Yesterday's Future 2✔️

36. The only romance in Adam's life.

12:12pm,
D'Hôtel Royale.

They found themselves comfortably nestled at a meticulously arranged round table in the heart of the hotel's expansive lounge. Their table was adorned with freshly bloomed flowers, the vibrant colors adding a touch of natural elegance to the surroundings.

Yara's curly brown hair bounced on her shoulders, perfectly complementing her chic outfit. Her eyes glistened with a lively spirit, reflecting the sunshine streaming through the large windows. Teng, seated across from her, was the picture of effortless finesse. His dark short locs framed his face with a hint of mystery and his crisp grey polo shirt emphasized his well-toned, athletic build.

Amid bites of fluffy pancakes studded with chocolate chips and sips of freshly squeezed orange juice, their conversation flowed effortlessly. While they got to know each other more and shared stories about their lives, the main topic of discussion revolved around the memorable wedding event that had unfolded over the weekend at the Coker's. Their voices resonated with the sounds of clinking cutlery and the gentle hum of other diners as they recounted their experience . In that moment, there was an air of carefree cheerfulness that was impossible to ignore, making them appear more like a couple than two strangers from different worlds who had crossed paths just days ago.

Teng leaned in, a playful glint in his eyes. "You know, Yara," he began, his voice tinged with excitement as he savored the last bites of his meal, "I consider myself pretty lucky to be able to spend a few extra days right here in Ibadan with you." He took a sip of his juice, letting the words linger before continuing, "And it's all thanks to Adam's upcoming birthday bash; it unexpectedly extended my trip."

Yara nodded, her eyes sparkling with equal enthusiasm. "Aww Teng. Me too. It's been such a wonderful experience meeting you here, in Nigeria, where things are so much different from how I know them," she confessed, "but you've truly been an extraordinary part of it all. And I absolutely can't wait for the party either."

Deep down, her feelings for him were growing uncontrollably and she couldn't help but feel her heart quicken in his presence.

Teng nodded and chuckled at her words, but their heartfelt exchange was momentarily interrupted as Ada, her weariness evident in every line of her face as she made her way to their table.

"Sorry, I'm late," Ada said, sliding into a chair. "Auntie Feyi called us this morning to the estate for the ceremony preparations. She's throwing a birthday and a memorial for both her sons. With Tiara off on her honeymoon, it's fallen on me, Simi and Suwa to handle everything. Now my week is filled with errands, markets and phone calls," she rolled her eyes in exasperation and let out a heavy sigh, reflecting on the stress she endured while handling Tiara's wedding errands in the past week, her pile of unfinished work and meetings waiting for her in Abuja, and how she found herself with a long list of things to do for the Coker's family, all thanks to Simi's chaotic involvement with them.

Sensing Ada's frustration, Yara swiftly extended a helping hand. "I'd be more than happy to join you at the market," she offered. Simultaneously she realized her own shopping needs, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to get it done. Besides, she'd been looking forward to shopping in Nigeria, since her mother didn't let her pack the stuff she really  liked to wear. She couldn't wait to go to those boutiques in Dugbe and Aleshinloye that Ada had talked so much about. Teng too was more than willing to lend a hand. In that moment, Ada visibly relaxed, a sense of relief washing over her. She discreetly signaled to their attentive server, who promptly approached to take her order. And, another for Teng.

As they continued chatting about the wedding and the plans for Friday, enjoying their brunch, their attention was drawn to an activity  in the VIP area of the lounge, behind them. Uniformed servers scurried around, setting up the area with an unusual level of precision, and Mr. Bode, the usually easygoing manager, was overseeing everything with an air of intensity that was out of character. And he was mostly on his phone.