggested.
The idea ignited hope in her heart. She was ready to run away with the one person who truly loved her. They chose to meet at Oke Ajuwon—the place women dried their cassava and yam into flakes and flour—where they had shared quiet laughter just two weeks earlier.
But here she was now, waiting. Alone. And Irede was nowhere to be found.
Laide sat from dawn till dusk. As the last streaks of sunlight faded, she found a safe corner under a tree, ate from her bag, and lay down to sleep.
At first light, she got up, adjusted her wrapper, and set out on foot. She had no idea where she was headed—only that she had to leave Yayegbe behind. But danger caught up with her fast.
Two brawny men appeared behind her, their steps deliberate and fast.
She turned, startled. They grinned maliciously.
In a flash, they seized her bags and forced her to her knees. One pushed her backward.
"Help!" she screamed with all the strength she had.
The men paused, hearing something. Hooves.
It wasn't the noise of a crowd—no villagers, no war—but horses.
They froze.
Three riders galloped into view. The one in front wore fine robes. His guards flanked him on either side.
"Help!" Laide cried again.
The richly dressed man dismounted. His face was striking—noble, refined. But in Laide’s heart, she believed that if Irede wore the same robes, he would be even more handsome.
"What happened?" the man asked.
"They tried to... hurt me," Laide replied shakily.
"They haven’t touched you, have they?"
"No."
He turned to his guards. "Tie them up. We’re taking them to Yayegbe."
The name pierced through Laide’s thoughts like a blade.
"Yayegbe?" she repeated.
"Yes. Are you from there?"
"I’m escaping from Yayegbe," she admitted.
The man asked her to sit with him under a tree and tell her story. She told him everything—leaving nothing out, not even Irede.
"I’m the King of Iyere’s nephew," he revealed. "I want to help you. But first, you must come back to Yayegbe with me."
Laide hesitated for a moment… and nodded. "Yes. I will."
He kissed the back of her hand in a show of gentleness that made her chest tighten. When she begged him to spare the attackers, he surprisingly agreed. The men, stunned by her kindness, expressed deep gratitude.
Together, they rode into Yayegbe. The palace received them warmly. The king welcomed the young man—Prince Adelafe—and listened to Laide’s story.
It was then that the truth broke: Irede had not abandoned her.
He had been imprisoned.
Laide’s grandparents had seen her sneak out and assumed she was heading to Irede’s home. When they couldn’t find her, they had Irede arrested. He was caught trying to flee too.
The case reached the palace, and despite being tortured, Irede never revealed her whereabouts.
Laide was shattered. The one person who never gave up on her had been locked up—because of her.
She begged to see him.
With Prince Lafe by her side, she visited the prison. Irede looked worn but alive.
"Why did you let them find you?" he asked her bitterly.
"I’m sorry," she whispered. "But this man is here to help you."
"Who is he?"
"Don’t worry," Prince Lafe said. "You’ll be out soon."
Minutes later, Irede was freed. But he didn’t get to see Laide again that night. She was with the prince.
And with that… her heart grew heavier.
(Part 2)
At dawn, Irede and the two men who had once tried to harm Laide were nowhere to be found.
Prince Lafe was livid.
Laide, still shaken from the previous day, didn’t understand what was going on.
“What happened?” she asked him.
“They’ve vanished,” the prince replied sharply. “And they didn’t leave empty-handed. They stole all the money I brought for the king—my uncle-in-law. This is the annual peace offering I deliver on behalf of the Iyere palace.”
Laide’s heart sank.
She had begged the prince to forgive those men. Now they had betrayed that kindness. Even though she hadn’t asked them to follow on the journey, she felt deeply responsible.
“What do we do now?” she asked quietly.
“We just need to make sure Irede wasn’t part of this.”
“Irede?” Laide gasped. “Never! He would never do such a thing.”
“I hope you’re right,” the prince replied, unconvinced.
Laide couldn’t rest. She slipped away from the palace and headed back to Oke Ajuwon, hoping to find Irede. He wasn’t there. But something else was.
A note—tucked into a crack in the rocks.
Her heart beat faster as she recognised his handwriting. She tore the note open with trembling fingers.
In it, Irede wrote that he had left—for peace’s sake. He asked her to marry the sweet prince and stay with her parents. He confessed that he had plotted with the two men and stolen a large sum of money, enough to sustain him far away from Yayegbe.
Laide collapsed to the ground, her cries echoing through the hills.
Her life felt shattered. Had Irede truly betrayed her?
She returned to the palace and showed the letter to the prince. His expression softened. He comforted her gently and promised to keep the contents of the letter a secret. Deep inside, he was relieved—Laide would now be his.
Their departure to Iyere was postponed. The prince claimed he needed to send word to his kingdom about the theft—though, in truth, no message was sent.
The following morning, King Radeyo of Iyere arrived in person.
When Prince Lafe heard of his uncle’s arrival, he looked troubled. Laide couldn’t understand why.
Outside the palace, King Gbade of Yayegbe welcomed the Iyere king with full honors.
“I heard my nephew is here,” said King Radeyo.
Heard? Laide blinked. Wasn’t he the one who sent for him?
“Yes, Your Majesty,” King Gbade replied. “He arrived two days ago with a peace offering, but unfortunately, the money was stolen. He said you’ve been sending funds to different lands for peacekeeping.”
King Radeyo chuckled. “Peacekeeping? Don’t mind him. I didn’t send him anywhere.”
Laide’s heart skipped. What was the prince truly doing in Yayegbe?
“And where is he now?” the king asked.
“He’s inside,” King Gbade answered. “No wonder he hasn’t stepped out. These youths of today can be so daring.”
“He is daring, indeed,” King Radeyo muttered. Then he turned to his men. “Bring out the others.”
The palace guards opened a landau carriage and pulled out three men—two strangers and Irede.
Laide gasped.
Irede?
Her eyes welled up again. So he had been captured?
“These are the men who stole the money,” King Radeyo announced.
King Gbade was astonished. “How were they caught?”
Prince Lafe finally stepped out with his own guards and accomplices.
“Let him speak for himself,” King Radeyo said.
Lafe fell to his knees, head bowed in shame. “I’m sorry, my king. But please… understand—I was desperate. I was about to lose something I’ve longed for all my life.”
“I know you have a good heart,” King Radeyo said calmly. “And that’s why I’m giving you a chance to confess freely. But if you refuse, torture and jail await you.”
Lafe’s voice trembled. “I came to Yayegbe… in search of the long-lost prince.”
Gasps rippled through the small crowd.
“I’d heard whispers of a man in Yayegbe with the royal mark. So I came, and fate led me to Laide. When I met Irede, I didn’t know. But Yayi, one of my men, spotted the mark on his neck—just below his ear.
“He has the royal birthmark. He is my cousin.
“Instead of revealing it, I planned to get rid of him. I pretended to help. I had him released from prison to make it easier. But they outsmarted me and escaped with the money. I should’ve known they were working against me.”
King Radeyo nodded solemnly. “Irede is my only child. I named him Adejuyi at birth. He was lost when he was five. The priest assured me I would find him again. And now… this is the day.”
Laide wept again, this time overwhelmed with joy and disbelief.
Irede stepped forward and embraced the king. “Father.”
“My son.”
Prince Lafe, still on his knees, looked up. “Please, Irede. Help me beg him.”
Irede wiped his tears and turned to the king. “Father, forgive him. If not for him, I might have died in prison. We wouldn’t be standing here today.”
“For your sake, Juyi, I forgive him,” the king declared.
Lafe rose to his feet. He and Irede embraced tightly.
“Thank you,” Lafe whispered.
Then Lafe turned to Laide, gently took her hand, and placed it into Irede’s.
Irede dried his eyes, then wiped the tears from Laide’s face.
“I love you, Olaide,” he said.
It was the first time he had ever said it.
She smiled through her tears. “I love you too, Iremide.”
And then, they kissed.
Laide left Yayegbe with the royal family for Iyere.
A week later, her parents arrived at the palace. They were alive. Safe. The reunion was tearful, joyful, full of gratitude.
Irede welcomed them with warmth. They had been his family when he had no one.
Though Prince Lafe was forgiven, his two accomplices were sentenced to prison, despite Irede’s plea.
Surprisingly, Irede became friends with the very men who had once tried to harm Laide.
Because truly—no one really knows tomorrow.
THE END
- Kindly answer any of the following in the comments section
1. If You Were Olaide… Who Would You Choose?
You’ve lost your parents. One man promises to reunite you with them — but the other has stood by you, suffered for you, and loves you deeply.
Your options:
🔘 Prince Lafe — Wealth, safety, and a promise to bring back your family.
🔘 Irede — Loyal, humble, and ready to risk everything for you.
🔘 Neither — I need time. I choose peace of mind first.
🔘 Both? — Can’t I have my parents and the man who stayed true?
2. What’s Your Favourite Twist in Olaide?
Was it the hidden royal identity?
The unexpected forgiveness?
Or the kiss that sealed it all?
Let’s talk about it in the comments.
3. Do You Believe in Destiny — or Decisions?
Laide’s journey is one of fate, love, sacrifice, and surprising turns.
Do you think everything was destined to happen?
Or was it her choice that shaped her future?
💬 Share your thoughts below!
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