Chapter 4: Breakfast and Questions

Early morning, Tobi land my house with big nylon bags from market.

The keke wey drop am for gate still dey reverse as Tobi dey knock gate. “How you dey? Your body don better?”

As I wake up, Tobi ask me with concern.

“Mm, nothing do me, na just small tired yesterday.”

“Time don go, abeg go baff. I go prepare breakfast.”

I nod.

As I come out, Tobi don already dey kitchen.

Me and Tobi dey work for the same company for Ikoyi; na office love we dey run.

After one year plus, Tobi dey pamper me no be small.

Anytime we get off day, e go come cook for me.

With am around, I no dey do anything.

Na e dey do all the house work—wash cloth, clean house, everything.

Any holiday, e go carry me go date, prepare gift.

If wahala dey, na e go always first beg, no dey let me cry.

Me, I dey slow to open up, hard to trust.

So from beginning, I just dey watch am, dey see how e go be.

After one year, I don see say e dey try.

So last night, I decide to take our relationship go next level.

I no know say I go mess up, come turn to drama.

After Tobi finish cook four dishes and soup, e call me come chop.

The aroma from the kitchen fit wake dead person. Na egusi soup, jollof rice, fried plantain, and that special coconut rice I dey always beg for. “All your favourite food. Taste am.” Even add moi-moi for side, just the way my mama dey do am.

Tobi serve me jollof rice, dey look me with hope.

“Mm.”

I nod, warmth dey my chest.

Even though wetin happen yesterday na mistake, I still dey feel small guilty for Tobi.

As we dey eat, I no fit hold am again, I ask, “How your roommate, Kunle?”

“Kunle?”

Tobi pause. “E dey alright. Why you ask?”

“Na just… anytime I come find you, e dey always bone. I just dey wonder—how una dey relate?”

“E slow to warm up, dey always quiet. But e be correct guy.”

“Mm.”

“E get babe? Or e still single?”

“I never see woman visit am before. E dey on e own. But plenty people for office dey trip for am.”

Kunle dey work for same company with me and Tobi, but different department.

E fine well-well, so e dey popular.

I don hear the gist too.

“Ah-ah? Why you suddenly dey ask about am?”

Tobi chop, look me. “You dey change mind?”

E dey joke, but I rush deny am, “God forbid! How?”

Tobi laugh, “I dey joke. I know say my baby only get eyes for me.”

“As long as you know.”

I shine teeth, but inside me, one small wahala still dey twist like pepper for stew.