Chapter 3: Old Enemies and Old Scars

"Your first love, Segun, dey marry."

As e drop that gist, e dey look me with corner eye. E wan see my face, whether I go show small pain or jealousy. Na old trick, but I don tire.

Femi come out from bathroom, only towel for waist, him voice dey mock me.

Water still dey drip for him body, towel tie low. E get as e dey do, like say e wan tempt me or oppress me. I dey form strong, no gree look am well.

E dey use style dry him hair, water dey run for him chest, disappear for place wey go make person mind wander.

Na so Femi body be—always dey show as if na magazine cover e be. Some girls dey trip, but I don see all the wickedness wey fit hide under that skin.

"Na Sade e dey marry."

That Sade—her own na wahala. Old enemy wey never rest. Femi pause, eyes sharp, dey study my face like say na exam I dey write.

E pause, like say e dey wait for my reaction.

I no gree show emotion, even though inside me, my chest dey burn small.

"How e take concern me?"

As I no gree give am the reaction wey e want, e bend come near, small smile for him eye.

I feel as him breath touch my ear, e soft, almost sweet, but na pepper e dey find.

"We suppose go congratulate dem now. After all, you risk your life that year for am."

E dey bring old wound, dey use am dey play. That story, e dey pain me till today. E want see whether I go break for front of am.

"So, make I give am those your video as wedding present? How you see am?"

Femi na devil, true true. Na so e dey carry person secret, dey use am threaten, dey keep you for one spot. My body cold.

"Your head dey touch? Abeg shift!"

My voice shake small. I try form hard, but the truth dey inside my tone. Femi know say e don hit nerve.

As e hear the shake for my voice, Femi just smile like devil wey just win bet.

E dey proud of himself, dey enjoy the pain. I wish I fit slap that smile comot for him face, but I hold myself.

"Yes na, dey look me with that your eye—you get the same look for those video that time…"

My mind just dey fly back to all those humiliations. E no dey tire to remind me say e get power over me. For my mind, I dey curse am, but my mouth dey tight.