Chapter 26: A Heated Confrontation
1394words
Eki could not believe it. Finding Kunle at the bar was a huge surprise, making her remember old times during her busy and difficult life. Yet, Dapo was turning it into a betrayal.
"Unprofessional?" Eki finally spat, her voice laced with anger. "Is that what this is about? Me playing a song with an old friend?"
Dapo's jaw clenched. "It's about you jeopardizing your career on a whim, Eki. You know the terms of the scholarship."
"And you know I cannot just stop my passion like turning off a light!" Eki replied, her voice becoming louder. "For years, you've been dictating my life, controlling every move I make."
A small sign of pain appeared on Dapo's face, showing for a moment the weakness he normally hides. It went away as quickly as it came.
"Dictating?" He scoffed, his voice laced with bitterness. "Why do you not see I try hard to keep you safe? That scholarship is the only way to a better life."
Eki stopped pacing, her gaze locking with his. "Dead-end life?" she repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "Is that how you see my music? My dreams?"
For one tiny moment, Dapo's eyes became gentle, but then they turned hard again. "Dreams are things we don't have time for now, Eki." Focus on your studies. That's all that matters."
His words hit like a slap. Eki felt defiance growing inside her. Years of suppressed frustration bubbled over.
"You are not the only person who lost something in that fire, Dapo," she says quietly, with a voice full of feelings. "I lost my family, my home where I grew up, everything important to me." You think I don't deserve a little happiness?"
When people talk about fire, Dapo suddenly makes quick movements. His eyes look somewhere else for a moment before he has a serious face again.
"Don't bring that up," he said curtly. "That's not relevant here."
"Everything is relevant!" Eki cried, tears stinging her eyes. "You want to manage everything in my life, but you will not talk about what matters most? About the truth of that night?"
The room got very quiet, filled with tension and unspoken words. Eki watched Dapo's hands turning white as he held the couch armrests so tight.
"Nothing to talk about," Dapo finally said, his voice sounding a bit tense. "It was only an accident." Like we've been over a thousand times."
Eki did not feel certain. The little doubt that Ayo had placed in her thoughts began to become larger since Dapo was not giving clear answers.
Just as she was ready to say more, an unexpected knock on the door surprised them both. Dapo looked at Eki with confusion in his eyes. Neither was expecting a visitor this late.
"Coming!" Eki called out, her voice laced with apprehension.
She moved slowly to the door, her mind busy with many thoughts. Dapo remained on the couch, his eyes narrow as he thought deeply.
Eki opens the door and sees a woman with bright red hair and a strong look in her eyes. She is tall and impressive, standing with arms crossed tight over her chest.
"Eki?" the woman said, her voice raspy yet commanding. "It's good to see you again. But under less… dramatic circumstances, I'd hope."
Eki's heart skipped a beat. This woman… she recognized her. Kemi, who is Dapo's cousin, had tried to talk about the history of Dapo's family when they were in the museum.
"Kemi?" Eki stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"
Kemi looked at Dapo fast, a little hint of defiance on her face. "We need to talk," she said with a firm voice. "And it can't wait."
Dapo rose from the couch, his face having both anger and confusion. "Kemi?" What's going on here?"
Kemi does not look at him, her eyes stay on Eki. "It is about the fire," she says in a very soft voice. "And the truth your family deserves to know."
Eki's breath caught in her throat. The fire. The truth. Those words echoed in her head, making all other things around seem silent and tiny. A wave of hope battled with deep feelings of doubt. Is this what she had been urgently seeking?
Dapo, however, was not so receptive. "There's no truth needed here, Kemi. Just leave it alone."
Kemi did not notice his sudden shout. Her eyes were fully fixed on Eki's. "You don't want to know, Eki?" she asked. "Do you want to know what happened to your parents a long time ago?"
Eki looked at Dapo, his face showing many different feelings. A part of her felt careful and not sure about trusting a new person again in this difficult situation. But the other, stronger part, craved answers.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I do."
A tiny smile of success showed on Kemi's face. "Then let's have a conversation," she said, her voice sounding softer than before. "But not here."
She pointed towards the hallway, her eyes shifting between Eki and Dapo. "We need to talk alone." Dapo, are you coming?"
Dapo stopped, looking straight into Eki's eyes. Without saying anything, both understood the silent question – did he want to get involved with this finding, or would he rather keep the past a secret?
Before Eki could decipher his expression, Dapo spoke. "No," he said, his voice tight. "This isn't my concern. Go. Talk amongst yourselves."
His voice had clear anger, but there was also a hint of something else – maybe fear? Or sadness? Eki couldn't quite tell.
Kemi had a surprised look after hearing what he said, but she soon got back her calm. "Okay," she answered, though there was some disappointment in her voice. "Then I suggest we find somewhere else to talk, Eki. Somewhere safe."
Eki's mind raced. Safe from Dapo? The meaning was heavy in the air between them. But having a chance to at last discover the truth about the fire felt too important to ignore.
Turning back to Dapo, her eyes showing both anger and defiance. "I will come back," she said with a strong voice. "And when I do, we have a lot to talk about."
Eki does not wait for an answer, just turns and follows Kemi out the door. When the door closes behind them, Eki almost thinks he hears Dapo sigh with frustration.
The truth about the fire was heavy in the air like a storm approaching. But now, everything has become more difficult.
As they walked down the bright hallway, Eki looked over at Kemi. "Where do we go now?" she asked, her voice laced with apprehension.
Kemi smiled, mystery showing in her eyes. "Someplace," she said, "where you can find out the secrets of your past."
But before Eki could examine it further, a swift movement ahead caught her eye. A person was positioned at the end of the corridor, their silhouette highlighted by the flickering light from the elevator doors. The person had a phone in hand, and the screen on it displayed a photo – Eki and Ayo were leaving the park. The man standing in the shadows took this picture just a few moments ago.
The figure turned back, and in the cold light from the phone screen, it showed Ayo's face. His eyes were big with a mix of fear and strong will.
"Eki," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You're in danger. Don't trust her."
The doors of the elevator opened quietly with a soft bell sound, showing them a possible way out. Before Eki could understand Ayo's strange warning, Kemi grabbed her arm with a surprisingly strong grip.
"Who is that?" Kemi whispered, her voice laced with suspicion.
Eki shook her head, her mind reeling. Who was right? Who made a mistake? One thing she knew very well – the true story about fire and all the secrets around it was much more deep and risky than she ever imagined.
