Chapter 4: Old Wounds, New Humiliation

Bride, Amara, na our mutual friend from uni.

That girl, her own cruise dey different. Na she dey always play matchmaker. Even now, she dey dance, dey spread joy.

That time for school, we promise her say we go be her groomsman and bridesmaid one day.

We go buy Ankara together, dey plan wedding for hostel, dey run up and down for practice.

Few days ago—on our eight years anniversary—my company just send me travel abroad for work.

I for no gree go, but oga say na only me fit handle the matter. I try talk am with Kunle.

Because of that sudden trip, we quarrel heavy.

He no gree hear, say na betrayal. I dey beg, dey explain, but e bone face.

Kunle blame me say I break promise, I try explain.

I talk say I no get choice, but he no wan hear. He dey walk up and down for my room, voice loud.

“Na work wahala. No be say I no wan go.”

I cry that night, call my sister for advice. My sister say, "No worry, man go understand."

I beg am, “Kunle, as I finish for branch, I go come back. No vex, abeg.”

I kneel small, hold his hand. My voice dey shake, but he just dey vex.

But he just vex pass himself: “Company, company—dem go die if you no dey? Look mirror, you just be ordinary graduate. No dey carry yourself for head.”

His voice loud, the words dey sharp like blade. Even my neighbor hear, later ask me, "Wetin dey happen?"

My hand just stop for my suitcase.

I look the wristwatch wey I plan give am, my heart dey break.

At first, I wan beg am. After all, na me break promise. And I know say na because he love me.

I dey think, "Maybe e go change." But the thing dey get worse.

But those words pain me like slap.

I just freeze, my eyes water, but I no cry out.

Maybe na anger make am talk am. But e cut deep.

E cut reach bone, make me remember old wounds wey I bury since.

I for don enter better university. But the night before WAEC, Kunle and him mama fight because of him papa wahala. He run commot house. Na him mama come meet me. As neighbor and friend, I worry, find am for three hours. I catch cold, get high fever for exam, my result bad, land for local university—just to dey with am.

I sacrifice plenty for am, but I no dey regret. At least, I believe say love dey worth am.

After fight, Kunle block me everywhere again. I no too worry; no be first time. He dey behave like pikin, I dey manage am.

I dey used to am, dey always hope say peace go show later.

But as I come back from trip, with expensive wristwatch wey I buy for am, I enter password for him door—e don change.

My heart fly, my hand shake. I try the code again, still no gree.

I knock. No answer.

I dey knock like mad person, my eye red. Neighbors dey peep from window. Shame wan kill me.