Chapter 2: Olawale’s Show

Olawale don set eye for one small girl wey never even finish university.

Olawale sabi package. Him dey like those men wey go dey form responsible for church but na inside him mind, wahala dey. The girl sef, ehn, her face still dey shine like person wey never chop heartbreak before.

Buy her house for Makurdi, pack am with better things.

Makurdi, of all places! The kain estate wey Olawale get mouth buy, na only senator pikin dey enter. Me, I never even see guest room for that kind place.

But the small girl no gree make am kiss her, no gree make am hug her.

Dem dey always talk say small pikin dey stubborn. This one na another level. Even with all the enjoyment, she just dey form iron lady. I dey wonder wetin dey give her that courage.

She dey live for big 360-square-meter house, dey wear cloth wey cost die,

Na so Naija runz girls dey, but this one carry herself like say na governor pikin. Even her nails long, white like fresh coconut meat, long sotey if breeze blow, e fit scratch person.

she go raise her face, talk say, “I no go be side chick.”

Her voice sharp like new razor. No fear. She just look Olawale for eye as if na him be her small cousin. I wonder how dem dey train girls now sef.

Olawale dey find am funny.

He just dey laugh like say na game. Him pride dey show for face. Men like Olawale dey use challenge as ginger. He no dey see say heart dey break for back.

Na third time be this wey he dey do show for her.

Dem say if pikin no hear word, na cane go teach am. But Olawale own, na different. Him own na show. I dey watch am as if na movie.

First time, he show off say na me be him babe.

E pain me. For that day, I dey parade like trophy, dey smile anyhow. I no know say na another person him dey try impress.

That time, I no even sabi say Amaka dey.

I just dey shine teeth. Ignorance na bliss, dem talk. But I dey feel the gap now.

I hug am, happy, snap plenty pictures.

My heart full that day. All the pictures, I dey glow. Even my friends dey yabb me: "Ozioma, you don chop love for morning?"

When I see am post full nine pictures for him WhatsApp status, I happy, dey hope.

Na the first time he post me like that. My belly sweet me. I run go kitchen, fry small puff-puff to celebrate. I even call my cousin for Enugu make she see am.

But as I dey refresh, I no see the post for my own status.

Confusion hold me. E be like say network dey play. I check, refresh, check again. Nothing.

Later I come know say, he set am to “only Amaka fit see.”

That day, my hand cold. E pain me reach bone. Betrayal for Naija dey hot pass NEPA wire.

Second time, he find wahala with me.

This one come with drama. Olawale sabi act. E just dey form vex, carry face like yam. I dey beg am, but e no hear.

Leave me for street alone.

E leave me for junction, with night breeze dey blow wrapper. I waka home alone. Even danfo driver dey pity me.

Snap me as I dey cry, send am to Amaka.

Wetin I do deserve that kind humiliation? My face swell from cry, my eye red. He snap am, as if na evidence. No shame.

[See, nothing I fit do. She no fit leave me.]

He dey use my pain do competition. I dey imagine how Amaka go reply. Maybe she go laugh. Maybe she go pity me. Who know?

Third time, na this divorce matter.

Now, na new show. Divorce as entertainment. For where?

My phone vibrate. I check am.

That kain message wey dey come when your mind don already break. I just dey wonder who dey reach out.

[True?]

The question simple, but e heavy. Na who go believe say person fit dey pass through this kind tin?

[You dey serious so?]

The follow-up na like person dey shake you for shoulder: "Wake up! You sure say you dey alright?"

[Ozioma.]

My name for text. E carry weight. The way Femi Sani dey call am, e dey different. No drama. Just my name.

I wipe my tears, smile.

Small smile, the kain wey dey pain you for throat. Sometimes, smile fit be rebellion. I just do am make my mind fit strong.

“True.”

Just one word. But for inside me, na whole story. I press send, my hand dey shake, but at least I talk my truth.

Sun dey burn my back, but inside, cold still dey.