Ebipade Finds Out

"What really brought you to Lagos, Pade?" Ebilade asked, his voice cutting through the humid air as soon as they stepped out of the hospital doors.

Ebipade walked a few steps ahead, sighing deeply before glancing over his shoulder at his brother. His eyes flicked briefly toward the hospital entrance where a cluster of medical staff still stood, watching them like they were celebrities walking out of a press conference. The weight of their stares hung in the air, thick with disbelief.

"Why don't you answer my question first?" Ebipade's voice was quieter now, his words heavy with frustration and concern. He stopped walking, turning fully to face Ebilade. "How is it that you're standing here, perfectly fine, despite everything? Don't give me that crap about miracles. I know they happen, but not to you, brother. Not like this."

Ebilade raised a brow but stayed silent, watching his brother with an amused but patient expression. His arms crossed casually in front of his chest, as if none of this weighed on him at all.

"I mean it, Lade," Ebipade continued, his tone growing more intense as he took a step closer. His eyes searched his brother's face for some kind of answer, some crack in his unbothered demeanor. "Your body... it was beyond damaged. You were barely hanging on. I saw the injuries. I saw how broken you were. Hell, you were about to die!" His voice wavered for a moment, betraying the fear he had kept bottled up until now.

Ebipade glanced around, uneasy, before stepping even closer, lowering his voice. "Lade," he said, almost whispering now, "it hurt me to see you like that. When I saw you lying there, on that hospital bed... all I could think about was finding the bastard who did that to you. I wanted to kill him. That's how bad it was." He swallowed hard, his fists clenching at his sides, knuckles white as he remembered the sight of his brother broken and lifeless.

There was a long pause. Ebilade finally unfolded his arms and met Ebipade's eyes, his expression softening slightly as he took in his brother's pain. His gaze, normally sharp and calculating, held a flicker of something more—something close to understanding, even regret.

"Tell me," Ebipade pressed, his voice almost a plea now. "What really happened in there, brother? How are you standing here like none of it ever happened?"

Ebilade's lips twitched into a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He exhaled slowly, turning to look at the distant skyline, avoiding his brother's intense gaze for just a moment. "It's complicated," he finally said, his tone measured. His hands slid into his pockets, fingers curling around something unseen.

Ebipade's eyes narrowed, watching every subtle movement. There was something unspoken, something Ebilade wasn't telling him, and that only made his frustration grow. His brother had always been good at keeping secrets, but this? This was different.

"I have something called a system," Ebilade said, his voice low and cautious, as if he were still processing the absurdity of it himself. "I just received it today, before you came. That's how I got healed. And don't ask me anything more because that's all I know. I don't have any answers for you about how it works, or why it chose me."

He studied his brother's face, expecting confusion or disbelief, maybe even anger. But to his surprise, Ebipade's frown slowly morphed into a grin. A moment later, his brother threw his head back and erupted into laughter—loud, carefree laughter that echoed around them, drawing stares from passersby.

Ebilade blinked, stunned. "What's gotten into you, man?" he asked, genuinely baffled by the reaction.

"This is unbelievable!" Ebipade managed between fits of laughter, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "Never in my life would I have thought that my fantasies could become reality. And of all people, it happened to you—the guy who never believed in any of this fantasy stuff. It's hilarious, really."

Ebilade frowned slightly, his confusion deepening as his brother's laughter continued. He wasn't sure if Ebipade was making fun of him or if something else was at play here.

Ebipade finally calmed down enough to speak again, his face still lit up with a wide grin. "Tell me the details, man. Everything."

He glanced around at the small crowd that had started to form, curious onlookers drawn in by the commotion. Realizing they were becoming the center of attention, Ebipade shook his head and leaned closer to Ebilade. "On second thought," he said with a quieter, more measured tone, "why don't we go to your place? This spot's getting a little too crowded." He gestured at the people still watching them.

Ebilade watched his brother closely, noticing something he hadn't seen in a long time—genuine happiness. For the first time in what felt like forever, Ebipade was smiling, really smiling. It wasn't the usual smirk or half-hearted grin that he wore when pulling a scam or getting away with something. This was different. His brother's eyes sparkled with excitement, his shoulders relaxed as if a weight had been lifted off them.

That sight alone made Ebilade pause. Despite everything—despite their differences, their complicated history—they were still brothers. A smile tugged at Ebilade's own lips, soft but genuine. Maybe, just maybe, this strange turn of events could be the start of something new between them.

"Yeah, sure," he said, nodding as he started walking, his brother falling in step beside him. He stole a quick glance at Ebipade, noticing the bounce in his step, the way he seemed lighter, more alive.

As they walked side by side, Ebilade felt something shift between them. With the arrival of the system, maybe things would be different now. Maybe—just maybe—his brother would finally let go of his shady ways, stop scamming people, and find something better to live for.

For now, though, Ebilade focused on the moment, savoring the rare feeling of peace between them.