Chapter 6: Aftermath, Guilt, and New Rules

My wrapper na sharp one—just small pull, e commot.

I no fit lie, Naija wrapper dey easy to remove if you know road. Just one small shift, e land for floor. E funny say person fit lose guard like that.

Musa shirt don already open, na sharp movement…

E just tear shirt, na so e muscle full everywhere. If you see e body, you go know say poverty no fit hide beauty.

Five rounds for one night. My waist nearly break.

I never experience that kind wahala before. After each round, I dey beg for small mercy, but e no dey hear.

Morning reach, I waka with my hand for waist, give Musa black card.

I waka slow, leg dey pain me, but I still form madam. I dey stretch back, dey act like say I no tire.

“Abeg, massage my waist.”

I beg am, voice low. I know say I do pass my power. My waist dey pain me like say I chop three wraps of pounded yam.

I know as e go dey feel now, and I know say na me use am last night.

Shame dey my body, but I dey hide am with smile. I dey wait make e complain.

E no collect the card, no talk anything.

E just dey eye the card, face blank. E own silence long, but e no dey act rude.

E just waka go baff, come out bare chest, towel for waist.

As e dey walk, water dey drip from e hair, towel tie for waist, I just dey look.

E dey find e cloth wey tear.

E dey search room, dey check under bed, like say e fit find magic.

As e look me, I form innocent. “Na you tear am last night, no be me.”

I do face like say I no sabi anything, dey smile. My voice low, I dey tease am.

My voice don turn hoarse, like say sandpaper pass am.

E no even look my side, but e ear red. Na so I know say e dey shy.

E talk everything about last night, all the wahala.

E just dey move slow, dey reason all the things wey happen. Shame dey hide for e eye.

Musa ear just red instantly.

If to say na small pikin, I for pinch am. E dey too cute for person wey dey form hard guy.

Last last, e give me glass of water, like say e don make up e mind.

E hand steady, but e eye dey avoid my own. E own style na gentle, e dey try redeem e mind.

So pure.

For Lagos, na rare thing see guy wey still get innocence for eye after that kind night.

Small small, e no too sabi.

E dey learn, but e still dey try cover up. I see say e no want make story spread.

Even after all the wahala, e still dey give me water.

E still dey act like person wey care. E own spirit pure, no stain.

I drink am finish, the thing sweet pass pure water for hot sun.

“You want more?”

E voice soft, e hand still dey hover for glass.

Na the first thing wey e talk after all the work of last night.

E dey count words, but I feel say e dey shy.

The poor guy no even know say e no suppose talk like that, e ear red again.

E dey act naïve, but e body dey tell another story. E dey avoid my eye.

“Yes.”

I use style tease am. As I talk am, e just freeze, face dey change.

I enjoy the game. My voice sweet, I dey drag am for play.

E Adam apple move, like say e wan vex.

E bite lip, dey look up. E own composure dey shake.

I click tongue, show am make e relax.

I use hand do small snap, signal make e calm down. I dey enjoy my power.

E phone still dey club, so e just dey my soft house arrest.

Omo, I lock am for house with my own style. I dey enjoy my own peace, but e no fit commot until I release am.

My conscience dey bite me. After all, na me force myself on am last night. I suppose treat am well.

As I dey reason am, guilt dey chew my heart. I dey wonder if na sin I commit, but my spirit still dey hungry.

I arrange pillow for my back, sit up, begin use phone dey pick cloth for both of us.

I dey check different online shops, dey select designer wear, dey reason how e go take fit Musa body. Na woman wahala.

“Waist size?”

I ask am direct. E just dey look me, I dey size am with eye.

“Shoulder size?”

Na so my measurement continue, e dey answer, I dey write.

E dey answer, I dey happy, dey size am with eye.

I dey shine teeth, dey tap phone. No be every day I get model to style.

No wonder e get model body—just buy am like that.

Na God handwork. I dey smile dey imagine as e go take rock am for street.

E press lips, after long time, e talk, “And…”

E dey hesitate, I dey wait make e complete.

E pause, then finally say, “Boxers.”

E talk am like person wey dey fear say e go cross line. I just dey smile.

“Oh, I sabi your size. Don order am already.” I talk am like say e no mean anything.

I dey do big madam, e dey look me with wonder and small shame.

Now, even e eye corner don red. E pour another glass of water.

I just dey watch, dey laugh inside. My house never dull since Musa land.