Chapter 57: A Question of the Heart
1134words
A gentle breeze brought the scent of jasmine, blending it with car fumes to create a unique mix of nature and city. Eki felt a shiver, not because the weather was cold but because she was both excited and nervous at the same time. She has loved Dapo for a very long time, maybe forever. But she always feels scared he might not accept her feelings, and their work relationship makes it even more hard. Therefore, she never shared her emotions with him.
Dapo, noticing she is not feeling well, stretches out his hand to her. When their hands touch, it feels warm and soothing. He talks with a gentle tone saying, "It's nice here."
Eki nodded, her gaze fixed on the horizon. 'It is."
They become quiet, paying attention only to the distant noises of cars and the steady beat of city life. Eki's eyes quickly find Dapo; his face is gently lit by moonlight and his look shows a gentle expression filled with an affection she has never seen before.
"I must say something," she began, her voice trying hard to be heard among the busy sounds of the city.
Dapo gazed at her, his expression hopeful. "I feel the same way," he said.
They laughed nervously, just like someone does when they are close to finding out something big - a secret that is almost coming into the open.
"I think that maybe I began to love you from the first day we met," Eki said with a little shake in her voice.
His eyes opened wide, showing he was very surprised. Then, he looked at me and nodded like he understood. "I also have similar sentiments," Dapo articulated with a tone filled with feelings.
Eki felt a warm feeling, knowing she was not by herself. A bond had formed, and it was getting stronger as time passed. It looks like their connection started by making things and dreaming together; now, it seems love ties them.
Afterwards, Dapo said, "The Moonlight Lease was very hard. We needed to stop being friends for a while and only think about work."
Eki agreed, "It was a needed present. We got closer due to this. Much about ourselves and each other came out."
Quiet clever minds, truth is shared and weight becomes lighter but new troubles appear. What will happen to the bond? Would it affect their professional partnership?
Dapo suddenly said, "We make something special, everyone together." This shows how working as a group is important and that our good relationships are the base we can use to build up.
Eki agreed. "But what about us? What about our feelings for each other?"
Dapo inhaled deeply. "Right now, I am not certain about Eki. But one thing I know. I want to stay with you always, no matter what happens."
They remain, sensing the weight of their selection. Love or partnership? Can they have both? Or would they have to choose?
As they were going to speak, the sky suddenly got very bright. Then, a distant blast made the ground shake, and after that the whole city lost power. It's night and sirens noise below.
Eki held Dapo's hand tightly, and she could feel her heart beating very fast. "What was that?" she asked in a trembling voice.
His face is very white. His eyes are wide because he feels scared. "I'm not sure," Dapo said quietly. "We must go away from here."
As they hurried towards the stairs, Eki's worry increased. This was not a usual power outage; it meant something very bad and now they were stuck in it.
The city below looked like a deep, dark ocean; just some tiny lights from phone cameras and distant sirens shone. A new story was beginning, one with many unknowns and dangers ahead.
The steps felt like going into a room with tiny shapes and soft sounds. They held hands very firmly, showing their promise to stay together in this coming experience. The city below looked like a picture made of black and red colours. As time went by, the red colour began to stand out more.
"We must go from here," Dapo's words were nearly swallowed by the growing clamour.
Eki nodded, her mind working quickly. They needed to leave the apartment because the city was getting very chaotic. But where would they head out to? Also, what's going on? A million questions were spinning in her head, growing scarier as time went by.
When they arrive at the lowest level, everything is in chaos. People are running around with fear shown clearly on their faces. The streets, once recognisable, now appear as a maze of blackness and alarm.
"We have to find a way out of here," Dapo said, his voice firm.
Eki showed she agreed with a small nod and looked at the crowd. They needed to blend in very well, so no one would notice them anymore. They walked together, holding hands; it felt like being an anchor in a storm.
Amid all this confusion, a little feeling of having a mission began to grow. They were one team and would tackle this problem together as one. The affection they displayed seemed to boost their determination.
They found the street where the noise was less. It looked like a small, calm place inside the big storm. They stopped to catch their breath, their bodies trembling with excitement and anxiety.
"We need a plan," Dapo said, his voice barely a whisper.
Eki agreed with a rapid nod. They cannot remain on the roads. We need to find a place safe, somewhere we can gather and keep an eye on everything that happens.
"We can go to my house," she says with confidence. "It is at the end of the city, very far from here."
Dapo nodded. It was a risky plan, but it was their best bet.
When trying to go back, a shape came out from the dark place. It looked like a man – he seemed tall and strong; this person blocked their path. The face remained concealed within the darkness yet eyes glowed with keenness of peril.
"Oh, oh, oh," he said with surprise but in a soft and steady voice. "It is very strange to meet both of you here at this place."
Eki and Dapo exchanged worried looks. They were deeply in trouble, with the city in ruins and someone now pursuing them.
The nightmare was far from over.
