02/09/2026
ABIDEMI — FROM THE TRENCHES TO THE TOP
Chapter Five: The Man in the Photograph
Abidemi stood inside the old recording studio, unable to move.
Kelvin's words echoed in his head.
“Ask your father.”
His father.
A man he had spent his entire life believing had abandoned him.
But Mama's voice from the darkness had said something different.
“Don't trust Kelvin.”
Abidemi turned toward the voice.
“Mama!”
Silence.
He ran through the building, searching every room.
Nothing.
Then he noticed a small door behind the old recording booth.
He pushed it open.
Inside was a dusty storage room.
Old records.
Old photographs.
Old newspapers.
And one wooden box.
Abidemi opened it.
Inside was the same photograph he had found at home—but there were several more pictures underneath it.
His mother's younger face appeared again and again.
And beside her was the same man.
On one photograph, the man's name was written:
OLAMILEKAN ADEREMI.
Abidemi stared at the name.
“Aderemi…”
His own surname.
His hands began shaking.
He picked up an old newspaper.
The headline read:
LOCAL MUSICIAN GOES MISSING IN 1999.
Underneath was a photograph of the same man.
Olamilekan Aderemi.
Missing for over twenty-seven years.
Abidemi's heart sank.
“That's my father…”
Suddenly, he heard footsteps.
He turned.
Uncle Tunde was standing at the doorway.
“You finally found him.”
Abidemi looked at him.
“You knew?”
Uncle Tunde nodded slowly.
“You knew my father?”
“I knew both your father and your mother.”
“Then tell me what happened!”
Uncle Tunde sighed.
“Your father was becoming famous. Very famous. But there were people who wanted to control his career.”
“Kelvin?”
Uncle Tunde didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
Abidemi stepped closer.
“What did they do to him?”
Before Uncle Tunde could respond, Abidemi noticed something underneath the wooden box.
Another cassette.
He picked it up.
Written across the label were four words:
FOR MY SON — THE TRUTH.
Abidemi's breathing stopped.
He found an old cassette player and inserted the tape.
Static filled the room.
Then a man's voice came through.
A young man's voice.
“Abidemi…”
He froze.
The voice continued.
“If you're hearing this, then you're old enough to know what happened.”
Abidemi covered his mouth.
It was his father.
“I didn't abandon you.”
Tears filled Abidemi's eyes.
“I was taken away from you.”
The tape crackled.
“I discovered what Kelvin was doing. I tried to expose him, but I was warned to keep quiet.”
Abidemi looked at Uncle Tunde.
The old man lowered his head.
Then his father's voice continued:
“Your mother tried to protect you. If anything happens to me, she must keep you away from Kelvin.”
The tape suddenly stopped.
Abidemi hit the machine.
“No! No, no, no!”
He pressed play again.
Nothing.
Then he noticed something written on the cassette case.
“THE SECOND TAPE IS WITH MAMA.”
Abidemi stood up.
His mother had the second tape.
But Mama was gone.
He rushed home.
The house was empty.
Again.
But this time, there was a note on his bed.
He picked it up.
Only five words were written:
“Find your father before Kelvin does.”
Abidemi stared at the message.
His father had disappeared twenty-seven years ago.
So how could Kelvin still be looking for him?
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Abidemi answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Your father is alive.”
The call ended.
Abidemi stood completely still.
For twenty-seven years, he had believed he was the son of a dead man.
Now he had only one question.
Where was his father?
And why had everyone been lying to him?
TO BE CONTINUED…
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