Chapter 3: The Night Wey Pepper Pass Soup

That time, anger just dey mix with laughter for my mind. I never even vex finish say Ifedike no answer me, but he rush answer another woman.

Inside my head, wahala dey. Na like movie. I just dey tell myself, "Morayo, hold yourself. No disgrace your mama for public."

I look her phone screen, remind her with smile, "You forget to tell your partner the address."

I put mouth well for that word, 'partner.'

I talk am loud so that people go hear. Make e clear say I dey call her out.

Halima look me like say I be mumu, smile. "Oh, true. Thanks for reminding me. I go send am location now."

The girl even get mind. No shame for face. She dey show say na she dey in control. Small pikin wey dey play with fire.

Right for my front, she happily find Ifedike for WhatsApp, send am her location.

She just dey tap her phone fast, like say she dey show off. E clear say she wan make I see everything. Na so e dey pain person pass.

She even show me the contact name: "Baby."

As she show me, my eye turn. My belle turn. Baby? For Lagos? Who dash you confidence? For person wey just meet my husband as 'intern'? Na wa.

People for there don dey look her somehow. Even if dem no notice her pepper for me, the way she dey challenge her oga, everybody don dey see say she no get sense for office.

I see some old staff dey look her, mouth open. Small pikin wey dey test boundaries. For our office, na so dem dey mark you sharp.

Even if I no talk, this babe no go get peace for this NGO again.

Once matter reach this level for Nigerian office, everybody dey watch. She go chop small side-eye for weeks.

Unless…

Her 'partner' really get her back.

If na so, maybe e go different. But make we see.

The anger wey dey my chest just dey boil.

I hold myself, dey reason wetin I go talk give Ifedike later. If to say I be my mama, I for don shout.

About forty minutes later, private room door open.

E be like say na movie premiere. Everybody eye dey door. Me, I act cool, but my heart dey run.

Halima, wey don dey do as if she wan make everybody notice am, look up, her eyes shine.

Her face bright like say she win lottery. She dey look door like dog dey wait for owner.

Others see who enter, dem stand up.

Person even joke, "Who talk say Madam Morayo lose? See Mr. Ifedike don come carry Madam Morayo!"

Some dey hail, some dey laugh, some dey look away. E dey pain me, but I still package.

"Madam Morayo just no wan show herself. If na real, who go fit win her?"

Somebody add, "Mr. Ifedike, you still dey pamper Madam Morayo, abi?"

Ifedike just carry that him gentle, correct smile. He nod greet everybody, then waka straight come my side. His deep voice soft, concern dey inside, just as e always be with me.

He no look any other person. As e reach my side, I feel small relief. At least, na me he come greet first.

"How much you drink?"

E say am with worry. Like person wey truly care, not like say e dey act. I fit feel am for my bone.

He help me stand, then tell everybody, "Morayo belle no too good. E don do for today. I go carry her go house."

He adjust my bag, hold my hand for small, as if to show say na me be the main person. People dey nod head.

"Make una continue, enjoy."

He talk am calm. Na so e dey disarm people.

"Mr. Ifedike, we dey!"

"Madam Morayo, abeg rest well."

Person for corner dey laugh, "Haha, Mr. Ifedike really dey care. Make we explain?"

"No worry, Mr. Ifedike, Madam Morayo no too drink. Na just Truth or Dare we dey play."

One babe yarn Halima, "Halima, you lose, drink your penalty."

Everybody dey use style press Halima. She dey vex but dey form say e no pain am.

I stand up look down at Halima.

She dey look Ifedike with that pity face, like small girl wey dem beat, dey form say she suffer.

She squeeze face like say dem cheat her. I nearly laugh, but I just hold myself, arrange my face.

I just laugh small. "Na just game, abeg. No carry am for head."

I let am land so that e go pain her small. Make she no reason say na she win this round.

"Make una continue, or... make we carry you go house?"

Na small shade, but I talk am calm.

Halima form face, remove eye from Ifedike, talk stubbornly, "No need, I fit go myself."

She dey form as if nothing happen, but I see say e pain am.

"I lose, I go drink." She carry her glass, down am one time.

She pour another, "I go punish myself with three glasses."

E get as e be. Some people dey whisper, dey gossip.

I look small at Ifedike.

He squeeze my hand gently, as if e dey say, "No mind her." I feel small better.

Halima dey vex, but Ifedike no even send her. Since he enter, his eyes never leave me.

The thing shock me, but e sweet me too. Na me he still dey follow talk. Na there I sabi my place.

He look me, still dey gentle: "Make we dey go."

His voice low, only me fit hear am. Na so e dey always talk when e no want wahala.

I greet everybody, waka comot.

As I waka pass, some people dey throw smile. I just dey package, dey bone face. Na so office politics be.

Ifedike carry my bag, follow me.

He hold the door open, let me pass first. Small small things like this dey matter for marriage, I swear.