Chapter 11: The Confrontation

News say I don come back spread for our group.

My WhatsApp dey buzz, even Facebook people wey I forget dey drop message.

As usual, I gats meet old friends.

We dey gather for Buka, old gist dey fly. Scent of egusi soup and fried fish dey fill air.

For one hangout wey my best friend arrange, after we gist, everybody start dey gossip.

Na so talk dey fly—music low, laughter plenty. My best friend dey eye me, dey push make I talk.

"Kamsi, talk true—na wedding you wan scatter?"

Everybody laugh, but eyes dey shine. Na Naija people way to dig gist.

"If na so, we go help you collect Chijioke back."

One boy shout, "Na me go distract Amina, make you get free chance!" Laughter scatter the place.

I wave hand. "Abeg, no talk that one. Me and Chijioke don pass."

I use strong voice, make everybody know say matter don end.

One friend sigh. "That time, I for believe say world go end before I believe say una two go break."

Another girl add, "Na true! Two of una be like bread and butter."

"Wetin happen?"

One guy ask, voice low, dey hope for real gist.

"How Chijioke take fall for Amina?"

Another girl join, her voice high. "Na misunderstanding?"

"Or na Amina snatch your man?"

Na so questions dey rain. Even the waiter stop serve, dey listen.

Questions full everywhere, people dey talk all the good things Chijioke do for me.

The gist turn sweet. Everybody dey recall memory, dey share story of how we two be inseparable.

Since primary school, we no dey separate, and even though we be age mate, he dey pamper me.

Even teachers dey tease us that year. "Kamsi, your husband don come school today?"

Other kids dey learn to feed themselves, but not me—Chijioke dey do everything: feed me, give me milk, make me sleep...

Na real gist. My best friend dey talk am with pride. People dey awe.

Anytime I get problem, once I call, Chijioke go solve am.

He dey act like big brother, even though we be the same age. My best friend dey add spice to the story.

So since small, his parents dey joke say he dey raise wife early.

Everybody laugh, the vibe light. But I dey feel small ache for my chest.

"No matter how good he treat Kamsi before, e no matter now."

My best friend hiss. "Men wey no fit control themselves, na rubbish."

She dey form hard girl, but I know say she dey fight for me.

Everybody shock, dey ask for confirmation.

Silence dey the table. All eyes dey my side, dey expect I go talk.

I no wan answer, so I waka go bathroom.

I lock myself inside, splash water for face. I stare mirror, dey practice smile.

As I come out, I jam familiar chest.

I bounce back, nearly drop my phone. My whole body freeze. Na Chijioke.

My heart beat fast.

I try catch my breath, my hands dey shake. The air thick with old memories.

I no expect say Chijioke go dey here. I panic, step back, wan run.

My body betray me. I dey search for escape, but his eyes lock me down.

"Baby." His voice deep. "Four years don pass. You no even wan see me?"

His voice na mixture of pain, longing, and small hope. The way he call me "baby," e trigger all the years wey we dey together. My mind dey race. I dey wonder if I go answer or just waka pass, but my feet no gree move.

His eyes dey hold me for place, na the kind look wey only real love fit give. I swallow spit, try act strong. The bathroom corridor cold, the light flicker, and for a moment, na only two of us dey inside our own world again.

My heart dey drum for my ear, louder than the generator noise outside. I feel old feelings dey rise, but I dey fight am. My chest dey heavy, but my mouth dry. For all my plans, I no prepare for this kind moment. Na only God know wetin go happen next.