Chapter 7: Business Marriage, Broken Stars

Na true, me and Tobi dey do 'business marriage.'

Six years ago, when my mama marry that big man Chief Okafor, his project get wahala, everything just hang.

My mama no sabi business.

Me sef no sabi.

But for love, she gree make I try anything.

"Ifeoma, your Uncle Okafor no get pikin. E dey treat you like im own. You fit help am?"

"Mama check—young President Tobi for client side like girls wey dey shine, dey lively, like you."

"Dem say tomorrow, he invite plenty people for yacht. You fit go? Beg am give Uncle Okafor small time..."

She cry, beg me tire.

That year, I dey final year for uni, just six months to graduate.

I wan refuse, but I no fit.

Because I see Tobi photo.

See the face—like say na Musa junior brother.

From that day, my leg no fit stop.

Tobi family get money, get power.

As only son, Tobi no dey lack women.

But nobody stubborn, hard to chase, shameless like me.

"Ass licker."

He let him friends call me that.

If he say make I block drink, I go drink till my belle dey bleed.

If he call for supply for hotel midnight, I go bring am inside rain.

Even when him first, second, third, fourth 'female secretary' dey mock me, pour wine, disgrace me, I no send. For six years, na me dey answer his call.

So, when Uncle Okafor business pick up, money come, this year—

Tobi finally gree for 'marriage.'

Whether e happy or not, I no know.

My mama happy die.

Yesterday, she throw big engagement party.

She even give Tobi password to my house.

Even as he no show for engagement, she still dey happy.

She tell me, "Ifeoma, we go need Tobi family well well."

"Men get their wahala. You go dey pet am more..."

Before today, I dey ready to dey pet am.

But as I see Musa dey vex, like say e wan break Tobi head—

And Tobi finally speechless because of me—

I realise, two of them no resemble at all.

As e suppose be…

Only one Musa dey this world.

With small sigh, I lower my eyes, quench the cigarette.

Then I waka meet Tobi, collect the photo from his hand.

"Clean that lipstick for your neck. E dirty."

"You know, I never use you."

I meet Tobi eyes, daring am make e talk, before I turn my back on am. I fit feel my ancestors dey clap for me, say, "Ifeoma, you don find your own voice." I look Musa shadow for corner—him smile small, like say e dey proud. Thunder rumble outside, or maybe na my heart dey settle for the first time.