Chapter 5: Indomie Joint Confessions

My company dey pay big tax for town.

Even Local Government chairman dey greet me specially. For town, everybody sabi say na me dey help school, dey give scholarship.

My photo dey for my old school wall of fame since last year.

Every time dem get event, dem go call me, give me seat for front. My mama dey proud well well.

After I tell vice principal make he no follow us, me and Halima waka round the school.

We waka pass assembly ground, pass dining hall, even go that back fence wey we dey jump enter stream. Na memory full everywhere.

Familiar sky, familiar field, familiar road, familiar hand.

The sun dey warm, breeze dey blow. Halima hold my hand, her fingers still soft. For my mind, na like we return to those days.

Everything I see na memory, everything for my heart na old story.

Na this field I first chase her, my heart dey beat like talking drum.

I dey see where we first hug, where I first buy her meatpie. She dey laugh as she remember gist. We buy puff-puff and pure water, dey gist for school gate, just like old times. Na this place mould our love.

I just dey proud of all the years I don hustle.

I look the school, look my car, look Halima. My mind dey full of thanks. No be small journey.

Na this my struggle make me fit hold my destiny, make I no get regret for my life.

If not for all the wahala, I for no dey here today. I dey thank God, dey smile.

As evening reach, as school music dey play, I carry Halima go the indomie joint for school gate.

The place still dey smell like old days—onion, pepper, fried egg everywhere. Boys dey shout, girls dey gist. Na real Naija vibes.

As the sweet smell dey everywhere, I ask her, "That time we first start, na here I promise you something. You still remember?"

I buy two plates, give her Fanta. We dey laugh as we chop. My mind dey sweet me.

Halima smile. "You talk say, for future, you go give me the best life, you go always follow my wish."

Her teeth white, her eyes dey shine. She rub my arm, dey play with my shirt button.

I happy say she still remember my promise.

Na big thing for me. Woman wey fit hold your word for heart, na woman wey fit stay.

Halima come ask, "Your promise still dey valid?"

She bend head small, voice soft. She dey look me with big eye, like say she dey beg for assurance.

I nod. "Of course."

No shaking. My heart dey beat fast, but I no let her see am.

Halima bite her lip, talk small small, "Then you fit sack Ifeanyi from your company? I dey reason say if you see Ifeanyi smile one day, your mind fit shift."

She dey shake leg, her voice dey tremble. Jealousy dey bite her, I fit see am. Na woman thing.

I wan explain say that one no fit happen.

I open mouth, wan talk, but I see say na fight she dey ready for.

But as I wan talk, I realise say no be wetin she want hear be that.

If I explain too much, e go look like lie. I just hold myself.

So, I grit my teeth and nod. "Okay."

Na so I seal am. For peace to reign, I gree.