Chapter 12: Big Men, Big Money, No Turning Back

Timi na the first real big man I ever deal with.

E dey show in every way. Car dey different, house dey different. With am, life dey soft like Agege bread.

As I dey with am, I understand how rich people dey live.

I learn say real wealth no dey make noise. Money dey talk for background.

With am, I no dey look price for any bag or dress.

If I see something I like, I just point. No need to beg or price. Freedom wey money bring na sweet thing.

Just one word from me, he fit renovate the orphanage sharp sharp.

Children dey dance, old mamas dey pray. Orphanage change in just one week.

...

At the auction, just because I talk say, “I like am,” he buy me necklace worth over ₦200 million, no even think twice.

People dey hail am, dey snap picture. Me, I just dey hide my face. Na only God know my heart.

I pull his sleeve, whisper, “Timi, this one too expensive.”

I no want make am waste money for my head.

He just smile soft. “If e no cost, e no make sense. I no wan buy you cheap thing. You deserve the best.”

Na so big men dey do. Dey show love with action, not mouth.

And paparazzi snap us for auction.

Before I fit talk, camera dey everywhere. I dey pray say make my face no show for blog.

Next day, headline everywhere: [Timi family first son spends ₦200 million for girlfriend at auction].

Na everywhere the news dey. Even mama for village call me, ask if na true.

That time, Timi and Musa dey Ifedike study dey talk business.

Men dey gist, dey count money. Nobody expect wahala.

As news break, Ifedike face change. He grab Timi collar.

Na so man wey dey quiet go fit lose mind.

“Timi, you dey craze? You know say Ifunanya na my wife? You be my friend—you don lose your sense?”

Voice loud, hand dey shake. E pain am deep.

As I hear noise, I rush enter to separate them, but he push me aside.

He no send me. E be like say I be ghost for room.

“Ifunanya, this one no concern you.”

He dey talk to me like stranger. E weak me.

Musa check say I dey okay, then face Ifedike.

Musa always dey gentle. If e talk, people dey listen.

“Brother Ifedike, wetin happen? Why you dey fight Brother Timi?”

He wan calm matter, but tension high.

Ifedike hiss. “This guy dey chase my wife for my front.”

He voice loud. E be like say e dey carry weight.

He look Timi. “You never get enough women? Why you dey follow my wife?”

If jealousy fit kill, e for don bury person that day.

He turn face Musa, thinking say he go support am.

E dey look Musa like say, ‘Abeg, help me.’

But Musa face pale, he no talk anything.

E shock everybody. Silence fill room. Friendship get limit.

Suddenly, Ifedike begin fear.

You go see am for im face—na fear of losing, fear of shame.

That night, Ifedike call Chuka to complain.

For phone, e dey shout, dey explain.

But Chuka, wey dey always get mouth, start to stammer,

Chuka voice low. No confidence again.

“Ifedike, maybe... maybe you just... just divorce Ifunanya. After all, you no love am.”

Even Chuka, sharp guy, no fit defend am. E be like say everybody don dey move on.

Na that time Ifedike know say wahala dey.

When even your own people dey give up, you suppose know say storm don blow, fowl yansh don open. For this life, na who get power last dey laugh. I dey ready for anything.