Chapter 3: Old Love, New Wahala

He wear simple black shirt, sleeves roll up reach elbow, show muscle for him forearm. For him eye, small coldness dey, but still get that gentle look wey I sabi.

Even as him skin still dey fresh, you go see that stubborn focus for eye. The kain man wey fit edit film sotay day break, no complain.

My heart just skip—

I nearly lose balance. E be like spirit waka pass my body. This face, this walk, na only one person fit carry am.

Na Nnamdi be this.

I wan run go meet am, but my leg dey heavy. Memories dey fight reality inside my chest.

Nnamdi when he still young.

No be the grey-haired legend, but the hungry dreamer wey still dey pursue him first big hit. Hope dey his eye like morning dew.

Some girls wey near me dey whisper:

"Director Nnamdi fine sha."

I hear dem giggle—small soft talk wey dey sweet dem. Some dey press powder for face, dey hope say e go notice dem.

"If na face alone, he for blow, but he dey use talent run things for this industry."

Another girl tap her friend, eyes shine like say she see aso-ebi for market.

I just chuckle small.

All this na childish play—dem never sabi the real Nnamdi wey I know. My laughter be like music for my ear, but I hide am make dem no notice.

Give am some years, he go turn that kind uncle—no dey wash face, no dey comb hair, always get beards, lock himself for editing room.

I remember as I go beg am before to barb. He go talk, "Leave me, babe, na creativity dey my beard."

But wetin make me love Nnamdi no be the fine face.

E dey deeper, e dey for how him dey listen, how him dey notice even if my voice dey low. That kain spirit, e no common.

This time, Nnamdi just win new director award. No be big award, but for us wey dey film school, na big thing.

Na news dey ring for school hostel. Some dey claim say dem sabi am before he blow, dey form kinship.

"Who you think say Director Nnamdi go choose?"

The whispers dey spread like harmattan fire. All eyes dey Nnamdi, but my heart still dey dance special rhythm.

"Ehn, I too nervous, my acting no pure... I just hope make I get small supporting role."

People dey sweat, some dey read lines under breath. I dey steady. I fit recite my own line even for sleep.

Everybody dey shake, but na only me dey smile with confidence.

I dey give dem hope and small intimidation. Person fit think say I dey overdo, but I know wetin I carry come.

The more dem praise am, the more my belle sweet me.

Na so e dey be when you sabi road. Na only road owner dey waka with back straight.

—This kind better man, from day one, na only me, Amaka, dey his eye.

E dey for the way he look me. For the little things. Na me dey carry him laughter, na me dey wipe him tears.

He love me till the end, cherish me till the end, even for death bed, na me he confess to.

Na only me fit unlock that part of his soul. For my mind, na destiny join us together.

I look up, my eyes just dey follow Nnamdi.

I dey pray silently, make universe remember the old promise.

Maybe na my mind dey play, but e be like say he look my side too.

My chest rise—e dey like breeze just blow from the window of fate.

I smile give am.

I no fit hide am. My heart dey open, my hope dey pure.

But next thing, Nnamdi just move him eye pass me like say I no dey.

That one pain me. My breath stop. E be like person slap me for back, but I gree.

"We don already choose the female lead for 'Palm Breeze.'"

His voice carry authority. Everybody dey quiet, dey wait like say principal wan announce prize.

He pick him notebook, voice calm and deep:

"Halima."

That name drop like stone for water. I feel ripple inside my soul.

Everybody turn look one quiet girl wey dey corner.

All eyes dey Halima, even cameraman pause. The girl no even sure say na her dem call.

She open her eyes wide, face just red, dey shy like say she be small deer.

Na pure innocence dey her face. She hold her bag tight like say she wan disappear.

Me, I just freeze.

My hand dey tremble, my throat tight like person swallow dry fufu without water. My body stiff. I no fit move. My mouth dry, mind dey scatter.

...Why?

Why Nnamdi no choose me like last time?

I dey find answer, but nothing dey come.

Wetin happen?

For my chest, na confusion dey build. My eye dey hot, but I gree no cry.