Chapter 5: Exit and Friendship

That day, I pack my things and leave company. Some people happy, some no want me go. The most confused na Ngozi. She look like she wan talk, but relief show for face.

The corridor smell of dust and old printer ink, footsteps echo like old gossip. I drop box for boot, one after the other. For my mind, I dey let go piece by piece.

Back home, with nothing to do, I feel small lost—like cat wey dem cut tail, no know wetin to do again.

House quiet, clock ticking. Even generator hum dey sound strange. Sometimes, when woman finish big chapter, the silence dey heavy.

Afternoon, my assistant message me:

[Madam Funmi, oga vex today, even shout for the future madam.]

[Madam Funmi, I bet e no go take long before he realize say na him cut him own leg.]

[If you see better opportunity, abeg carry us follow you. We all wan follow you, hehe.]

Her message come with plenty emojis, like say she dey try lighten mood. True loyalty—na the one wey dey look face.

I smile, reply:

[No think am too much. As long as Palm Grove project go well, the company dey okay.]

[At least una salary and benefits dey safe.]

I add small wink, make she know say I dey okay. My own wahala na my own.

As for me—

I no plan work anytime soon.

Na time to chop life small. Woman fit rest, no be crime.

Evening, Halima invite me for drinks. As usual, she dey ask every day.

Her persistence na legend for my circle. If you miss her call, she go call your mama.

I reply: [Send me address.]

No need to form, body need am.

Next thing, she call.

"See who dey free at last—my correct person, Oga Madam! The workaholic don take break? Akinlolu don bankrupt?"

Her laughter loud, fill ear. Na so Halima dey brighten mood.

Hearing her lively voice, I just smile.

Her energy contagious. No matter how you try hide pain, she go drag you out.

"So, I fit come or not?"

Voice playful, like say she dey toast me.

"Of course! Come sharp-sharp, private room, drinks, men—everything dey."

She list am like menu. If you know Halima, enjoyment na her calling.

I meet Halima because of Akinlolu, but we become real friends. She’s one of the few who know about my marriage. So when Akinlolu start him affair, she no just look down—she make am her job to introduce men to me.

She dey say: "If he fit cheat, you fit cheat too. Who know who get higher market value?" Na Lagos, market dey everywhere.

She fit talk anything, no filter. Her boldness dey inspire me sometimes.

When I arrive, Halima already dey enjoy—dancing, shouting with tall male models, wine glass for hand.

She no dey do things small. Even for bar, she dey turn place to wedding party.

"Funmi, over here!"

Voice loud, hand wave like traffic warden. All eyes turn our side.

She push most handsome one to me. He call me "aunty," pour me drink. I smile, finish am one go.

Drink burn small, but e sweet me. Sometimes, e good to play along.

"Okay, make una go outside small."

I wave them off, no vex. Woman need small air.

"What? Funmi, you dey spoil our fun o."

She pout, face like small girl wey dem collect sweet.

I rub my temples. "Too noisy."

Music dey hit ear. My head still dey process old pain.

She wink. "I think say you shy."

She dey tease, but I know say na care inside.

I raise eyebrow. "I really look like small pikin for your eye?"

Voice carry play, small challenge join.

"Of course not. That’s why I no understand—Akinlolu dey do anyhow, you still loyal to am?"

Eyes serious now. Halima fit switch from joke to deep matter in one second.

Halima no dey hide mouth.

If e dey her mind, e go land for table.

"He cheat, you cheat—na revenge."

She raise drink, as if to toast to new chapter.

"‘Revenge’ strong small. We never reach that level. Besides, he started after we don break."

I sip drink, voice calm. No get strength for old fire.

…

"He dey admit am?"

She lean close, eyes sharp. She like gist pass food.

Halima sit up, eyes shine. "I just find the key."

Smile sly. If you see Halima smile like that, na something dey her mind.

I ask wetin she mean, but she act mysterious.

She wave hand, like she dey hide treasure.

"Anyway, I mainly wan tell you say I dey go abroad soon."

Tone change, softer. News heavy small.

"Why, for travel? Work?"

Curiosity choke me. I dey fear say my only friend dey waka.

"School."

Face light up. New beginning.

"Huh?"

I blink, try process.

"I get admission for business school, master’s."

Smile, pride for face. I happy for her.

"What of your job? And you and Akinlolu…"

I dey ask as friend, but no wan open old wound.

"I don resign. As for Akinlolu, we go go chief’s court tomorrow."

Tone firm. No be play play.

Reaching this point with Akinlolu was almost sure. I always think I go feel nothing. But when Halima eyes turn red, my chest pain me small.

I squeeze her hand under table, small comfort between women.

"He dey disturb you again?"

I dey ready for fight.

"No."

Head shake, mouth tight.

"He dey target you?"

"No."

Still, pain dey inside.

"So why na you resign? If anybody suppose go, na him."

I vex small, but sometimes woman just need to leave.

Halima and I drink glass after glass. She curse Akinlolu, pity me, say I deserve better.

Our laughter cover pain, our toast cover tears. Na so women dey heal for Lagos.

For this life, na only love dey always unbalanced—what you put in and what you get back never equal.

True talk. Love na market wey price no dey ever balance.

Funny enough, two people wey love each other before, both go end up thinking say dem lose pass.

Na so. Everybody dey carry their own version of pain go house.