Binary Hearts

102| Moments of Choice 💆‍♂️

Tunde's day at the office wound down in peaceful solitude. He wrapped up late, alone, savoring the rare quiet that descended with Adeola away. She'd let him know she'd be staying in Abuja a while, now that she was already there. But as he packed up to head home, something felt different.

Arriving back at his place, Tunde noticed the atmosphere felt... unusual. Though Sam was still around, Tunde ended up cooking his own dinner. As the night went on, Tunde and Sam sat down to a round of FIFA, laughs ringing through the house.

The next morning, Sam was bustling around with a peculiar energy. He had a suitcase packed beside him, and he shot Tunde a thoughtful glance. "Boss," he started, with a mischievous smirk, "should I leave this PS4 for you as a souvenir?"

Tunde chuckled, giving him a mock-disappointed look. "Looks like you've become richer than I thought, Sam."

They both laughed, and Tunde said, "Nah, take it along. It's part of the memories, right?"

As they made their way to the car, a mutual silence fell between them. At the junction, Tunde finally asked, a slight tear in his eye, "So... where's your new base, Sam?"

With a quiet pride, Sam replied, "Got myself a place in Ajah, Lagos."

Tunde clapped him on the shoulder. "Well done, man. Congratulations. Let's make sure you're off to a good start." They shared a final handshake before Tunde left Sam at the junction, and just as he was driving off, he caught a glimpse of a sleek cream-colored Lexus pulling up beside Sam. Sam loaded his bags into the trunk and got in, leaving Tunde smiling as he drove home.

At Paystack, Bam Bam greeted Chidi as he arrived in his office, standing up to help him with his suit. Once Chidi settled into his chair, she handed him a stack of documents. "These are the files pending your signature," she mentioned, glancing at him meaningfully.

Chidi nodded, flipping through the stack. Just as he picked up a pen to sign, Bam Bam slipped Adaora's proposal onto the desk. "This one's urgent," she said, her eyes a little brighter.

Intrigued, Chidi paused. "I'll take a look now." He read Adaora's proposal, impressed by her dedication to elevating Paystack's platform. It was ambitious, pushing for advancements to keep competitors at bay. But he couldn't ignore Hannah's proposal either. Frowning thoughtfully, he called Bam Bam over, gesturing to the files.

She approached, eyes on him, until he patted his lap. "Right here," he teased.

Bam Bam froze for a moment, flustered, then sat down on his lap, leaning against his chest as he wrapped an arm around her.

"Bam Bam," Chidi said softly, "you're Adaora's friend... which proposal should I choose? Adaora's is brilliant, but Hannah's... it's solid too. And we both know she's a troublemaker."

Bam Bam, distracted by his closeness, murmured, "Well... Hannah's, to avoid trouble, right?"

Chidi grinned, pleased. "Good answer. I'll reward you tonight."

Bam Bam's heart raced as she returned to her desk, unable to hide the smile on her face.

Meanwhile, back at Tunde's house, the silence felt heavier than expected. He'd always been fine alone, especially in his garage, but this time, the emptiness seemed to stretch around him. An impulsive thought crossed his mind—why not join Adeola in Abuja?

Within minutes, he'd booked a flight. Hours later, he arrived in Abuja and decided to keep his arrival a secret, for now. He checked into the same hotel his stepmother had once booked for him, feeling a little nostalgic. Settling in, he texted Adeola: Sam just left.

Her reply came back with a playful jab: Feeling bored already? followed by a smiling emoji.

Tunde chuckled, typing back. How's Abuja treating you?

Actually, Adeola replied, I've got a get-together tomorrow with my old NYSC friends. They're all bringing their boyfriends, too. Shame you're not here—I'd pretend you're mine.

Tunde smirked. And you think I'd play along if I were in Abuja?

Of course, she teased. I covered for you with your stepmom, remember?

Fair point, he typed back. Good thing I'm not in Abuja, then.

The conversation ended with a warm feeling lingering between them. Later that afternoon, Tunde took a shower and sprawled on his bed, deciding to watch a Korean movie Mide had recommended. It wasn't usually his thing, but the storyline about a man continually surprising his girlfriend made him smile—and brought Adaora his ex to  mind. He nearly called her but decided against it, letting himself just enjoy the moment.

As he continued watching, something clicked. He recalled Adeola mentioning the get-together location and time. An idea took shape, one that made his heart race with excitement. He got up, throwing on jeans and heading out to buy a brand-new black power bike, along with the full gear: helmet, gloves, and biker jacket. He could already picture the stunned looks he'd get on the road.

On his way back to the hotel, women turned to stare, and he smirked under his helmet. Guess bikers really have a pull, he mused. That evening, he stayed up late, carefully planning how he'd show up at Adeola's gathering, ready to make a grand entrance she wouldn't forget.

At Paystack in the afternoon , Chidi sat at his desk, reviewing Adaora's proposal once more. He admired her commitment to enhancing Paystack's systems, making sure they stayed ahead of the competition. Adaora's proposal is great but Hannah own isn't bad either.

With a sigh, he summoned Bam Bam again.

"So," he said, drawing her closer, "should I tell Adaora about my decision before making it public?

Bam Bam's heart wasn't on the proposals; she was focused on Chidi's warmth as he held her close. Almost dreamily, she answered, "yeah I think so or I can help you explain"

Chidi chuckled, satisfied. "I knew I could count on you."

With her cheeks flushed and her mind elsewhere, Bam Bam left his office, thrilled at the prospect of the reward he'd promised. As she returned to her desk, she couldn't shake the feeling that today would be unforgettable.