Threads of Destiny Unraveled

Chapter 19

Amina felt a surge of fear as she guessed what Adeola was thinking. She clenched her fist, her heart pounding as if she had just robbed a bank. "We..." Amina hesitated, feeling the weight of the words on her tongue. She glanced at Bayo, silently pleading for support, but found him equally speechless. She sighed, her resolve wavering before she continued.

Adeola sensed Amina's reluctance and felt a wave of dread. 'This is not a good sign,' she pondered, gripping her fist. 'Why me? Is this a test?' She had many questions, but she tried to calm herself.

Amina gathered her courage and blurted out: "We need your help to find Aroni." She decided to be direct rather than beat around the bush. She knew it was risky but didn't want to prolong the agony.

Adeola's eyes narrowed, a flash of fear and suspicion in them. She held it, then forced a smile to hide her emotion. Adeola hesitated, her gaze flickering between Amina and Bayo. "Sister," she began slowly, carefully selecting her words, "I believe there may be a misunderstanding."

Amina saw the doubt in Adeola's face and felt worried. She clenched her fist, trying to steady her heart. 'Maybe Bayo should tell her more. Like where he's from and why he's looking for that orisha.'

Bayo caught Amina's glance and felt a jolt of pressure. He didn't want to reveal too much. He knew that people who helped him could also hurt him. He wondered how to handle this. 'Maybe, maybe...' he shook his head slightly. But then he saw the darkness creeping in, and his heart and fist clenched. He sighed and said in Yoruba, "Emi ni mo nwa Aroni, arabinrin mi daadaa," which meant, "I'm the one looking for Aroni, good sister."

Adeola shook her head firmly. She didn't care if Bayo was from the same land as her; she wouldn't expose herself. Her eyes were conflicted, her lips parted to speak, but she kept shaking her head, rejecting their request. She looked at the three of them again, confirming her suspicions. How could they show up out of the blue and ask her for a divination? She gripped her fist, thinking, 'It's too convenient.' She smiled, waving her hand dismissively, "No one does that kind of thing here, so..." she suggested they look elsewhere.

Amina sensed the tension and tried to smile innocently. "You," she started, her eyes shifting between Bayo and Farid, "...can make us swear an oath of secrecy," Amina suggested, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She bit her lip, wondering why she was making such a request to someone she barely knew. The thought nagged at her, planting seeds of doubt in her mind. Was Bayo somehow influencing her without her realizing it? Amina felt her heart race, a wave of unease washing over her. She shook her head inwardly, trying to clear her thoughts, but the feeling of instability lingered, unsettling her further.

Farid shook his head vehemently, his hand involuntarily clenched as he glared at Bayo. 'He's the cause of all this. Without him, Amina wouldn't be so confused.' Farid turned his gaze to Adeola and Bayo, his eyes full of conflict and his head throbbing, looking for a way out. He shook his head again as if trying to get rid of a bad idea. Farid felt that if he listened to the voice in his head, he would be playing into Bayo's hands, and he hated someone fooling him. But he looked at Amina with concern and gritted his teeth, "I..." he hesitated, the word too heavy on his tongue, but he calmed his heart, "Amina would never harm you, so I vouch for her with my life."

Farid's words stunned Adeola. She blinked, unable to believe the depth of his devotion. He was willing to die for Amina, even though she loved another. Adeola felt a surge of admiration and pity for him. She glanced at Amina, who was watching Bayo with a troubled look. Adeola's lips caught between her teeth, a silent war of emotions playing across her face. Pity mingled with disdain as she watched Amina, lost in a dream that Adeola feared would only end in ruin. 'Must one possess the sight of the orishas to foresee such a fall?' she mused, her resolve firming. The breach of privacy was a minor sin compared to the potential shattering of a heart. She would seek confirmation, not for knowledge's sake, but for the slim hope that she could alter this path.

Adeola's attention shifted back to Farid; he was speaking decisively, "I'll take the death oath for her sake." He cursed himself inwardly for making such a rash promise. He knew Amina's heart belonged to Bayo, but he couldn't help his feelings. He clenched his fist, thinking, 'I'll do anything to break her defenses.' He looked at Bayo, who seemed conflicted. Farid hesitated, his brow furrowing in contemplation. "And if... if she were to reveal your secrets accidentally?" His voice softened, a tender smile gracing his lips as he glanced at Amina. "May the gods strike me down if that were to happen."

Amina felt guilt and gratitude as she saw Farid's gesture. His love touched her, but it also tormented her. She wanted to reach out to him, but she held back. "Farid, you shouldn't have done this for me..." she trailed off, hoping he would understand. She knew he could see the love in her eyes for Bayo.

Farid forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow. He knew he had made a grave mistake. His love for Amina would ruin his life. He had put aside his research, which was crucial for his people's well-being. He had deceived himself and Amina, pretending he was okay. But he wasn't. He felt tears sting his eyes, but he looked away. "Don't mind me, Amina," He said softly. "I'm glad for you." His words hid a profound meaning as if he had accepted his fate. But he hadn't given up yet. He couldn't let Bayo steal away the one who had stolen his heart. He would bide his time, always ensuring Amina noticed him until she realized he was the one for her. How could she fall for someone in such a short time? Bayo would make a mistake, and Farid believed he would be there to comfort Amina.

Bayo stood, a silent observer of the unfolding drama. His heart was a battleground of emotions, but none were for Amina. Despite her allure, his life was a maze of complications, leaving no room for romantic entanglements. The uncertainty of his stay in America loomed over him like a dark cloud. 'Surely, Farid must know of my precarious situation,' he mused, puzzled by Farid's unwavering confidence.

Amidst his internal turmoil, Adeola's soft and melodious voice broke through. "I'm touched," she began, her words trailing off as her gaze settled on Amina. A fleeting thought crossed her mind, 'Why meddle in affairs that don't concern me?' Yet, she found herself drawn in, speaking in Arabic, "May I," her eyes flitted between Bayo and Farid, "have the honor of divining your relationship?" Her command of the language was not flawless, but it was enough to widen Amina's eyes in surprise. Adeola's gaze lingered on Amina for a moment longer — a flicker of curiosity sparking within her. Despite her cautious nature, the mysterious circumstances surrounding Amina and her companions intrigued Adeola. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their story than met the eye.

Adeola's linguistic prowess surprised Amina. She knew not of Adeola's secret affinity for languages, her communion with the orishas that granted her such skill. 'How is this possible?' Amina pondered, her astonishment evident. Adeola's words, though not in her native dialect, resonated with Amina, a testament to her gift for communication. But the offer to divine her future brought Amina back to reality. She despised knowing what lay ahead, preferring to navigate life one step at a time.

Gathering her thoughts, Amina responded in Arabic, "Could you perhaps divine three aspects instead?" Amina's gaze subtly included Bayo and Farid, her request clear without words. She sought to understand the dynamics of their entwined fates, each separately and then together. As Adeola considered this, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her features. She had always been cautious, wary of entangling herself in others' affairs. Yet, there was something about the earnestness in Amina's eyes and the gravity of their situation that gave her pause.

"Perhaps you could assist us first," Amina added, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation. Adeola hesitated, her mind racing through the potential consequences of her involvement. She knew the risks of meddling with fate but couldn't ignore the sense of duty tugging at her heart.

After a moment of silent contemplation, Adeola exhaled a resigned sigh. She nodded, her decision made. She disappeared inside, her footsteps echoing faintly against the walls. Moments later, she returned, cradling an opon Ifa and opele Ifa in her hands, ready to unveil the threads of destiny.

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