SUNNY WEDNESDAYS: IVIE (VI)

As Osaze eased his sleek black Mustang through the gates of Cakes & Coffee Restaurant, the scent of warm pastries and roasted beans met him halfway, a familiar comfort. The restaurant stood like a quiet gem in the heart of Ojota, where rustic street corners met the slow encroachment of modernity. It was the kind of place that married two worlds with grace, where a market woman could enjoy puff-puff and coffee beside a banker relishing her red velvet cheesecake. Cakes & Coffee wasn’t just a business; it was a bridge, soft jazz played through the outdoor speakers, lilting over the mixed chatter of customers. Families, students, couples, it welcomed them all. The chalkboard menu, hand-drawn and colorful, changed with the seasons. And the air always smelled of hope, butter, and ambition. Leaning against the wooden arch at the entrance, Emmanuel waited for his cousin, arms crossed, eyes squinting from the sun. His apron was dusted with flour, a badge of honor in the heat ...