( Long chapter)
~
The next room was quiet.
Too quiet.
The lantern in the corner had long burned low, casting a soft golden glow across the walls. Outside, the night hummed with distant insects and the occasional whisper of wind brushing against the wooden shutters.
Dada lay on the bed, eyes closed, but sleep refused to come. He could hear Idowu.
Not sleeping. Shifting. Turning. Breathing too loudly.
Finally, he sighed. "You're not asleep."
Silence. Then-
"Neither are you."
Dada opened his eyes. Idowu was sitting on the floor beside the bed, his back resting against it, knees drawn close to his chest. His hair was messy, falling over his face. He looked... smaller somehow.
"You'll fall sick sitting on the floor," Dada said.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
Another pause.
The air between them felt different tonight. Heavy. Thick. Like something waiting to happen.
Dada sat up. "Come here."
Idowu blinked. "What?"
"The bed. Come."
"I'm okay here."
Dada frowned. "Idowu."
The way he said his name-low, steady, firm-sent a strange warmth through Idowu's chest.
Slowly, he stood.
He hesitated before climbing onto the bed, keeping a careful distance between them.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Dada asked quietly, "What's wrong?"
Idowu looked away. "Nothing."
"You're a terrible liar."
That made Idowu laugh softly. "You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
The laugh faded.
Idowu's fingers twisted in the cloth of his sleeve. "That day... when I almost drowned..."
Dada's jaw tightened.
"You were scared," Idowu continued. "I could feel it."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
Dada didn't reply. Because he had been. Terrified. The thought unsettled him.
Idowu turned to look at him. "Why?"
Dada met his gaze.
The lantern light reflected in Idowu's eyes, making them shine. Too bright. Too honest.
"Because you're annoying," Dada said flatly.
Idowu stared.
Then he smiled. "Liar."
Dada looked away.
Idowu moved a little closer. "You saved me."
"You would have done the same."
"Yes," Idowu said softly. "But that's different."
"How?"
"Because I... want to."
The words hung in the air. Dada's chest tightened.
"What does that mean?" he asked.
Idowu swallowed. "It means... I care."
The honesty in his voice made
something inside Dada shift. Dangerous. Unfamiliar.
He reached out before he could stop himself. His fingers brushed Idowu's cheek. Warm. Soft.
Idowu froze.
Their eyes locked.
"Your face is hot," Dada murmured.
"I- it's nothing."
But he didn't pull away.
Neither did Dada.
The silence stretched.
The distance between them disappeared without either of them realizing.
"Dada..." Idowu whispered.
"Hm?"
"If I had died that day... would you have been sad?"
The question hit deeper than expected.
Dada didn't answer immediately. Instead, he moved closer. Close enough to feel Idowu's breath.
"Yes," he said quietly.
Idowu's eyes widened.
For a moment, he looked hopeful. Fragile.
Dada's hand slid from his cheek to the back of his neck.
"Don't do something so reckless again."
Idowu's lips curved. "Then stay close to me."
Dada frowned. "That sounds like trouble."
"It is."
A small smile appeared on Dada's face. "Sleep," he said.
But when Idowu lay down, he stayed close. Closer than before.
And after a long moment, Dada's arm moved.
It rested lightly around Idowu's waist.
This time, neither of them questioned it.
Idowu smiled in the dark.
And Dada stared at the ceiling, wondering when everything had become so complicated.
.
.
...
The next morning
Before going out to continue their search, the men agreed to eat dinner. They sat at a shop close to the inn.
William kept teasing Adrian while Dada was actually smiling at the things Idowu was saying.
" Baba Dotun, here is your meal" a servant said dropping a dish on the table.
Dada's eyes strayed to the corner, he looked at the old man seated. The man looked exactly as the old woman had describe " baba Dotun" and what were the chances they had the same name.
" I think that's the man. " He announced.
The men looked at Dada.
" What do you mean? " Adrian was the first to ask.
" I've found him. The man I'm looking for." With that, he stood up and the others followed him.
He went to the man's spot. The man looked up to see four man and a boy in front of him.
" How can I help you Young men?" He questioned.
3 hours later
Dada was furious. He felt his brain experiencing a disaster. He got up angrily.
Idowu gripped his hand. Dada stared at his hand then to his face. Idowu's face showed he was really worried but right then, Dada felt he needed to be alone.
Despite his anger, he took his hands away gently and walked out.
The other men stared at him as he left. They knew better than to follow.
The old man had explained what happened at Aworan village fifteen years ago. The Emperor had stormed the place because they'd refused to pay their tribute which wasn't their fault. The land wasn't yielding crops but the emperor wouldn't hear of it. He burnt the whole place down. After losing his parents in that Chaos, Dada was left alone. At least, that was what the men were aware of from the story.
The truth was infact that after burning the place, the emperor saw Dada roaming and crying around the village and he took him to the palace to train him as his personal assassin.
Dada on the other hand, because of the tragic experience, erased it from his memory. That was why he'd lost his memory and couldn't remember what happened.
The other men didn't know Dada's identity as the emperor's assassin nor the mission he was out to carry. He was just a man that had a tragic child experience.
The old man sighed. " We should go meet the boy's father." He said to the men.
William looked at Ayo and patted his head. He tried to hide the sadness in his eyes.
The old man had asked how the men came to meet. After William had explained his and Ayo encounter, the man had told them he knew exactly whom Ayo's father was. Ayo's father, Dami had left the palace to search for his wife who was pregnant and was sent out of the palace. He had searched for ten years and was still searching.
The old man was excited to see Ayo. He took the men to where Ayo's father was.
On sighting the man, William could tell immediately that he was Ayo's father. The resemblance was uncanny. Ayo's father was grateful and really appreciate the men for looking and bringing his son to him.
Adrian hugged Ayo as a tear escaped his face. " Be a good boy." He said with shaking voice.
Ayo hugged him back and began crying.
" Alright.. alright. You should be happy you've been able to reunite with your father." William said.
The boy disengaged the hug and went to William. " Master William. Thank you." He hugged him.
William smiled and ruffled his hair.
" I'll come visit. I promise."
.
.
.
Few meters away Dada got to the river bank. He stopped at the edge and was grateful it was empty. The insects were loud here, louder than anywhere else, their sharp sounds drilling into his skull.
For a moment, he only stared.
Then the old man's words returned.
The Emperor... your parents...
Dada staggered back as if struck.
"No..." he whispered.
But the river did not care.
The water moved. The insects screamed. The wind carried the smell of wet earth and something older... something bitter.
Memories came.
Not gently.
They crashed.
Flames.
Smoke.
His mother's voice.
His father's hand pushing him to run.
The sound of swords.
The smell of burning flesh.
Dada pressed his hands over his ears.
"Stop... stop..."He yelled furiously. His breathing was heavy, uneven.
But the memories grew louder.
He saw faces.
Faces of the people he had killed.
Men begging.
Women crying.
Children staring.
All of them.
All of them dead because of him.
Because of the man who had murdered his parents.
His knees hit the ground.
The pain inside him twisted, raw and violent.
Why?
Why?
" Aghhhhhhhhhg!" He yelled again. He felt so stupid. He dropped to the ground. For the first time in years, Dada felt tears run down his face endlessly.
" Why?" He questioned no one in particular.
He started hitting his head hard.
Why? Why?
I killed for him!"
His voice broke.
Years.
Years of blood.
Years of obedience.
Years of believing.
A laugh escaped him. It was sharp. Broken. Wrong.
"What am I now?"
He looked at his hands.
They were shaking.
He could almost see the blood.
He could feel it.
"Monster..."
He lived for the emperor. He could have died for the Emperor if it warranted but ..but.. but now?
" Fuckkkkkkkk!!!!" He yelled again.
" He's insane. The Emperor is insane. I'll make you pay. I'll really make you pay. " Dada promise.
Anger surged, hot and blinding.
He grabbed a stone and threw it into the river.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each splash felt too small.
Not enough.
Nothing would ever be enough.
A scream tore out of him, raw and animal.
Birds flew from the trees.
The forest fell silent.
"I will kill him," Dada whispered.
The words felt heavy. Dangerous. Real.
The Emperor.
The man who had taken everything.
His body trembled.
But beneath the chaos, something else was forming.
Not just rage.
Purpose.
Slow.
Cold.
Deadly.
Dada stood.
The river reflected a stranger.
And the stranger was ready.
.
.
.
Dada spent a few hours there, he then went to an inn and for the first time, he drank alcohol. He drank so much he became really drunk. After drinking so much and it was getting late, he decided to head back to the inn. Although he found it hard to find his way. He got lost twice.
Meanwhile Idowu stayed outside the inn they'd been passing the night. He rubbed his hands together as he waited for Dada and stretched his head once more to check for any sight of him. He was beginning to get nervous and scared. Scared something bad had happened to Dada, scared he wouldn't see Dada again.
Soon he heard someone singing in the middle of the road and he saw him. He ran to Dada and he held him.
" Where have you been?" He then proceeded to sniff him. " Did you drink?" He questioned.
" I am tjonkh nhi bmkl." He said unintelligible.
" I'll get you inside." Idowu simply said. He put one of Dada arm across his shoulder and assisted Dada by holding his waist. He led him inside the inn and at a table was Adrian and William.
Once they saw them, the rushed to their side.
" No way? He's drunk?" William questioned.
Idowu simply nodded.
" I'll help you take him to the room." William offered and Idowu couldn't reject. Dada was almost twice his size and helping him move have been hectic.
Adrian followed behind them. They got to the room Dada and Idowu was sharing and laid him on the bed.
Adrian and William said their good nights and left the room.
Idowu sighed. Dada was actually as heavy as he looked.
" Take off those clothes. You reek." Idowu said. Dada only muffled some words.
Idowu sighed again. He went to the bed and sat at the side. He started unbuttoning Dada's clothes.
In that moment, dada grabbed his hand and pulled him. Idowu landed straight on Dada's chest.
" I'm sorry. I'm sorry. " He apologized.
Idowu didn't move away. He let his ear listen to Dada's heartbeat.
" What are you sorry for? " He asked.
' Sorry for almost killing you as ordered by the Emperor. I'm sorry.' this was the word at the top of his lips but he never et the words go.
Now that he knows the truth, he was confused. Confused about what to do now, confused about what to do to the Emperor, confused about what meaning his life had.
All he knew about was killing but now, he had decided there was no way on earth he'd still work for the man that had burnt his village and made him lose his family.
Now, it was no doubt he wouldn't carry out the mission but where to go from here, he didn't know. The thought of murdering the three Princes had dropped from his head.
" Are you asleep?." Idowu asked from his chest after the room was quiet for a while.
" What-what should I do now?." He questioned. His voice was low, weak, it obvious he'd been crying.
Idowu raised just his head from Dada's chest and stared at him. Dada felt something in his stomach with the way Idowu was staring at him.
No, he had always felt that way but made sure he didn't think too much about it. But now, now that the mission is off.., do he dare? Do he dare like someone?
Before Idowu could reply, he placed his hand gently on his hair and caress it ever so gently.
Idowu stared at the man before him, his heart racing. He'd never fallen this deep for anyone.
" Come with me. Stay with me." Idowu said and he meant it. Soon, soon, he'll take out the other princes. Soon, he'll become the Emperor and he wants Dada to be next to him badly. He's going to keep him.
Slowly, He brought his face closer to Dada.
Dada reciprocated and then, their lips met.
The feeling of Dada's lips made Idowu melt. He repositioned himself and sat atop Dada.
" Wait.." he suddenly paused before they continued. " Are you sober right now?" He asked.
Dada smiled and held his waist. " I don't think I've ever been this sober. " He replied. He was Still tipsy, yes, but he was very aware of what was happening. He knew he'd opened the gate to his heart to the man atop him and he admitted, he liked him.