LOVE AND SECRETS

coffee and confessions

CHAPTER TWELVE

Coffee and Confessions

Jeffrey stood motionless, his heart pounding.

For the first time in three years, he had heard Agatha laugh.

It was only for a second.

But that single moment gave him more hope than he had felt in years.

Agatha quickly composed herself and reached for her shopping basket.

"I should go."

"Agatha..."

She paused but didn't turn around.

"What is it?"

Jeffrey took a cautious step forward, making sure to keep a respectful distance.

"I know you don't owe me anything."

She remained silent.

"But would you allow me to buy you a cup of coffee?"

Agatha smiled faintly without looking at him.

"You really don't know when to give up, do you?"

"I've tried."

"And?"

"I wasn't very good at it."

She sighed.

"This isn't a date."

"It doesn't have to be."

"It's not forgiveness."

"I know."

"It's just coffee."

Jeffrey nodded.

"Just coffee."

After a long pause, Agatha finally turned to face him.

"Thirty minutes."

His eyes widened in surprise.

"You'll come?"

"You've been asking for five minutes since I came back."

She looked at her wristwatch.

"I'm giving you thirty."

Jeffrey smiled for the first time in what felt like forever.

"Thank you."

...

Twenty minutes later, they sat in a quiet café overlooking the marina.

The atmosphere between them was awkward.

A waiter placed two cups of coffee on the table before quietly leaving.

Neither of them reached for their drink immediately.

Jeffrey finally broke the silence.

"How was London?"

Agatha looked out at the water.

"It changed me."

"I can see that."

She looked back at him.

"Is that a compliment?"

"It's admiration."

She lowered her eyes.

"Thank you."

Another silence followed.

This time, Agatha spoke first.

"You really never stopped looking for me?"

Jeffrey answered without hesitation.

"Never."

She studied his face carefully.

"You could have moved on."

"I didn't want to."

"Why?"

His answer came quietly.

"Because I never stopped loving you."

Agatha's fingers tightened around her coffee cup.

Those words...

Once, they would have meant everything.

Now they only left her with more questions.

"If you loved me..."

She looked into his eyes.

"...why didn't you fight for us?"

Jeffrey's expression changed.

"I did."

"No."

She shook her head.

"You disappeared."

"I was trying to protect you."

"From what?"

Jeffrey opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

Agatha noticed.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The silence."

She pushed her chair back.

"I've seen this before."

"Agatha, please."

"No."

She stood.

"I came because I wanted to believe things had changed."

She looked at him sadly.

"But every time we get close to the truth..."

"You hide behind another secret."

She reached into her handbag and placed some money on the table.

"This coffee is on me."

Before Jeffrey could stop her, she walked away.

He remained seated.

Watching the untouched coffee grow cold.

...

Outside the café, Unduka was about to enter when he saw Agatha leaving.

She looked upset.

"Agatha?"

She looked up.

"Oh... Unduka."

He noticed the sadness in her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

She forced a smile.

"I will be."

He glanced through the café window and saw Jeffrey sitting alone.

Everything suddenly made sense.

Unduka didn't ask another question.

Instead, he simply said,

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"Somewhere you can breathe."

...

An hour later, they arrived at Tarkwa Bay.

The sea breeze was cool, and the beach was almost empty.

Agatha removed her sandals and walked barefoot across the sand.

"This place is beautiful."

Unduka smiled.

"I come here whenever life becomes too loud."

She looked out at the waves.

"I understand why."

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Unduka broke the silence.

"You still love him."

Agatha closed her eyes.

"I don't know."

"You do."

She looked at him.

"Does that bother you?"

He smiled gently.

"It would be a lie if I said no."

Her expression softened.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I'd rather compete with the truth than win because of a lie."

Agatha looked at him in surprise.

"That's a rare way of thinking."

"My father taught me something when I was young."

"What was it?"

"If someone truly belongs with you..."

He smiled.

"...you'll never have to force them to stay."

His words lingered in Agatha's heart.

For the first time, she saw Unduka not just as a kind friend...

But as a man of quiet strength.

Far away, inside his office, Chief Clement Eze received another update.

"Sir," his assistant said.

"Jeffrey met Agatha today."

Chief Clement frowned.

"How did it go?"

"They had coffee."

His expression darkened.

"And afterward?"

"Unduka took Agatha to Tarkwa Bay."

A slow smile returned to Chief Clement's face.

"Good."

"Keep watching."

"The closer Unduka becomes to Agatha..."

"The harder it will be for Jeffrey to win her back."

He ended the call and opened a locked drawer in his desk.

Inside was a thick brown file.

Across the front were two names written in bold black letters.

JEFFREY CHIMA

AGATHA WILLIAMS

Chief Clement ran his fingers over the file before opening it.

The first page contained a document that had been hidden for three years.

A single document capable of destroying lives...

Or finally setting two broken hearts free.

He smiled to himself.

"Not yet," he whispered.

"Not until the time is right."