Chapter 3: Under Spotlight and Inside the Past

“I hear say when you dey sick, na Mr. Ebube take care of you well-well, so una get better news soon.”

Question loud, e bounce for hall. Everybody dey wait gist, me I dey hold breath.

My throat choke as I dey look Amara for stage.

My mind dey run race. I dey beg God make she no talk anything wey go expose me.

She smile and raise left hand, make all see ring finger.

She raise am gently, eyes dey shine small. Crowd clap, some dey snap picture.

On top am, na one simple silver ring.

Ring simple, old, but the way she cherish am, e clear say e mean plenty. Some ladies for front dey whisper: "Na that one she dey wear?" I just dey quiet.

…Na me buy that ring for her when I dey do part-time work, just to make her happy small.

I remember how I save every kobo, go Wuse market, price ring, bring am for her that night. She touch am, smile, say: "Thank you, Ebube."

Big madam like Amara, dey wear that kind ring, e no fit her status.

But the way she hold am, na like say na diamond. Me, I sabi the truth. For her, na love and memory matter.

Her finger gently touch the ring.

Her hand tremble small, but quick stop. She just dey hold memory for her chest.

“Yes, me and him go soon do engagement.”

Her voice steady but soft, like say she dey control something for chest.

As she talk, her eyes scan crowd. Whether she mean am or not, her eyes land for my seat—just for seconds, then she look away.

Na that look cut me. E pain me like wound wey never heal.

Them pass mic to Ebube: “Mr. Ebube, we hear say you dey act film with Director Lawal now. That man no dey use new actors. Na because of President Amara?”

The person get correct Naija mouth, everybody laugh small.

He smile, nod: “Of course. I dey confident for my acting, but Amara really help me well-well. I deserve the favour.”

E dey use public to paint correct image. I see as e twist face, dey show humility wey I no too believe.

People clap for am, dey praise honesty. Some dey shout "Gbosa!" like say dem dey for village meeting.

Another ask: “Fit tell us how you and President Amara support each other when wahala too much?”

Question drop like say dem want see if e go leak secret.

Ebube smile just freeze. Silence heavy, time slow.

That kind silence wey heavy, like rain dey come. Everybody dey watch him face.

After long silence, Amara laugh small, collect mic: “No much to talk. The memories wey we get, na only for us two to keep.”

Her laugh no reach her eyes. I feel say she dey use laugh cover old wound.

My eyes just hot. I grip pen, bend head down quick.

Na only God know wetin I dey fight inside. I dey pray make tear no drop.

Any time I close my eyes, na old memory dey rush me.

As if film dey rewind, all the moments with Amara dey play.

That time Amara still be teenager, her stubborn character dey offend people. After dem push her out, some people come find trouble. To protect her, I fight, roll for ground, blood everywhere. The people run scatter.

I no fit forget. Shirt tear, blood for mouth, but I no let anybody touch her. She dey corner, dey shout my name, voice dey tremble.

I grit teeth, act strong, come back: “Let’s go house.”

She hold my wrist tight, like say if she loose, she go lost for darkness.

But Amara grab my hand: “You don wound, let’s go chemist.”

She dey shake, voice dey rise, hand dey search my face, dey touch for blood.

“I no—”

I wan do strong head, but body dey weak. I dey feel pain everywhere.

“I dey smell blood.”

She talk am like say pain dey for her nose. Lips dey quiver, eyes dey red, even though she no fit see.

Her voice rise, tears just drop from blind eyes.

As tear drop, her mouth dey shake. No be just pain, e be fear.

She call out, but na my brother’s name she shout: “Ebube. If I recover, I go give you the biggest wedding for this world.”

That promise, e echo for my ear. I just hug her small, even though na lie I dey live. Na my brother name dey her mouth, but na me she dey hold.

As the lift climb, my heart dey heavy like generator wey no wan start. I dey pray make tomorrow better pass today.