Chapter 3: When Friends Turn Fire

I no dey like people wey dey carry another person matter for head.

For this Lagos, everybody suppose face their own. As man, na my own pocket I dey look, no dey poke nose for another family wahala.

But I no expect say Kamsi, wey be friend to both me and Ifeanyi, go turn to that kind person.

This Kamsi, na our secondary school mate. She sabi talk, her mouth no dey tire. But I reason say she get sense, no dey follow gossip like that.

The day after Ifeanyi waka calmly, she call me begin insult me.

As her call enter, I dey relax for parlour with Halima. I pick, expect greeting, but na fire fire she send.

Even as I dey hear Kamsi voice, danfo horn dey blast outside, conductor dey shout “Ojuelegba!”

"Uche, you sure say you be human being so?

Ifeanyi marry you when you be nobody.

All these years, she no just take care of you, she even help you build your company.

No forget, all the money your company dey make now, na she hustle for am.

You fit talk say everything you get today, na because of her.

But see you now? You betray her, you even set her up make she commot empty handed, and you no even want Amarachi. You sure say you be person so?"

Her voice dey high, her words dey pepper. E be like say she dey cry join. Even Halima look me, shake head. For my mind, I dey reason say who send this woman?

To talk true, since I become boss, nobody dey talk to me like that.

Since money enter my hand, respect plenty. This na the first time somebody dey talk to me anyhow since then.

Because of our old friendship, I just hold my vex.

I just breathe, hold body. If na another person, I for don curse her back.

"Kamsi, hear me well:

One, I set am up because I no want all my sweat to split half with her. Na normal human thing. If you no understand, na because you never mature.

Two, e true say Ifeanyi work hard for company, but all these years, I still dey pay her salary like every other worker. Tell me, which worker dey earn thirty thousand every month and no go try?

Three, yes, most profit for company na Ifeanyi make am, but no mean say she too get sense like that, abeg. The main business don stable since. Anybody fit do her work and money go still dey come.

Four, I no wicked reach as you dey talk. Even though I no want share my money with her, at least I keep her job. She fit dey earn thirty thousand every month for here—enough for her and Amarachi to survive.

Five..."

As I dey talk, I dey count for finger. I wan make she see reason, no just dey yarn anyhow.

"Uche."

Kamsi just cut me off.

Her voice strong, like person wey dey swear. I hear small shiver for am.

"God punish you."

She cut call.

Na so the call die. The insult hang for my ear. My hand dey shake, I nearly throw phone for wall. I swallow spit, breathe hard. Na only God know why Kamsi dey vex like that.

As I hear the busy tone, my anger nearly make me break my phone.

Halima just dey look me, she shake head, talk say na bad belle people full this world.

I no even know wetin dey worry Kamsi.

True talk. She dey reason Ifeanyi matter pass the owner. Maybe na jealousy dey worry am.

Luckily, Halima just show, put her hand for my neck, "Come, no be you talk say you go take me go see our old school today?"

She use soft voice, rub my shoulder. Her touch cool me down. I no fit vex when Halima dey smile.

My vex just cool half. I kiss her forehead small.

Her skin soft, perfume sweet. All my wahala dey melt. I nod, hold her hand like young lovers.

"Make we dey go, make we see the road wey we walk that year."

We waka comot, lock door. As we dey go, I dey remember small small memory. Na so love suppose be.