Chapter 4: The Confrontation

Why I gree join Halima for this play no be only because she fine.

At least, no be only that.

Na the money even move me pass.

I like money.

If person say e no like money, make thunder fire poverty for him front. Na better thing to get alert.

But I no know say this decision go carry me enter wahala wey I no fit come out from.

After we sign contract for morning, Halima send big money give me for afternoon.

Bank alert choke, my phone dey do gbim gbim. I wan shout, but I just smile, dey thank God.

I even use small to buy suya for junction, dey hail my aboki.

I think, this girl get money true true.

For mind, I dey plan how I go arrange my own life. New phone, maybe even start land hustle. I dey dream.

My first work as her fiancé na to follow Halima go see her cousin.

I dey wonder wetin the guy go think, as he see man wey old pass am by fifteen years come turn fiancé to his cousin.

I dey fear small, but also dey look forward.

For inside me, I dey pep talk myself. Tunde, no lose guard. Anything fit happen. No carry village people wahala for head.

We meet for Halima house, everywhere show say money dey.

Na big compound, high fence, gateman wey greet with bow. For inside, even the chair soft pass bed. I just dey bounce leg, dey act like say na my normal level.

As her cousin shake my hand, the guy almost break my fingers.

I for shout, but I just bone. Na Naija, man no dey show pain for stranger face.

We sit for parlour, he dey look me like lion wey dem invade him territory.

The parlour get that smell of polish and fried stew, ceiling fan dey struggle for corner.

Halima no fit see, but she sabi say wahala dey the air.

She hold her cane tight. For her voice, I know say she dey ready fight.

"I no gree."

Na her cousin first talk.

His chest dey rise, voice low, but e get something dangerous for the way e talk. I adjust for chair, dey ready if wahala start.

"Cousin, I don grow. I no need anybody approval for this."

Halima voice sharp, no beg inside. I respect her courage.

He talk calm, "Halima, anybody fit see say this man dey after your money."

I for talk, but I swallow am. Sometimes, silence dey speak pass talk.

She reply, "I blind, I no dey mumu. If e no want my money, e want make I blind?"

I nod for myself, correct clapback.

Her cousin quiet for long, but I see veins for him hand as he dey clench fist.

The silence for parlour be like when NEPA off light for night.

Finally, he calm down. "You dey vex for me?"

Halima talk calm, "Cousin, you dey overrate yourself."

She face still, but her jaw strong. She no gree bend.

I no talk anything—just sit down like person wey pin dey prick.

Suddenly, her cousin look me with wicked eye.

He point finger, "Na your fault."

He rush me, we start to fight.

I shock, but I stand up quick. Two grown men dey roll for carpet. Chair scatter, one throw land for center table. Even Halima dey shout, "Stop! Stop!" but my own be say make I no disgrace myself.

Even though e young pass me, I still chop some blows. Last last, na him lie down dey breathe hard.

My shirt tear, my face swell small, but I dey chest proud. Man no go lose for small pikin hand.

Even the TV remote fly under chair, one throw break flower vase wey get fake rose.

Halima voice come quick:

"Get out! Get out of my house!"

She no dey shout like market woman, but her voice cut ground like knife. Even house help run enter corridor.

I give am one sharp look. He get up, look defeated, wan talk but no talk, just waka comot like hyena wey dem beat.

He drag leg for floor, no even look back. Na so life dey humble person.

"You self go. I want stay alone small."

Halima try hold her voice steady.

She face me, mouth stiff. I nod, pick my bag, dey waka go door.

"Okay. Abeg remember your medicine," I tell am, dey watch her mood.

I no even know whether to hug her or shake her. Na just confusion full my head. I step outside, air fresh, but my body dey pain.

...

Outside, as I put hand for pocket to find cigarette, na slip of paper I see.

During the fight, her cousin don put something for my pocket.

For the paper, e write: No believe wetin Halima talk. I no be her cousin. Abeg come find me.

And phone number join.

I drag cigarette hard—and start cough immediately.

Wetin be this? I just dey try hold myself since.

That guy sabi fight, no be small.

My mind scatter. This wahala just dey start. For this Lagos, wahala no dey ever finish. I light cigarette, my hand still dey shake.