Chapter 8: Secret Bank Alerts and New Temptations

As I dey remember all these things, I just dey hold my phone tight.

My heart dey heavy, eyes dey hot. Sometimes, all you get na your phone, nothing else.

Until Chuka message me again.

Na that time I come back to myself.

[Why you never reply? Wetin you dey do?]

I rub my eyes, type reply slow.

I reply: [I dey look clothes.]

[True oh, I just remember—you never buy clothes for some time now.]

He sabi all my movement. Na wa o. See as man dey monitor woman wey no be im own.

Next thing, another two million land for my account.

Phone vibrate, heart skip—na so alert dey sweet pass text from lover. Bank alert don turn friend. If you see me smile, you go think say na better news I receive.

[Plenty new harmattan and rainy season styles just come out—pick any one you like. I know say you go look fine for am.]

His message soft, as if na small thing to drop millions for woman wey no be him wife.

As I see the extra four million for my bank, I just smile.

Smile wey no reach my heart, but e help me breathe small.

[I no fit shop again for now. I jam Ifedike as I return—he dey suspect.]

I dey use style warn am. Make e no go dey put me for trouble.

[He vex well, dey ask where my money dey come from.]

He pause small.

As if him dey think how to cover tracks.

[No wahala, I go tell my sister buy am, send give you. If he ask, just talk say na my sister give you.]

Plan dey set, backup dey ready. Chuka no dey fall hand.

[But Ifunanya, when you go divorce Ifedike?]

[Abi the Chuka family first son go dey wait like third party forever?]

See as life turn. Na the same people wey dey call me gold digger dey rush me now.

I just reply: [No rush.]

After all, no be only Chuka dey wait for line.

E shock me how dem dey send money like say na recharge card—big man pikin no dey reason like us. This one be like NYSC posting—na turn by turn.

Before am, two bros still dey front.

I dey count, but I no dey smile. Na street wey no get joy.

As I dey think, Timi message me.

[There’s one auction coming soon—you go follow me?]

[Of course, pick anything you like.]

Big man lifestyle. Wetin dey hard dem? Just buy, no look back.

This kind generosity different from how he warn Ifedike about me before.

Funny how table dey turn. Before, na warning. Now, na him dey spoil me pass.

In fact, the first time I see Timi face to face was at the orphanage.

Na that place, I see say big man fit get soft heart if him try.