Months later, Ada gained admission into Osun State Polytechnic. Her first day on campus was filled with excitement and nervous energy. She moved from office to office completing her screening and registration.
After everything was done, she returned to her classroom and began meeting new classmates.
Ada was naturally reserved. She valued her privacy and avoided unnecessary familiarity. Still, she managed to make a few friends.
One of them lived on the same street as her, so they usually traveled to and from school together.
Although campus life was new and exciting, Ada still carried emotional scars from her past relationship.
She was determined to protect herself.
But she also carried a secret desire.
Because of her sister's story, Ada still believed that the man who disvirgined her should be someone she would eventually marry. However, after her painful experience with Dimeji, she decided she didn't want it to happen with someone her age.
She wanted someone older.
Someone more mature.
Someone who looked like he knew what he wanted in life.
During the first semester examination period, Ada's exams were scheduled for the afternoon like other ND1 students.
One day after finishing an exam, she and her friend were walking out of the school gate when they passed a group of guys standing together.
One of them stepped forward.
He greeted her politely and introduced himself.
"My name is Adekunle."
Ada smiled shyly.
Adekunle asked for her phone number, and after a brief hesitation, she gave it to him.
Adekunle was twenty-seven years old.
Ada was only seventeen.
Despite the age gap, they started talking frequently and soon began dating.
To Ada, it felt like her wish had come true.
Adekunle was older, confident, and charming. She believed he might be the man she had been waiting for.
After one week of dating, Adekunle invited Ada to his apartment.
They talked, laughed, and eventually began kissing.
Things quickly became intense.
Adekunle told her he was feeling very horny and begged her to have sex with him.
Ada hesitated and told him the truth.
"I'm a virgin," she said softly. "And I promised myself that I will marry the man who disvirgins me."
Adekunle paused for a moment.
Then he made a promise.
He told her he also wanted to marry the woman he disvirgined.
His words melted Ada's doubts.
She believed him.
That night, she allowed him to take her virginity.
But something unexpected happened.
After the act, Adekunle looked confused.
"Thought you said you were a virgin," he asked. "Why is there no blood?"
Ada herself was confused.
She had no explanation.
Later that night, when she returned home, she noticed blood in her underwear. She quickly snapped a picture and sent it to Adekunle so he would believe her.
He said he did.
But things changed afterward.
Adekunle slowly became distant.
He replied to her messages late, stopped calling frequently, and showed less interest in seeing her.
Ada was heartbroken.
She had already developed deep feelings for him.
She kept asking if she had offended him, but Adekunle always brushed it aside.
The painful truth was something Ada didn't know yet.
Adekunle was simply a playboy.
When Ada finally realized he no longer cared, she gathered the strength to walk away.
Once again, love had left her wounded.