Chapter 4: Second Chances

After two weeks, Ifeoma manage gather 800,000 naira, transfer give Z Company.

She sell gold chain, withdraw all savings, even borrow from church women group. As she transfer, her hand shake, but she still smile.

Mr. Adebayo keep him word, give us receipt and forgiveness letter as I request.

I snap picture, make sure everything dey authentic. Na so Naija companies dey do—receipt na evidence.

I carry everything go prosecutor, apply for non-prosecution.

I draft petition, add letter, attach all evidence. The DPP call me, say "We go look am, since company forgive."

True true, prosecutor agree. Musa come out, no get sentence.

The day dem release am, rain almost fall. As we waka enter cell, the warder nod for me, say "Lawyer, you try."

Me and Ifeoma go pick am.

We stand for gate, Ifeoma hand dey shake. As Musa walk out, she rush hug am, tears for face.

As Musa come out, he hug me. "Correct guy! I come out without prison—na you run am."

He dey shout, voice loud. For him eye, I fit see relief and small fear. He dey sweat, but he smile wide.

I bone face. "No thank me—thank your wife."

I talk am clear, make him know who stand for am. Loyalty dey important.

He face Ifeoma, voice dey shake. "Wife, I wrong you. Thank you for everything. I no go mess up again."

He dey cry, nose dey run. He hold Ifeoma hand, kneel small, beg am. Ifeoma eye red, but she nod.

Ifeoma no shout am. She just lean for him shoulder, burst cry.

Her sob fill air, Musa hold her tight. The love dey raw, e choke.

Musa join cry, snot everywhere.

Even me, I dey look another side, make I no cry join.

I just dey look. I no sure if na real repentance or acting.

My mind dey suspect, but I leave matter for God.

Why I dey worry for another person marriage?

I tell myself say as long as dem happy, my work dey done.

Ifeoma tell Musa, "Your friend na better person—get sense, trustworthy, good man. But he still dey single. I wan introduce person give am."

She smile, wipe tear. She dey try play matchmaker again, like say all her own wahala no dey enough.

Musa say, "No wahala, leave am for me."

He pat my back, laugh. Na so Naija man dey behave—dey use cruise cover shame.

Next day, Saturday, Musa invite me, Chuka, and Sani for dinner, then karaoke for Palm Grove Estate.

For that estate, house fine, security dey tight. We gather for terrace, breeze dey blow. Generator hum dey background.

Four of us na uni roommates, tight crew.

We dey gist about old days, remember when we sneak garri inside hostel. Chuka dey talk how Sani almost fail final year because of babe.

Musa and Chuka don marry; me and Sani still dey single. But Sani just break up, dey float. Me, I never get babe before.

Sani dey drink stout, dey blow grammar. Me I dey laugh, dey chop suya.

As we dey sing, Musa talk, "One girl go show—Amara. Na my wife friend, fine girl, single. Tunde, Sani, anyone wey like am, carry go."

He wink, we laugh. Na so Naija boys dey do—open market, may the best man win.

Just then, Ifeoma message me: "Tunde, I for bring my friend meet you today, but work wahala hold me. She go come alone. Her name na Amara. Make una try know each other."

Her message dey encouraging, like she dey pray make I marry by force.

I reply, "Thanks, sister-in-law."

I type with laugh emoji, make she know say I no vex.

Soon, Amara show. True, she fine, shape correct.

She wear Ankara dress, her smile just soft, get that kain innocence wey dey melt man heart. Dey greet everybody well, even help Chuka wife serve rice.

Sani eye shine. He sit near am, yarn non-stop. As we dey go, two of them waka commot together.

Sani dey crack joke, Amara dey laugh. I just dey look, dey reason say Sani get mouth pass me.

Me, I just dey look—no fit talk anything.

I dey low-key, dey sip malt. For my mind, I dey wish say I get Sani courage.

Two weeks later, Musa invite me come chop for him house.

For table, Ifeoma ask, "Tunde, how far with Amara? I ask her, she no talk well."

She dey push matter, like say if I no marry, she no go rest.

I talk, "Thanks, sister-in-law. I never really reach out. Maybe she no too send me."

I try cover shame, laugh. For my mind, I know say Amara and Sani don click.

Musa sip wine. "Amara don dey with Sani."

He talk am slow, dey watch my face.

"Wetin?"

Ifeoma stand, eye dey fire Musa. "I no tell you make you introduce her to Tunde? How Sani take collect am? Wetin you tell her?"

She vex, voice high. Her finger dey point like teacher for class.

"Babe... na destiny."

Musa try dodge slap, dey laugh. He raise hand for defense.

"Destiny fire you! You no tell Sani say Amara na for Tunde?"

She stamp foot, voice loud. Neighbours fit hear us.

Musa drop glass, keep quiet.

He act like say he no get hand for the matter.

I try cool everywhere. "Sister-in-law, Musa talk true. Na destiny. You no fit force am."

I wave hand, smile. For my mind, I dey beg make peace reign.

She hiss, "I just vex. Amara no get loyalty... Leave am, I go still find person for you."

She carry plate, waka enter kitchen, still dey grumble. Musa dey laugh, I dey shake head.

I just raise glass, thank her.

I smile, take sip, dey thank God for peace.