Chapter 8: Old Promises, Broken Trust

Me and Morayo start hustle together from when we be seventeen. Back then, na pure struggle. Two of us dey share one meatpie for lunch. When life hard, we dey share one small food. Sometimes na just beans and garri, but we dey laugh, dey plan tomorrow.

I dey remove all the meat give Morayo. She go say 'Kunle, why you dey do like this?' I go just smile, tell am say she need am pass me.

For harmattan, I dey ride okada to hustle money. My palm don peel that year, but I no complain. She dey bring me water, dey rub Robb for my back.

I buy ring for Morayo. Na the first ring wey I buy—no box, na polythene bag. But Morayo cherish am like diamond. She touch, hug me, cry. Her tears na happy tears, she hold me tight say nothing go ever scatter us.

"Thank you, Kunle. For future, I no go ever disappoint you."

That promise dey my mind every time I see am. I believe am, no doubt.

We live inside small face-me-I-face-you room, just few meters. Neighbours dey look us, dey whisper, but we no send anybody. Na our small paradise.

No fan for dry season, so we dey hold each other for body heat. Sometimes we go pour water for floor to cool room, then hug tight, dey sweat together. For rainy season, everywhere too hot, Morayo drag me go sleep for veranda. She go carry small mat, we go lie down under mosquito net, dey listen to rain for zinc.

My mama see everything. She dey observe us, sometimes go just smile, shake head. She pity me, sell all her things to help Morayo start business. My mama pawn her wrapper, even sell old radio, just to raise money for Morayo pure water hustle.

When Morayo make her first big money, She rush come house, dance for sitting room. My mama dey clap. She buy big house for city centre, with 24-hour gen. She talk say 'no more darkness, mama.' Na Morayo hand light our family.

For my mama front, she swear say she go treat me well for life. She kneel down, hold my mama leg, promise say nothing go spoil. My mama cry, only talk one thing:

"You two must be well in future."

She pray, bless us. My heart full that day. I get hope, think say life go better. I dey dream big, even dey plan name for our first child.

But just two, three years, everything scatter. One small crack turn to earthquake. Na so life be sometimes.

Morayo cheat. That day, my world end. I no fit even eat. My mama get cancer. As if heartbreak no do, sickness join. Treatment dey cost hundreds of thousands every year. No be beans. Every bill na fresh headache. If no be Morayo help, I for don lose my mama. I dey always pray for her, even if our love spoil.

But now… I look her for door, my mind heavy.

"No need disturb yourself. Thank you."

I just end the talk and waka. I no wan drag matter. I need air.