Binary Hearts

77| Threads of Deception 🧵

Adaora ended the call with Chidi, her hand trembling as she set the phone down. Her mind swirled with the weight of what had just transpired.

"Are you going to tell him?" Adeola’s voice sliced through the heavy silence that had settled between them.

Adaora, still shaken, turned to face her. "Tell him what?" she asked, her tone sharp, fury barely masked.

"That you rescued him with the money of his hated enemy," Adeola said, folding her arms. Her gaze was unwavering as she spoke. "Don’t you see how angry he gets whenever Chidi’s name is mentioned?"

Adaora sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose as if trying to stave off a headache. "So, what do you expect me to do at that moment?" she snapped back, her voice rising, full of frustration. "They gave me 24 hours on his life! Twenty-four hours, for God's sake!"

"You could have found it somewhere else!" Adeola fired back, her voice growing louder. "You could’ve asked your friends, your family—anyone! But Chidi?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Chidi is not an option. How do you think Tunde is going to feel when he finds out where you got that money?"

Adaora’s resolve crumbled, and her eyes welled up with tears. "It wasn’t intentional! What should I do?" she pleaded, her voice breaking.

Adeola’s features softened as she moved closer to console her friend. "Look," she whispered, gently resting a hand on Adaora’s shoulder. "You’ll just have to hide it from him. For now."

"I didn’t bargain with Chidi," Adaora said, shaking her head vigorously. "I swear, I didn’t."

Adeola gave her a pointed look. "You better hope you didn’t," she muttered under her breath, her eyes reflecting a mixture of worry and disbelief.

Meanwhile, at Spark Technologies, the meeting with Tunde went surprisingly well despite arriving late. His efforts to establish the new branch specializing in gas measurement systems were paying off. Just yesterday, the demand for the system had skyrocketed, and Tunde had begun to invest some of the funds from Adeola's father into the new branch. The company was expanding quickly, updating job opportunities and looking to grow the software engineering team to stabilize the smoke payment system.

Tunde felt accomplished as he wrapped up the meeting and prepared to leave with Sam. But as they stepped outside, a sleek, black power bike sped past them, the rider hidden behind a dark helmet. The rider dropped a folder, which skidded to a stop at Tunde's feet. He knew immediately—it was meant for him.

He picked it up without a word and exchanged a knowing look with Sam. They drove home in silence.

At home, the aroma of something rich and hearty welcomed them inside. Tunde’s stomach growled, the stress of the day amplifying his hunger. Adeola and Adaora had jointly cooked for them. The meal was a fragrant mix of moi moi, rice, and a stew made with rabbit. The rich flavors filled the room, and soon, Tunde and Sam were devouring the food, their conversation light and easy.

"Where did you get the rabbit?" Tunde asked, pausing mid-bite. His question seemed innocent enough, but Adaora immediately cleared her throat nervously.

Before Adeola could respond, Sam’s voice rang out, full of suspense. "Hope it’s not my rabbit you guys killed?"

Tunde burst into laughter, the tension from the day dissipating in an instant. Adaora tried to stifle her own laughter, biting her lip to keep from joining in, but the hilarity of the situation was contagious. Adeola, pretending to be sorry, looked at Sam with a mockingly sorrowful expression.

"I didn’t know, I swear!" she said, her voice filled with playful guilt.

Tunde winked at Sam. "Your rabbit is really delicious, though."

Sam’s face twisted in horror, and he was almost in tears. "I’m serious!" he shouted, his voice cracking slightly.

Adeola, now fully committed to her role, promised Sam she’d get him another rabbit—a special one, even better than the last. Sam pouted, but her soothing voice and promises calmed him down eventually.

The evening was filled with laughter and lighthearted banter. It was the kind of evening where, despite everything that had happened, they could momentarily forget the troubles looming over them. After dinner, Tunde escorted Adaora home. At her doorstep, they lingered, their conversation soft and full of unspoken emotions.

"I can’t thank you enough for what you did," Tunde whispered, leaning in to kiss her softly.

Adaora smiled, though her heart felt heavy with the secret she was hiding. "Just... stay safe," she whispered back.

Tunde left her home, stopping to buy suya for Sam on his way back. As he entered the house, the smell of suya wafted through the air, and Sam’s eyes lit up. He and Adeola were seated on the couch, engrossed in a game of FIFA on the PS4. Sam was teaching Adeola how to play, and from the looks of it, she was catching on quickly.

Tunde smiled to himself, watching them. For a moment, the thought of family crossed his mind—a fleeting vision of what life could be. He quickly brushed the thought away, focusing on the present.

Back at Adaora’s place, she was undressing when she heard a car horn outside. She rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Tunde..." she muttered, already assuming it was him, showing up unannounced. But when she looked outside, her heart sank.

Chidi Okoye stood there, smiling up at her.

"Oh, Chidi!" she said, startled. She hadn’t expected him, least of all tonight. As he approached her door, there was no way to stop him now.