Chapter 2: Old Flames and New Suspicions

Two months ago, she go class reunion, post group photo for her WhatsApp status. That guy dey inside.

I remember because her bestie comment, ask if the guy wey sit near her na that their old school fine boy, say the guy still fresh.

My babe reply with that hand-cover-mouth laugh emoji.

You know that WhatsApp sticker? The one wey babes dey use when dem dey hide guilty face? Na so she drop am—hand cover mouth, as if say, "See me see wahala o."

Her bestie reply again, "But you sef don fine pass. I sure say he dey regret now, abi?"

That kind coded talk. Dem dey catch cruise, but for my eye, e no be ordinary cruise.

I ask her that time. She talk say the guy chase am for school but she no gree. Then add, "He self dey marry soon, so no dey think too much."

My babe sabi talk sweet. She brush am off like person dey sweep sand under mat. "No mind am, he go marry soon."

For those photos, the way the two dey behave together no too pure.

Dem dey chop jollof, DJ dey play old P-Square, everybody dey shout “ehh!” Dem sit close, body angle tilt—if you know babe body language, you go see am. That kind magnetic laugh, hand touch shoulder small. My spirit just dey tell me, "O boy, shine eye."

I just sit down, different thoughts dey run my mind, I smoke half pack cigarette back to back.

I no even like cigarette like that. But that night, na only stick and breeze fit cool me down. My room full smoke, I even forget to open window. Na wa.

That night, I call her again—she no pick.

Around ten, she video call me. But she dey hotel lobby, no be her room.

She talk say she go watch show for Kawo Night Market, no hear her phone, now she don tire, dey go sleep. She rush talk small, hang up say she dey enter stairs.

Her background na real Kaduna hotel lobby—big painting for back, staff dey waka. She even wave, "Babe, I dey tired. Go sleep, call you tomorrow." Before I fit yarn, call don end.

Mosquito dey sing for my ear, but sleep far from my body. I dey scroll her WhatsApp status and Facebook, dey find clue.

Na so man dey turn to FBI. I go her status, scroll reach 2018, even check people wey dey comment. My eyes dey red.

True true, I see something: she like one suspicious Facebook post—close shot of wine glass.

That wine glass—e resemble those one dey use for toasting. I check timestamp—hmm.

The time? The day of her class reunion, April 20th.

No coincidence for this world. Na that same night dem do reunion.

That Facebook account dey post normal things, nothing serious. But one woman always dey reply for comments. I check well, after small digging, I sure say na my babe alt account.

Omo, women sabi hide alt account o! Na picture she use for WhatsApp DP—flower. Facebook, na puppy. But I recognize the way she dey type her "lols" and small small inside joke. Same style.

Because that April 20th, the account post the exact status wey she post for her WhatsApp that day.

"You still remember your youth dreams? Like flower wey no dey wither."

Same line, word for word. No be coincidence.

Wetin make my blood rush na say last night, this account post:

"Off the main light, I fit do pass. Leave small light, you go see me well. You belong only to me, I belong only to you."

As I read that, e be like say cold breeze blow me for inside room. Who she dey drop that parable for? My mind begin dey jump from one place to another.

I no even fit talk how I feel after I read am…

I just lie down for bed, dey stare ceiling. For my mind, na only her face and the other guy dey float. I feel like person wey dey inside dream, but sleep no near my eye.