Chapter 6: Lagos Cliffhanger

With Ifedayo hand, I fast learn the work.

E dey patient, dey teach me step by step. Sometimes e go correct me with soft voice. Office people dey respect me, some even dey call me madam behind my back.

I dey blend with colleagues, sometimes join dem go chop. Only Halima no dey ever come if I dey.

Anytime we dey plan lunch, Halima go find excuse disappear. I know say e dey pain her, but I just act normal. Office gist dey always sweet when I join.

Recently, Halima catch one big client. That night, everybody dey ask where she wan celebrate.

The news spread, people dey hail her. Dem dey clap, dey wait make she pick better place.

Company rule: whoever land client go choose restaurant.

Na tradition. Everybody dey wait, dey shine eye, dey hope say she go choose better place for food.

Halima no answer, just dey look me with one eye.

Her eyes sharp, but e get small sadness inside. E look like say she dey reason whether I go show or not.

I smile, tell Ifedayo say I dey go do facial, I no go fit come. I always like to pamper my face, so Ifedayo no suspect, just say make I wait am after.

I talk am sweet, make sure say e no see reason to suspect. Na my normal routine, so e no doubt.

I go my usual braid stand. By the time I come out, na past ten. My phone never ring.

As I dey braid, I dey check phone, but no message. My mind dey heavy, I dey wait Ifedayo call.

Ifedayo no call, only send one message two hours ago.

“I order food for you. Chop and wait for me. No waka anyhow.”

The message short, but e sweet me. I know say e care. I smile, reply with emoji.

I call am, no answer.

I try call like three times, but e phone dey ring, e no pick. My heart dey beat, I dey reason whether e dey okay.

Then the line no even connect again.

I try again, na "network busy" I see. My worry come double, because I know say e no dey like that.

I just dey worry, rush enter keke.

I carry small change, jump inside keke napep. The driver dey blast loud music, but I no send. My mind dey with Ifedayo.

As I reach the restaurant, I take deep breath, open door.

The cold AC hit me, but my heart still dey jump. I wipe my forehead, push door.

My colleagues shock: “Amarachi, you dey here?”

Dem mouth open, some dey wave. E surprise dem say I show, because I talk say I no go come.

“Where Ifedayo?”

I no waste time, just ask straight. I dey anxious, my hand dey shake small.

“Urgent client matter come up. Oga Ifedayo and Halima rush go.”

One girl talk am, dey try form innocent. My heart cold.

I just force smile. “Okay, if he come back, tell am I don go house.”

I try smile, but e weak. My voice low, I just carry my bag, waka commot. Some people dey look me with pity, some dey whisper.

For road, my phone ring many times. I cut call, open WhatsApp.

E ring, I no pick. I just dey scroll, dey look status. My mind dey heavy, I dey fear wetin I go see.

Two minutes ago, Halima post for her status: On the way home, my oga personally drop me. Even the air sweet.

The update dey fresh, my heart catch fire. I see the side profile, the way Ifedayo dey hold steering. I know say na him. For my mind, I dey wonder—e be like say story dey repeat itself. But this time, I swear, I no go gree lose.

The picture na one man side profile dey drive. Too familiar, but somehow strange.

As I see that picture, my chest tight—this Lagos, na who sharp go last. I no go let my own story end here.