It had been a few weeks since the chaos with Eniola and Gbenga had settled into something resembling routine. Aduni had returned to work, diving back into the demands of her logistics business with precision and control. But there was something different now, something unspoken but palpable when she was with Tade.
They had begun meeting more often, sometimes for casual business discussions, sometimes just for the sake of good company. Their conversations, at first sharp and tense, had started to flow with an ease that surprised them both. They weren't friends yet not in the traditional sense but there was a certain chemistry between them that neither could ignore.
One evening, they sat in a dimly lit restaurant, sharing a plate of jollof rice and grilled chicken. The atmosphere was casual, the clinking of silverware and soft laughter of nearby patrons creating a comforting backdrop.
Aduni poked at her food, her thoughts drifting for a moment before Tade's voice broke through.
"So, you still haven't changed your mind about marriage?" Tade asked, his eyes scanning the room, though his words were directed at her.
Aduni's eyebrow shot up, her sarcasm already prepared. "Why? You think I should? Look, Tade, I'm not sure what your idea of 'settling down' is, but I have no plans of joining some lovey-dovey, boring, routine-filled nightmare. Not for anyone, least of all some guy who thinks marriage is a business deal."
Tade chuckled, the sound low and almost dark. "You're right. I don't believe in the whole 'love marriage' idea. That's all just social conditioning. People talk about it like it's the greatest thing in the world, but the truth is, marriage is nothing but a long contract."
Aduni paused, her fork halfway to her mouth, eyeing him curiously. "A contract? Wow, you're really not selling it for me, Tade. So what's the deal? Is that your pitch to potential wives? 'Sign here, no refunds, and we'll pretend to be happy forever'?"
He didn't smile, his eyes staying steady on hers. "You mock it, but think about it. You enter into it because it's practical. It's about survival, about securing resources, managing expectations, ensuring stability. Not everyone needs the fairy tale. I'm not looking for that. Just a partner who knows their role and doesn't expect everything to be an emotional rollercoaster."
Aduni leaned back in her chair, feigning a thoughtful look. "Right, so basically, you're saying marriage is like buying a house. You just sign on the dotted line, get some maintenance done, and expect it to work? No passion, no mess, just pure business? And let me guess, you'd be the CEO?"
Tade's lips curled slightly at the corner, a flicker of something almost... malicious?
"Exactly. That's how it should be. But you..." He paused, clearly aware of the sarcastic undertone of her words. "You would never understand, would you? You don't like rules. You've never been the type to follow anyone else's lead."
Aduni smirked, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh, I understand perfectly, Tade. I just don't like bad deals, and marriage sounds like one if you're the one calling the shots."
Tade grinned at her response, clearly amused by her quick wit. But she could see it in his eyes, the respect. The intrigue. Tade was a man who believed in his own principles, and somewhere, in the depths of him, he was testing her boundaries. He was wondering how far he could push her, how much he could get away with before she pushed back.
And she always did.
That evening, the dinner conversation had flowed like that witty, sarcastic, and veiled with underlying tensions. But as the night went on, Aduni couldn't shake the feeling that Tade was trying to figure her out.
Maybe he wasn't the type to fall for the 'traditional romantic notions' of marriage, but the way he looked at her like she was an enigma made her wonder if, deep down, he was questioning whether his ideas could ever align with hers.
The next week, Aduni and Tade were eating out again, this time in a quieter, more intimate setting. As they finished their meals, Aduni noticed a figure walking through the restaurant. Her heart skipped when she saw her mother standing, as usual, without a care in the world about being seen in public, her posture regal, almost defiant.
Aduni sighed, rolling her eyes before she even spoke. "Here we go."
Tade raised an eyebrow, watching as Aduni's mother approached them. "She's your mom, right?"
Aduni nodded, already sensing the unsolicited advice that was about to come. She barely had time to prepare herself before her mother was standing beside their table, beaming down at her.
"Kiloshele, ewo ni ki o ma ro oju po…" Her mother said, wagging her finger at Aduni with a wide grin.
"Smile, let him see your pretty face! Who won't fall for you, if only you show them how sweet you can be? You're looking so serious, too serious. You need to learn how to show warmth to the world, Aduni."
Aduni's eye twitched. "Mummy, not this again."
Her mother was relentless, ignoring her tone completely. "This is what I've been telling you. You have to be more gentle with men. No one wants to marry a warrior woman who doesn't know how to smile." Her mother's eyes flickered toward Tade, her voice lowering to a more conspiratorial tone. "See, this one " She gestured to Tade with a wink. " if you don't smile, you'll chase him away. Make him see the woman in you, not the fighter."
Aduni pressed her fingers to her temples, clearly fighting to keep her patience in check. "Mummy, I'm not in the mood for this. Please."
But her mother wasn't listening. Instead, she tugged at Aduni's arm, pulling her up from the chair with surprising strength. "Come, let's go. It's time to fix things. Unblock your father, and make amends. It's time to stop being stubborn."
Aduni's eyes flashed with annoyance, but she didn't fight her mother's grip. "Are you serious right now?" she muttered under her breath, trying to pull away without making a scene.
"Amends? After everything that's happened? Do you even know about Gbenga's issues? His wife and kids disappeared, Mum! Don't you think we should be talking about that?"
Her mother froze, the smile faltering for a brief second. "I heard about it," she replied, her voice quieter now. "But that's not our concern, Aduni. He's still your father."
Aduni scoffed. "And he's still a liar, Mum. A cheating liar. A man who's been hiding things for years. Do you want me to go back to him now? To keep pretending like nothing happened?"
Her mother's eyes widened slightly, her shoulders slumping. She looked lost for a moment, but then, her resolve seemed to return.
"Ti o ba fe salo… ko bad." her mother said, her voice soft yet firm. "If you want to run away, it's fine. But not forever. You're a part of this family, no matter what. And no matter where you go, you'll always be tied to this."
Aduni stood there, watching her mother for a long moment. There was a weight in her words, but it felt like a chain rather than a blessing.
"You're not listening, Mum," Aduni said, her voice quiet, but filled with a rare sorrow. "You've always taught me to keep my head down, to endure. But I don't want that life. Not anymore."
Her mother's face softened, and for the first time in a long while, Aduni saw the vulnerability in her eyes. "I'm not asking you to live like me, Aduni. I'm just asking you not to run away from everything. This family, your name... it's important."
Aduni shook her head, a deep ache settling in her chest. "I can't stay in this cage, Mum."
As her mother stood there, speechless, Tade's voice broke through, low but gentle. "Maybe it's time we stop letting people define us by their standards. Whether it's family, or marriage, or love. We make our own choices."
Aduni glanced at Tade, seeing for the first time that he wasn't just making his own statements about marriage he was revealing something deeper. A part of him, just like her, wanted out from the expectations of others.
And as the conversation slowly faded into the background, Aduni realized that for the first time, she wasn't alone. Not just with Tade, but in her fight to live on her own terms. She was ready to break free, even if no one understood why.