Chapter 6: Marriage and Manipulation

After Sade wedding, Femi just dey restless, dey talk marriage every time.

E no dey give up. Every small chance, e go raise matter. Na like say e wan use marriage lock me down, so I no go fit run.

"Where the ring I give you last time? Wear am—make we go collect marriage certificate."

That ring—e heavy for my finger. I don throw am inside shoe box, but Femi dey always find am. I dey wonder if e dey monitor me.

"If you wan craze, go meet another person. One night stand turn to girlfriend? Na old story."

I roll my eye, too tired for all this drama.

Sometimes, my head dey ache from all this wahala. Femi no dey tire, but me I don tire since.

Worse still, e arrange fake honeymoon for four of us.

Na so e talk—make we travel together, but I sabi say e get plan. Na to show off, dey pepper person. I dey vex, but I keep face straight.

I see through am—honeymoon kor, na just excuse to carry me follow body as prop while e dey chase old flame.

My mind sharp—I sabi all him games. Na me be chess piece for him board. I dey plot my escape, dey gather my own small happiness.

As I no move, Femi no vex.

E surprise me. E fit get plan for mind. But today, e just dey calm, dey look me with soft eye.

E just softly arrange my hair, bend like say e wan whisper sweet thing.

I fit feel him finger for my scalp, e gentle for the first time in weeks. Na strange, but I dey enjoy am small.

"Your parents… dem still dey okay?"

That move—e know say I no fit resist. Everytime e mention my family, my heart dey melt small. E dey use am tie me down, dey remind me say I still get root for this world.

Na him favourite move, and e dey always work.

I dey look ground, dey nod. For my mind, I dey pray make wahala rest. But na so e always be—one sweet, ten bitter.