Binary Hearts

33| Despair 😮‍💨

Adaora lay curled up on the floor, the weight of heartbreak pressing down on her like an unrelenting force. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her thoughts consumed with the pain of Tunde’s departure. The silence in her apartment was suffocating, each minute dragging on endlessly. She knew she should get up, get dressed, and go to work, but she couldn’t bring herself to move. The thought of facing the world, of pretending that everything was okay, felt impossible.

At Paystack, the new CEO, Mrs. Abosede, noticed Adaora’s absence almost immediately. She was a sharp woman, one who had quickly established her authority since taking over as the acting CEO. Her presence was felt in every corner of the office, her sharp gaze missing nothing.

“Where’s Adaora?” Mrs. Abosede asked as she entered the conference room for the morning briefing. Her tone was calm, but there was an undercurrent of expectation that made everyone in the room sit a little straighter.

Bam Bam, one of Adaora’s closest colleagues, quickly stepped forward to cover for her. “She’s not feeling well, ma’am,” she said, her voice steady. “Adaora called in sick this morning. She’s been under a lot of stress lately.”

Mrs. Abosede’s eyes narrowed slightly as she considered this information. “I see. Make sure she gets the rest she needs,” she said, her voice cool. But there was a hint of suspicion in her tone that made Bam Bam uneasy.

“Yes, ma’am,” Bam Bam replied, offering a polite nod.

Meanwhile, Chidi Okoye was sitting in his new sleek CTO office, reviewing some documents when a nagging feeling tugged at him. He hadn’t heard from Adaora since the day before, and something told him that she wasn’t okay. He picked up his phone, dialing her number with a sense of urgency he couldn’t quite explain.

When Adaora answered, the sound of her soft sobs hit him like a punch to the gut. She didn’t say anything—she didn’t need to. The sound of her crying was enough to tell him that she was hurting deeply, and it made his heart ache in a way he hadn’t expected.

“Adaora, what’s wrong?” Chidi asked, his voice gentle but filled with concern. “Talk to me, please. What happened?”

But Adaora couldn’t speak. Her throat felt tight, her voice choked by the overwhelming sadness that had consumed her since Tunde left. All she could do was cry, her tears flowing freely as she listened to Chidi’s voice on the other end of the line.

“Okay, I’m coming over,” Chidi said firmly, his mind made up. “Just hold on, Adaora. I’ll be there soon.”

He ended the call and grabbed his keys, his heart pounding as he made his way out of the office. But as he reached the lobby, he was intercepted by Mrs. Abosede, who was on her way out of the building as well.

“Chidi, where are you going?” she asked, her tone sharp as she eyed him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. She had noticed the change in his demeanor, the urgency in his steps.

“I’m going to check on someone,” Chidi replied, his voice calm but with an edge of determination. “She’s not feeling well, and I’m worried about her.”

Mrs. Abosede raised an eyebrow, her lips pursed. “You’re leaving in the middle of the day to check on an employee? Is there something I should know, Mr. Okoye?”

Chidi’s jaw tightened. “Abd how did you know the person is an employee?”

The room seemed to hold its breath, the tension palpable as the two locked eyes. Mrs. Abosede’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. “Very well,” she said coolly. “But don’t forget your responsibilities here, Chidi.”

“Thanks I won't,” Chidi replied, but his mind was already far away, focused on Adaora and the pain she was in.

The office buzzed with murmurs as Chidi walked out. Mrs. Abosede’s newly asserted authority was clear, and everyone was on edge, sensing that the company dynamics were shifting under her leadership. But for Chidi, nothing mattered more than getting to Adaora and finding out what had hurt her so deeply.

While this drama unfolded, back at Tunde’s office, the atmosphere was entirely different. The Spark Technologies team was in high spirits, their excitement filling the air as they watched the numbers climb. Tunde had thrown himself into his work, launching the new payment system, SMOKE, with relentless focus. It was a much-needed distraction from the turmoil in his personal life.

“Eight hours in, and we’re already at over a million users,” one of the developers said, his voice full of awe. “This is incredible, Tunde. SMOKE is a massive success.”

Tunde nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at the analytics dashboard. The graph showing user sign-ups was almost vertical, the numbers still climbing rapidly. It was a milestone moment for Spark Technologies, one that would solidify their place in the market as a leading payment solution provider.

“Keep monitoring the servers,” Tunde instructed, his tone professional but laced with a hint of pride. “We need to make sure everything runs smoothly. No crashes, no downtime. This is our moment.”

The team nodded, energized by the success they were witnessing. But even as they celebrated, Tunde couldn’t shake the emptiness in his chest. The triumph of SMOKE’s launch was bittersweet, overshadowed by the lingering pain of his breakup with Adaora. He had poured everything into this project, but now that it was out in the world, he couldn’t help but feel the hollow ache where his heart should be.

As his team continued to work, Tunde found himself staring out of his office window, the bustling city below blurring into a haze. The memories of Adaora haunted him, her smile, her laughter, the way she had looked at him with such admiration and trust. And now, it was all gone, shattered by betrayal and doubt.

He clenched his fists, forcing himself to focus on the success of the moment. But no matter how hard he tried, the pain lingered, a constant reminder of what he had lost.

At Adaora’s apartment, Chidi arrived to find her in the same state she had been in when he called. Her eyes were red and puffy, her face pale and drawn. She looked so small, so broken, and it tore at Chidi’s heart to see her like this.

“Adaora,” he whispered, kneeling beside her on the couch. “What happened? Please, talk to me.”

Adaora shook her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. She wanted to tell him, wanted to explain everything, but the words wouldn’t come. The pain was too raw, too overwhelming.

Chidi reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together,” he said softly. “I’m here for you, Adaora. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

His words only made her cry harder, the weight of everything crashing down on her all over again. She felt so lost, so utterly alone, and the sight of Chidi’s concern only deepened her sense of despair. She had hurt Tunde because of him, driven him away, and now, even Chidi’s kindness felt like too much to bear.

“Please, Adaora,” Chidi continued, his voice breaking with emotion. “Let me help you.”

But Adaora couldn’t respond. She couldn’t find the strength to tell him what had happened, to face the reality of the situation. All she could do was cry, her tears a silent plea for the comfort she so desperately needed.

Chidi sat with her, holding her hand as she wept. He didn’t push her for answers, didn’t try to make her talk. He simply stayed by her side, his presence a quiet reassurance that she wasn’t alone.