Chapter 1: Like Super Story, No Advert Break
For Tobi, this one na from my heart. E get as e be. The way our matter dey go, e be like Super Story for NTA, no advert break. Sometimes, e sweet like Agege bread and butter, other times e heavy for chest like Monday traffic for Ojota. But sha, everything na for you.
I always sabi where I stand.
Na so me, I no dey do like some girls wey dey move anyhow. I sabi my level, sabi my worth, my head dey house. Even for wahala, I dey reason am—how e go end, how I go carry myself. But see this one wey come land like NEPA bill for month end, e get as e be o.
But one small wahala come happen, I carry belle for am.
See as life dey. Just like that, I carry belle, and na for Tobi hand e land. Belle no dey knock door before e enter, and this one enter like thief wey sabi the way. I just dey look myself, dey reason how my life go take change. If to say na film, by now soundtrack for play. My hand dey shake, my leg dey weak, e be like say ground wan swallow me.
I try give am sign, ask am: "If e ever happen say you get pikin for outside, wetin you go do?"
No be say I dey find trouble, I just wan know how e go react. As I ask am, my heart dey do jigijigi. For Naija, if you no clear road early, wahala fit land you. E good to dey test water small small.
He just talk, "E no fit happen."
You know Tobi, always sure, always bold. E dey talk as if e get special agreement with God say mistake no dey for him matter. My mind no rest, but I no wan show am.
I push am, "But if e happen nko?"
He pinch my cheek, no even shake. "Mama and pikin go disappear. Baby, I no like all these 'if' questions. Abeg, nothing like that fit ever happen for my side. I dey careful pass that."
Na so e dey do—just dey brush things off like e no concern am. Him own na sharp mouth, quick hand. But see as e dey talk, you go think say life no fit twist person. I just dey look am, dey wonder if na so e go be.
My eye begin turn. I know say I go run this matter by myself, nobody fit know.
Omo, Naija girl wey get sense, you go package your wahala jeje. I just dey reason—if e be so, na me and God go solve am. I dey on my own, no wahala.
Next day, Tobi dey use my phone, face strong like stone.
He carry my phone like say na evidence e dey find. Na so face hard, eye dey red small. In this country, if your person dey look you like that, you suppose fear. My mind cut.
He pinch my chin, voice soft but e dey fear person: "Talk true, this abortion appointment wey I see, wetin e mean?"
Na there breeze blow, fowl yansh open. My heart skip beat. My mind scatter like tomato for market after rain. I dey wonder if this secret fit ever hide, or if e go burst like pepper for hot oil.