Chapter 1: Pepper for Public

The heiress of a political marriage among Abuja’s elite no dey joke with her fine bobo—she dey serve am jollof rice with goat meat, dey buy am Ankara every Saturday, treat am like say na prince for palace. The pampering too much, e reach point wey Musa begin form oga, dey misbehave.

For that small Abuja circle, gist dey fly like Harmattan fire. Dem say power no sweet pass when you dey on top, but if you no respect yourself, na so you go fall hand. The way she dey spoil am, you go think say na her last born, not her man. Money dey flow, gifts dey rain like new yam festival. But man wey no get sense, even if you give am whole Maitama, e go use am play. Musa begin dey form big boy for street, dey chase clout, dey misbehave for Instagram.

Just as I dey reason to end the engagement, WhatsApp status comments just land for my face:

[Abeg, Musa no sabi run this package! 😂]

[Na wa o, Abuja gist sweet pass Netflix! 🔥]

[Wetyn the heiress do? She just dey find your attention, na.]

[Abeg, no break up! If you just show small soft mind, she go give you everything.]

The comments dey fly like mosquito wey no wan let person rest. Aproko full ground, everybody dey act like say na their own matter. For Abuja, people mouth sharp, nobody wan carry last for gist.

I turn my head, look outside window.

The pretty boy just dey wrap hand for Halima waist, dey shine teeth like say na photoshoot, dey form big boy for plaza.

Even the way dem dey waka for the shopping plaza, you go know say dem wan make people dey look. Light dey bounce for glass, people dey everywhere—some dey buy, some dey hawk gala, suya man sef pause from slicing meat to dey peep. Hawkers dey shout, “Cold pure water! Suya dey, correct suya!”

She, nestled for his arm, dey wear that sweet, obedient smile.

Na the kind smile wey fit collect all your sense if you no get mind. Halima fit make you forget your mama birthday if you no use sense.

I just smile small, but before I reply lawyer message, I scroll reach end, sigh, close my eyes small, whisper "God abeg," before I reply the lawyer’s message: “Continue with the breakup agreement.”

My thumb heavy for screen, but man must show say e get mind. For this side, nobody go respect you if you dey look like mumu for relationship matter.