Binary Hearts

47| Shadows of the Heart 💜

Tunde wiped the back of his hand across his brow as he leaned back in his chair, glancing at the clock. 6 p.m. already, and he hadn't even had lunch yet. His day had been a whirlwind of meetings and development tasks that kept him glued to his desk, barely giving him time to breathe. He finally took a break and ordered lunch from the nearby restaurant, though it felt strange eating so late in the day.

The meal didn't take long, and as soon as he finished, Tunde hopped into his car, heading straight for Adaora's house. His thoughts bounced between the surprise he had planned for her and the unspoken tension between them. He was anxious to see her, to feel her presence again, despite the invisible wall that had been slowly building between them.

When Tunde arrived at Adaora's place, she was already outside, dressed in a simple yet stunning outfit-a sleeveless red dress that fell just below her knees, paired with black heels. Her hair was pinned up neatly, and she wore a delicate gold necklace that shimmered in the evening light. Tunde couldn't help but smile when he saw her, but as they hugged, it was brief and restrained. He wrapped his arms around her gently, giving her a light squeeze, though part of him wanted to hold her longer, to feel closer.

"Hey," he said softly as they pulled away. "You ready?"

Adaora nodded, giving him a small smile. "Yeah. Let's just go straight to your place. It's already getting late."

Tunde agreed, and they both got into his car, Adaora settling into the passenger seat as he started the engine. They drove through the bustling streets of Lagos, the city alive with noise and motion. As they made their way towards Lekki, they passed the usual chaos of the roads-danfos packed to the brim with passengers, vendors weaving between traffic, and pedestrians crossing wherever they pleased.

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted nearby. Tunde glanced to his left, just in time to see a danfo conductor hurling insults at a bike man trying to overtake them.

"Wetin you dey find? Abi you wan die today?" the conductor shouted, veins bulging on his neck.

"Na your papa go die, idiot!" the bike man fired back, revving his engine aggressively.

Tunde shook his head, keeping his eyes on the road. "These Lagos streets, man. Always some drama."

Adaora chuckled softly, watching the scene unfold. The conductor was now halfway out of the danfo, yelling even louder, but Tunde quickly navigated his car past the chaos, leaving the quarrel behind them.

For a while, the drive was quiet, the tension between Tunde and Adaora palpable. He wanted to bring up their relationship, to ask why things felt so off lately, but before he could open his mouth, Adaora beat him to it.

"So, the company's collaboration with Bybit is going really well," she said, turning to look at him. "I've been working closely with the team to make sure everything's on track."

Tunde smiled, though a small part of him wished the conversation had gone in a different direction. Still, he listened attentively, appreciating her dedication to her work.

"That's great," he said. "You're doing amazing, Adaora. I really appreciate everything you've been doing."

Adaora looked over at him, her smile soft and genuine. "I should be congratulating you, though. Spark Technologies' new partnership is a huge deal. You've made it."

Tunde sighed, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Don't congratulate me just yet," he replied, his voice heavy with the weight of his thoughts. "I'm risking a lot with this deal. There's a chance I could lose ownership of everything I've built."

Adaora frowned, sensing his unease. "I'm sure it'll work out," she said quietly, though the concern in her eyes mirrored his own.

Tunde nodded but quickly shifted the conversation, lightening the mood. "But you, sha! You no even welcome me with food like you used to," he teased in pidgin, giving her a playful glance. "Person go just visit you, and you go leave am hungry."

Adaora's lips curved into a smile, but she stayed silent, letting his words hang in the air. Tunde's heart thudded in his chest, and finally, he asked the question that had been eating at him for weeks.

"Adaora," he said, his voice softer now, "what are we? I mean... what's going on between us?"

Adaora sighed, turning her gaze out the window for a moment before facing him again. "Tunde, I told you before... I think we need a break. Some time apart, to miss each other. It'll make us stronger."

"Was I too harsh on you? Did I do something wrong?" Tunde asked, desperation creeping into his tone. "I'm sorry if I made things difficult. I just want to make it right."

Adaora shook her head, her expression pained. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I don't understand myself anymore. I need space, Tunde. I need to figure things out."

Tunde swallowed hard, his heart sinking. But he nodded, accepting her words. "I get it. I'll give you all the time you need."

As they pulled up to Tunde's house, the night had fully settled in, the streetlights casting long shadows over the quiet Lekki neighborhood. Tunde parked the car and got out, leading Adaora towards the entrance of his home. The house was shrouded in darkness, and Adaora instinctively clung to his arm, her fingers tightening around his wrist.

"Why's it so dark?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Don't worry," Tunde reassured her. "Come on."

They stepped inside, and just as Adaora's nerves began to spike, the lights suddenly flickered on. The room was filled with brightly colored balloons, streamers, and gifts scattered across the floor. Adaora's eyes widened in shock, her hand flying to her mouth as she realized what was happening.

"Surprise!" came a chorus of voices, and Adaora turned to see Sam, Paul, and a few others she hadn't seen in years-her old friend Precious among them, beaming at her from across the room. Tears welled up in Adaora's eyes as she took in the sight.

"Tunde... I..." She could barely find the words. It had been so long since anyone had celebrated her birthday. After her father's death, the occasion had lost its meaning. But now, standing here, surrounded by people who cared for her, it felt like a piece of her heart was being mended.

The night was filled with laughter, music, and heartfelt moments. Adaora hadn't realized how much she missed this-the joy of being celebrated, of being surrounded by friends who made her feel whole. She nearly broke down in tears as she hugged each of them, grateful beyond words.

By the time the party wound down, it was late, and Tunde insisted on driving Adaora home. She sat quietly in the car, holding the gifts in her lap, her mind racing with a million thoughts. Tunde's surprise had touched her deeply, but there were still so many questions lingering between them.

When they arrived at her apartment, Tunde helped carry the gifts inside. As they said their goodbyes, he left her with a simple but heartfelt message: "I'm always here for you, Adaora. No matter what."

Inside, as Adaora unboxed the gifts, she found something that nearly took her breath away-a framed photo of her late mother, smiling warmly back at her. Her throat tightened, and she blinked back tears. There was also a picture of her and Tunde, taken at Paystack the first time they had ever met. She hadn't even realized someone had captured the moment, but now, seeing it made her heart ache in the best possible way.

Among the gifts, she found a handwritten letter from Tunde. Inside, he had written:

"It's only when you lose someone that you truly understand their value. I've started to miss you, Adaora. And maybe this space is a good thing, because it's made me realize just how much you mean to me. I hope you know that, no matter what, I'm here, and I appreciate you more than ever."

Adaora closed her eyes, clutching the letter to her chest. Tunde's words echoed in her mind, and for the first time in a long while, she felt something stir deep within her-a hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be mended.