Chapter 4: Old School, New Promises

Halima na my first love from secondary school.

Her face still fresh for my mind, her voice dey ring for my ear. I no fit forget her, no matter how I try. That kind love dey mark person soul.

My love for her, I no fit forget.

Even after all the years, her laugh, the way she dey call my name, dey sweet me. Sometimes, for night, I dey dream say we dey waka for our old school hand in hand.

People fit say she too like money, because after we finish secondary school, she leave me say I too poor.

Na the gist wey everybody know. Even my mama talk am. Dem say na because I no get money, Halima waka go. But my mind no gree believe say na only money dey her mind.

But me, I know say she no too like money reach like that.

I remember say the first time she follow me, na pure love she show. That year, all I get na one small Nokia phone and two shirts. She no send.

Because when she first agree to date me, I still poor that time.

She go buy me gala, share malt with me, even help me copy notes. Na true, na only small fight break us.

That year, she be like rainbow for my life, give me hope when I no get anything.

If I dey down, she go send me text, call me for night. Even exam, she dey pray for me. Her smile dey drive away my wahala.

So, even after we break up, I no ever stop to wish say I go marry her.

Every time I see couple for street, I dey picture her beside me. My heart no gree let go.

For that, whether for school or after I start work, I hustle die, just to one day meet her again with respect for road.

I dey plan say one day I go wear suit, drive car, stop for her street, show her say I don make am.

But, for third year after university, before my life better, she marry another person.

I hear say na businessman, person wey get block industry for Aba. I cry that night, my friends carry me home.

She marry one rich man pikin.

Na big wedding. Picture full Facebook. I just dey look am, dey swallow tears.

That day, I drink burukutu for bar till morning, vomit blood join.

My head spin, my eyes red. Even bar man pity me. Dem drag me go house, my shirt soak with sweat and tears.

I think say na the end be that.

I no get hope again. For days, I no talk to anybody. Even my work suffer. I just dey drag body.

But, for ninth year after we graduate, third year after I become boss, I jam her again.

E shock me. Rain dey fall, I run enter small shop for cover. I just look up, na Halima dey there, eye swollen, face get bruise. My heart jump.

Na only God know how I feel that rainy day, when she stand for my front with face full of bruise, my heart just break.

I no fit talk. I just hold her hand, dey rub her back. Rain dey beat roof, but na her tears dey pain me pass.

After I hear wetin happen to her, I wan go beat that yeye gambler immediately.

Her husband na real troublemaker. I for fit call boys, go show am pepper. But Halima hold my hand, dey beg me make I no do anything stupid.

But she hold me tight, no gree me do anything.

Her hand cold, her voice low. She dey shake head, beg me with tears. Na that day I swear say I no go let her suffer again.

I touch her head gently, look the sky, tears for my eye:

"Before, bad people spoil our dream, but now, our dream fit start again."

I hug her, promise her better life. I dey sure say this time, nothing fit break us again. Rain stop that moment, sun shine small. For my mind, na God wipe away our tears.