Binary Hearts

83| The Silent Storm 👤❤️‍🔥

The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the judge banged his gavel, signaling that the case was adjourned until the following month. Tunde exhaled deeply, rising from his seat, his lawyer by his side. Adaora, who had been watching from the back, slowly stood up too, unsure of how to approach him. The air felt thick with unresolved issues as everyone began filtering out of the court.

As Tunde made his way toward the exit, he spotted him—Chidi. The man stood near the entrance, talking to someone, but his presence alone sent a wave of anger surging through Tunde. He clenched his fists, his pace quickening instinctively toward the person he knew was behind all this madness.

"That bastard," Tunde muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing with fury. He was ready to confront Chidi, ready to end this once and for all.

But before he could get any closer, a firm hand grabbed his arm, pulling him back. Tunde turned to see Adeola by his side, her face calm yet filled with silent command. Her eyes spoke volumes—not now, not here.

She gently tugged at his arm again, her gaze unwavering, silently telling him to let it go for now. Tunde hesitated, breathing heavily, but eventually he loosened his fists and allowed her to lead him away.

"Calm down," she whispered as they exited the court together, her voice soft but steady.

Just as they were heading toward Tunde's car, Adaora approached him, her face filled with concern. “Tunde,” she called softly, trying to catch his attention. “I’m... sorry about everything. This whole case... it’s not fair, but... it’ll be fine. We’ll get through this.”

Tunde looked at her, his emotions swirling in confusion and frustration, but he nodded. “Yeah... I hope so.”

Without saying much else, he opened the car door and got inside, leaving Adeola to follow. The drive back was quiet, the tension between them hanging heavy in the air. After several long minutes of silence, Adeola finally broke it.

“So,” she said, her voice almost a whisper but with an edge of accusation, “you’re indeed the Tunde I know, but you keep denying it. How are you going to deny it now?”

Tunde said nothing, keeping his eyes on the road, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“You don’t want to answer me, right? It’s fine,” Adeola added, folding her arms and leaning back in her seat, her frustration palpable.

When they finally arrived home, they were greeted by Sam, who was lounging on the couch watching TV. “You’re back!” he exclaimed cheerfully, oblivious to the heavy atmosphere between Tunde and Adeola.

Adeola wasted no time heading into the kitchen, deciding to distract herself with cooking. She grabbed some yam from the basket and began peeling it, focusing on each slice with precision. As the yam boiled, she moved to prepare the egg. She reached for Tunde's tin of sardines and mixed them with milk and coconut oil, carefully sautéing the mixture before cracking the eggs into the pan. The scent of the dish slowly filled the kitchen, the aroma comforting in its familiarity.

After a while, she dished out the yam and egg onto a plate, carrying it over to Tunde. He hadn’t said much since they returned home, but the moment he took a bite, his expression softened. The warmth of the meal eased his tension, even if only slightly.

As he ate, Adeola sat across from him, watching him with a mixture of curiosity and frustration. “So,” she began again, picking up where they left off, “maybe you attended Methodist, but not the Tunde I know, right?”

Tunde paused, his fork halfway to his mouth, and then chuckled softly. “Not my Tunde,” he murmured, more to himself than to her.

Adeola narrowed her eyes, realizing that he wasn’t going to fully accept the truth. “The evidence is clear, Tunde,” she said, shaking her head. “But I suppose you’ll come around.”