Chapter 11: Morning After, New Resolve

Next morning, na my phone wake me.

As I open eye, na Musa ghost face I see.

He stand close—so close I fit see as his eye dey shake, eyelash dey tremble.

He no expect phone go ring, or say I go open eye sharp.

I see small panic for his face.

Then he jump back, look away, talk like person wey dey shy.

"Ifeoma, you dey grind teeth when you sleep."

"Grind teeth?"

After all these years, na today I first see Musa dey act shy.

I just laugh.

Then I lift duvet, stand up, waka go meet am, barefoot.

I look am from eye reach mouth, slow slow.

"If you no talk, I for think say you wan kiss me just now."

As I talk am, his eye open, he dey move back.

Luckily, phone ring again. He relief. "Phone dey ring. Pick am."

After that, he no even wait, just pass wall run.

As I see Musa dey lively like this, I wan laugh.

But I no fit.

Because na my mama dey call.

As I pick, her wahala start.

"Ifeoma, wetin do you last night? You no pick call, no reply message."

"I finally beg young President Tobi make e check you, you vex am?"

"Your Uncle Okafor project still dey depend on Tobi family. You no sabi behave?"

"I hear say Tobi get party next tomorrow. Go, beg am, you hear?"

See am?

Na my mama be this.

Where I go, wetin I do—she no know, no send.

But she sabi Tobi every move.

I wan talk say I no go go.

I no even wan marry again.

But if I talk am, the nagging no go finish—

I swallow the words.

"Okay."

As I look where Musa disappear go,

I think say,

Some things better make I talk am face to face with Tobi.

For this country, woman dey carry plenty load—family, business, love, even spirit matter join. But as I carry myself go shower, my heart dey steady small. I dey ready. Whatever the world bring, Ifeoma go still stand. Even if na ghost dey my corner, na my own Naija story be this. No shaking.