Binary Hearts

48| Surprise 🥳

            Two Days to Make It Perfect..

Tunde had always prided himself on being thoughtful, but planning a surprise for Adaora’s birthday felt like a mission more than anything else. His mind buzzed with ideas—what could he do that would be truly special for her? She deserved something grand, something that would break through her guarded heart. Little did he know, his chance to make this birthday unforgettable would start in the most unexpected of places—amid the chaos of Ikorodu.

It was a sweltering afternoon, and the roads of Ikorodu were a mess of clashing danfos, cabs, and okadas all competing for space on the crowded streets. The noise was relentless: conductors hanging from danfos yelling at potential passengers, drivers cursing at one another, and the steady hum of Lagos traffic that never seemed to rest. Tunde was navigating the madness when he spotted a familiar face.

There, standing by the roadside with a small shopping bag in hand, was Precious, Adaora’s old friend from university. He hadn’t seen her in years, but her unmistakable tall figure and curly hair cut through the bustling crowd. Without a second thought, Tunde pulled over, parking his car on the narrow roadside.

“Precious!” he called out, waving through his open window.

Her head turned toward him, confusion quickly giving way to recognition. She smiled and hurried over, dodging a stray taxi that honked impatiently at her.

“Ah! Mr. Tunde!” she greeted, leaning into the window. “Long time! What are you doing in this part of Lagos?”

Tunde grinned and motioned toward the passenger seat. “Hop in! Let me give you a lift. I don’t trust these taxi drivers not to charge you twice the fare.”

Precious chuckled, glancing at the traffic and then back at him. “You don’t need to tell me twice. Thanks!” She slid into the car, immediately making herself comfortable. “It’s been ages o. What’s been happening?”

As Tunde navigated back onto the road, dodging another danfo that had stopped without warning, he glanced at her with a smile. “Not much. Just work, you know how it is. How about you?”

Precious waved a hand dismissively. “Same old, same old. Trying to survive Lagos, as usual. But wait o,” she added, her tone becoming more playful, “you still dey in touch with Adaora?”

The mention of Adaora made Tunde’s heart skip a beat, though he kept his cool. “Yeah, we still talk.”

Precious gave him a knowing look, raising one eyebrow. “Hmm, still talk? Just talk?”

Tunde hesitated for a moment, tempted to tell Precious that he and Adaora were much more than just friends now. But something held him back. He wasn’t sure if it was the unresolved tension between him and Adaora or just the uncertainty of their future. Instead, he cleared his throat and shifted the conversation. “Actually, I was thinking about Adaora’s birthday. It’s coming up soon, and I wanted to do something special.”

Precious' eyes lit up. “Her birthday? I almost forgot. Wow, I haven’t seen that girl celebrate her birthday since I’ve known her. She doesn’t really do parties, you know.”

Tunde nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, I figured that. But I still want to do something. I mean, she deserves to feel special, right? I was thinking of throwing her a surprise party.”

Precious smiled, though it was tinged with a bit of sadness. “That’s really sweet of you, Tunde. But, honestly, na rich pikin dey do birthday for each other. Me, I’m just managing.”

Tunde laughed, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about the money. I’ve got the party covered. But I could really use your help. You know Adaora better than I do in some ways—what does she like?”

Precious leaned back in her seat, thinking for a moment. “Well, she’s not really into flashy things. If anything, she’s more sentimental. She loves simple things that mean a lot, like books, or thoughtful gifts. And if you can find something that reminds her of her mom, that would be perfect.”

Tunde’s mind started racing with possibilities. “That’s great, Precious. Thank you. Can we meet tomorrow? I could use your help planning this.”

Precious smiled mischievously. “Sure thing. But you know these Lagos streets, abi? You fit settle person before you drop me o.”

Tunde chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled out his phone. “You this girl. Always billing somebody. Oya, send your account number.”

Precious’ laughter filled the car as she quickly rattled off her details. A few moments later, her phone pinged with a notification, and her eyes widened. “50k?! Ah, Tunde, you didn’t have to—God bless you, my brother!”

Tunde grinned as he pulled up to her destination. “No wahala. Just make sure you don’t leave me hanging with this surprise.”

Precious practically floated out of the car, waving him goodbye with a thousand “thank yous” and praises.

    *********************************

Later that evening, Tunde returned to Lekki, his head buzzing with ideas. He needed someone to bounce them off, and there was no better person for the job than Sam, his closest friend and trusted advisor. Sam was lounging on the couch when Tunde walked in, deep in thought.

“Sam, I need your help,” Tunde began, dropping onto the chair across from him. “I’m planning a surprise birthday party for Adaora.”

Sam raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A surprise, you say? Interesting. What’s the plan?”

Tunde leaned forward, explaining the conversation with Precious and the idea of doing something special. Sam listened carefully, nodding along.

“First thing, we need gifts. Women love gifts, man,” Sam said, getting to his feet. “Let’s hit the supermarket. We can pick out some stuff she’ll love.”

A few minutes later, they were walking through the brightly lit aisles of the supermarket, filling their basket with everything from chocolates to perfume. Sam was quick to suggest practical gifts, but also hinted at a more personal touch.

“You know what would really get to her?” Sam said, holding up a book. “A drawing. Women love it when the guy they care about draws them. Makes them feel special.”

Tunde chuckled, but his mind was already elsewhere. “I like the idea, but I’m thinking of drawing something more meaningful.”

Sam looked at him quizzically. “Like what?”

“I was thinking of having someone draw Adaora’s mom,” Tunde said, his voice soft. “She was really close to her, and I know it would mean the world to her.”

“That’s a fantastic idea,” Sam said, impressed. “But you know how to draw?”

Tunde scratched the back of his head. “That’s the problem. I can’t draw to save my life.”

Sam chuckled, then gave Tunde a sideways glance. “You’re in luck. I used to be the Picasso of our high school back in the day.”

Tunde’s eyes lit up, and he wasted no time. “Perfect. You’re going to help me draw her mom.”

Before Sam could protest, Tunde had already pulled out his phone and handed him a picture of Adaora’s mother from her gallery. Sam hesitated, but Tunde leaned in, patting him on the back.

“Anything you need, just let me know,” Tunde said with a grin.

Sam sighed but sat down at the dining table, already sketching out the outline. As the hours passed, the image began to take shape, and Tunde couldn’t help but smile at how perfect it was turning out. This was going to be the birthday Adaora would never forget.