Binary Hearts

66| Echoes of the Past ❤️‍🩹

Tunde arrived home that night, exhausted but visibly relieved to be back. He walked into the sitting room, and there she was-Adeola, sitting calmly on the couch, waiting. He glanced at her, his brow slightly furrowed in confusion. "Adeola, it's late. Why haven't you gone to bed?"

She gave him a small smile, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "I was waiting for you."

Tunde stood still, one hand still gripping the doorknob. He didn't sit, didn't even say thank you, though she had clearly hoped for some acknowledgment. He could sense there was more to this late-night wait.

"What is it?" he asked, sounding more curious than impatient.

"There's some good news I want to share," Adeola began, her eyes brightening, though he could feel her trying to keep the conversation going for as long as possible.

Tunde sighed and shifted on his feet. "What's the good news?" he asked, more directly this time, as if he knew she was prolonging it.

"It's about Spark Technologies," Adeola replied, and that caught Tunde's full attention. He moved closer, finally sitting down on the arm of a nearby chair.

"Go on," he said, leaning forward.

"My parents are willing to help with the challenges you've been facing. They're ready to meet with you, offer advice, maybe even invest. They'll be back from Australia on Thursday."

Tunde blinked, clearly taken aback. "Your parents want to help... really?"

Adeola nodded, a soft smile on her face. "Yes. They understand the situation, and they think there's potential. You just need the right guidance."

Tunde let out a breath, almost in disbelief. "Wow, that's... incredible. I don't know what to say."

She reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "You don't have to say anything. I'm just glad I could help."

"Thanks," Tunde said, finally letting a bit of gratitude slip into his voice.

He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly relieved but then added, "Oh, that reminds me-have you heard from Dr. Lawson?"

"Yes," Adeola nodded. "He's arriving today. His daughter told me."

Tunde seemed satisfied with the answer, but his thoughts drifted for a moment. He turned to Adeola with a smirk. "By the way... that Indomie you made earlier was the best I've ever had. Seriously, it tasted like something off the packaging."

Adeola laughed, the tension easing. "I'm glad you liked it."

They exchanged a few more lighthearted comments before Tunde stretched and stood up, giving her a brief nod. "Goodnight, Adeola."

"Goodnight, Tunde," she replied, watching him leave, but something about the quiet didn't sit right with her. She remained still for a moment, soaking in the silence of the house.

Later that night, Adeola lay in bed, struggling to sleep. The night had grown still and dark, but the house wasn't entirely silent. Somewhere, faintly, she could hear a piano playing.

She sat up, her heart thumping louder. She knew that melody, though she hadn't heard it in years. It was a song from her childhood, something she had long buried in her memories.

Tunde? It couldn't be.

She slipped out of bed, moving slowly down the hallway, following the sound. As she approached the living room, she paused, listening closely. The piano seemed to be coming from beyond a glass door, one she had never noticed before.

Without hesitation, Adeola pushed the door open, and there, in the dim glow of a lamp, Tunde sat at the piano, his fingers dancing over the keys. He looked completely absorbed in the music, a small, worn teddy bear resting beside him on the piano bench.

Adeola froze, her breath catching in her throat. The teddy bear-she knew that bear. It was from years ago, from a time before either of them had faced the world's harsh realities.

Adeola remembered her much younger self, standing nervously in a small classroom, her hands clenched at her sides as whispers surrounded her. The scandal about her family-the one where they were accused of killing an entire family who worked for them-had spread like wildfire. The weight of the rumors and the pointed insults grew heavier with each passing day, making her feel like shrinking into the walls.

Tunde had always been her defender. With his arms crossed and a determined glare, he stood beside her, daring anyone to mock her. They weren't just friends-they were protectors, standing guard over each other's hearts.

One particularly tough afternoon, after enduring endless taunts, Adeola found herself alone in the playground, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. She sat there, feeling as though the world had turned against her, wishing she could just vanish.

Tunde had found her, his small frame appearing beside hers in quiet solidarity. He didn't speak much, just sat next to her, sharing her burden through his presence. Then, in a moment of shy generosity, he handed her his beloved teddy bear-the one he never let go of.

"Here," he murmured, his voice soft. "It helps me feel better."

Adeola smiled weakly through her tears and took the bear, feeling a flicker of comfort. Together, they had walked to the music room, their refuge from the outside world, a place where the harshness of reality couldn't reach them.

As always, Tunde sat at the piano and began to play. The melody was soft, gentle, a tune she had heard him play many times before. Adeola sat beside him, the teddy resting on her lap, finding solace in the music and in their unspoken bond.

But the peace of those moments didn't last. When Tunde's father passed away, everything changed. He had to stop coming to school, and without him by her side, the bullying intensified. It wasn't long before Adeola's parents decided to move her abroad, hoping to shield her from the pain that seemed inescapable.

*********************************

Adeola wiped away the small tear that had escaped. She hadn't realized just how much those memories still haunted her. Tunde was no longer the boy from the past, but somehow, that moment at the piano, the teddy bear beside him, brought it all rushing back.

Tunde stopped playing, sensing her presence behind him. He turned slowly, his eyes meeting hers, and for a moment, they stood in silence.

Adeola couldn't help but smile through her tears. "I didn't know you still had that bear," she whispered.

Tunde glanced at the teddy beside him, his silence heavy. "What do you mean?" he asked, clearly puzzled by what Adeola was saying.

Adeola looked at him, her voice soft but sure. "Tunde, don't you remember? You're the boy who was always my shield, who protected me back in Methodist High School? I remember this teddy bear. You gave it to me once to make me feel better."

Tunde's expression shifted slightly, but he shook his head. "Sorry, Adeola, but I didn't go to Methodist High School," he said, leaving her stunned.

Adeola stared at him in disbelief, feeling as though the ground had shifted beneath her. Without another word, she turned and left the room, unable to process what she had just heard.

As the door closed behind her, Tunde's composure finally cracked. Silent tears welled up in his eyes, ones he had fought hard to hold back. He remembered everything-her, the teddy, their time together-but he couldn't let her get too close. Not when he knew the risks of getting attached, only to hurt her later.