Binary Hearts

69| Frustrations & Crossroads ☁️

Tunde stormed out of the station, his footsteps heavy with frustration. He had called Adaora multiple times, yet she hadn’t picked up. His mind whirled with a mix of anger and worry. "Why isn't she picking up?" he muttered under his breath, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he drove home. The city lights flickered by, unnoticed. By the time he pulled up to his apartment, his mood had darkened further.

As he entered the house, Sam looked up from his position on the couch. One glance at Tunde's face, and he knew something was wrong. “Hey, man,” Sam greeted casually, choosing his words carefully. He knew better than to probe when Tunde was in one of his moods. Tunde nodded curtly in response, barely acknowledging Sam’s presence before heading straight to the living room.

The house was eerily quiet, save for a faint sound. A piano. The notes hung in the air, discordant and jarring. Tunde winced. Whoever was playing was making a mess of it. He stood still for a moment, recognizing the melody — or rather, what was left of it. It was the same tune he had been playing just the other day, a piece in C major. The misplayed notes grated on his nerves, further amplifying his frustration.

He marched into the room where the piano stood, ready to demand whoever it was to stop. But he paused at the sight before him. Adeola was seated at the piano, her fingers hesitantly pressing the keys. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried, and failed, to get the tune right.

“Adeola,” Tunde called out, his voice sharp.

She jumped slightly, turning to face him with wide eyes. “Tunde, I’m sorry! I was just...”

“You’re playing it all wrong,” he interrupted, his irritation now channeled into something more constructive. He moved closer, standing behind her, his hands resting on the piano’s edge. “It’s a C major chord. You need to use your two fingers. Here, let me show you.”

He gently placed his hands over hers, guiding her fingers to the correct keys. “C, E, G. Like this,” he said, pressing the keys down, and the correct chord rang out, filling the room with a warm, harmonious sound. Adeola nodded, watching intently as he played.

For a moment, Tunde forgot about his frustration, his mind focusing solely on the music. “Are you getting it?” he asked softly, his tone now more patient.

Adeola nodded again, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Yes, I think I’m getting it,” she replied, though her thoughts were far from the piano. She observed him, seeing the Tunde she had once known back in school — calm, focused, and passionate about his music. A new determination settled within her. She would get closer to him, understand what made him tick, and perhaps... make him vulnerable in a way he had never been before.

Meanwhile, across town, Adaora had just arrived home from Mr. Okoye’s house. As she slipped off her shoes and dropped her bag on the table, her phone buzzed. She picked it up, her heart skipping a beat as she saw the missed call notifications. Ten missed calls from Tunde. Her stomach twisted in knots. "Oh no," she whispered, a wave of panic washing over her. She knew he would be furious, but she couldn’t possibly tell him where she had been.

She paced the room, biting her lower lip in worry. Should she call him back? What could she even say? Her fingers hovered over the call button, but she couldn’t bring herself to press it. Instead, she quickly scrolled through her contacts and dialed Bam Bam’s number.

“Hey, Bam Bam. Can you come over? I need to talk,” Adaora said, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Sure, I’ll be there in a bit,” Bam Bam replied, her voice chipper as always.

When Bam Bam arrived, Adaora tried to distract herself by asking what she’d like to eat. But Bam Bam waved her off. “I’m good, Adaora, no need to fuss. Just give me a Coke or something,” she said, plopping down on the couch.

Adaora handed her a cold Coke and sat down beside her. They started talking about the company — the usual safe topic. But soon enough, the conversation shifted.

“So, what’s going on with you and your man?” Bam Bam asked, noticing Adaora’s distracted demeanor.

Adaora sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I’m in a mess, Bam Bam. A real mess,” she confessed.

“Oh, gosh! You're so unpredictable,” Bam Bam said, sitting up straighter, her eyes wide with curiosity. “I thought you were dating Chidi ni oo?”

Adaora shook her head, a sad smile on her face. “I’m dating Tunde... but it’s complicated. Chidi asked me out, and everything has been so confusing. I took a break from Tunde to figure things out, and we’ve had so many fights...”

Bam Bam looked at her intently. “So, have you figured it out? Do you love him, or are you just indebted to him?”

Adaora hesitated, her eyes tearing up slightly. “I love him... but...” Her voice trailed off as she looked down at her hands. “I’m in a tight corner, Bam Bam. Mr. Okoye wants me to date his son, Chidi. And Tunde... he doesn’t even want to hear Chidi’s name. He called me some hours ago, and I was at Mr. Okoye’s house. I can’t tell him that.”

Bam Bam took a deep breath, leaning back on the couch. “Oh! Yeah, Mr. Paul asked me where you went so urgently,” she added, trying to piece everything together.

“Mr. Paul did?” Adaora’s anxiety grew. “What did you tell him?”

“Nothing much, I just said I didn’t know.” Bam Bam waved her hand dismissively. “Look, Adaora, if it were me, I’d go for Chidi oo. I don’t like stress at all. Give me money, love, don’t stress me.”

Adaora blinked in surprise. “You think Tunde is being overprotective?”

“Definitely,” Bam Bam replied without hesitation. “I think you should go to where it pays you. Tunde is currently facing a crisis in his company, and company crisis is no joke. He could go broke or bankrupt. But you see Chidi, he’s a forever billionaire, and I think he loves you.”

Adaora looked conflicted. “Well... I’m not after money, just my happiness and peace,” she murmured, more to herself than to Bam Bam.

Bam Bam shrugged. “Then, girl, you need to figure out what makes you happy. But seriously, don’t ignore the reality of Tunde’s situation. It’s not just about love; it’s about what kind of life you want.”

The conversation continued, but despite Bam Bam’s advice, Adaora remained confused. She knew she had to make a decision soon, but the weight of it was almost unbearable. After Bam Bam left, Adaora sat in silence, staring at her phone. She had to call Tunde, but she dreaded the confrontation.

Finally, gathering all her courage, she dialed his number. It rang... and rang... and for a moment, she thought he wouldn’t pick up. But then, she heard his voice.

“Adaora,” Tunde said, his tone clipped and cold.

“Tunde... I’m sorry I missed your calls,” she began, her voice shaky.

“What happened?” His words were sharp, but she could hear the underlying tension.

“I... I want to visit you this evening,” she blurted out, needing to defuse the situation somehow. “I think we need to talk.”

Tunde paused, his anger still simmering. “I’ll be available,” he finally said.

“Okay. I’ll see you then,” Adaora replied, relieved that he didn’t push for more details.

As she ended the call, she knew that tonight’s conversation could change everything. Tunde was angry, but she sensed he was trying to take it easy this time. Still, the uncertainty gnawed at her. Would their relationship survive the truth she had to tell? Or was this the beginning of the end?

The evening loomed ahead, filled with possibilities that both excited and terrified her.