Yesterday's Future 2✔️

37. The line between justice and recklessness.

4:02pm,
D'Hotél Royale

As the intense impromptu meeting came to a close, the background music seemed to suddenly become louder and the atmosphere in the VIP lounge gradually lightened, though the weight of the conversation they'd just had still hung heavily in the air. Adam's phone buzzed with a message from his mother and he smiled warmly.

He cleared his throat, his expression softening as he turned back to his friends, "Before we all go, so there's this thing at my yard on Friday. My mom is planning a party for Sam and I's birthday before I go back and wants you all to be there, and I think it would be a good opportunity for us to remember Sam and celebrate his memory together after all these weird years and with everything that's happening."

Tina and Folarin exchanged glances and smiled, appreciating the change of topic. "That sounds great, Adam," Tina said. "Jameel should be back from his business trip before then. We'll be there for sure."

Folarin nodded in agreement, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Absolutely, we wouldn't miss it. Hopefully by then we'd have made some progress with getting the investigation started."

"We must have," Adam corrected instantly.

With that settled, they began to disperse. Adam walked Tina and Folarin to the entrance of the hotel, exchanging parting words and warm embraces.

Meanwhile, Bode and Simi remained behind. Eager to lift the mood, Bode turned to her and suggested, "How about you and I take a little tour of the hotel? It's always a good way to wind down, at least for me."

"Sure."

They strolled quietly through the grand corridors of the luxurious hotel, until they reached a panoramic window that offered a breathtaking view of the hotel lights below; the opulent décor and ambiance providing a stark contrast to the somber discussions they had just had. As they walked, all Simi could think of was the somber conversation they had just concluded in the VIP room, the twists and turns her life had suddenly taken, all over again, because of Stone, aka Sam. She gazed out at the shimmering skyline, her thoughts drifting.

Bode eventually broke the lingering silence, "It's mind blowing how small the world can be sometimes. How the past can catch up with us in unexpected ways. I mean, when you first came to this city for the music festival we held here six months ago and you said this was your first time in Ibadan, I never would've imagined that your connection with Adam and Sam ran so deep. It's just funny how life works." He let out a soft chuckle, his head shaking in mild disbelief.

Simi sighed. At least someone found it funny because it was driving her crazy, shattering her world. "I know right. It's all so surreal. I never thought that something like this would happen. It's just—"

Bode glanced at her sympathetically. "It's a lot to take in, I understand but we're here for you, for Adam and for Sam. We'll do whatever it takes to bring those guys to justice. You did the right thing by sharing this with us, Simi. You have no idea what you've done."

She hesitated as they walked, her steps growing slower as a sense of concern took hold. Finally, she came to a halt, causing Bode to stop as well. "Bode, about that ... don't you think it's a bad idea to delve deeper into this matter of justice? It's a dangerous path we're talking about. You don't know how ruthless those people can be. What if we might be risking more than we know?"

Bode glanced at her with determination in his eyes, "I understand the risks, Simi, but we owe it to Sam to do this. We can't just let this go. Sam might have been your very good friend but he was a brother to us, and he doesn't deserve to go down like this. So, if there's even a slim chance we can bring his killers to justice, we have to try."