Chapter 3: Cold Water for Heartbreak

He clearly didn’t expect me to agree so easily. He pressed his lips together and said, "E good as you fit reason am."

He sounded like a man who had just dodged trouble, not knowing I’d already dropped my weapons and moved on. That 'be reasonable' tone—Nigerian men use it when they want to end the matter without answering hard questions.

Be reasonable.

I just scoffed inside.

It’s funny how people think the woman who keeps quiet is the stronger one. I just dey look Tobi, small pity for him. This was my first mission, and I had just been managing anyhow from the beginning. I didn’t know any strategies; I only knew to use my heart. Five years of giving my all, and all I got was one sentence: "E good as you fit reason am."

His words felt like rubber slippers dragging on concrete—flat, tired, and empty.

After dinner, Tobi, as usual, was about to go out—to check on Simi and make sure she was safe. Maybe he was worried I’d get angry like before. For once, he tried to explain: "Simi no get family again. Na only right say I look after her small..."

His tone was softer now, like he was asking me to understand a burden he chose to carry. There was a certain gentleness in his eyes, but I’d seen it too many times to be moved.

Simi Ajayi’s father chop government money meant for flood victims, and the whole Ajayi family was disgraced. A loyal house help swapped her own daughter for Simi, letting her escape to her hometown, Makurdi.

People for compound no let the gist rest—every time rain fall, dem go say "Ajayi people chop flood money!" That story was always on people’s lips in our area. Auntie Zainab would shake her head and say, 'No be small thing o.' Abuja is full of people running from yesterday.

As a child, Simi had known Tobi—a delicate young lady and a poor scholar from a humble family. To Tobi, Simi was his untouchable white moonlight.

I remember the way he looked at her—like someone seeing rain after long drought. No matter how hard I tried, I never reached that place in his heart.

Whenever he talked about her, there was always a trace of pain in his eyes. Maybe he didn’t even know how soft his voice got every time he mentioned her.

It was always 'Simi this, Simi that,' like a song stuck on repeat. Sometimes, I wondered if he knew he was singing.

Luckily, I had already moved on. Who never chop breakfast before? I admit, I made a bad choice.

I learned to swallow heartbreak with cold water. Everybody for this life go chop breakfast one day. My own just reach early.

Tobi said, "I go come back soon..."

His voice trailed off, and I could see the guilt in his eyes.

Before he finished, I was already yawning and heading back to my room. "If e late, abeg just stay for her side."

I didn’t even look at him as I entered the room, just unwrapped my wrapper and lay on the bed like the matter no concern me again.

This time, Tobi was completely shocked.

He stood there for a moment, not sure if he should leave or try again. But in the end, the door closed gently behind him.