THE ILLUSION OF PERFECTION 27 (LAST EPISODE)

 

Tayo drifted through the pulsing streets like a shadow, the noise and streaks of light blurred around him. His legs moved on instinct, but his mind was exhausted with disillusionment, and the heavy weight of choices that had led him to this moment.

He thought of the dreams he had once held with fierce conviction. The dream of becoming a top IT consultant, delving into AI, building something real and lasting. He recalled the pre-graduation nights spent hunched over blueprints and code, mapping out a future built on substance. But somewhere along the line, he had traded that vision for a life of glitter. For the Brand. For the illusion of perfection and success.

He had heard whispers of Deji’s ruthlessness but had ignored all the warnings. Now, standing in the ruins of public humiliation, the fights, crushing debts, and headlines, the truth was impossible to ignore. He had sold his soul to a man who would only be appeased by news of his death.

A faint buzzing reached his ears, but he barely registered it. He wasn’t used to the old phone Nadia had given him—it wasn’t his, so the faint vibration in his pocket felt foreign. The sound blended into the chaos of the night, ignored as his thoughts drifted to his mother.

He couldn’t recall the last time she checked on him. She had remarried, built a new life with her new husband and his children. The last time he visited, the man had told him plainly never to repeat the visit and his mother had stayed mute. Being estranged from his only family was a quiet persistent ache, a constant reminder of how truly alone he was.

The buzzing came again, faint but insistent and tugging him back from the darkness. He sighed, reached into his pocket and pulled out the phone. He watched Nadia’s name flash on the screen briefly before disappearing. In that moment, he thought of Nadia’s warmth, the only real thing he had left but his life was a wreck now and with Deji out for blood, accepting her friendship would only make her a target. He would rather hurt himself than drag her into his mess. She deserved better and he hoped someday she would understand —and forgive him.

Without hesitation, he pressed down on the power button until the screen went black. Tucking it back into his pocket, he resumed his aimless trek through the busy streets, allowing the noise to suppress the ache in his chest.

His thoughts drifted to The Brand—the polished mask, his endless chase for validation and in that moment, he mourned not staying true to the dream that once gave him purpose. He wished he had chosen the harder path, built something real instead of clinging to the fragile illusion that he had allowed to define his self-worth and fuel his pursuit of elusive perfection. If only he had made better choices.

The realization was sharp and undeniable. There was nothing left for him here, Tayo concluded as he pulled the phone out of his pocket and tossed it into the dark night. As the city swallowed him whole, its lights flickering against the emptiness, a car trailed slowly behind him, its headlights dim in the shadows.

THE END