Chapter 9: Dinner with Director Musa

6

After I don bully Somto, my mind for work dey better, no be like say I dey go burial.

Bullying Somto be like therapy for me. If I fit control one thing for my life, every other wahala dey easy. I dey enter office with ginger, dey answer call with sweet voice. My mind dey clear.

After I finish work today, I wan leave early.

I dey check clock every five minutes. I dey plan escape, dey imagine my bed, my own small peace for house. But Naija work no dey finish.

But as I reach staircase, oga catch me:

The way Oga waka reach me for staircase, e shock me. Him shoe dey knock tile loud, voice steady. If Oga call you, you no fit dodge am.

'Titi, no go yet. Tonight we get dinner with Director Musa from Harmony Group.'

I just sigh for my mind.

This kind dinner na headache. E mean say I go smile for people wey no send me, chop food wey no sweet, dey form happy. But as per loyalty, I gree.

For night, to help my oga get big contract from Director Musa, I chop smoke, drink sotay my eye dey see double.

The dinner long. Big men dey yarn, dey toast wine, dey play politics with words. Me, I dey force laugh, dey nod head, dey drink as e dey go. The smoke enter my head, the drink dey scatter my eyes. By the time I comot, my step na zigzag.

As I come back, Somto never sleep. He just dey look rechargeable lamp like person wey spirit no rest.

House dark, but the lamp dey bright small. Somto sit for floor, eyes wide, fingers dey roll round the lamp handle. E look like person wey dey wait for something wey no go come. My chest soft small.

I dey tipsy, dey smile as I waka go bed, wan see am well. But as I reach, he dodge me, jump comot for bed.

The dodge sharp—na like cat. I dey confused. I wan form play, but e don change mood.

Next thing, I hear am dey vomit for bathroom. I waka follow go look.

The sound loud—vomit dey enter toilet, water dey splash. I open door small, peep inside. E dey kneel, body weak. My mind begin dey worry.

Him face don white finish, he just dey hold toilet, dey shake. E rough small, but still fine.

My chest dey tight, hand dey shake. I wan hug am, but fear dey hold my leg. I dey pity am, but I dey notice how him nose fine, lips still pink, even with all the wahala. Na so love and concern dey mix for my mind.

As he notice me, Somto panic, begin throw anything wey him hand reach at me.

Soap, plastic cup, even towel—e throw all. E dey panic, mouth dey tremble. I try dodge, but one hit my leg. I no vex, I dey watch am.

Bang—

Every sound loud, sharp. The way he dey look me with disgust, e be like say e fit touch am.

The disgust for him face dey clear. I see am, and e pain me. I dey wonder whether na me cause am or na him own mind.

I no gree, I still waka go am.

I stubborn pass stone. I waka reach am, kneel beside am, dey try pet.

'Somto, you hate me reach like this?'

I ask am with soft voice. My own heart dey beat fast. I dey hope say e go talk, even if na insult.

I bend try kiss him ear, but na vomit I collect.

Na my own wahala. I bend, lips close, but na vomit land my face. I gree clean am, no vex. Love get patience.

'...Comot.'

I just freeze, dey look Somto.

That word shock me. For months, e no talk for outside bed. The word heavy, but I no fit vex.

I know say he no mute, but e shock me as e talk.

I dey happy small say e talk, but the thing pain me too. At least, e still dey alive inside.

I come dey reason: Na the first time wey he answer me for outside bed?

I dey try remember, but e be like true. For all this while, na only inside dark he dey talk. This one na progress, even if na insult.

Even though the word no sweet, I no fit vex.

I just sit down, dey pet am. I dey talk soft, dey clean him face. I carry am go bed, cover blanket. I clean up for bathroom, wash myself well, dey thank God say wahala no pass this level.

I remove my dirty cloth, try pet am like I dey do for day. After I put am for bed, cover am, I go clean up for bathroom, scrub myself well.

After everything, I just dey pray make tomorrow soft. I fit use Dettol soak cloth, dey think of new ways to manage Somto wahala. For Naija, hope no dey finish.

But as I close eye, I dey fear say tomorrow wahala fit big pass today.